JAZZ.FM91 - Canada's Premier Jazz Station

CM, O.Ont (BA 1949, LLD 1990)

Mary Alice Stuart's current responsibilities include Chairman Emeritus of JAZZ.FM91, president of The Burton Charitable Foundation, a director of S.C. Johnson and Son Limited, and The Bata Shoe Museum Foundation. She is also an honorary director of the Bank of Montreal.

Photo: John Reeves

President and Chief Executive Officer of JAZZ.FM91 since July of 2004, Ross Porter is acknowledged by jazz lovers from coast-to-coast as Canada ’s preeminent jazz broadcaster.

Perhaps best-known to jazz aficionados for his lengthy and distinguished career as a broadcaster and producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s national radio network for many years, Ross Porter more recently developed, launched, and spearheaded programming for Canada’s national jazz channel COOL-TV, also managing day-to-day operations at CanWest’s 24-hour jazz station, COOL-FM and COOL Recordings.

Over past years, he amassed considerable credentials as a producer for widely-lauded network radio documentaries on jazz greats including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker and many others. He also produced critically-acclaimed television documentaries on music legends such as Oscar Peterson, Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones, George Harrison, Brian Wilson, and Diana Krall.

Known for his impeccable taste in music, his unique delivery, and his matchless ability to articulate the colorful jazz landscape for radio listening audiences across the country as executive producer and host of CBC Radio’s highly successful daily After Hours jazz show, Ross Porter also shared his passion and unique understanding of the jazz genre with international air travelers as the host of Air Canada’s in-flight audio jazz channel for several years. His lengthy list of background credentials also includes stints as a respected print journalist, both as a music columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and as a jazz reviewer for The National Post. Ross's current book, The Essential Jazz Recordings: 101 CDs, is a bestseller. It is publlished by McClelland and Stewart.

Winner of numerous honors throughout his illustrious career, Ross Porter was accorded the 2000 CanWest Award for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Jazz’. The prestigious National Jazz Awards named him ‘Broadcaster of the Year’ in both 2002 and 2004. In the spring of 2009 Porter was nominated, by the Jazz Journalists Association, for the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Broadcasting.

Larry specializes in international law with the downtown Toronto firm of Cassels Brock & Blackwell. He received his law degree from the University of Toronto in 1969. After serving in the Canadian diplomatic corps with External Affairs, Larry returned to law practice, where his work involves international business and trade. He also lectures on international law and appears as a commentator frequently on ROBTV, CBC and CTV. Larry has been active in community service, raising funds for the YMCA, the ROM and other organizations. He is also on the Board of the Canadian Institute for International Affairs and Heritage Toronto. Larry has a long-standing interest in public radio and has been on the Board since 1999.

Renah is a huge Jazz fan whose favourites include Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong. She has been on the JAZZ.FM91 Board since 1998 and is very active as Chair of the Finance Committee. A former CEO with the BMO Group of Companies and with Dexit Inc., she is now on the Boards of several start-up technology firms as a senior advisor on Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions as well as International Marketing.

Chris is the Vice President, Corporate Finance & Taxation of a large international corporation (Biovail).  He has a strong track record in the Canadian Business World stretching back to 1984 when he attained his C.A.  He also holds an Honours B. Math from the University of Waterloo.  He is a creative, results-oriented problem solver, a jazz fan and strong Station supporter.

Elissa is the Director, Public Affairs at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Her career includes more than 20 years’ experience in public relations, promotion and media relations in both the profit and non-profit sectors. In addition to JAZZ.FM91, her volunteer activities extend to memberships on the Temple Sinai Foundation committee, Founding Member, FLARE Magazine Volunteer Awards Committee, and President, Board of Directors at Thornhill Nursery School & Kindergarten. She resides in North Toronto along with husband and young daughter.

An award winning creative director, Alan’s career spans almost three decades. Born in the UK, he launched his career as an art director in London before moving to North America and eventually settling in Toronto where he founded Gee Jeffrey and Partners with Peter Jeffrey in 1991. As Chairman and Executive Creative Director of the agency, Alan divides his time between the company’s offices in Canada and the US. He has a wealth of experience in advertising and marketing and is much sought after as a judge and has chaired numerous national and international advertising award shows.

Trumpeter and educator Denny Christianson is best known for his recordings and tours with his Big Band of twenty years, as well as his fusion group “Sortie”, his small group with co-leader Jan Jarczyk, and his new “Little Band”. Appointed as Director of Music at Humber College in 2001, Denny has also recorded over 250 albums in a 30- year career spanning Los Angeles, Montreal, and Toronto, performing and/or recording with with pop and jazz greats such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Pepper Adams, Dianne Schurr, Tony Bennett, Bill Holman, Carmen McRae, Benny Carter, J.J. Johnson, Kenny Drew, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Michel Legrand, etc. He also played on the Sammy Davis, Jr. TV show, and has served as musical director for numerous television shows. He has written several commissions, including a full-length musical, and his 7 albums as a leader(Justin Time Records) have earned 8 Juno and Felix nominations.

John has a diverse background in strategic planning, finance, marketing and public policy. As the Managing Director of Genoa Management, John leads a team of senior partners in providing capital markets counsel and investor relations services to the firm’s clients. Before founding Genoa Management, John’s career included extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. Based in Toronto and New York, he served as the Executive Vice President of Newcourt Credit Group between 1993 and 1999. Prior to this, John worked in Ottawa as a Senior Policy Advisor to several federal Cabinet Ministers between 1984 and 1991. John is an honours graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University’s business school. He has served on numerous charitable and voluntary boards including Safe Kids Canada, the Via Salzburg Chamber Music Series, the Empire Club of Canada, the Toronto Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Toronto. He lives in Toronto with his wife Michelle and their two teenage daughters.