Biography
“Shirantha Beddage brings fresh ideas to the mainstream world and comes highly recommended.”
— Cadence Magazine
“Beddage has a well-developed identity on the demanding baritone, playing with real power…”
— The Whole Note Magazine
“…An example of what a powerful and modern bari tone could be… (Identity) has some of the hippest grooves I’ve heard on a jazz album in a while…”
— modernbarisax.com
JUNO-nominated baritone saxophonist Shirantha Beddage (pronounced Shur-RAN-tha BED-da-gay) is a nationally recognized performer, composer and educator. He has performed extensively across the United States and Canada, and he currently performs and records with his own quartet as well as bands led by Nancy Walker, Alex Dean, Mike Downes and Bruce Cassidy. 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 Toronto’s Humber College, where he now serves as head of Theory and Harmony in the Music department. He was previously Director of Jazz Studies at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music (Columbus, Georgia, USA).
Shirantha Beddage’s new CD, Identity (2012) is available now on Addo Records. The critically acclaimed album was recently nominated for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year at the 2013 JUNO Awards. The recording features a mix of musicians from Toronto and New York, including Dave Restivo (piano), Nathan Eklund (trumpet), Mike Downes (bass), Mark Kelso and Larnell Lewis (drums). Shirantha’s first album, Roots and Branches, was released in 2007 on Jazz Excursion Records.
For more information, please visit www.shiranthabeddage.com
PRESS
Interview on CBC Fresh Air with Mary Ito, February 2013 (click link and scroll down)
Review of Identity in The Whole Note Magazine, March 2013
Review of “Roots and Branches” in Cadence magazine, 2007 (PDF)