Howard Rees is a Canadian jazz pianist"Jazzing up the lives of Toronto kids". PostCity, By Michelle Ervin. January 12, 2010 and educator. He has performed with jazz musicians Charles McPherson,"Art of Jazz Celebration 2006" . Jazz Times, May 23, 2006, By Willard Jenkins Ray Drummond, Barry Harris, Akira Tana, Leroy Williams,"Jazz Legends Shine at Toronto’s Art of Jazz Celebration". Jazz Elements, by Carol Sokoloff Earl May, Kenny Burrell and Jaki Byard. He is the founder of Canada's oldest independent jazz school,"Jazz project gives inner-city kids a chance". Canadian Jewish News, By Jordan Adler, February 3, 2014 the "Howard Rees' Jazz Workshops", and continues to teach in Canada and abroad.
Early life and education Rees apprenticed with the jazz pianist Barry Harris from 1978 to 1984 in New York City."Jazz program helps students find confidence". thestar.com. 17 January 2009.
Career In 1984, Rees founded the "Howard Rees' Jazz Workshops", a Toronto-based jazz school. The school, which has attracted over 2,500 students from around the world, is Canada's oldest independent jazz school.
In 2005 Rees cofounded the Toronto organization Art of Jazz."Jane Bunnett". The Canadian Encyclopedia."'Saints' march in for T.O. jazz festival". The Globe and Mail. As a member of its board of directors,"What is this thing called Jazz?". The Whole Note, June 7, 2006, page 16, by Cathy Riches, he helped plan the Art of Jazz Celebration, an annual event which takes place at The Distillery on Toronto. He also helped to develop the Art of Jazz Community Voices, a 240-member choral group of young jazz singers, which gave a performance at Music Hall Theatre, and later at Roy Thomson Hall, in 2011."Concert Reviews: Children of Song". Jazz Review. He also directs the Toronto Jazz Chorus."Cecilia Monte Open Air" . Cashbox Canada, Album reviews. 09/14/2012
In 2008, Rees founded the "We Are One Jazz Project", a mentorship project that matches master musicians with children from lower income neighbourhoods. Through a partnership with the Toronto District School Board, students ages 9–12 attend weekly rehearsals, an finally take part in a public performance at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts, featuring a 400-voice children's choir, a big band, a string section, and a number of guest artists.. by David Fujino"Instruments of change", The Toronto Star, John Terauds Nov 28 2009 In 2018 WAO (We Are One) has launched We Are One BELLEVILLE with the concert for the 2018-19 year being at Centennial Secondary School (Belleville, Ontario).
About 300 children participate in the We Are One Jazz Project each year.The Scarborough Mirror. "ISSUU - February 8 North by The Scarborough Mirror". Issuu."We Are One concert teams local youth with jazz legend". insidetoronto.com.
Publications and online instruction Rees has published several instructional volumes and videos about Harris' method."The Barry Harris workshop video [Part 1]". WorldCat. Live Music Report, January 8, 2009, Earl Haig Secondary School, Toronto. A report by David Fujino
In 2011, Rees launched the website "Jazz School Online", featuring over 200 video lessons."Contrapuntal Improvisation: Recommended resources". by Neil Olmstead "Berklee Today". berklee.edu.
References
External links Howard Rees' Jazz Workshops We Are One Jazz Project Jazz School Online