“From the roots of Jazz, he’s created branches for his saxophone conversations that reach out. Shirantha Beddage brings fresh ideas to the mainstream world and comes highly recommended.”
— Jim Santella, Cadence Magazine, August 2007; see the full review here.
“Shirantha Beddage may have been born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, but he has absorbed American jazz with the enthusiasm and insight of a New Orleans native… Has a huge sound on the saxophone…”
— Ron Netsky, City Newspaper, Rochester NY USA)
“Beddage plays baritone sax with a distinctive, highly lyrical style…”
— Forrest Dylan Bryant, fojazz.com
Shirantha Beddage is a nationally recognized baritone saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator. He is the Director of Theory and Harmony in the Music department of Humber College (Toronto, Canada), where he teaches courses in Contemporary Music Theory and Improvisation, Ear Training, Ensemble and Private Lessons. He was previously Director of Jazz Studies at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia (USA). He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (D.M.A.) in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, New York), a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University (New Jersey) and a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College.
He has performed and recorded with numerous jazz groups in North America, and is a sought-after clinician at regional and national festivals including Musicfest Canada, where he serves as Vice-Chairman of Instrumental Jazz. Shirantha’s solo album, Roots and Branches, featuring his original compositions, is distributed internationally through Jazz Excursion Records and Itunes. His forthcoming album, Identity, is due for release in Fall 2012.
Download Shirantha Beddage bio - PDF, DOC
Publications
Contributing author, Jazz Pedagogy: A Canadian Perspective (1st and 2nd ed.)
(Creative Canadian Jazz Voice, 2006); available through Jamey Aebersold Jazz