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Gentiane MG Invitation series: Sam Dickinson

For this invitation series, pianist Gentiane MG invites Canadian instrumentalists and composers. Concerts will feature her guest’s compositions. Each concert will feature her guest’s original music and unique voice.

GENTIANE MG was always attracted by music as a very powerful and vital means of expression. While studying classical piano as a child, she was already drawn to composition, often exploring ways of playing music by ear and inventing variations on the pieces she had to learn. Later on, studying jazz and improvised music gave her the means to find her own voice through composition, finding inspiration through introspection. Her music comes from the tradition of improvised jazz with colours from impressionistic and romantic classical music that come together in a deeply personal universe.

SAM DICKINSON was born in Toronto, began playing guitar at the age of eight. He studied jazz during high school at the Humber College Community Music Program, followed by studies at New England Conservatory, Humber College, and McGill University. Dickinson received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Miami in 2019. These formative years included guitar instruction from Mick Goodrick, Lorne Lofsky, Ben Monder, Joe Morris, John Hart, Ted Quinlan, and Brad Shepik, as well as composition/arranging lessons from John Hollenbeck, Christine Jensen, and Joe Sullivan. Dickinson has shared the stage with Jerry Bergonzi, Jack DeJohnette, Jean- Michel Pilc, Dave Holland, Pat LaBarbara, Jimmy Heath, and Danilo Perez, to name a few. While maintaining an active schedule performing, composing, and teaching in Toronto, Dickinson is in the process of a larger scale recording project as a leader.

Youtube video: “Impossible Beauty”

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