Edmonton Saxophonist P.J. Perry To Receive Honorary Doctorate

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One of Canada's leading jazz saxophonists, P.J. Perry will be honoured with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the University of Alberta during the spring convocation on June 15, it was announced by the Edmonton Journal yesterday. The internationally renowned alto saxophonist and composer, who has been playing professionally since the age of 15, is being recognized for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the music industry in Canada in a career that has spanned nearly five decades.

Born in Calgary in December 1941, the musician cut his teeth playing professionally in his father's dance band at the Varsity Hall in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, starting at age 15. He went on to perform with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton and Woody Shaw, as well as the cream of the Canadian jazz industry, including the Boss Brass, Fraser McPherson, and Clarence "Big" Miller, to name a few. P.J. Perry has also has performed with symphony orchestras throughout North America, and released a recording with the Edmonton Symphony in 2000. Known as one of Canada's pre-eminent exponents of the bebop idiom, P.J., who is now based out of Edmonton, Alberta, currently leads his own dance band and trio, and has recently released his seventh CD as leader, PJ Perry Trio.

A two-time Juno-award winner, Jazz Times declared Perry was "among the best altoists on the scene today", while Downbeat magazine said he was "a fiery, absolute pure and irresistible bebopper." P.J. has also been recognized a record-breaking 7 straight years (1993-1999) by the Jazz Report Magazine with their 'Critics Choice Award' .

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