The Detroit Influence
Friendly Neighbours
1.5 Kilometres... That is the approximate legnth of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel - the link between two unique and distinct city centres; two cities that, while radically different from one another, have become friendly neighbours - subtly influencing each other in many different aspects of culture, especially music.
The Music Menu Jazz Orchestra (now Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra) at Music Menu Cafe (in Detroit) '99. Windsor musicians in the band: John Barron, Jackson Drobko, Mike Stone and Len Temilini. This photo is an excellent example of the "Detroit/Windsor musician exchange" as it is called by some.
The Detroit-Windsor Musician Exchange...
Detroit is one of the top jazz cities in North America. From the annual Detroit Jazz Festival on Labour Day weekend that brings in 100 acts (both local and internationally known) over four days, to the various jazz clubs and performance outlets that house this music year-round - Detroit has been an incubator for Windsor jazz musicans, and has played a profound influence on the development of our scene.
Hugh Leal, one of Windsor's most active jazz promoters, with Detroit native and local legend, Marcus Belgrave.
Hugh Leal & Parkwood Records
Detroit is not only immensely important in providing Windsor jazz musicians with more opportunities to play and share ideas with high-caliber players - its reputation as one of the top "jazz cities" in America draws acts from across the globe, influencing local musicians on both sides of the border. Hugh Leal's career as a jazz promoter and record producer in Windsor - one that has had a profound impact on the current scene - is very much a product of inspiration from the other side of the border...
Hugh Leal started the Parkwood Records label in 1983 with a LP release of famous trumpeter Doc Cheatham. Leal was an avid fan of Traditional, or "hot" jazz that was popularized in the 1920s, and attended many concerts of this style in Detroit and the surrounding area. His inspiration peaked when he met Cheatham (whose lack of any feature recordings puzzled Hugh), causing him and his wife, Cathy, to take the big financial risk of recording and producing an album in the jazz capital of the world, New York city. Much to Leal's surprise and delight, the album received international acclaim from jazz critics, leading to over two dozen more LP and CD releases through 1998 (label sold in 2000). He recorded more well-received albums by Cheatham, Art Hodes, J.C. Heard, Dick Wellstood, Franz Jackson, Johnny O'Neal and others. Leal's productions proved to be Marcus Belgrave's only ongoing record labels: between his Parkwood issues and the later WJS Jazz Discs., Belgrave appeared on 11 albums which Leal produced. Belgrave is a local legend in the Detroit jazz scene, known internationally for his multiple recordings and experience with many other famous artists. The two became close friends as a result of this, performing regularly together in both Windsor and Detroit.
For musicians like Hugh Leal, making a career in the Windsor jazz scene is not possible without our geographical position and unique dynamic with Detroit. Leal said himself that he would not have had nearly as much success in his career as a performer, record producer, and/or concert promoter had he lived in any other Canadian city...
No other Canadian city is as close to such a large jazz music hub than Windsor, Ontario.