Canadian saxophonist Mike Murley has emerged as one of the country's finest jazz artists since moving to Toronto from his native Nova Scotia in 1981. His critically-acclaimed work as a leader and a sideman has placed him at the forefront of Canada's jazz scene for more than a decade. Since winning the Juno Award (Canada's Grammy equivalent) in 1991 for his "Two Sides" album, Murley has appeared on seven other Juno award-winning recordings including four in the last five years.

Murley's 'Live at the Senator' CD won the 2002 Juno Award in the best mainstream jazz album category. This Cornerstone recording finds the saxophonist in an intimate trio setting with legendary guitarist Ed Bickert and bassist Steve Wallace at Toronto's premier jazz club. A collection of six standards and two idiomatic originals, it captures Murley at his lyrical best.

Murley is also a member of the Juno award-winning (2001) Rob McConnell Tenet. Their first of three albums on the Justin Time label was also nominated for a 2002 Grammy Award. The group features some of Canada's finest jazz artists playing masterful arrangements by the legendary valve trombonist.

Canada's premier electric jazz group, Metalwood, has featured the more robust side of Murley's saxophone since the quartet's inception in 1996. The two-time Juno winners ('99 and '98) in the best contemporary jazz album category were signed by Verve/Blue Thumb for their latest recording, "The Recline". Featuring special guests John Scofield, Mino Cinelu, and DJ Logic, this CD was recently released in the US on the Telarc label. A new CD, "Chronic" was released in June 2003.

Murley has released seven critically acclaimed recordings as a leader. His "Conversation Piece" CD received the 1997 Jazz Report Award for best album. He was also a four-time recipient of the Jazz Report Award for tenor saxophonist of the year during the 1990s. More recently Murley was voted saxophonist of the year for the 2002 and 2004 National Jazz Awards.

Murley's playing experience on the international level includes performances with a diverse cross-section of artists including Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, and the late Jack McDuff. His recording credits include sessions with John Abercrombie, Paul Bley, and Sonny Greenwich. He has also appeared as a featured soloist on four different CDs with trumpeter/composer Wheeler, including the latest two Maritime Jazz Orchestra CDs featuring John Taylor's Azimuth. In addition Murley has worked with some of the most well-respected New York musicians of his generation including trumpeter Dave Douglas, pianist Renee Rosnes, and drummer Bill Stewart.

Other Canadian artists that Murley has toured and recorded with internationally include Cornerstone label-mates Time Warp and the Barry Elmes Quintet, as well as Stich Wynston's Modern Surfaces and NOJO. His work as a sideman has taken him to concert halls and clubs in Europe, South America, and Asia. As a leader Murley has played all of the major Canadian jazz festivals and performed high profile international engagements at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and at Expo '92 in Spain.

Murley also keeps a busy teaching schedule at various institutions. He has been a part time faculty member at the University of Toronto since 1993 and at York Unversity since 1995 (Murley graduated with a BFA from York in 1986). In November 2002 Murley completed a week long teaching residency at the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta. He was also part of a prestigious international faculty at the Banff Jazz Workshop in May 2003 under the direction of trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas.

For more information, check out www.mikemurley.com.