Lenny Solomon
Encyclopedia
Lenny Solomon is a Canadian jazz
, pop
, and classical
violin
ist and composer
. An active studio musician, he has performed on hundreds of recordings and soundtracks, including albums by Nigel Kennedy
, Anne Murray
, and John McDermott
. He has also recorded two of his own jazz albums: After You've Gone and The Gershwin Sessions. He has appeared as a guest soloist with a number of orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
, and has served as concertmaster
for a variety of theatrical entertainments. He has been awarded The Jazz Report 's annual Violinist Of The Year award three times.
Solomon was born in Toronto. A pupil of violinists Albert Pratz
and Steven Staryk
, Solomon co-founded the Canadian folk-pop music group "Myles and Lenny
" in 1969 with Myles Cohen. He was actively performing and recording with the group during most of the 1970s, and in 1976 they won a Juno Award
. In 1982 he formed the pop string quintet Quintessence
with guitarist Bill Bridges. He made a couple recordings with that ensemble for Duke Street Records
and also toured with them throughout Canada during the 1980s.
During the 1990s, Solomon was actively touring with two trios: the Lenny Solomon Trio, which was dedicated to jazz violin, and The Galaxy Trio, a group which blended classical and jazz styles. He formed the latter group in 1997 with violinist Moshe Hammer
and pianist Bernie Senensky. In 2000 he founded the violin ensemble Bowfire
which made its debut performance at Expo 2000
. That same year he establed the chamber group Trio Norté. He currently remains active performing and recording with both groups.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. An active studio musician, he has performed on hundreds of recordings and soundtracks, including albums by Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy is a British born violinist and violist. He made his early career in the classical field, and he has performed and recorded most of the major violin concerti...
, Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
, and John McDermott
John McDermott
John McDermott may refer to:*John McDermott , American athlete*John McDermott , former Grimsby Town footballer*John McDermott , former Meath Gaelic footballer*John McDermott , British boxer...
. He has also recorded two of his own jazz albums: After You've Gone and The Gershwin Sessions. He has appeared as a guest soloist with a number of orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
, and has served as concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
for a variety of theatrical entertainments. He has been awarded The Jazz Report 's annual Violinist Of The Year award three times.
Solomon was born in Toronto. A pupil of violinists Albert Pratz
Albert Pratz
Albert Pratz was a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator. He was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967. His compositional output was modest and consists of only instrumental works...
and Steven Staryk
Steven Staryk
Steven Sam Staryk, OC is a Canadian violin virtuoso.Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada of Ukrainian descent, he began his musical education as a child at the Harbord Collegiate Institute...
, Solomon co-founded the Canadian folk-pop music group "Myles and Lenny
Myles and Lenny
Myles and Lenny were a Canadian folk-pop music group most active during the 1970s. The Toronto-based group was formed in 1969 by its principal members, Myles Cohen and Lenny Solomon and by 1972 was signed to GRT Records...
" in 1969 with Myles Cohen. He was actively performing and recording with the group during most of the 1970s, and in 1976 they won a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
. In 1982 he formed the pop string quintet Quintessence
Quintessence
Quintessence, literally fifth essence , can refer to:-Science:* Aether , the fifth classical element after earth, fire, water, and air...
with guitarist Bill Bridges. He made a couple recordings with that ensemble for Duke Street Records
Duke Street Records
Duke Street Records was a Canadian independent record label. The label was established in 1984 by Andrew Hermant and ceased operations in 1994. The Universal Music Group took over the label when it disappeared....
and also toured with them throughout Canada during the 1980s.
During the 1990s, Solomon was actively touring with two trios: the Lenny Solomon Trio, which was dedicated to jazz violin, and The Galaxy Trio, a group which blended classical and jazz styles. He formed the latter group in 1997 with violinist Moshe Hammer
Moshe Hammer
Moshe Hammer is a Canadian violinist. Since 1997 he has been an active member of The Galaxy Trio with violinist Lenny Solomon and pianist Bernie Senensky.Hammer was born in Budapest, raised in Israel, and became a Canadian citizen in 1975....
and pianist Bernie Senensky. In 2000 he founded the violin ensemble Bowfire
Bowfire
Bowfire is a Canadian musical show featuring multiple violins, established in June 2000 by violinist and composer Lenny Solomon. They perform an eclectic mix of classical music, jazz, bluegrass music, celtic music, rock music, and world music....
which made its debut performance at Expo 2000
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
. That same year he establed the chamber group Trio Norté. He currently remains active performing and recording with both groups.