Fred Stride
Biography
Fred Stride (born 1953 in Vancouver, BC, Canada) finds himself writing many forms of music. Although he is principally known for his many compositions and arrangements for jazz ensemble, he has also written countless arrangements for various entertainers and performers for almost every musical setting, from chamber ensembles to big bands, concert bands, theatre orchestras and symphony orchestras. In addition to his many jazz compositions, Fred has also been commissioned to write concert works for the CBC Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, several Canadian Armed Forces Bands, the Brampton Concert Band, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the University of Victoria Wind Symphony, as well as several elementary and high school concert bands.
Stride is also active as a band leader and guest conductor. He currently leads his own Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra which, besides playing his own work, also performs classic jazz repertoire – such as the Stan Kenton / Johnny Richards Cuban Fire Suite, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s arrangement of The Nutcracker Suite, Ron Collier’s arrangement of Oscar Peterson’s Canadiana Suite and Duke Ellington’s major opus Black, Brown and Beige. Several of these performances have been recorded and broadcast on CBC radio.
Stride's most recent recordings include "The Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra: Forward Motion" (Cellar Live) which has received excellent reviews, "Trajectories: Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble Plays the Music of Fred Stride" (PSWECD 006) "Impressions" The University of Victoria Wind Symphony and "Romanza" Martin Hackleman with the CBC Orchestra (CBC Records).
In March of 2007 Stride won the International Jazz Arranging Competition, sponsored by the Center for Jazz Composition, for his arrangement of Michael Brecker's "Peep." Fred Stride is also the winner of the 2008 SOCAN/ IAJE Phil Nimmons Established Composer Award.
As well as his very busy professional career, Stride also finds time to direct a jazz ensemble and teach jazz theory and arranging at the University of British Columbia School of Music. He also works as a clinician, adjudicator and teacher at various music festivals, summer camps and jazz workshops across the country.
Fred Stride is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers. Many of his jazz compositions are published by Sierra Music Publications.
Works for Winds
- Best of the Season, The (2004)
- Caverns (2004)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone (1992/2005)
- Festival Celebration (1997)
- Horizons (2001)
- Impressions (2002)
- North Shore Celebration (1999)
- The Opener (1994)
- Parade of the Matadors (2006)
- Seaquam (1997)
- Tch Tch Nes (1999)
- Trajectories (2005)