Mike Murley

Biography

One of Canada’s most celebrated and well-respected jazz artists, Murley has appeared on twelve Juno Award winning recordings since his 1990 Two Sides album. His two trio recordings with legendary guitarist Ed Bickert and bassist Steve Wallace won Junos is 2002 and 2013. His most recent recording as a co-leader with the electric jazz group Metalwood resulted in a 2017 Juno, the band’s third. His other Junos as a sideman include recordings with Rob McConnell, David Braid, Brian Dickinson, and John Macleod.

Murley has been featured on more than twenty other Juno-nominated recordings including his septet album Still Rollin’ in 2012. The Melody Lingers On (CBC records), features Murley live in concert at the Glenn Gould Studio with a twelve-piece string ensemble. Conducted by Rick Wilkins, with string arrangements by Murley and guitarist Reg Schwager, this recording garnered an album of the year nomination at the 2007 National Jazz Awards. Murley is also an eight-time National Jazz Award/Jazz Report Awards winner for saxophonist of the year.

Murley was a featured artist on the 2004 Bravo TV series “Solos: The Jazz Sessions”, which captured renowned jazz artists in the challenging solo performance format. Other artists featured included international luminaries such as saxophonists Joe Lovano and Lee Konitz, guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist Brad Mehldau.

In 2013, the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra released Reflections, a recording featuring nine arrangements of Murley’s original compositions with Murley as a featured soloist. Murley also co-produced Suite Ruby Sweet, the 2016 UTJO recording of Kenny Wheeler’s music featuring vocalist Norma Winstone and saxophonist Dave Liebman. A live U of T Jazz Faculty concert recorded in Jan 2017 featuring Liebman, Murley, bassist Jim Vivian and drummer Terry Clarke will be released later this year.

Murley and long-time collaborator pianist David Braid teamed up with Danish drummer Anders Mogenson and Finnish bassist Johnny Åman for a tour of Scandinavia in Feb 2016. This new group, The North, recorded an album in Copenhagen at the end of the tour. A Canadian CD release tour is booked for November 2017 through the support of the Canada Council Touring Office.