Nadina Mackie Jackson

Nadina Mackie Jackson is one of the world’s leading bassoon soloists. Her seven solo recordings feature repertoire ranging from the baroque and classical sonatas and concerti to contemporary lovesongs and showpieces. Current releases include Bacchanale and Romanza on the MSR label with Guy Few and the Toronto Chamber Orchestra.

“...Jackson performs with effortless musicality, making the bassoon sound like a human voice.”
The National Post

Performing frequently as a recitalist with piano, strings or alone in venues ranging from the outdoor Music Garden in Toronto to international recital halls and orchestral stages, more than a dozen new works have been written for her as a soloist and with artists such as Guy Few, Patrick Gallois, David Swan and the Caliban Quartet of Bassoonists. Heard regularly on CBC Radio, NPR and at such North American festivals as Domaine Forget, Scotiafest, Windfest, Grand River Baroque, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Nadina has been a featured soloist at the 2006 and 2007 conventions of the International Double Reed Society.

An active chamber musician, Nadina has formed many chamber groups in Toronto and Montreal, including The Caliban Quartet of Bassoonists, the baroque chamber group, Musica Franca and Duo Affinite with fellow soloist Guy Few.

“...stunningly beautiful in every way... pure virtuosity... gorgeously together and breathtakingly in tune...”
The Double Reed, Spring 2007

As an orchestral musician, Nadina records and performs as principal bassoon of the Toronto Chamber Orchestra, the baroque ensemble Aradia, and often with Les Violons du Roy. The principal bassoonist of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra for two years, Nadina spent the first decade of her career as a member of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, participating in more than 50 recordings on London Decca.

Nadina is currently on faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. A founding member of The Council of Canadian Bassoonists, Nadina is also on the Advisory Board for the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition.

www.nadinamackiejackson.com
www.latitude45arts.com
www.msrcd.com

Bacchanale

Romanza

Francophonia

Two of Canada’s most artistic and virtuosic solo instrumental artists are joining forces to create artworks that expand the genre for their instruments and reveal the physical reality of the artistic process.

As prominent, established soloists, both Guy and Nadina have a worldwide following amongst both students and professionals.  Their concerts, recordings and commissions are received with consistent critical acclaim and popular interest.  Their fans frequently attest to the level of inspiration that they provide and any pioneering work done by this pair will be emulated and expended upon by their students and fellow professionals.  Individually and together they have presented music during their careers that was previously thought too difficult to perform.  The inevitable waves of progress that follow in the level of their students and immediate colleagues is proof yet again that human progress is enhanced and transformed by artistic initiative and achievement.

The rare combination of trumpet, bassoon and strings is extremely powerful and touching in the hands of great artists.  The original idea for this combination came from the compositional genius of Paul Hindemith; it is now being fulfilled and expanded by the virtuosic talents of Guy Few and Nadina Mackie Jackson.

Paul Hindemith, the great 20th century composer, was the first to write a major work for trumpet, bassoon and strings.  Written at the request of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Science during his tenure as a professor at Yale University, it was premiered in 1949 at the Yale University Art Gallery.  Building on this idea, Guy Few and Nadina Mackie Jackson have, in 2006, commissioned and recorded a new Double Concerto by the hugely popular Quebec composer, Mathieu Lussier, along with other exciting and approachable new music, effectively quadrupling the repertoire for the genre of trumpet, bassoon & strings.

In any field, one exceptional discovery will inevitably generate many more.  Guy and Nadina are the first musicians to record a full-length disc of music written for trumpet, bassoon and strings; they are the first to develop a long-term commissioning plan to expand this genre of art music; they are the first to involve many other artists in the process.

The unusual charisma and energy of this pair of musicians is best revealed through a combination of audio and visual media and makes an important statement in support of the renewal and affirmation of art music.

“Few and Jackson play with polished tone, immaculate intonation, and infectious high spirits; it's obvious they're having a blast.”
All Music Guide, 2007

Website: Mike Hagedorn mahagedorn@gmail.com
Background Picture: Bo Huang www.bohuang.ca