Bernie Turcotte Praise For Ross Wooldridge

Bernie Turcotte is a Music Consultant (retired) for the Ontario Ministry of Education for Toronto and Central Ontario Region,  Executive Director of the IAJE Canada (International Association of Jazz Educators), and Past President of the OMEA (Ontario Music Educators Association)


July 7th, 2012 - ROSS WOOLDRIDGE IS THE BEST JAZZ CLARINETIST THAT CANADA HAS EVER PRODUCED.........AMEN! I was at the CD release party at the Rex and enjoyed the music immensely but the noise level in that room and the sound system are not flattering to the clarinet sound so I bought the CD and after several listenings, this CD is a treasure. It is a wonderful snapshot of music in the exciting swing era.

Ross pushes the envelope by exploring parts of the instrument that Benny could only dream about...yet staying true to the excitement and gregarious energy required to make this very lively swinging music happen. Although Tribute albums can be a PITA this one isn't because Ross really does the research and goes after the detail that has to be mastered to create a semblance of remembered reality of a bygone period.

I have several BG tributes CDs by Buddy DeFranco, Eddie Daniels and of course Peanuts Hucko but Ross' is the best! Oh and check out Don Thompson playing in Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo's territory...he does it all...then Danny McErlain on Piano is not a replica player but he sure understands the elegance of Teddy Wilson and contributes much the way Teddy did in BG's various groups.....CONGRATULATIONS ROSS ON A PROJECT THAT HAS HAD SUPERLATIVE RESULTS!...You make all of us lesser clarinetists proud indeed and we thank you for that!