For more than half a century, pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader Ron Paley has been one of the defining figures of Winnipeg’s musical community. Whether performing with the legendary Ron Paley Big Band, collaborating with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Royal Winnipeg Ballet, or mentoring generations of young musicians, Paley’s influence on jazz in Manitoba and across Canada has been profound and lasting.
Now, that extraordinary legacy will be celebrated in grand fashion on Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Burton Cummings Theatre during the Ron Paley Tribute and Scholarship Concert. An evening of music, memories, and recognition for a musician whose impact extends far beyond the stage. The concert will also launch a campaign to establish the Ron Paley Jazz Scholarship Fund, with a goal of raising $25,000 to create a permanent endowment supporting future jazz students at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music.
Joining Paley in reflecting on the concert and his career were three distinguished saxophonists who have shared the stage with him over the years: Brian Klowak, Julie Husband, and Mark Kutcy.
A Tribute Decades in the Making
Although the upcoming tribute concert may feel overdue to many in Winnipeg’s jazz community, the idea has actually been circulating for years.
Brian Klowak explained that several people had hoped to organize such an event in the past, including Jeff Riley, Larry Roy, and Jennifer Hanson, but the project never fully materialized until recently.
“I think there’s the story that I got is there was a number of people who wanted to do this in previous years, but it never quite got off the ground,” Klowak said. “It was Curtis Newton that contacted me, I think, back in the fall of 2024. And this is the incarnation of that effort.”
Putting the concert together ultimately became a collaborative effort among musicians who had long admired and worked alongside Paley. Klowak recalled how readily musicians agreed to participate.
“Everyone was willing to do it,” he said. “I put out the word to, if anybody would like to form a committee and see what we could do for Ron. And the people that stepped up are to my left.” [Julie Husband and Mark Kutcy]
For Paley himself, the recognition remains deeply humbling. Asked what it feels like to have a major tribute concert held in his honour at the Burton Cummings Theatre, Paley answered simply: “It’s an honor.”
Building a Big Band Legacy
The Ron Paley Big Band was founded in 1976 and has since become one of Canada’s most respected jazz ensembles. Over the decades, the band has performed everywhere from clubs and dance halls to concert stages, becoming a fixture of Winnipeg’s cultural life.
Looking back at the origins of the ensemble, Paley said he never imagined just how significant the band would become.
“No, I certainly hoped it would grow, and it did,” he said. “I just hoped it would do what it was about to do.”
Before establishing the band, Paley performed with jazz giants including Buddy Rich and Woody Herman, experiences that shaped not only his musicianship but his approach to leadership.
“I learned to try to… you have to work with different kinds of people, no matter what you do,” Paley reflected. “And it’s important to get along with everybody.”
That philosophy became central to the atmosphere of the Ron Paley Big Band. Beyond his skills as a pianist and arranger, Paley earned a reputation for generosity, encouragement, and mentorship.
Still, Paley views himself as both teacher and lifelong learner.
“I consider myself a student and a mentor… both,” he said.
First Encounters with the Ron Paley Big Band
For many Winnipeg jazz musicians, joining the Ron Paley Big Band was both thrilling and intimidating.
Mark Kutcy recalled first performing with the band in the early 1980s while studying at the University of Manitoba.
“I started with the band probably back in about ’82 or ’83,” Kutcy said. “Yeah, nervous, afraid, intimidated by the quality of the musicians.”
Kutcy eventually moved into the baritone saxophone chair full time and has remained connected to the ensemble ever since.
Julie Husband’s introduction to the band came through the university jazz program that Paley directed.
“I remember the night before I was to audition, I was so nervous, I didn’t even go to the staff supper because I said, I have to make sure this audition is perfect so I can get into the band,” Husband recalled.
Her eventual invitation to perform with the Ron Paley Big Band remains one of her fondest memories.
“I was just so excited one day when Ron called and said, Mark can’t play a concert. Can you come and play with the big band?” she said. “That was just so exciting.”
Klowak’s story also began at the University of Manitoba, shortly after Paley arrived from touring with Woody Herman.
“I still remember his being there in a long coat with, I think, it was a yellow and black striped scarf around your neck,” Klowak recalled. “You wanted to meet the players who would be joining the group the next year.”
From there, Klowak’s involvement with Paley’s musical world steadily expanded into years of performing with the big band.
The Music, the Arrangements, and the Standard of Excellence
Among musicians, Ron Paley’s arrangements are especially admired for their craftsmanship, energy, and sophistication.
Klowak believes much of the magic comes from the standard Paley sets as both performer and leader.
“Because Ron sets such a high standard of playing, I think he encourages all of us to do our best,” Klowak said. “Not by telling us that, but just by the standard of excellence that he exhibits both in his playing, but also his improvisatory skills of just being in the moment and reacting to what’s going on around him.”
Kutcy also spoke about the precision and care Paley brought to rehearsals and recordings.
“Ron’s arrangements, the voicings and the parts are just amazing to listen to,” he said. “The fact that Ron runs his rehearsals so carefully made it easier to go into the recording studio because we’d been working so hard.”
At the same time, Paley’s perfectionism kept musicians on their toes.
“We’d play them in a practice and then we come to the next practice and some parts have changed,” Kutcy laughed. “Then we go to the next practice and then a couple more parts have changed… and then the recording is tomorrow.”
For Husband, performing Paley’s music opened the door to jazz itself.
“I was a classical flute player and I think I went to the dark side with jazz,” she joked. “And it was just so much fun.”
Celebrating Winnipeg Jazz History
The upcoming concert promises to showcase the many dimensions of Paley’s musical career. According to Klowak, audiences can expect a program that reflects the full versatility of the Ron Paley Big Band.
“There’ll be his instrumental arrangements and compositions, some big band swing favorites from the 1940s, and a lot of vocal tunes that you might hear at a particular dance job that Ron would be playing at,” he explained.
Most of the evening’s music will feature Paley’s own arrangements and compositions, highlighting the enormous catalogue he has built over decades.
The concert will also feature guest speakers, including Owen Clark and Jeff Johnson, while celebrated entertainer Al Simmons will serve as host.
For Husband, the evening represents both nostalgia and renewal.
“It’s going to be like a trip down memory lane,” she said. “I hope everyone just has a fun evening because it’s just fun music and the musicians are pumped up and it’s going to be good.”
Kutcy emphasized the broader legacy of Paley’s work in Winnipeg, noting the many internationally renowned artists who performed in the city because of Paley’s connections and reputation.
“There’s quite a few players… that have come into Winnipeg that Winnipeggers have had a chance to listen to because of Ron in the band,” Kutcy said, mentioning names such as Frank Foster, Louis Bellson, and Billy Cobham.
Perhaps most importantly, the scholarship fund attached to the concert aims to ensure that future generations of jazz musicians continue to thrive.
Klowak credited trumpet player Shane Hicks with first suggesting the idea of creating something lasting beyond the concert itself.
“He said, ‘Yeah, I’m all in for having a concert, but it would be great if there was something lasting that would come out of this,’” Klowak explained.
As for Paley, what matters most is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make music once again.
“Seeing a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a long time and playing with them,” he said. “And just being alive to do it.”
More than just a concert, the Ron Paley Tribute and Scholarship Concert promises to be a celebration of Winnipeg’s musical soul. An evening where generations of performers, students, and audiences come together to honour a man whose artistry and mentorship helped shape the city’s jazz scene for more than 50 years. Filled with unforgettable music, cherished memories, powerhouse performances, and the unmistakable sound of the Ron Paley Big Band, the event will not only celebrate an extraordinary career, but help ensure the future of jazz in Manitoba through the creation of a permanent scholarship for young musicians. For longtime fans, former students, and anyone who loves great live music, May 23 at the Burton Cummings Theatre is shaping up to be one of the most meaningful and memorable musical events of the year.