Since moving to Toronto in 1994, Hamilton born saxophonist Chris Gale has emerged as a versatile and in demand musician working with some of Canada's finest recording artists. Chris' diverse career as a side-man has given him the opportunity to record extensively and tour throughout the world. Also, Gale's talents as a composer and jazz artist can be heard on his debut cd Strays Stays which is an independent project featuring Gale's sextet.
Recorded at Rogue Studios in Toronto on September 30 and October 1, 2001,
Strays Stays captures the expressiveness of Gale's group in a live
setting. There's a stylish Ellington ensemble sound stirring here
, writes
Toronto Star jazz critic Geoff Chapman, and the title track is "beautifully
done, with lush tenor work".
Chris has also recorded with many other jazz and blues artists in Toronto including Laura Hubert, Tyler Yarema, Bill King and Richard Underhill's Juno Award winning cd Tales From the Blue Lounge (see discography). Gale's diverse musical career has also led to performances with Soca king Lord Nelson, blues guitarist Colin James and country-rock legends Blue Rodeo (as a member of the Bushwhack Horns). Other accomplishments include performances at the Canadian Consulate in Paris, France and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Chris also attended the 2003 Banff International Jazz Workshop where he studied and performed with John Abercrombie, Dave Douglas, Louis Sklavis and Mike Murley.
Chris is regularly performing and recording with several Toronto-based bands, including: The Worst Pop Band Ever, Brandi Disterheft Quartet (The Mongolian Warlords), Peter Hill Band, Laura Hubert and Tyler Yarema. In the Summer of 2006 Chris toured Europe with the Shuffle Demons. He has toured Canada several times with a quartet formed at Banff called Muhledy.
| Discography (As A Leader) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chris Gale | Strays Stays | GDP001 |
| Discography (As A Side-Man) | ||
| The Worst Pop Band Ever | Thanks for Coming Out | |
| Blue Rodeo | Palace Of Gold | 2 44915 |
| Blue Rodeo | Greatest Hits Vol.1 | 2 40932 |
| Richard Underhill | Tales from the Blue Lounge | |
| Bill King's Saturday Night Fish Fry | Jump Shout Rock Da House | RACD 10021 |
| Laura Hubert | Live At The Rex | |
| Laura Hubert | My Girlish Ways | |
| Chris Whiteley | Ballads & Blues | |
| Chris Whiteley | Blues Party | BCD 118 |
| Tyler Yarema And His Rhythm | Gotta Bran' New Suit | RACD 10011 |
| Jake And The Blue Midnights | Jake And The Blue Midnights | JBM 0001 |
| Hamilton All-Star Jazz Band | Ain't It Wonderful | HASJBCD 005 |
| Tim Harrison | Tim Harrison | SAS 2005 |
