We are saddened by the loss of a great friend of jazz, Jim Galloway who passed away December 30th at the age of 78.
Jim was a world class clarinettist and saxophonist, a founder of the Toronto Jazz Festival and a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Born in Scotland, he attended the Glasgow School of Fine Arts before emigrating to Canada in 1964, where he quickly became one of the most respected musicians in the country.
Jim’s philosophy on his playing was a simple one:
“What should happen, I think, is that if people come out to hear you play, when they leave they feel better than they did when they came in. If you can do that, then you’ve done something. I see nothing wrong with some humour… I guess I don’t get too serious about my music, I’d rather people had a good time.”
Outside of his career as a musician, Jim was a broadcaster with CKFM, an agent for several Toronto jazz clubs, and was the Artistic Director of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival from its start in 1976 until 2010.
He will be sadly missed and our condolences go out to his family.
