Biography
In 1997 Jamie Bonk, an instrumental guitarist and composer working in the contemporary field, issued his first recording, a self-titled album whose sound merged the lush, layered melodic approach heard in the work of Enya and Patrick O'Hearn with the exotic, heavily rhythmic percussion elements of worldbeat. His early years were divided among Eindhoven in Holland, Winnipeg, and Toronto, the city that remains his home; piano was his initial instrument, yet exposure to rock & roll, world music, and jazz prompted a switch to guitar. Among his strongest early enthusiasms were British punk and ska acts including the Clash, the Jam, and the English Beat, alongside a deep affinity for free jazz, most notably the playing of Cecil Taylor. Classical repertoire entered his sphere of influence through private study with guitarist Eli Kassner.
During the middle of the 1980s Bonk completed a degree in music composition at Queen's University. He subsequently supported himself as a freelance studio musician and composer while performing with local rock and jazz ensembles throughout the Toronto region. A period of collaboration with drummer Jack Vorvis followed, after which Bonk co-founded H Trio alongside drummer Malcolm Gould; the group stayed active from 1990 through 1993. Concurrently he accepted a teaching post at the Toronto Guitar Institute and began privately capturing his own pieces on tape. In 1997 he resigned from the institute to devote himself fully to recording, and the resulting self-titled debut appeared on the Bonk Productions label in the first months of 1998.
During the middle of the 1980s Bonk completed a degree in music composition at Queen's University. He subsequently supported himself as a freelance studio musician and composer while performing with local rock and jazz ensembles throughout the Toronto region. A period of collaboration with drummer Jack Vorvis followed, after which Bonk co-founded H Trio alongside drummer Malcolm Gould; the group stayed active from 1990 through 1993. Concurrently he accepted a teaching post at the Toronto Guitar Institute and began privately capturing his own pieces on tape. In 1997 he resigned from the institute to devote himself fully to recording, and the resulting self-titled debut appeared on the Bonk Productions label in the first months of 1998.
Albums
