Felix Award winner, bossman and hard-driving bebop master, Canadian jazz legend Norman Marshall Villeneuve.
Known as “Canada’s Art Blakey”, Norm grew up in Little Burgundy, Montreal. In 1955, during the bebop jazz era, he was just 17 when his fiery style caught the attention of jazz veterans and he was tapped to perform in the smoky clubs of Montreal, including Rockhead’s, Cafe La Boheme, Biddles and Black Bottom.
Norm has performed with jazz royalty, including Duke Ellington, Curtis Fuller, Cootie Williams, Wayne Shorter, Junior Mance, Oliver Jones, Nelson Symonds, Charlie Biddle Alvin Wellman, Richard Parris, Linton Garner, Chuck Peterson and vocalists Renee Lee, Anita O’Day, Blossom Dearie, Sheila Jordan and Jackie Richardson.
Celebrating his 7th decade in music, Norm has come home to Montreal, where he continues his life’s work, blazing the way for a new generation of jazz musicians. Norm remains an active and beloved leader on the Canadian Jazz scene.
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