“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 Toronto’s Humber College, 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). In 2007, he earned one of the first Doctoral degrees in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He has also obtained a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University (NJ, USA) and a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College.
He has performed and recorded with numerous jazz groups in the United States and Canada, 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.
Download Shirantha Beddage bio - PDF, DOC
Publications
Contributing author, Jazz Pedagogy: A Canadian Perspective
(Creative Canadian Jazz Voice, 2006); available through Jamey Aebersold Jazz