Nelson Symonds
Encyclopedia
Nelson Symonds was a jazz guitarist from Hammonds Plains
, Nova Scotia
.
at a young age, Symonds switched to the guitar. He gained his first performance experience touring on a traveling carnival from 1955 to 1958 throughout the United States.
Upon returning to Canada, Nelson settled in Montreal
in 1958 and played in the group 'The Stablemates' led by Alfie Wade Jr.
It was during the 1960s and 1970s when Nelson became one of the premiere names in Montreal Jazz that many players from New York would come to see or play with. These include Roland Kirk, Art Farmer
, Sonny Red
, Benny Golson
, Jackie McLean
, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Heath
and Stanley Turrentine
among others. He received the greatest praise from such jazz giants as Wes Montgomery
and John Coltrane
, who at one point extended the invitation to join his group.
Throughout this period, Nelson played mainly with bassist Charlie Biddle
and drummer Norman Marshall Villeneuve at venues such as The Black Bottom and Rockheads Paradise. During the 1970s, Symonds and Biddle performed as a duo in numerous Laurentian resorts. Throughout his 30 plus year career, he played at all of the major jazz venues in Montreal including Upstairs, Biddles and Cafe La Bohème among others.
He died in Montreal, Quebec due to a heart attack - 12 years years after undergoing a quadruple bypass that put an end to his distinguished musical career. He was 75.
in 1992. He has also appeared as a sideman on saxophonist Dave Turners albums Live - Thank You For Your Hospitality and The Pulse Brothers that are available on DSM Records. He has also been the subject of two documentaries by Mary Ellen David
Upper Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia
Hammonds Plains lies at the neck of the Chebucto Peninsula along a road that runs from Bedford to the Head of St. Margarets Bay within the Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Biography
After pursuing the banjoBanjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
at a young age, Symonds switched to the guitar. He gained his first performance experience touring on a traveling carnival from 1955 to 1958 throughout the United States.
Upon returning to Canada, Nelson settled in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1958 and played in the group 'The Stablemates' led by Alfie Wade Jr.
It was during the 1960s and 1970s when Nelson became one of the premiere names in Montreal Jazz that many players from New York would come to see or play with. These include Roland Kirk, Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, Sonny Red
Sonny Red
Sonny Red was an American alto saxophonist associated with the hard bop idiom among other styles...
, Benny Golson
Benny Golson
Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
, Jackie McLean
Jackie McLean
John Lenwood McLean was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in New York City.-Biography:McLean's father, John Sr., played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra...
, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath
James Edward Heath , nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.-Biography:...
and Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
among others. He received the greatest praise from such jazz giants as Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
and John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, who at one point extended the invitation to join his group.
Throughout this period, Nelson played mainly with bassist Charlie Biddle
Charlie Biddle
Charlie Biddle, otherwise known as Charles Reed Biddle was a Canadian jazz bassist.-Biography:...
and drummer Norman Marshall Villeneuve at venues such as The Black Bottom and Rockheads Paradise. During the 1970s, Symonds and Biddle performed as a duo in numerous Laurentian resorts. Throughout his 30 plus year career, he played at all of the major jazz venues in Montreal including Upstairs, Biddles and Cafe La Bohème among others.
He died in Montreal, Quebec due to a heart attack - 12 years years after undergoing a quadruple bypass that put an end to his distinguished musical career. He was 75.
Recordings
His first (and only) album as a leader, Getting Personal, was released on Justin Time RecordsJustin Time Records
Justin Time Records, Inc. is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal. It was established in 1983 and specialises mostly in jazz and blues...
in 1992. He has also appeared as a sideman on saxophonist Dave Turners albums Live - Thank You For Your Hospitality and The Pulse Brothers that are available on DSM Records. He has also been the subject of two documentaries by Mary Ellen David
Awards
- 1996: Oscar Peterson Prix De Jazz Award, Montreal Jazz FestivalFestival International de Jazz de MontréalThe Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is an annual jazz festival held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Jazz Fest holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world's largest jazz festival...