July 20, 2023
Doors 7:30pm
Show 8pm
$20/PWYC
Mellifluence came into existence and was active in the Toronto area in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, playing club dates, concerts as well as Toronto Jazz and Niagara Music festivals among others. In 2001 the band (woodwinds, piano, bass, drums) released their album “State of Mind” which featured original compositions by Paul Pacanowski and Stuart Steinhart. After a period of dormancy it came back as Mellifluence Trio with Paul Pacanowski on keyboard and woodwinds, Mark Dunn on bass and Mike McClelland on drums. The band plays lots of original material with frequent forays into classical and folk music.
Canadian reed player and composer Paul Pacanowski is a Polish born, Toronto based freelance musician. After receiving his M.A. in performance from Fr. Chopin Academy in Warsaw, Paul further continued his studies in Darmstadt, Germany focusing on contemporary music. Coming to Canada in 1983 Paul studied composition with J. Wyzuty and Samuel Dolin. A versatile musician, Paul has performed with symphony orchestras, big bands, jazz bands, chamber music ensembles, studio and theatre pit bands and many others. With interests in both classical and jazz music, Paul has appeared in clubs and festivals in Europe and North America. You will primarily see Paul on saxophones, flute, clarinet and piano, but any instrument that will help express the musical idea of the moment may be called into play. He has led his own jazz groups, performing mostly his own music and many original compositions have been performed with symphonies, in concerts and numerous jazz festivals. He has also released five CD albums featuring his own music. Paul has worked for the Toronto Board of Education as an itinerant band music instructor and a faculty member at The Royal Conservatory of Music. He is also an organist and choir director at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Bramalea. Paul is a recipient of scholarships from the Chopin Academy of Music (Warsaw, Poland), Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC and Indiana University School of Music.
Mark Dunn started formal lessons on piano at age 6. When he reached high school he started playing professionally on saxophone, then took up electric and double bass. He studied music performance and arranging at Mohawk College in Hamilton, and graduated in 1990. He has been active in the Toronto area music scene since 2001. He has appeared at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Peterborough Jazz Festival, TD Niagara Jazz Festival, in addition to pop and rock festivals in the US and the UK. He has studied with Marc Johnson in New York, and Joel Quarrington in Orford, QC.
Drummer Mike McClelland was born in London, Ontario. He is one of Canada’s great drummers. He has CD’s with Rob Carrol, Del Deko, Sean Bray, Andrew Bonniwell, Paul Pacanowski, Bobby Fenton Trio and Fourth Inversion. The numerous local musicians Mike has played with include Moe Koffman, Don Thompson, Guido Basso, Jane Bunnett, Ed Bickert, Pat LaBarbera. He has also played with many American musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, and James Carter among others.
Paul’s compositions are featured on these five CD albums: RSP Jazz Quartet, The Other Trio, Mellifluence, Prayerful Thoughts, Music For The Time Being.
