Brodie West is a Canadian alto saxophonist who has worked with The Ex,[1] Getatchew Mekuria,[1] Sandro Perri,[2] Lina Allemano,[2] Hamid Drake[3] and Gord Downie.
[2] Born in 1975 and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia,[4] West began playing saxophone in the sixth grade.
[4] In his teens, West began performing as well as attending educational programs which led to him being awarded a soprano saxophone at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho, and receiving the Rising Star Award at Musicfest Canada, which included a full scholarship to Humber College in Toronto in 1993.
[4] In 1998, West formed a trio called Zebradonk with drummer Shawn Abedin and trumpeter Alfons Fear.
[4] Deciding to do a busking tour of Europe, the trio met Han Bennink at Bimhuis in Amsterdam.