Phillip Rista NimmonsOCOOnt (June 3, 1923 – April 5, 2024) was a Canadian jazz clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and educator. Nimmons played "free jazz" and mainstream styles, and other genres including classical music. He composed more than 400 pieces in various genres, and for various instrumentations including film scores, music for radio and television, chamber music, music for large ensembles, concert band and symphony orchestras. He studied clarinet at the Juilliard School, and composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Nimmons established the "Nimmons 'n' Nine" ensemble in 1953,[1] with whom he had a weekly show on CBC Radio.[4] The ensemble grew to 16 musicians in 1965, renamed "Nimmons 'n' Nine Plus Six", and was active until 1980. The ensemble recorded nine albums from 1956 to 1976, toured regularly across Canada.[1] Nimmons performed with smaller bands after 1980, and released the album "Sands of Time" with a quartet in 2001.[1] He chose to remain in Canada for his career despite that many of Canadian colleagues went to the United States. In a 2023 interview, he revealed that he stayed because, "If everybody left, we're not going to have anybody to create a musical scene in Canada".[5]
In addition to free jazz, Nimmons played other genres including classical music.[4] He composed more than 400 pieces in various genres, and for various instrumentations including film scores, music for radio and television, chamber music, music for large ensembles, concert band and symphony orchestras.[3][4] His composition "The Torch" was commissioned for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, performed by a big band led by Rob McConnell.[2] Other compositions by Nimmons include "Sleeping Beauty and the Lions" for concert band premiered at Expo 86, and "Moods and Contrasts" for the Esprit Orchestra in 1994.[1]
Personal life and death
Nimmons met his wife Noreen Liëse Spencer at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and had three children.[3][7][8] His wife was a concert pianist, who died in 2002 after 52 years of marriage.[9] His daughter Holly, is the chief executive officer of the Canadian Music Centre.[10]
In 1974, Nimmons received the first Juno Award given in the Juno Awards jazz category, for his album Atlantic Suite.[2] In 1993, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.[11] He was also a recipient of the Order of Ontario. In 2001, Nimmons was a recipient of the Jazz Education Hall of Fame which honours "individuals whose musical contributions and dedication to jazz education over the past 25 years have created new directions and curricular innovations for jazz education worldwide".[6] In 2002, Nimmons received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, for his lifetime contribution to popular music.[11] On November 21, 2005, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada recognized Nimmons with the Lifetime Achievement Award.[12] He received the DownBeat Achievement Award for jazz education in 2006, and the Jazz Report and National Jazz Award as clarinettist of the year for 13 consecutive years, from 1995 to 2008.[3]
Legacy
CBC Music posthumously referred to Nimmons as the "Dean of Canadian Jazz", and wrote that he "influenced generations of musicians, music teachers and audiences".[3] Canadian jazz trumpeter Daniel Hersog felt that Nimmons was "a true one-of-a-kind — a true trailblazer in jazz education", and that stated that "So many current jazz musicians owe what they do to Phil".[5]
A legacy fund at the Canadian Music Centre was named for Nimmons.[3][7] His grandson, Sean Nimmons-Paterson, led the Nimmons Tribute jazz band which included former collegaues, students and friends of Nimmons. The band released two albums: To the Nth (2020) and Generational (2023).[3]
Discography
The Canadian Scene Via the Phil Nimmons Group (Verve, 1956)[2]