COLUMNS
Unlocking My Grandfather , Jazz Great Phil Nimmons ’, Musical Secrets
By Sean Nimmons-Paterson
When I try to recall my earliest musical memories , a hazy scene emerges set in the smoky , dimly-lit ambiance of George ’ s Spaghetti House . Up the stairs and at the back of the room , I remember looking up out of the darkness at the brilliant shine of the saxophones and brass that gleamed brightly under the hot stage lights . The music was thick , enveloping us where we sat transfixed as if time stood still , held by the sounds and setting . In the mid ‘ 80s , children were still permitted in those establishments and I would have been no more than five years old , up front and soaking it all in .
As Phil Nimmons ’ grandson , I was often immersed in these kinds of experiences and would come away from them feeling as if some kind of enchantment had been cast . How did they do it ? What were the secrets that Phil and those incredible musicians knew that allowed them to create this sonic alchemy ? I could relate to my grandfather as a person at family dinner , but the key to his musical spells remained a mystery .
Over the years I pursued my own musical journey , motivated no doubt by those early memories that left me with a profound sense of wonder and the desire to uncover the enigma of the music . In school I played every instrument I could get my hands on and wound up in nearly every ensemble . I took lessons with Phil ’ s student Attila Fias and later with Phil ’ s band members , pianist Gary Williamson and drummer Barry Elmes . I completed Humber College ’ s music program and eventually earned a master ’ s degree from the University of Toronto , where I had a chance to study with Phil as a professor . Through all of this technical examination , I was chasing the source of that magic I originally heard years before , and which I now often experienced when making music myself .
This all led to the undertaking of our recent album , To The Nth , a tribute and exploration of Phil ’ s music . The project is a celebration of his legacy , but selfishly I hoped the process of dissecting and rearranging his tunes would give me another opportunity to get closer to that magic kernel of his . It ’ s been an illuminating journey through which I ’ ve learned about my grandfather in new ways , both musically and beyond .
My biggest take away from the whole process has been the human element of his legacy — the way he connects and cares about people . Phil is beloved by generations of musicians who he has worked with , taught , inspired , and nurtured in one way or another . He had warm , genuine relationships with the musicians in his bands whom he performed with and wrote for , resulting in honest , unified music . He also connected with many people throughout Canada while touring the country , many of who still fondly recall interactions and good memories with Phil .
That being said , it is the nitty-gritty of his musical legacy that makes it uniquely Phil ’ s . One of his repeated mantras over the years has been “ form ,” and when we break down his compositions we see good form in everything from the smallest detail to the overarching structure . His melodic writing has a deeply lyrical , often playful quality , and it ’ s easy to imagine what the words would be to many of his compositions , even when none have been written . The rich , colourful harmonic textures he was able to attain in his orchestrations were innovative in the context of a jazz ensemble , a testament to his love of classical music . Of course , through it all , his music swings .
If you ask Phil about what makes his music so special , he will often just raise his hands and say apologetically , “ I don ’ t know .” He feels blessed to have worked with such great musicians and is at a loss for why he has made the musical choices that have shaped his remarkable life and the sound of his music . If you ask me , this is a very intentional answer . I now see that this unknowable mystery is the source of the magic . It springs from the vast landscape of one ’ s muse , and the title of our album refers to the enigmatic quantity of that nth degree .
So just as I felt I might finally be nearing an explanation for what I had first felt all those years ago at George ’ s , I realized I would never get a specific answer . I thought I was climbing towards a peak to find the key to Phil ’ s music , when I was on an ascent of my own mountain . This is the meaning behind the song “ Rista ’ s Vista ” on the album ( Rista is Phil ’ s middle name ). Phil taught me that through the exploration of both our own and others ’ creative landscapes , through the pursuit of our muse , we can find the source of the magic and bring it into the light for all to enjoy .
Sean Nimmons-Paterson is a musician , composer , and producer from Toronto . His new album To The Nth by The Nimmons Tribute honours the legacy of his grandfather , renowned jazz clarinetist Phil Nimmons . The album features new arrangements of vintage Nimmons compositions and an outstanding group of musicians who are all former students , colleagues , and friends of P hil ’ s . Go to www . nimmonstribute . ca for more information .
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 59