Great review of "The Very Thought of You," Ian's Ballad CD: 

Review in the International Trombone Association Journal by Anthony Williams, University of Northern Iowa. 

THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU is the latest of many fine recordings led by Canadian trombonist Ian McDougall. Released in 2012, the album features 14 arrangements of popular songs that were originally composed during a time frame spanning from the late 1920s to the early 1960s. Arranging duties were split between McDougall and fellow Canadian composer Rick Wilkins. The instrumental setting of jazz combo and strings combined with McDougall?s wonderful trombone playing makes this recording a treat. McDougall?s playing will remind you of the lyrical trombone playing done by Tommy Dorsey during the 1930s and 40s. the album is mixed very well. All parts come through very clearly and balanced. McDougall?s trombone sits nicely on top of the strings and rhythm section. Guitarist Oliver Gannon and oboist Roger Cole are also featured as soloists throughout the recording. 

Although the majority of the tracks are swing ballads, any serious performer or teacher should consider investing in this album. There are very few recordings that feature trombonists performing ballads exclusively. Ian McDougall sets a fantastic example of how a trombonist should approach performing jazz ballads. He controls the trombone with ease, his sound is warm and seamless, and the phrasing is nothing short of remarkable. This album is a very easy listen as each track is less than four minutes in duration. The fantastic musicianship combined with quality sound engineering is sure to please. 

April 12, 2013 

Review by Jack Bowers from website All About Jazz 

The IAN McDOUGALL 12Tet LIVE 
Self Published 
2013 

Put a dozen immoderately talented jazz musicians in one room, as trombonist Ian McDougall has done on Live, and you almost can't help but produce an album that crackles with high-powered enthusiasm as it swings easily from one emphatic measure to the next. Oh, to have been there to see and hear this excellent concert, presented in March 2012 at the Cellar Club in Vancouver, BC. Luckily, it was recorded, so those who weren't there can at least eavesdrop and appreciate what twelve perceptive, single-minded men are able to accomplish when the stars align and the time is right. 

It's clear from the outset that this is to be a concert like few others, as tenors Ross Taggart and Phil Dwyer lay down the gauntlet and lock horns in earnest on McDougall's free and easy "Tales of Cotton" (inspired, McDougall says, by Ben Webster), bringing to mind memories of such implacable dueling tenors as Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon, Ammons and Sonny Stitt, Gordon and Wardell Gray, Johnny Griffin and Lockjaw Davis. Later on, the altos have their say, with Campbell Ryga and Chris Startup dueling on "Silver Woody," McDougall's inventive union of Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie with his impressions of the Woody Herman Herds. McDougall also wrote "Desolation Blues," "Red Sky" and "Dry with a Twist," while Don Thompson contributed the shimmering "LEDCC" (Lower Etobicoke Daycare Center) and Dwyer penned the jazz waltz "Speak Softly" for his wife and daughter. Rounding out the program are Kenny Dorham's "Blue Bossa" (taken at a slower-than-usual tempo) and the '30s standard "Home," which McDougall inserted because it was one of his father's favorite songs (and which swings here as never before). 

One feature of McDougall's ensemble that stands out is that each of its members is not only an unwavering team player but an exemplary soloist as well. Besides the tenors and altos already named, they include bassist Ken Lister and guitarist Oliver Gannon ("Desolation Blues"), trumpeter Brad Turner and pianist Ron Johnston ("LEDCC"), Turner and Gannon ("Blue Bossa"), Gannon, Dwyer and Lister ("Speak Softly"), Johnston and Ryga ("Red Sky"). McDougall solos twice, with Taggart on "Home," with Johnston and Dwyer on the well-grooved "Dry with a Twist." Not to single anyone out, but Johnston and Ryga are especially impressive on the prismatic "Red Sky," Ryga and Startup likewise on "Silver Woody." And even though drummer Craig Scott doesn't solo, he handles more than his share of the heavy lifting as unflappable skipper of the group's tight-knit rhythm section. 

McDougall, who logged twenty years as lead trombonist with Rob McConnell's peerless (and greatly missed) Boss Brass, has stayed busy since returning home to British Columbia, teaching, composing and performing in the Vancouver area. During his years in the trenches, McDougall has developed a keen eye for synergy and talent, a knack that is readily apparent on Live, one of the more persuasive concert recordings in recent memory. 

"The Very Thought of You" was nominated for a JUNO AWARD in the instrumental category! 

Jan. 13, 2013 

Ian's charity, the 10 Mile Student Assistance Fund, has raised $16,000 to benefit Fine Arts students in financial need. The charity is a new emergency fund created by Ian and funded by sales of The Very Thought of You. 

Jan. 11, 2013 

Ian's latest CD is now available. This live performance of the Ian McDougall 12tet was recorded March 2012 at the Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver. 

Oct. 29, 2012 

Sales of Ian's CD "The Very Thought of You" have passed 2000 copies! 

• Complete track sample: Smile 

Ian's brand new CD!! 

...a CD of 'golden oldie' ballads featuring Ian on trombone, accompanied by a lush string orchestra. 

October 4, 2012 – International Distribution 

This CD can now be purchased through cdbaby.com. Here's a sound clip from the title track! 

• Sample: The Very Thought of You 

"The Very Thought of You" is also available in Victoria BC at Munro's Books, Lyall's Place, Larsen Music, and the UVIC School of Music 

2011 Highlights 

Premiere of new composition by Ian McDougall 

On Nov.26, 8 PM at SFU Woodward's in downtown Vancouver, the Hard Rubber Orchestra premiered a new work from Ian which featured violinist Rebecca Whitling with the Orchestra. The new work is entitled "Floorshow." 

2010 Highlights 

The July 26 debut performance of the Ian McDougall 12-tet was part of the CBC Summer jazz festival, and excerpts are available at Concerts on Demand. 

2009 Highlights 

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean (C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada) presided over the Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony at Rideau Hall, bestowing the honour on three Companions, 11 Officers and 21 Members, including Ian McDougall! 

(National Lifejacket Day) The Ian McDougall Big Band was selected as big band of the year by the National Jazz Awards. Their CD "No Passport Required" is available for sale on our site, and also at CD Baby. 

Ian's website was redesigned. Feel free to email and let us know what you think! 

2008 Highlights 

Ian had a very busy summer, playing in Victoria, Qualicum Beach, Bamfield, Parry Sound Ontario, and Vancouver, and then taking his sextet on a two week tour to Denmark and Sweden. Ian's CDs were made available for digital download at CD Baby. 

2007 Highlights 

Ian travelled to New York City to the annual IAJE convention and received the "Phil Nimmons established composer award" from SOCAN and IAJE. His new big band composition Chaos at the Border was premiered at the convention by the Jill Townsend Big Band from Vancouver BC. A 66 minute CD of Ian's big band compositions was released – "No Passport Required" – which featured a jazz concerto in three movements for trumpet and trombone with Ian and Brad Turner! 

2006 Highlights 

May 12-20: Concerts in Bern, Switzerland. 

September 20-23: Ian was guest soloist with the Victoria Symphony, joined by his quintet. 

November 4: The Phoenix Chamber Choir performed a concert at Shaughnessey United Church in Vancouver (8PM), and sang the premiere of Ian McDougall's Be Still My Soul written on a poem by English poet Gerald Bullett. 

November 23: Concert at the Theatre Corona in Montreal, with PJ Perry, Oliver Jones, Michel Donato, Terry Clark, and guests. 

November 24: Repeat of this concert at the Chan Centre in Vancouver. 

November 26: the Ian McDougall Sextet performed in Whitehorse at the Yukon Arts Centre, 7:30 PM. 

2005 Highlights 

CD Release party in Victoria...October 25 at Hermann's. Tickets $20 and $15 for students. 8PM. Sponsored by UJAM, Ian is joined by the Quintet to celebrate the release of their new double CD set: In a Sentimental Mood. 

Friday and Saturday October 28 and 29, 8PM – Ian and his quintet joined the Kamloops Symphony for two evenings of music "where classical meets jazz." 

October 30: a CD release event in Vancouver at the Cellar on Broadway for Ian and the Quintet's new Ellington/Strayhorn CD entitled In a Sentimental Mood. 

2004 Highlights 

November 16: Ian received a "distinguished Alumni Award" from the University of Victoria. 

December 9, 10, and 11: Ian performed as guest soloist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, under the direction of Senator Tommy Banks. 

2003 Highlights 

April 11: "Big Band Jazz Cabaret" – a tribute to Ian on his retirement, presented by the UVic School of Music. A jazz scholarship in Ian's name was established. 

October 3, 4: CD Release Party at the Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver for the new live CD, Nights in Vancouver. 

2002 Highlights 

October 11: Ian McDougall Big Band gave a premiere performance at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre with special guest Brad Turner. 

November 1, 2: The Sextet performed all new material at the Cellar in Vancouver for a new CD: Live at the Cellar which will be released in the spring 

November 22: Trombone ensemble concerts with Al Kay in Vancouver and Victoria. 

2001 Highlights 

October 12, 13: Two sold out nights at the newly re-opened Hermann's Jazz Club in Victoria, for Ian's Sextet and the release of their new live CD Burnin' the House Down. 

December 27: Palm Springs, California – Ian joined Rob McConnell, Pete Christleib, Bill Ramsay, Bobby Shew, Ken Peplowski, Gary Foster, and many others for Larry Hathaway's first Dessert Island Jazz Party. 

2000 Highlights 

February 25: Ian performed with Bill Watrous and the late Al Grey at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. 

May 26, 27 and 28: Ian performed with his sextet at Hermann's Jazz club and at the Alix Goolden Hall (The sessions were so "hot," three days later, Hermanns's burned to the ground!). 

1999 Highlights 

July 12-30: Ian was invited by the Queensland Biennial Festival to travel to Australia to participate in the "Jazz Train." This tour involved Ian and five other outstanding jazz 'mentors,' as they were called, to join two student bands on a train which travelled from Townsville south to Brisbane, stopping at three additional cities on the way. At each city they would work during the day with all the local schools who had jazz bands, and every evening there would be a concert involving local bands plus the two 'train' bands, with the jazz mentors as the featured soloists. During the night, the train would travel on to the next destination. It was an extremely successful project for the Queensland Biennial Celebration, and the complicated details of managing the jazz train project were very efficiently handled by the Australian team. 

1998 Highlights 

October 27 - December 6: Ian was invited to Britain to appear as Music Director in a BBC Big Band broadcast (for the second time). The concert took place in Brighton on November 22, and it featured the premiere of a new Suite written by Ian which featured himself and trumpeter / flugelhornist Kenny Wheeler (see Music Sales for more information). During the 6 week visit to the UK, Ian also appeared as a clinician and/or soloist at London University, Trinity College, the Guildhall Music School, the annual meeting of the British Trombone Society (where he was featured soloist for the evening's concert), Solihull (with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra), Leeds College of Music, the Belfast Fringe Festival, and Glasgow, at the Royal Scottish Academy.