Born: March 23, 1943
Dublin, Ireland
Current home: Vancouver BC

Son of Irish jazz pianist, Joe Gannon, Oliver took up the guitar at 20, after the family's move to Winnipeg in 1957. He studied composition and arranging 1964-69 with Herb Pomeroy and William Malloff at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Back in Canada he settled in Vancouver where he soon established himself as a first-call studio guitarist. He was a founding member of the group "Pacific Salt" in 1970 and in 1975 began a relationship with tenor saxophonist Fraser MacPherson that resulted in a series of highly-regarded recordings, CBC broadcasts, and tours, including three to the Soviet Union and one to Europe. They shared a Juno for best jazz album in 1982 for their album of duets on the Sackville label, "I Didn't Know About You", and in 2002 he received the National Jazz Award (Canada) for Guitarist of the Year. He currently performs with the following groups: The Oliver Gannon Quartet (with Miles Black), The Oliver Gannon/Patty Hervey Quartet (with Al Wold and John Nolan), and The Ian McDougall Sextet. He is married to the singer Patty Hervey.

Dave Robbins CBC LM89 Vancouver, B.C., August, 1970
Dave Robbins Band : Don Clark, Robert Herriot, Stew Barnett, Bobby Hales, Carse Sneddon (tp, flhrn) Dave Robbins, Ian McDougall, Dave Pepper, Bill Trussell, Ted Lazenby (tb) Fraser MacPherson (woodwinds, melodion) Wally Snider, Roy Bull, Dave Quarin, Jack Stafford (woodwinds) Robert Creech, Doug Kent, Dianne Dunn (fhr) Ralph Dyke (vib) Bob Murphy (org) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Ray Moga (b) George Ursan (d) Don Knispel (perc)

Games people play
Didn't we?

Pacific Salt Country detour Music Service Canada (no #) Vancouver, 1971
Pacific Salt : Don Clark (tp) Ian McDougall (tb) Ron Johnston (el-p) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (el-b) George Ursan (d)

Bossa Jo Jo

Note: One more title from this recording by Fraser MacPherson.

Pacific Salt CBC LM194 Vancouver, April 27, 1972
Don Clark (flhrn) Ian McDougall (tb) Ron Johnston (el-p) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (el-b) George Ursan (d)

Cycle song
Bossa bossa Jo-Jo
Country detour
Spring's garden

Oliver Gannon CBC LM216, LM422 Vancouver, Canada, December 9, 1972
Oliver Gannon (g) acc by big band :Don Clark, Stewart Barnett, Robert Hilton, Robert Herriot, Bobby Hales (tp) Ian McDougall (tb, arr) Jack Fulton, Bob Hamper, Bill Trussell, Sharman King (tb) Ron Johnston (p) Tony Clitheroe (b) George Ursan (d) Don Knispel (cga) Ken Moore (perc)

One bad apple

Pacific Salt CBC LM302 Vancouver, February, 1973
Don Clark (tp) Ian McDougall (tb) P.J. Perry (ts) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (el-b) George Ursan (d)

P.J. too !
No hope, no fear
Patricia
Aztec
16th Avenue shuffle
Four leaf clover man
Raw toast
So be it

Pacific Salt Gramophone G1002 Vancouver, June, 1973
Don Clark (tp) Ian McDougall (tb) P.J. Perry (ts) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (el-b) George Ursan (d)

Goose juice
You're my little sweetheart
Raw toast
Something soft
No hope, no fear
Aztek
Four leaf clover man
Old Yale
North bluff stomp

Corky Corcoran C.C. Production Rec. 4012 Vancouver, BC, September, 1973
Plays everywhere : Corky Corcoran (ts) + 18 musicians incl. Stu Barnett, Robert Herriot, Don Clark, Bobby Hales (tp) Bob Hamper (tb) Fraser MacPherson (ts) Wally Snider (bar) Oliver Gannon (g) Ray Sims (vcl)

Everywhere
Dream of you
A sinner kissed an angel
Sophisticated lady
Some Saturday
Wine and roses
It never entered my mind
Mobile Bay
Glocca-Morra
Topsy

Don Clark CBC LM318 Vancouver BC, September 28 & October 31, 1973
Don Clark (flhrn) Fraser MacPherson (ts) P.J. Perry (ts, fl) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) George Ursan (d)

The night the lights went out in Georgia
Yesterday once more
Sing [It's good for you]
You are the sunshine of my life

Pacific Salt Little Mountain Sound LMR105 Concert "Queen Elizabeth Playhouse", Vancouver, 1975
Pacific Salt Live : Don Clark (tp) P.J. Perry (ts) Ron Johnston (keyboards) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (el-b) George Ursan (d)

Search
Canned tomatoes
Poco a poco
Dumb boogie
Somaliland
Sancho
Through the nebula

Don Clark CBC LM430 Vancouver, BC, March 13, 1975
Don Clark Ragtime Band : Don Clark, Stewart Barnett (tp) Bill Trussell (tb) Fraser MacPherson (cl, ts) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (b) George Ursan (d)

The wet rag
The oily rag
The dusty rag
Alexander's ragtime band

Bobby Hales Center Line 0975 Vancouver, September 14 & 15, 1975
One of my bags : Bobby Hales Big Band : Robert Herriot, Stew Barnett, Don Clark, Robert Hilton, Blaine Tringham (tp) Bill Trussell, Bob Hamper, Jack Fulton, Sharman King (tb) Dave Quarin, Jack Stafford, Fraser MacPherson, Wally Snider (sax) Al Wold (sax-1) Roy Bull (sax-2) Bob Doyle (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Tony Clitheroe (b) George Ursan (d) Ken Moore (perc) Bobby Hales (arr,
ldr)

Funklickity (1)
Shuffle scuffle (1)
Talk trap (1)
Fireball (1)
Formula #1 (1)
Minor event (2)

Fraser MacPherson West End 101 (reissued Concord Jazz CJ92) December 16, 1975
Live at the Planetarium : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g) Wyatt Ruther (b)

I'm getting sentimental over you
Li'l darlin'
Lush life
My funny valentine
Tangerine
Tangerine
Django
I cried for you
Note: All above titles also on

Ian McDougall Energy E464 - Toronto, 1976
Three : Ian McDougall (tb) Ron Johnston (p, synt, el-p) Oliver Gannon (g)

Cats don't have eyebrows
Patricia
Just a song
Lee's way
I dunno, bossa si
Last summer
Dumb boogie
Stone song
Country detour
R.I.O.
Bossa bossa Jo-Jo
Wouldn't you like

Fraser MacPherson CBC RCI503 Live "Northsea Jazz Festival", The Hague, Holland, July 13, 1979, Live "Montreux Jazz Festival", Montreux, Switzerland, July 16, 1979
Jazz Canada Europe '79 : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g) Wyatt Ruther (b)

You'd be so nice to come home to
Someday you'll be sorry
All alone [by the telephone]
I'm getting sentimental over you
Don't get around much anymore
Sophisticated lady
There will never be another you

Note: Other titles on CBC RCI503 (4 LP boxed set) by All-Star Jazz Sextet, Salome Bey, Ed Bickert.

Gary Guthman Intercan IC1003 Vancouver, B.C., January, 1980
Coll. pers. Gary Guthman (tp, flhrn, arr-1) Fred Stride (tp, arr-3) Jamie Croil, Henry Christian, Blaine Dunaway (tp) Herb Besson, Bill Trussell (tb) Sharman King (b-tb) Tony Nickels, Wayne Kozak, Bob McDonald, Tom Keenlyside (reeds) Ron Johnston, Dave Pickell (keyboard) Bob Buckley (keyboard, arr-2) Dave Sinclair, Oliver Gannon (g) Doug Edwards, Tom Hazlitt (b-g) Geoff Eyre, Rudy Petschaver (d) Jim McGillveray (perc)

Together once again (1, 2)
Flash (1)
I just want to stop

Fred Stride Last Time Out LTO-030 Vancouver, B.C., September, 1980
First time out : Fred Stride and the West Coast Jazz Orchestra : Fred Stride (tp, flhrn, arr, cond) Gary Guthman, Henry Christian, Don Clark, Rodger Owens, Blaine Tringham (tp, flhrn) Dave Robbins, Rob McKenzie (tb) Herb Besson, Sharman King (tb, euphonium) Bob McDonald (fl, as, sop) Jack Stafford (fl, cl, as) Tom Keenlyside (fl, pic, ts) Tony Nickels (fl, cl, oboe, ts) Lew Hilton (b-cl, bar) Al Wold (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Torben Oxbol (b) Graham Boyle (d)

Time after time
It might as well be spring
The one step
It had better be tonight
Angel eyes
Y'er basic blues

Stew Barnett (tp, flhrn) replaces Gary Guthman Vancouver, B.C., February, 1982

How can I say it all?

Fraser MacPherson Sackville 4009 Toronto, December 9, 1980
I didn't know about you : Fraser MacPherson/Oliver Gannon : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g)

This heart of mine
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Everything happens to me
All by myself
The more I see you
Mean to me
I didn't know about you
Day by day
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
You go to my head
In a mellotone

Karen Young Radio Canada Int. RCI528 Vancouver, B.C., February, 1981
Karen Young : Karen Young (vcl) acc by Don Clark (tp) Herb Besson (tb) Fraser MacPherson (ts, cl, fl) Jack Stafford (sax, cl, fl) Ron Johnston (keyboards) Oliver Gannon, Ted Quinlan (g) Torben Oxbol, Jon Rehder (b) George Ursan (d) Karen Young, Mary Saxton, Melinda Whitaker (background vcl)

Autumn tree
Stolen moments
My little speed shoes
Give-away
I loves you Porgy
Don't say goodbye
Room to move
Ted's song
Parker's mood

Fraser MacPherson Concord Jazz CJ224 Vancouver, June, 1983
Indian summer : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g) Steve Wallace (b) Jake Hanna (d)

Recado bossa nova
As long as I live
Sophisticated lady
'S wonderful
'Deed I do
Indian summer
All my life
Just my luck
Long ago and far away

Fraser MacPherson Justin Time JUST23, JUST23-2 [CD] Montreal, March, 1987
Honey and spice : Fraser MacPherson Quartet : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g) Steve Wallace (b) John Sumner (d)

Soon
How deep is the ocean?
How long has this been going on?
Blue prelude
I love you Samantha
Suddenly it's spring
Memories of you
You took advantage of me

Note: (*) This title also on Radio Canada International ACM38 CD1-4 [CD]; rest of this 4 CD set by others.
Justin Time JUSTSAM9999-2 [CD] titled "Justin Time Records - A tenth anniversary collection"; rest of CD by others.

Rio Innovation JC0017 Vancouver, B.C., February 20-22, 1988
Rio : Ron Johnston/Ian McDougall/Oliver Gannon : Ian McDougall (tb) Ron Johnston (keyboards) Oliver Gannon (g)

Search
Devon's delight
Free recall
Free recall
Consider this
Lightly turning
Rio
Then came September
Portrait of Jenny
Musette
Songbird

Charles Mountford Unisson DDD1009 [CD] RCI ACM38CD1-4 [CD] Toronto, October 17, 1989
Good stuff : Charles Mountford Trio : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Charles Mountford (p) Oliver Gannon (g-1) Dave Young (b) Barry Elmes (d)

Blue for Big Ben
Isn't it romantic?
No moon at all
Until the real thing comes along
For you my lady
Who cares? [So long as you care for me]
Blue Lou
Once when I fell in love
Red door
Strollin'
In a sentimental mood
My heart stood still
Fred

Fraser MacPherson Justin Time JTR8420-1, JTR8420-2 [CD] Montreal, April, 1990
Encore : Fraser MacPherson Quartet : Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g) Steve Wallace (b) John Sumner (d)

Up in Steve's room
Everything I love
Someday you'll be sorry
Chelsea bridge
Comes love
Rabbit's habit
If dreams come true
Come Sunday
You're driving me crazy
Easy street
Night spot

Note: The above originally recorded for broadcast on CBC Radio's "Jazz Beat".

Fraser MacPherson Concord Jazz CCD4506 [CD] Vancouver, November 15 & 16, 1991
In the tradition : Ian McDougall (tb) Fraser MacPherson (ts) Oliver Gannon (g) Steve Wallace (b) John Sumner (d)

Louisiana
Why am I blue?
Struttin' with some barbecue
A hundred years from today
Constantly
When it's sleepy time down south
Desolation blues
You're lucky to me
If you could see me now
Dream of you
Ol' Bill's blues

June Katz Katzeye MAC1003 [CD] Vancouver, B.C., summer, 1994
New shoes blues : June Katz (vcl) acc by Derry Byrne (tp) Hugh Fraser (tb) Campbell Ryga (as) Ross Taggart (ts) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Miles Hill (b) John Nolan (d, perc)

Stars fell on Alabama
You fascinate me so
I didn't know what time it was
Can't get out of this mood
That old feeling
Back in your own backyard
Juicy Lucy
At long last love
Stranger in paradise
It's magic
New shoes blues
A lovely way to spend an evening

George Robert Jazz Focus JFCD004 [CD] Montreal, July 3, 1994
Tribute : George Robert Quintet : George Robert (as) Dado Moroni (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Reggie Johnson (b) George Ursan (d)

The village
Voyage
Old folks
Remembering Henri
Dedicated to Bird
One for Thad
Joan (dr, gm only)
With a song in my heart
Upper Manhattan Medical Group
So nice

Ian McDougall Concord Jazz CCD4652 [CD] Vancouver, B.C., July 12 & 13, 1994
The warmth of the horn : The Ian McDougall Quartet : Ian McDougall (tb) Ron Johnston (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Torben Oxbol (b)

Warm
You go to my head
Like someone in love
Blue Daniel
Sixth sense
Lament
I remember you
How long has this been going on?
Centerpiece
Blue skies
Mc Not Mac and Two "L"s

Ross Taggart Boathouse BHRCD007 [CD] Vancouver, BC, February 1998
Ross Taggart & Co. : Brad Turner (tp) Ross Taggart (ts) Ron Johnston (p) Linton Garner (p) Oliver Gannon (g) Torben Oxbol (b) Blaine Wikjord (d)

Corcovado [Quiet nights]
For Sharon
The cookie monster
Polka dots and moonbeams
Don't blame me
Nancy
T.V. lunch
Devon's delight
I wish I knew
Open book
Wistfully yours