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GENE HARDY
Canada’s foremost R&B saxophonist began his musical journey on violin at age 9 then on saxophone a year later in Victoria, British Columbia. After studies at Victoria’s Conservatory of Music & UVic, he moved to Toronto in 1986 and traded in his classical pursuits for a post-graduate degree in funk with Toronto’s infamous Bourbon Tabernacle Choir.
Chances are, you’ve heard him play.
Since the Bourbon’s mid ‘90s break-up, Gene has become the horn player of choice for many of Canada’s best known exports & domestic successes. He’s recorded and performed in the US & Canada with Michael Bublé and is the latest addition to Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Hawkins’ band, The Hawks. In fact, Gene has recorded and performed with hundreds of acts - pop & rock, jazz & blues, country to punk and everything in between with the likes of Barenaked Ladies, Big Sugar, Colin James, Esthero, Rheostatics, Downchild Blues Band, Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm, Hock Walsh, Roger Clown, Veda Hille, Kevin Quain & The Mad Bastards,Big Daddy G, Colin Linden, Bruce Cockburn, Ford Pier (of D.O.A.), Dutch Mason, Prakash John & The Lincolns, Stoopy, Bocephus King, The Big Band Trio, Tabarruk, Michael Kaeshammer, Dr Hilly Sands Esq. and Jamaica’s Third World...that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
(Want the complete list? Visit http://www.genehardy.com and click on ‘BANDS’)
In 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and again in 2005, Gene was nominated as Horn Player of the Year at the Canada’s Maple Blues Awards in recognition of his extensive contributions to the blues genre, both live and in the studio.
His current CD, Blow!Blow!Blow! is receiving extensive airplay throughout Europe on both commercial & public radio. 2006 finds Gene busy writing & recording a follow-up CD featuring a killer band (including an 8 piece horn section!) and lots of surprise guest musicians.
"Killer...Gene Hardy is the embodiment of improvisational wizardry...
one of the finest tenor players in the business." Bill Rymer / FREQ Magazine
"Gene's my right hand man - my Sam Butera!" Michael Bublé / saloon singer
"The man's a monster!" John Taylor / reviewer, CANADIANBLUES.CA
"Hardy cuts a figure in the tradition of the great R&B tenor men... cocky, sophisticated and rambunctious with loads of panache..." Prakash John / bass, FUNKADELIC/LOU REED; founder, The LINCOLNS
"Gene Hardy is a master showman and a superb musician.
Whether on CD or on stage, he delivers the goods!" Mick Martin, NPR’s "The Blues Party" (KXJZ, Sacramento; KKTO, Tahoe City/Reno; KUOP. Stockton/Modesto)
"A saxophonist with great energy and flare for the unusual. Love his commitment" Lance Anderson / organist & producer, MAKEITREAL RECORDS
"One of the finest horn players in the country" Virgil Scott / star of SONGS MY SISTER PLAYED
"I have all his records!" Dorothy Hardy / Gene's mom
"Gene Hardy stands at the summit of Canadian R&B saxophonists...a world-class player" Gary Tate / TO NITE Magazine
"Big Gene! You're the one I like! Let's rock!" Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins / legend, teen idol
"Get a load of those shoes!" Ruth Livingstone / bystander, Sacramento CA
"Gene's horn speaks to the heart. He's an inspiration whenever I hear or share a stage with him." Bill Johnson / guitarist, AMOS GARRET/DONALD RAY JOHNSON/CASH McCALL/SON SEALS
"Gene is one of the finest saxophonists I've ever worked with." Chuck Jackson / singer, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND
"Who are you? What are you doing on my stage?" Donnie Walsh / founder, DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND
"Death defying sonic leaps, barnyard sounds, rapid fire staccato and a big fat
smoky growl...don't be afraid; it's just your typical outing on a Gene Hardy solo!" Raymond Mitchell / The NEWS
"Gene Hardy's got the look, the showmanship and - most importantly - the goods to deliver. He's one of the most entertaining, atmospheric and intelligent sax players on the scene. The energy he brings to a room is of the nuclear variety." Al Kirkcaldy / host “Blue In The Face” CFFF 92.7 FM – Peterborough ON
"Gene Hardy is a sax machine!" Jaymz Bee / host “Jazz In The City” JAZZ.FM 91.1 and RJO Bandleader
"Gene Hardy and his saxophone epitomizes the musical exsufflation -
he can blow up a storm on any calm sea." Phil Ball / CEO Iridescent Music Inc.
"A great old-school R&B tenor stylist in the tradition of Junior Walker and King Curtis." Ira Dodson / SELECT PRESS
“BLOW!BLOW!BLOW! is a real swinger!” Kjell Andreassen / host RADIO HOLSTEBRO Denmark
"Gene Hardy in one word...effervescent!" Danny Marks / guitar guru & broadcaster; host “Bluz.Fm” JAZZ.FM 91.1 & CBC Radio
"Gene never let's the crowd off easy. When he and the saxophone
connect, the magic begins - everyone comes under his spell." Paul Wainwright / THE BIG BAND TRIO
"Gene Hardy is the best guitar player that ever picked up a saxophone!"
guitarissimo Phil Kane aka The WINDSOR TWISTER
"Gene Hardy gives his all – every time!" Brian “Colorblind” Blain / managing editor, Maple Blues Magazine
"Never mind the music - my kudos go to the wardrobe, hair & makeup people!" Dr. Hilly Sands Esq.
Gene has 4 other MySpace pages - have a peek: musical saw: http://www.myspace.com/lamesonore Dr Hilly Sands: http://www.myspace.com/hillysands Jingle Bell Jazz: http://www.myspace.com/jinglebelljazz ThePipSqueekOrchestra: http://www.myspace.com/pipsqueekorchestra
You are smokin! I love it! Your Favorite Hip Shakin' Mama from Manitoba is droppin' in to wish you a Very Funkalicious Friday! It's COLD here right now but I'll be singin the Blues in Mazatlan, Mexico in 21 days! Thank God! I wish you were comin' on down to Jam with us! We'd cook up some Hot Blues! Stay warm this season and I do hope you spend much needed time with your special someone!
Hey man , playin any chicken music these days ? I'm on the island , but dashing off for 100 mile house gig with Pops. Family show was awesome! Drum battle was highlight with three kits, but some definite others too. Maybe next year ? Check out ' the Grants ' here on myspace for the family site.
Gene...you twisted bastard....where did you hide my pills?! I have been all over this goddamn place asking myself: "If I were a bottle of Oxycontin...where would I be?" and you know where I told me I'd be? Do ya Gene?! I told me that I'd be in your freakin' gut, that's where the hell I'd be!!!!! So it's time for you to come clean. The prescription wasn't easy to get (and the tactics that were needed to obtain it left stains that I seriously doubt ANY chemical will remove.)so you may have to hit the street in order to repay your ugly, shameful debt. Why don't you try hitting up your old colledge buddy. You know...that guy with no spine....uh, no spine,literally? I bet you he'd have a shit-load of the good stuff! Well whatever you have to do...suck,scam or sell yo' sax...I don't care. Just get my pills replaced....and I mean yesterday buddy!
if ya dig off beat wierd litttle bars hidden in dark corners of the big town you got to come to the grasshopper friday may 18th... Dr. Seuss's favorite toronto dive...
jewell/Staig/Blouin solo show friday may 18th 9pm the Grasshopper
461 Parliament St
Toronto
West side performers go east Side!! Starring James Jewell, James plays about 10pm Chris Staig, Patti Blouin,
HeyThe Gene Hardy™
If you are bored on this Thursday night and are in the area of VANCOUVER....Maybe you can check this out...IF not,
I will just send you some REDHEADED LOVE..
LOVE,Camille...Happy Thursday
"I heard the first jazz that I heard when i was seven....I did not like it. For the most part I still do not like it, But when i was ten, I heard Thelonious Monk...who I did not like..." HANS GROINER
Speaking of which, there's a smokin' new Progressive Classical track up on Mad Nutcracker titled "Wasp Flight" Currently #2 in Progressive Rock on SoundClick.
Hey There! I am sorry I haven't written in awhile, Things have been moving forward and keeping me out of trouble...For the most part!
Have a fantastic day and I wanted to let you know I appreciate our friendship and your support!
so she took me to her mummas' house and treated me right well. the hair upon her shoulders, in jet black ringlets fell. to try and paint her beauty, i'm sure would be in vein. so handsome was my creole girl, on the lakes of pontchatrane.
