Performer Biography

An exciting and versatile vocalist, Brian Tate is known for his rich sound, strong lyricism, rhythmic drive, improvisational skills, and emotional connection to the music and to the audience. A charismatic performer, Brian is an entertainer with a keen sense of humor who loves to engage an audience. His influences include such diverse vocalists as Louis Armstrong, Tom Waits, Mahalia Jackson, Harry Belafonte, Kurt Elling, and Bobby McFerrin. In addition to his vocal talents, he is also an accomplished composer, arranger and lyricist, providing fresh arrangements of standards, as well as new takes on pop, folk, classical, and world music.

His passion for jazz started in high school, where, as a pianist, trombone player and budding composer/arranger, he first heard the music of such artists as Thelonius Monk and Miles Davis. He began writing arrangements and original material for stage band and his own quintet. From there he went on to study music at UBC, where his influences grew to include composers such as Bach, Mahler, Stravinsky, Bartok, and music of other cultures. As a vocalist and instrumentalist he performed repertoire from the 12th through the 20th century. Graduating from UBC, he went on to further music studies in London and Toronto. He also studied African drumming and percussion, and was a member of the Tree Frogs, a Vancouver ensemble that performed traditional music of Ghana.

Brian's work in theatre includes many years of composing original music and sound designs as well as musical direction. He has performed on stage both in Canada and the U.S., and has been twice presented with the Jessie Richardson award for original composition for Vancouver's Arts Club Theatre. Brian is on the faculty of Studio 58, Langara College's professional theatre school where he teaches singing and choir.

Extensively involved in composing, arranging, and directing choral music, Brian frequently guest conducts and gives workshops for choirs. He founded the Vancouver Actors' Chorus, and, for eight seasons, directed the Universal Gospel Choir, a non-denominational mixed chorus that performs sacred music from many cultures. Brian sang with Bonnie Ferguson and Jane Leroux in the vocal jazz trio Ferguson /Tate/ Leroux, and currently performs with the Brian Tate Quartet. His newest project is Head Full of Voices, an concert of solo vocals with real-time digital looping, allowing him to record and overdub multiple vocal tracks live.

In addition to frequently giving a variety of music workshops, Brian is active as a speaker and facilitator offering workshops on creativity, innovation, teambuilding, and freeing the voice. He is currently on the faculty of Leadership Development at the Banff Centre.

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The Brian Tate Quartet

Brian's quartet presents an eclectic and exciting combination of original songs and arrangements that include classic bebop and swing, reworked folk and pop standards, and classical and world music influences from many sources. With Brian Tate on vocals and percussion, Patrick Dubois on piano and keyboards, Danny Parker on bass, and Phil Belanger on drums and percussion.