YOU’LL HEAR IT: THE MUSIC OF BOB FENTON

October 1, 2025

IM  -  

The Mike McClelland Quartet

Joint Venture Recording Agreement

The Mike McClelland Quartet of Local 149 (Toronto, ON) with McClelland on drums is joined by Mike Murley on tenor and soprano saxophones, Reg Schwager on guitar, and Neil Swainson on bass, pays tribute to the late pianist and composer Bob Fenton.

“Prelude and Premise” draws the listener into a world where swing, modal exploration, and bebop sensibilities merge effortlessly.

On making the record, McClelland explains: Fenton’s work didn’t get enough exposure the first time, and if you want to create a legacy in Canadian jazz—a historical record—Fenton is important for his unique, harmonically complex compositions. “We know Coltrane and Davis and Ellington,” he says, “So let’s grow a bit of our own here. Looking back and looking forward at the same time.”

Murley met Fenton, a mentor, in the 1980s. He says it was a graduate course in composition from a musician who spent years soaking in the sounds of New York in the 1950s with its master musicians. He says Fenton’s tunes “were challenging but always rewarding for an improviser to explore. There are so many layers to unwrap in his music.”

The title track, “Don’t Worry You’ll Hear It,” explores Fenton’s compositional vision, showcasing the musicians’ technical excellence. The track “Chris,” featuring Murley on soprano sax, gives Schwager ample room to shine. Swainson, a Juno-winning artist, slides in with superb lines. Murley’s phrasing captures the introspective “The Lady Knows” as Schwager adds elegant stylings. In the up-tempo “What’s the Rub,” the group’s interplay is propelled by McClelland’s rhythmic aplomb.

---