On Even Canadians Get The Blues, the legendary Canadian valve-trombonist, master arranger, and multi-Grammy-winning big band architect Rob McConnell leads his powerhouse orchestra, The Boss Brass, into a towering, historically luminous, and masterfully panoramic blues exploration. Released in 1996 by the premier vanguard jazz imprint Concord Jazz, this monumental milestone stands as an exceptionally fluid, high-octane monument capturing Canada's definitive premier large ensemble at the absolute height of their late-career tracking synchronization. Spanning over 66 minutes of immaculate high-fidelity spatial design, the 9-track expansive landscape operates with an intense, beautifully syncopated, and masterfully balanced brass-and-reed kinetic energy. McConnell acts as a brilliant sonic visionary, framing sophisticated, world-renowned horn section counterpoint and deep mainstream pocket grooves—tracking spectacular landmarks like the hard-swinging opener Blue Tag, the lively, Herman-esque title track showcase Even Canadians Get The Blues, the lushly orchestrated woodwind features on The Clarinet Is Black And Blue, and the sprawling, high-voltage jam vehicle The Shuffle Blues Swamp Groove Blue. Backed by an all-star pantheon of Canadian session titans, this pristine archive remains an indispensable masterpiece for serious big band purists and large ensemble jazz collectors worldwide.

After hooking up with the Concord label in 1977, Rosemary Clooney had a renaissance. On this enjoyable set, she interprets ten of Irving Berlin's songs (including a couple of obscurities) with fine backup from a swinging septet that includes tenorman Scott Hamilton, cornetist Warren Vache, both Chris Flory and Ed Bickert on guitars and pianist John Oddo. Highlights include "Be Careful, It's My Heart," "Cheek to Cheek," "The Best Thing for You Would Be Me" and "What'll I Do."

42 at the time, guitarist Ed Bickert (who had been a top Canadian studio musicians since the late '50s) finally had an opportunity to lead his own record date in 1975; fortunately, there would be many more. The cool-toned guitarist sounds fine on six sophisticated standards (including "Come Rain or Come Shine," "When Sunny Gets Blue" and "It Might as Well Be Spring") with two other versatile Canadian players, bassist Don Thompson and drummer Terry Clarke. Subtle and lightly swinging music.