Meet the Members of Southern Comfort
Bandleader Trevor Hodgson (Clarinet)
Trevor Hodgson, born in Yorkshire, England, has lived in Canada for 40 years, first in Kingston and now Dundas. He is a retired university professor and former art school director, but continues to be an active exhibiting artist who finds the same pleasure in manipulating color and shapes on canvas as he does creating music on the clarinet.
He originally played with the Sultons Six and in 1978 joined the Sensation Jazz Band. Although he left that band to play with the Silverleaf JB in Toronto for some years he later rejoined the Sensation Jazz band in Kitchener and stayed with them 'till they disbanded. He formed Southern Comfort to play regularly at Fiddler's Green in Cambridge and, when that venue closed down, took Southern comfort across the road to Cafe 13. Trevor has also had articles on jazz published in magazines in the US and UK.
Brian Graville (Trumpet)
Brian Graville received a classical music education on piano in England before taking up trumpet to play traditional jazz. On piano he has recorded with Chris Barber and Jeff Healey and performed at numerous ragtime festivals. Several of his musical compositions for young players have been performed at local musical festivals and in 1999 he wrote the music for the full-length musical "Jack & the Beanstalk". In the traditional jazz field he led the Sensation Jazzband for many years on trumpet and also plays clarinet with the Silverleaf Jazzband.
Peter Sagermann (Trombone)
PETER SAGERMANN (slide trombonist, valve trombonist, cornetist) was born August 22, 1937 in Gumbinnen, Germany. He has been an integral player in some of Canada's most successful bands including The Metro Stompers, Dr. McJazz, the Climax Jazz Band, Ragweed Jazz Band, several Alll-Star Bands, and bands led by greats including John Arpin, Peter Appleyard, and Jeff Healy.
He has appeared at jazz festivals all over the world: Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. He has played with international jazz greats including LeRoy Jones, Doc Cheatham, Yank Lawson, Humphrey Littleton, Wild Bill Davidson, Muggsy Spanier, Buck Clayton, and Buddy Tate. A recording on which he was a featured member of The Metro Stompers was nominated for a prestigious Juno Award. He was seen on television throughout the duration of the popular Peter Appleyard Presents show filmed at Toronto's famous Brunswick House.
Peter Sagermann played several times in the “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concert Series, most recently as leader of his own Peter Sagermann Quartet (with Ian Bargh on piano, Bob Price on bass, and Don Vickery on drums) on November 29, 1999.
Bryan Day (Bass)
With great regret we announce the death of Bryan Day on Monday, November 28th., 2011. Bryan was a long time member of Southern Comfort, though in recent months Ben White has been covering Bryan's slot on stringed bass. The fans of Southern Comfort lament the loss of such a great musician from our midst. We express our sympathy to his family. To view the obituary notice for Bryan that appeared in the Hamilton Spectator please click on Bryan Day.
Bill Stewart (Banjo/Guitar)
Bill Stewart hails from Elgin, Scotland. He came to Canada in 1965. Bill plays Plectrum Banjo, Tenor Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin. Although Bill is a regular with Southern Comfort he "subs" with the Hot 5, Climax and Ragweed Jazz Bands. Also, you may on occasion see Bill playing Guitar with a Big Band or just doing a Guitar gig. Bill also works with his own group called the Piccadilly Banjo Band and he regularly performs at various Banjo Conventions in Canada and the USA. Bill got started on the Banjo at about the age of 14 during the Skiffle Days. For a few years in his younger days Bill played Cornet in a local Brass Band and performed on the Accordion.
Gary Tomlin (Drums)
Join Southern Comfort at Cafe 13 soon!
