You can find more of my professional credentials at the bottom of this page (if you’re interested); but here are some of my personal details –
I was born in Toronto, Ontario in the spring of 1951 to Joyce and Keith Jarvis.

My father’s family had been in Upper Canada since before confederation and his forebears included one Sheriff Jarvis, who put down the William Lyon Mackenzie rebellion of 1837 at the southern foot of the street that still bears his name. The Jarvis’s were involved in Toronto law enforcement ever since. My Grandad was one of Toronto’s mounted police force and I will always remember looking way up to him, dressed in his black uniform astride his huge black steed. His son Keith would become a Doctor of Chiropractics and helped build the first Chiropractic College during his summer vacation. It was his idea to move out of the city to a small town which didn’t already have a naturopathic doctor to set up his practise. So it was that I got to grow up in the town of Orangeville rather than being a city kid like my cousins. (for which I am truly thankful)
My mother came to Canada from England with her entire family in the early 30’s – thinking they were on their way to British Columbia. It wasn’t till they disembarked at Toronto that they realized the extent of the new country they’d landed in, and decided to make their home there instead of journeying further west. It would be up to me to continue their trek and discover the West Coast in 1979. It was always a treat for me to visit with the British relatives for holidays and enjoy old-world Christmas traditions, like mince tarts and fruit cake with custard.

Our home in Orangeville was right at the edge of one of the new subdivisions on the north side of town – there were cows on the other side of a cedar-rail fence that would occasionally cross over to visit our back yard, I remember my mother chasing them off with a broom more than once. We had a 2 story house on a terraced lot with a big parking lot, driveway and dad’s office on the ground floor. Upstairs was our living area with a back deck and many trees and much lawn cover (which I would end up mowing for hours every summer)
My dad played piano but not by ear – he could play any kind of written music, from classics to ragtime and the piano bench was stuffed with songs by Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Hits of the 30’s and 40’s, spirituals and a few hits of the day (“Purple People Eater” being one of my favourites). Many social evenings were spent with my parent’s friends standing around the piano singing harmonies while I sat at his right hand watching the words and singing along. I absorbed a lot of appreciation for the songwriting of his era before I ever heard of rock and roll.
Mom has a beautiful singing voice but didn’t play an instrument until 1968 when she got an electric chord organ – the kind with chord tabs for the left hand like an accordion. I learned the names and sounds of these chords, “Dom 7, Aug 5, and Dim” before I knew how to finger them. Fabulous ear-training and good preparation for writing chord charts.
We always sang songs in the car on trips, I didn’t even know there was a car radio. It was mostly English sing-along pub songs and some of dad’s army tunes. Often I’d be finding the harmonies on my own.

I was encouraged to sing at public functions and joined our church choir at an early age. I was a slow reader but had a good ear so I could fake the melody quietly and learn the parts on first hearing. Over the years, as my voice changed I moved from the descante section of the junior choir, through the tenors and ended up singing with the basses. Thus I got to sing all the parts to all the Carols and the Messiah which we performed every Easter.
I came home from school one day, must have been in grade 6, and set up in my study room here was the most dilapidated drum set I’ve ever seen. It had a big wood-grain, marching bass drum, a snare and hi-hat cymbals so warped they wouldn’t meet when closed. It wasn’t the Ludwig kit I’d been dreaming of (ever since watching Ringo on Ed Sullivan), but it was the entry key to my world of drumming. I played along with my Sandy Nelson records, recording my experiments on an old reel-to-reel tape deck. It was not long after that when dad introduced me to a fellow who played piano for a local country group that was looking for a drummer. So it was that I took on my first gigs with the Rainbow Valley Ramblers, tapping on woodblocks and brushing on my snare drum along with the old-time fiddler and acoustic guitar strummers at square dances and legion halls, making $20 a night and staying up so late on Saturday nights that it was a challenge getting up in time for the Sunday church service. This arrangement went on into my first High School year by which time I’d reinvested my weekend earnings and replaced the beaten up old kit, piece by piece.
Word got around our school that I was a drummer now, and I was invited to an audition with some school mates to play in an R+B band. We grew into a 6 -piece group with 3 guitarists. We called ourselves “Chapter Six” and played almost every song by the “Ugly Ducklings” (a Toronto Rock Band we admired). Finally I was playing music I liked with kids my own age – we were still too young to work in bars, but we could book a community hall out in the country on a Friday night, colour our own hand-made posters and hire a bouncer to keep the big tough kids and drinkers in line (mostly). About his time I gave up trying to make it to church in Sunday, although I still joined in for Christmas carolling .
By the time I finished grade 13 our six piece group had splintered into a trio playing the latest songs by Cream, Hendrix and Blue Cheer, and I’d begun penning some original lyrics which were adapted into song format by Dave on guitar and vocals by Brian. My own vocal stylings were too sweet for the volume we played, although I did add a credible cover of “Wind Cries Mary” and added harmonies wherever appropriate.

After finishing grade 13, I’d become a fairly seasoned player (so I thought) and in the summer of 1970, when it was time to quit Orangeville, I was invited to join the remnants of a band out on a farm in the next county. So began my serious musical journeymanship with the up-and-coming prog-folk group “Spott Farm” where I would spend the next 5 years, learning music theory, honing the craft of original songwriting and arranging for the group, studying with a jazz drum teacher (the band sponsored private lessons for all of us in lieu of pay) and meeting some guiding lights we would encounter as a warm-up act for Perth County Conspiracy, Luke Gibson, Edward Bear, and The Stampeders.
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Perth County Express (does not exhaust)
Waterloo 1976
in 1975 I was adopted into the collective: Perth County Conspiracy (does not exist), a loosely organised troupe of musicians and artists performing at the Black Swan Coffee House in Stratford Ont, with concerts
and Festivals across the country
It ‘s a wonderful ride in this fascinating world of artists and creators. I’m indebted to everyone who had the patience and tolerance to help me learn what I needed to know so I could do the next thing. The exactly right teacher always seems to appear just when I’m ready for that lesson.
I trust this amazing adventure will continue for as long as I’m breathing air.
APPRECIATIONS –A partial listing of some family members, friends and colleagues who have helped guide my journey. (in order of appearance):
Keith Jarvis – Doctor of Chiropractics, Pianist, Inventor (my father) Decided that I would grow up un-vaccinated or inoculated. Encouraged my musical development and bought my first set of drums. He was a great outdoorsman and took us out boating and camping every summer – taught me fencing, ju-jitsu and how to use and respect a rifle
Joyce Jarvis – Legal Secretary, Court Stenographer (my mother). A fan of the Big Bands, kept an impressive collection of 78’s: so I would grow up listening to Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and the Andrew Sisters. She once brought home two books of Lenny Bruce for me to read, and later the BAND’s Brown album.
Annie and Albert Shackleton – (descendants of the explorer Earnest Shackleton) Florists and transmitters of Old English folk songs – my Great Aunt and Uncle. Auntie Annie also conducted séances, (only for the immediate family), and introduced me at an early age to departed relatives I had not had the opportunity to meet while living. I remain open-minded about the “unknown”
Max Braithewaite – Author and Neighbour – encouraged my early attempts at journalism. The Braithewaite house was home to quite a few of us neighbourhood friends. Their children had a separate suite in the house where we could turn out the lights, burn incense and listen to the Doors and Dave Brubeck, fairly loud.
Brian VanNorman – Neighbour, band-mate and mentor,
singer in my early rock bands. Now a successful author – in 1970 he introduced me to the Spott Farm band (a major fork in my road)
Ms Donna Douglas – Neighbour – Cultural Leader. When I was just a youngster she and other Sunset Dr teens would put on variety shows in their garage for the neighbourhood kids. Charged us a nickel to watch them sing “We’ll Have These Moments to Remember” and other hits of the day.
Mr Lindsay Jelly – Music teacher through all of my public school years – Took us all into the gym to listen to the 1812 Overture on the big sound system. Picked me out of our grade 5 class to join the church’s junior choir where I would eventually learn to sing all the parts to most of the Christmas Carols and Handel’s Messiah.
Mr. W. Smith – Vice principal at Princess Elizabeth Public School – Teacher grade 7 & 8. All his students learned to sew and dance. Taught us sock-darning and polkas, square dancing. Enlisted me as part of a step-dancing troupe that went on to intramural competitions.
JP Marley – English Teacher grades 12 -13. Departed from the traditional curriculum by suggesting we should all read 1984. Also loaned out his personal copy of Brave New World. Made T.S. Eliot comprehensible.
Gordon Harding (and family) Lead the local Wolf Cubs/Boy Scout troupe (Akela!) Taught us knots, camping skills and floor hockey. Promoted me to assistant scout master.
Vince Mountford – M.C. at nearly all local social functions. Corny but fun fellow with a handlebar moustache. Mr. Entertainment and generally eccentric character. Presided over the talent shows at Rock Hill Park where I made regular appearances on a floating stage many summer Sunday nights.
The Rainbow Valley Ramblers – Country band with old-time fiddler, hired me as a drummer (age 12) to play square dances and legion halls. My first taste of the music biz. I earned $20 a night!
Dave Scott – Free being and ace guitarist – band mate since 1967. Loaned me his “Bob Dylan – Hwy 61” and “Otis Redding” albums. Sold me my first guitar – an Electric Aria 12 string. We hitch-hiked all over south Ontario.
Brenda Baker – Author and schoolmate. We sang Simon and Garfunkle songs together while she played guitar. I learned to play finger picking, folk guitar from her.
J.R. (Rick) Hutt – Keyboard player for Spott Farm – taught me intervalic theory and harmony. Encouraged my early songwriting efforts. We co-wrote and arranged several songs including the first Spott Farm single. We lived communally and played together from 1970-75.
Cedric Smith – Actor, musician co-founder Perth County Conspiracy. Engaged Spott Farm as back-up band on several concerts – 1970. Took me on as Musical Director for the Musical/Historical Pageant play “The Road to Chalottetown” by Milton Acorn
Mike Pihura – Symphony percussionist, Jazz Drummer – My drum instructor 1971-74 – told me to forget everything I’d done before starting lessons. Got me working the rudiments, reading notation, classical snare technique and 4 way co-ordination.
Douglas Jamieson – Composer and conductor – engaged me for several projects with KW Symphony players. Turned me on to Neo-Classical composers. Loaned me records of Bartok, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Orff and Ravel.
Luke Gibson – Rock and Blues singer turned folkie – Founding member of early Toronto prog band “Kensington Market” Invited me up north to Killaloe to play in his big band.
Bob Burchill – (Perth County Conspiracy) took me to my first recording sessions outside of Spott Farm. Made me a touring member of the troupe at Folk Festivals and house drummer at the Black Swan Coffee House, Stratford Ont, where I would also meet and play with Brent Titcomb, Beverly Glenn Copeland, Richard Keelan and George Taros (musical director for HAIR in Toronto) who would in turn introduce me to – >
Nadia Pavlychenko – Modern Dance Instructor, Choreographer, studied with Martha Graham – took me on as company rehearsal musician and composer. Introduced me to Tibetan Master, Kala Rimpoche.
Terry Jones – another PCConspirator whose humorous stage patter would lead into his songs of great sensitivity. Along with David Woodhead played many dates as a folk-pop trio and sessions with Cedric Smith.
David Woodhead – multi-instrumentalist virtuoso and sterling character – accompanied me as a rhythm section for many folk artists and beyond to the west coast where we continued as ISLAND.
John Wyre – TSO tympanist and founder of NEXUS percussion ensemble. Extended an invitation for me to visit his studio, a wonderland of ethnic percussion instruments. Showed me his hand-drawn colourful scores for his compostions, and played me a preview of the Nexus Soundtrack for the movie “The Man who Skied Down Everest”
Milton Acorn (the People’s Poet) – A radical character and true poet/visionary. Toured with us in the workshop version of Road to Charlottetown Musical which he had written with music by Cedric Smith.
Steven Bush (and THOG) – Dramaturge, actor – hired me and George Taros as “Court Musicians” and co-composers for the musical King Lear. Non-traditional Shakespearean theatre company.
Stan Rogers – A true troubadour – a delight to work with and record for, I’m still singing his songs. It was while playing with Stan and Garnet Rogers that we caught the ear of …
Noel Harrison – One of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Festivals, Concerts and recording for his album “My Henley Songs” – Hosted me at his home in Middleton Nova Scotia.
Susan Cogan – well-known in Israel as half of the foksinging duo “Susan and Fran”, helped me in running the coffee house “Irene’s Goodnight” in Markham Ont. We played many shows together over the years, as a band or duo. She has recorded 5 of my original songs, which were released on CDs on her own label: Nomad Music
Brent Titcomb – funny man and serious singer. Totally healing experience just hanging around with him. Many concerts, recordings, TV and coffee house shows. Instrumental in having David Woodhead and I travel to Vancouver to play with him at his Q. E. Theatre concert, (recorded by CBC) – I’ve stayed on the west coast ever since.
David Amram – composer, conductor, musicologist – met him at Mariposa where I was on the recording team. A finger-popping beatnik, utterly charming fellow, who was doing the folk festival circuit, playing guitar, various ethnic instruments and French horn. Invited me onstage for his feature set and later at the Riverboat coffee house Toronto.
Pied Pear / Pied Pumkin – Rick Scott and Joe Mock – together and separately gave us a taste of the West Coast experience when they hit the Ontario Festival Circuit in ‘75-’76. Zany and engaging performers who made us all fall in love with them. After 1979, when I’d become a West Coaster myself. I recorded and played with them both together and separately.
Paul Gellman – pianist and violin with Perth County Conspiracy, accomplished singer-songwriter. We met in 1975 and performed together in Richard Keelan’s Spiral Band. He invited David Woodhead and I to form the folk-jazz trio ISLAND. Led us to Gabriola Island and along a very merry trail of boogies and concerts across the Gulf Islands and into the Kootenays.
Bob Carpenter – Whom I’d met in Cabbagetown, Toronto; but didn’t really get to know till he hired me to play for his Sunshine Coast-based band in 1980. A songwriter whose work has been admired and widely covered. It was a rare treat to perform with him and hear his music and words first-hand. His tribute concert recording “Bob’s Benefit I produced and released in 2019 can be found on the MUSIC page here -> https://jeromejarvis.com/music/
Martin Bartlett – Composer, Professor at SFU – allowed me to audit his electronic music course. Led me to discover John Cage, Alvin Lucier, and other experimental composers.
Dr Robert Harper – Professor of psychology at SFU – Invited me to audit his lectures on “Altered States of Consciousness” and “Non-Verbal Communication”, became my faculty advisor for a credited, directed study to help me record, produce and direct my Sci-Fi Musical “OUT THERE” – He was instrumental in shaping many of my crazier ideas.
Ian McConkey – classical guitarist turned singer-songwriter, who ran the Studio Acoustica concert series near UBC Vancouver, where I was taken in as resident recordist/producer and drummer on a series of projects including several “Painters and Players” Live Art Events and “the “World of Music Orchestra”
Michael Malcolm – one of the artists in residence at Studio Acoustica who also had a fantastic singing style. Recorded several of my songs for various projects and staged his own “Live Art Shows” where I would improvise soundscapes to accompany his painting.
Jennifer Maskell – Choreographer, Dance Instructor – A unique dancer with her own style and a troupe of fabulous students. Took me on as her regular accompanist.
Jack Velker – R+B/Jazz pianist-singer – led a shifting line-up at semi-regular Sunday Soul Services at various locations around Vancouver for years. A soulful singer and inspiring bandleader, who would come up with occasional tuxedo gigs for good pay. A treat to play with, Jack always raised the spirits of audience and players alike.
Valdy – the folksinger’s folksinger – a Canadian icon, awarded Order of Canada medal, frequently showed up at jams on Saltspring island with his old Fender Bass on which he was quite accomplished. A joy to perform with in any setting.
And
Further appreciation is due to these Abiding Influences – Mentors unmet who shaped my idea of what is GOOD
(in approximate order of appearance) :
George Formby, Al Jolson, Spike Jones, Fantasia (the movie and all composers of the music therein), Red Skelton, Johannes Brahms, Franz List, Irving Berlin, The Dorsey Bros, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Harpo Marx, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Jerome Kern, Judy Garland, Salvador Dali, The Beatles, Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Tony Bennet, Diana Ross, Donovan, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Al Green,
Ian Fleming, Albert Einstein, The Smothers Brothers, Frank Zappa, Lenny Bruce, Otis Redding, Joni Mitchell,
The Who, Mamas and Papas, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clark, Stanley Kubrik, Buffalo Springfield, Ravi Shankar, Leonard Cohen, TS Eliot, Maurice Ravel, Bela Bartok, JS Bach, Chuck Berry, Ogden Nash, Claude Monet, Ella Fitzgerald, Marshall McLuhan, Carol King, James Taylor, Miles Davis, Carl Sagan, The Band, King Crimson, Yes, Vasli Kandinski, Genesis, Ram Dass, Weather Report, Chick Correa, Bob Marley, Dave Sim, Steven Sondheim, John Cage, Steve Reich,Dan Simmons, Piet Mondrian, Stephen Hawking, Laurie Anderson, Blue Men Group, Jo Hamilton, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jacob Collier, Aaron Sorkin, and of course, my guru ji
CREDITS and CREDENTIALS
Formal Education
Grade 13 Arts and Science – honours– Collingwood Collegiate. 1970 Jazz Drumming / Music Theory; Kitchener Ont. 1971 – 75 Electronic Music, Recording Studio Engineering, Non-Verbal Communication, Directed Study in Theatre Production. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC. 1983 – 85 Vocal Technique with Nikolai Koleznikov, (Former Director Moscow State Opera) Burnaby, BC 1991 Massage Therapy (certificate 1995) Healing Bodywork , Vancouver BC Meditation Teacher Training (certificate 2005) International Meditation Insitute, Kullu India. |
Session Drummer – album credits
Stan Rogers – “Fogerty’s Cove”, 1976
Noel Harrison– “Mount Henley”, 1976
Bob Burchill– “Cabin Fever”, 1975 – “Will I Ever Get to Heaven”, 1976 –
“Too Blue”, 1981
Cedric Smith & Terry Jones (from Perth County Conspiracy) 1976. “Ten Lost Years (and then some)”
Don Xaliman – “In Sublime Hobbyhood” 1981
Susan Cogan – “Space Age Primitives” 1991 – (co-producer) “Gypsy Hill” 1996 “Lady Slipper”, 2001 – “Nine Goddess Tales” (contributor original material)
Pied Pear – “Elementary”, 1993
Peeter Prince – “From the Heart of a Lion”, 1994
Rick Scott – “Rick Around the Rock 1984”.- Philharmonic Fool 1990,- “Cahoots” 1984 (released 2013)
Valdy and assorted artists- “Bob’s Benefit” 1995 -released 2019 (producer)
Concert Highlights
Perth County Conspiracy (dne) , Massey Hall, 1975 Toronto,
Harbourfront, Toronto, 1995
Concert for Amnesty International, OISE 1976 Toronto,
Stan Rogers, Folk Festivals, Ontario 1975 – 76 – drums
Luke Gibson, Folk Festivals in Ontario 1975 – 76 – drums, vocals
Island, Touring in BC 1978 – 80
drums, percussion, mandolin, vocals, pennywhistle
Valdy, Market Square, Victoria, BC 1980 – drums, vocals
Bob Carpenter, Powell River Folk Festival, Powell River BC 1980 – 1984
drums, vocals
Patricia Conroy, Touring in BC 1983 – 85, drums and vocals
Travellon Gamellon, Expo ’86, Vancouver, BC 1986
(amplified bicycle percussion ensemble)
Flamenco Heresy, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Vancouver, BC 1990
-timbales, percussion
Opah Ihi Alla and Alpha Ya Ya Diallo – Royal Theatre Victoria BC (with Victoria Symphony Orchestra) Commonwealth Games Concert 1992
Vancouver Jazz Festival, Vancouver, BC 1992-’93
Harrison Arts Festival, Harrison Hot Springs, BC 1993
World of Music Orchestra, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Vancouver, BC 1992 – drums, percussion, vocals
Solid Space, Station Street Art Centre, Vancouver, BC 1994
guitar, vocals, keyboards, original compositions
CNMNE, Glass Slipper, Vancouver, BC 1995
drums, percussion, guitar, spoken word
Kindred Spirits with Valdy, Various locations BC 1995 – drums
J & B, First Night, Vancouver, BC 2001 – mandolin, pennywhistle, vocals
David Woodhead with Oliver Schroer – Festival of Friends, Hamilton, Ont. 2001 – drums
David Essig: Festival of Friends, Hamilton, Ont. 2001 – drums
Island Revival: – Axis Gallery, Toronto 2006 – Nanaimo Marine Festival BC 2013 – drums, percussion, vocalsJerome (solo) – Deep Cove Coffee House, Sechelt Arts Festival , Cates Park – 2018 – guitar, vocals, original songs
Radio / Television Appearances
Milt Conway Show, CKVU TV, SInging selections from Bye Bye Birdie, Barrie, Ont. 1969
Jim Beardon, Rogers Cable TV, “Here’s Looking at You” co-musical director/composer, percussion, vocals. Toronto, Ont. 1975 – 76
Touch the Earth – CBC Radio – Sylvia Tyson host. Drums with:
Bob Webb, Vicky Taylor, Cedric Smith/Terry Jones 1975 – 77
Peter Gzowski – Live TV with Mirth CBC Toronto 1976
Cedric Smith, “The Road to Charlottetown”, PEI, CBC Radio 1977
Brent Titcomb – Music Express, CBC TV Ottawa U ’77, Queen Elizabeth Theatre Vancouver, CBC Radio ‘ 78
Live from the Groaning Board, CHUM FM. Toronto 1977
Island – Live at Harpo’s Cabaret , Music Express CBC TV, Victoria, BC, 1978
Ida Clarkson – CHEK TV, three shows , Guitar, Vocals, Original Songs – Victoria, BC 1978 – 80
Jay North show- CBC, Radio Interview, Inuvik NWT 1985 original songs
Radio Free Rainforest – CFRO Vancouver, selections from “Newspaper Suit Suite” – 1993 – original music
Perth County Conspiracy – CIUT radio interview, Toronto, Ont. 2006
Kensington Market – Cathy Smith – Live on CIUT Radio – Toronto Rock and Roll Revival 50th Anniversary Broadcast. Toronto Ont, 2009 – Drums, mandolin, vocals
Producer/Arranger
Spott Farm; Spott Farm’s Christmas Record, 1974, Mercy Brothers Studio, Elmira, Ont., Co-Author, co-producer, drums, percussion
Bob Burchill; Will I Ever Get to Heaven, 1976 – Waterloo, Ont, co-producer, drums
Island; Island Celebration, 1979, Gulf Wind Sound, Gabriola Island, BC
Co-producer, arranger, drums, percussion, vocals
Jerome Jarvis; Memory Suite, 1979, Gulf Wind Sound, Saltspring , BC
Producer, arranger, composer, drums, vocals
Jerome Jarvis ; Modern Minstrel,1981 Rural Records, Vancouver, BC,
Producer, arranger, vocals, drums, original music
Marianne Gritanni; He’s My Cowboy, 1981, Rural Records, Victoria, BC
Producer, arranger, drums, vocals
Marvin Hiebert; Blue House, 1988, Bullfrog Sound, Vancouver, BC
Co-producer, drums
Jerome Jarvis; Jerome, (solo) 1990 Rural Records, Vancouver, BC,
Producer, arranger, engineer, original music, synths, guitars, percussion, vocals
Susan Cogan; Space Age Primitives, 1987 Gypsy Hill, 1993
Lady Slipper 1995, Nomad Music, Saltspring Island, BC
Co-producer, arranger and contributed original material
Mike Malcolm; M Malcolm , 2004 Rural Records, Vancouver, BC,
Producer, arranger, mandolin, guitars, keyboards, original songs
Heart of the Matter, (assorted artists) 2004 Himalayas, India and
Vancouver, BC – Producer, co-arranger, mandolin, percussion, drums
Tilley Littledale ; Jai Jai Shyam – 2007 Producer, arranger, mandolin, guitars, keyboards, percussion, vocals
SPOTT FARM ; Once Upon A Farm – (compiled from live recordings 1973-’75) released 2009 – re-mastering producer, drums, vocals, guitar, original songs
Timothy Cook – Jazz Harmonica player, arranger / composer – 4 albums which I produced and released on my label “Recordings Unlimited”. ‘Sinner’s Tears’ -‘Hellhound’ – ‘Death Came Howling’ – ‘100 Billion Galaxies’ – 2012-2017
Uncle Steve; “Feed the Hummingbirds” Compilation album of the best of 5 previously released albums of Derek Stephen McPhail – re-mastered complied and produced by J.J. 2016
Recording Engineer
Mariposa Folk Festival, on-site live recordings for archives and LP “Best of Mariposa”, Toronto Island, Toronto 1975 -76
Indigenous Potentials Inc., Vancouver, BC
In-house producer/engineer, percussionist for Studio Acoustica
Sessions with Mike Malcolm, Ian McConkey, Ron Whey and George Segal (actor). 1980 – 1983
Live Theatre / Musical Director
King Lear; Toronto various locations
Co-director with George Koumantaros 1976
Road to Charlottetown; Charlottetown, PEI,
Milton Acorn, Cedric Smith Creators 1976 – 77
Frankenstein; Vancouver, BC Simon Fraser University,
Centre for the Arts and Harbourfront Theatre, Vancouver, BC
Peter Elliot Weiss, playwrite, Sam Rathie director 1984
Journey to the New World; Public Dreams Society, Vancouver, BC
Co-director with Russell Shumsky 1986
Newspaper Suit Suite, Vancouver, BC Studio J
John Moore writer, Antony Van Merlin and Jake Thomas director 1994
The Balcony; Vancouver, BC Studio J
Jake Thomas director 1995
Dance Accompanist – ComposerPavlychenko Dance Troupe; Toronto, Ontario
Rehearsal musician and composer for Dance of Theoslava 1975 – 76
Spectrum Dance Circus, Victoria, BC
Accompanist and composer 1980
Main Dance Place, Vancouver, BC
Resident accompanist for master classes led by Jeannie Robinson, Barbara Bourget, Chick Snippet, Gena Wolfe 1985 – 91
Anna Haltrecht;, Burnaby Arts Centre 1987 – 90
Anna Wyman Academy of Dance, (RAD); Vancouver, BC 1994 – 95
Jennifer Maskell; Maskell Dance, Vancouver, BC 1996
Dance of India (in 3 movements) commissioned work for Norwegian Royal Opera House and School of Dance, Choreographer Suzanne Ims. Original composition, recording engineer, producer. Playing tamboura, percussion, mandolin, keyboards. Performed inOslo Norway 2008
Board of Directors
Kitchener/Waterloo Musicians Co-op; Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario 1973
Inter-Island Performing Arts Co-operation Society; Founding President
Saltspring, BC 1980 – 81
Gulf Environmental Emergency Response Team ; BC 1987
Monstrous Saints Theatre Company; Vancouver, BC 1994 – 95
Master of Ceremonies
Down to Earth Festival; Aberfoyle, Ontario 1975 – 76
Avalon Fair; Renaissance Festival, Saltspring Island, BC 1987
Last Annual Mutants Ball; Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC 1988
Poetry Corner; (Series Host) Saltspring Island, BC 1995 – 96
Interdisciplinary Activities
Wet Paint; live art shows; music and soundscapes live painting performance, with Michael Malcolm, Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC and various locations. 1984 – 2006
Newspaper Suit Suite; (excerpts) performance poetry with musical accompaniment – Sonic Boom Composer Series, Glass Slipper, Western Front, Vancouver, BC 1993- ’94
Tongue of the Slip; spoken word performance series,
musical accompaniment for poetry readings with CNMNE; collabotations with bill bissett, Sheri D Wilson, Mary Lou Williamson, Glass Slipper,
Vancouver, BC 1995