He developed his musical gift early, leaving both school and home at 15 to study briefly in Toronto with legendary classical saxophonist Paul Brody, and later discovering the grittier side of professional music in the strip clubs of Vancouver. It was here at The Smiling' Buddha, The Kitkat Club, The Kubla Khan, Roccoco's and Frank's Cabaret where he learned his first jazz tunes.

In 1977 he moved to New Orleans and began playing baritone sax in and around the French Quarter. Although his first gigs were disco clubs, after a year or so he found himself performing with James Booker, The Neville Brothers, Professor Longhair and Clarence 'Frogman' Henry among other local musicians. Gib's life changed drastically when he began taking private lessons from renowned alto saxophonist Earl Turbenton, a master of bop. He stayed with Earl for three years, and says he's still learning from him over 20 years later.

The early 1980's saw Gib returning to Vancouver, playing R&B and jazz with various artists, most notably Jim Burns and John Lee Hooker. Gib's jazz artistry netted him a 'winter cycle' scholarship to play in Hugh Fraser's 10-piece band VEJI at the Banff Centre for the Arts with musicians he calls Vancouver's "young lions of jazz." While in Banff, he studied with Frank Foster and Joe Henderson. Soon after, in 1983, Gib moved to Calgary, Alberta.

In Calgary, Gib kept busy with a variety of gigs, from show bands to jazz sessions, and it was here he met Bob Erlendson. Together they formed a jazz group performing the original compositions of the elder pianist, the man he called his mentor/partner.They played the festivals and jazz clubs throughout the mid-1980s. Their collaboration was entirely successful and they soon became sought-after musicians. Gib was frequently taking out-of-town gigs with notable musicians, including the great Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown. The exhausting pace of touring across the United States with a talented but temperamental star led Gib to yet another change of locale: Paris, France.

Gib's first year in Paris, 1989, was a continual challenge of learning the language and finding enough gigs to support a subsistence lifestyle. Then, out of the blue, he was offered a full-time teaching position at ARSNOVA Musicollege. During his time there he lectured on theory, led group courses in various idioms and taught different styles of saxophone playing. His expertise in the latter culminated in authoring a textbook; "Les Gammes du Saxo," which is still selling well in France. Meanwhile, he still found time to play jazz gigs at night with his quartet.

In 1994 Luther Allison, the famous blues guitarist invited him to join his group touring around Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Africa. During this period, Gib and longtime trumpet partner Dan 'Boney' Fields, were given free rein to write the horn lines, a rare freedom he found particularly creative and fulfilling. Sadly, Luther unexpectedly died in August of 1997, and Gib decided to make a break with the Paris scene and in 1998 he returned to Calgary. Currently, Gib gives private lessons and takes various gigs in town. He has taken part in several recording sessions, mostly arranging for horns. He has continued to work with notable musicians such as Son Seals, Jack Semple, Phillip Walker and Sonny Rhodes, and lately, the venerable Amos Garrett. His latest quintet recording, "Boulevard de Clichy," the title inspired by his address in Paris, features Garrett on guitar and is due out in 2002. At the same time, another of his collaborative efforts will see the light of day - he and his wife Yukiko are expecting their first child in the spring.

Contact details and further information

E-mail Gib Monks

For further details, see Gib Monks's website

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