Chris Kettlewell is an accomplished Toronto double bass player who graduated from Humber College’s Jazz Performance program in 2005, and Thompson Rivers University’s Music program in 2009. While at school, Chris studied with renowned bassists Mike Downes, Pat Collins and Don Thompson. Chris performs regularly in Toronto and around Ontario with many different ensembles. He is also developing an extensive career of touring and playing at venues around the world.
Chris has recorded with such jazz ensembles, as The All Smiles Jazz Quartet (who performed alongside The Jeff Healey Band at the Sarnia Jazz Festival in 2007), The Cam Britton Collective and The Rachelle Courtney Quartet on their debut album, Unforgettable. The latter two are both regularly featured on radio stations across Canada including Toronto’s leading jazz station, JAZZ FM91. Chris has also traveled with Rachelle Courtney to Alaska, Vancouver, Hawaii, and the Caribbean on several cruise ships from 2005 -2007.
In the winter of 2007/2008, Chris traveled to the Sultanate of Oman to play at one of Shangri-la’s 6-star hotels with a guitar trio on a six-month contract, entertaining guests from all over Europe and the Middle East. Night after night created a novel atmosphere with their own brand of modern funky jazz, at the hotel’s American restaurant.
In the summers of 2008/2009, Chris played daily with the Celtic group, The Blazing Fiddles, entertaining guests of Grand River Dinner Cruises, before they boarded boats for a tour of the Grand River.
Last winter Chris joined Chicago heavyweight jazz musicians Bob Thornton (guitar/vocals), and Kevin Disch (piano) on Crystal Cruise’s Serenity World Cruise 2009, Pacific Circle Celebration. They played in the style of 1950’s Blue Note jazz and had a blast as they traveled to such exotic countries as French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan.
Chris was also a part of the innovative rock ensemble Henri Faberge and the Adorables, a group that has been featured nationwide on both CBC and MTV, and which has also been mentioned in magazines such as Vanity Fair, Exclaim, and Now.
As well as being a performing musician, Chris also is proficient in the art of teaching music. He currently teaches guitar at Dixon Hall, (a community center in Regent Park, which focuses on helping families who otherwise might not be able to afford the programs offered there). He previously taught at the Beaches Music Studio, giving private instruction in the bass, guitar, and piano.
Presently, Chris aspires to continue playing several genres of music with many different ensembles and exploring the boundaries of his music making.
