Alain Caron Band

.:Canadian bassist Alain Caron’s musical career began at the early age of 11 as he soondiscovered the music which would become his life’s passion - jazz. In the 70s he moved toMontreal and started extensive studio work. He also started playing quite a bit in jazz clubsin and around town. The self-taught musician took correspondence courses, and eventually,journeyed south to attend Berkley College of Music. While in Boston, he was quicklyintroduced to some outstanding young musicians, co-students, as well as, seasoned wellestablished professional jazzman. Soon performing nightly, in the Boston area, with DavidKikovsky, Tom Harrell, Sal Nestico, Frank Tiberi, Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Moses, toname a few.
Opportunity knocked in 1977 when he met the Michel Cusson Group. Caron found himselfin the company of like-minded musicians - who could appreciate jazz and its origins, aswell as looking ahead to the future. They emerged in the early 1980s with super fusiongroup UZEB. Gradually the group evolved into a mature outfit, interested in intelligentfusion—impressive but always musical. By the time Noisy Night and the outstanding,World Tour ‘90 were released, Alain had recorded ten albums with them. UZEB sold over400,000 copies. Caron found himself on world tours and with albums on the hit parade:pretty heady stuff...
(Recognised by Down Beat magazine as one of the best electric jazz bands of the decade,the group received nine Felix Awards - Best Jazz Album (1983-84-86-87-90-91), BestGroup (1984-89), and Most Recognised Artist Abroad (1990), a Gemini Award For BestOriginal Score (1989), a SOCAN Award, and the Oscar Peterson Lifetime AchievementAward (1991).
Caron soon developed a reputation as a master electric bass player, a virtuoso on the6-string bass guitar. Not surprisingly, as he became increasingly well known, Caron taughtmaster classes in most of the world’s major cities, including Montreal, Toronto, Boston,Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bogota, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Geneva,Frankfurt.
Caron soon took off on his solo career, launching his own imprint NORAC RECORDS;In 1992, he produced the first of his 7 solo albums to date ¨Le Band¨. ¨Rhythm And Jazz¨followed in 1995, ¨Play¨was released in 1997 ¨Call Me Al¨ followedin 2000. Along theway, recording numerous albums with friends. ¨5¨ was released in 2003, followed by theDVD and CD entitled "Live au Cabaret de Montréal", released in 2006. Tocommemorate UZEB`s 25th anniversary, CARON released on his NORAC LABEL theDVD UZEB ¨THE LAST CONCERT¨ in 2006. The only official live concert footageever released or to ever be released by UZEB. Featuring special guest TIGER OKOSHIon trumpet. CONVERSATIONS was released in 2007 . A beautiful collection of duetswith Oliver Jones, Lorraine Desmarais, François Bourassa, Jean St-Jacques andOtmaro Ruiz.He also toured world-wide with friends Mike Stern, Billy Cobham, Frank Gambale,Biréli Lagrène, Didier Lockwood, Tiger Okoshi, Alex Acuna, Don Alias and GinoVanelli.
In 2007 The University of Quebec, under the aegis of the University of Quebec inRimouski, decreed an honorary doctorate to the internationally acclaimed bassist.Important to note, he is the only musician to have ever received this honor.
In 2009, a college in Alain`s native Rivière-du-Loup announced that it would be building amusic pavilion for $3.7 million and naming it École de musique Alain-Caron.