Metro Jazz Ensemble

Dean is currently the artistic director of the Metro Jazz Ensemble. The Metro Jazz Ensemble was formed initially in 1999 as a Sunday evening rehearsal ensemble for many of Saskatoon's top professional musicians. The Metro Jazz Ensemble is now proud to be presenting professional performances throughout Saskatchewan as Saskatoon's premier large jazz ensemble.

In addition, Dean has performed with the Banff Centre Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Blue Bonnet Brass in Texas, the Birth of the Cool Repertoire Project, Kenny Wheeler, Pat LaBarbera, P.J. Perry, Bobby Caldwell, and the Tommy Banks Big Band and Combo, among others.

Over the past several years the Metro Jazz Ensemble has performed at Saskatoon's jazz club the Bassment (annually), Saskatoon's Fringe Festival, in conjunction with the Saskatoon Symphony (reception for symphony pops artist Oscar Lopez), as a guest ensemble at the Moose Jaw Music Festival (with guest artist and Juno award winner Brad Turner), on Radio Canada (remote broadcast from the Bessborough Hotel), as part of the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music's 2004-05 In Performance Convo Series (I.P.C.S.), multiple times for the International Music Day in Canada (sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians and the Saskatoon Musician's Association), with Theresa Sokyrka at her 2005 Centennial Auditorium CD release concert, and at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival (Broadway Theatre-Saskatoon) with Juno award winner Huge Frazer (2004), guest Calgary-based vocalist Rob Younge (2005), and with guest Saskatoon-based vocalists Gillian Snider and Dr. Neil Currie (2006), and at the SaskTel Jazz Festival (2008) with acclaimed Canadian vocalist Carol Welsman.

For more information or for bookings contact Dean McNeill at:

Phone: 306-260-8543
Email: Click to email Dean