Steve Holt

The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet

Steve Holt Jazz Impact is a powerhouse ensemble featuring an all-star lineup of some of Canada's top jazz artists.

Kevin Turcotte - Trumpet

Perry White - Saxophone

Steve Holt - Piano

Duncan Hopkins - Bass

Terry Clarke - Drums

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Mar 4, 2025 - The Jazz Bistro, Toronto

Mar 5, 2025 - The Hirut Cafe, Toronto

Apr 5, 2025 - The Pilot, Toronto CD RELEASE

Piano: Steve Holt - Steve was a child prodigy starting to play the piano at the age of 4. Born in Montreal, he began his professional career at the age of 17 - self-taught - playing the clubs in and around Montreal. At the age of 22 Steve began formal music studies; he entered McGill University and graduated with in 1981 as McGill's first-ever Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz performance. It was also during this period that Steve travelled regularly to New York to study piano with world-renowned pianist Kenny Barron. In 1983 he released his debut album which was nominated for a JUNO. Since that time, Steve has built an international reputation having performed with, among others, Archie Shepp, Larry Coryell, Eddie Henderson, Pat Labarbera, James Moody, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and Michel Urbaniak.

Trumpet: Kevin Turcotte - Kevin is recognized as one of Canada's major trumpet talents with an impressive list of recording and touring credentials. The more than 175 CD's he has played on range in style from folk legend Bruce Cockburn to opera star Measha Bruegergossman to Jazz great Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass. He has garnered at least 20 Juno nominations bringing home the coveted prize 5 times. He is an integral part of Juno-nominated recordings Time Warp, Jayme Stone, Andrew Downing’s Great Uncles of the Revolution, the Barry Elmes Quintet featuring Ed Bickert, and Barry Romberg’s Random Access. Turcotte has worked with hundreds of international luminaries, among them Tito Puente, Dave Holland, Kenny Kirkwood, Pat LaBarbera, Bill Grove, and Kenny Wheeler.

Saxophone: Perry White - Perry is one of Canada’s premier saxophonists. His expressive tone and lyrical approach to playing the entire family of saxophones have kept him busy performing in Canada and around the world for over two decades. Perry has developed his own sound which he describes as being “steeped in the tradition of jazz and charged with the energy and experimentation of modern music”. Relocating from Vancouver to Toronto in the ‘80s, Perry has performed and recorded with a who’s who of the Canadian jazz and modern music scene as well as a diverse cross-section of international artists including Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble, Hilario Duran, Dave Young, The Boss Brass, Reg Schwager, David Foster, Michael Occhipinti, Claude Ranger, Freddie Stone, and Don Thompson to name a few.

Bass: Duncan Hopkins – Duncan Hopkins has been working at the highest levels of jazz for almost thirty years. In that time he has worked with such luminaries as Norma Winstone, Bobo Stenson, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Scott Hamilton, Houston Person, Warren Vache, Ed Bickert, Mark Murphy, Peter Appleyard, Bruce Barth, Bobby Watson, Jeremy Pelt, Byron Stripling, Dianna Krall, Kenny Wheeler, Sam Rivers, Harry Allen and Edward Simon to name but a few. He has toured extensively throughout Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Brazil and the United States. He was the bassist with the venerable Canadian Jazz Quartet for almost a decade before moving to Europe. He can be heard on over fifty albums, numerous CBC, BBC and NPR recordings and has eight recordings as a leader and/or co-leader.

Drums: Terry Clarke - Terry Clarke is quite simply one of the world’s great drummers. In the 1970s Terry toured extensively in Japan and Europe with jazz guitar legend Jim Hall and piano great Oscar Peterson. He is an original member of Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, recording and touring with the world-acclaimed ensemble for 25 years. In 1985, seeking greater musical challenges, Terry moved to New York City to pursue an exclusively jazz-oriented career. During his tenure there, he worked and recorded with Toshiko Akiyoshi, Toots Theilemans, Red Mitchell, Marvin Stamm, and Jim Hall, to list just a few. Terry has appeared on over 300 albums throughout his career. He was named Drummer of the Year from Canadian National Jazz Awards for seven years in a row, 2002 through 2008. His debut album as a leader won the 2009 JUNO and featured appearances by Jim Hall, Joe Lovano, and Greg Osby.