Nelson Symonds

Nelson Symonds (September 24, 1933 – October 11, 2008) was a Canadian jazz guitarist born in Upper Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia.^[1]

Biography

After pursuing the banjo at a young age, Symonds switched to the guitar. He gained his first performance experience touring on a travelling carnival from 1955 to 1958 throughout the United States.

Upon returning to Canada, Symonds settled in Montreal in 1958 and played in the group 'The Stablemates'^[2] led by Alfie Wade Jr.

During the 1960s and 1970s Symonds became one of the premiere names in Montreal jazz; many players from New York would come to see him or play with him, including Roland Kirk, Art Farmer, Sonny Red, Benny Golson, Jackie McLean, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Heath and Stanley Turrentine, among others. Symonds was praised by musicians such as Wes Montgomery and John Coltrane, who at one point extended him an invitation to join his group.

Throughout this period, Nelson played mainly with bassist Charlie Biddle and drummer Norman Marshall Villeneuve^[3] at venues such as The Black Bottom and Rockhead's Paradise. During the 1970s, Symonds and Biddle performed as a duo in numerous Laurentian resorts. Throughout his 30-plus year career, he played at all of the major jazz venues in Montreal including Upstairs, Biddles and Cafe La Bohème among others.

Symonds reportedly resisted recording until the 1990s, cutting three collaborative albums, and one as leader.^[4]

He played a Gretsch Sal Salvador model guitar. ^[5]

He died in Montreal, Quebec due to a heart attack, twelve years after undergoing a quadruple bypass that put an end to his musical career. He was 75.

Discography

Filmography

Symonds is the subject of two short documentary films by Mary Ellen Davis^[8][9]

• Nelson Symonds Jazz Guitarist, (1984)
• Nelson Symonds Quartet, (1984)

Awards

• 1996: Oscar Peterson Prix De Jazz Award, Montreal Jazz Festival

Further reading

• Jazz in Canada: Fourteen Lives, Mark Miller, Nightwood Editions, 1988, ISBN 9780889711167^[10]

References