A prolific writer and arranger, Canadian clarinetist Phil Nimmons has never received due praise from the international jazz community. Nimmons' heavy involvement in jazz education (he has been on the University of Toronto faculty since 1973) has allowed him to act as mentor for many of Canada's jazz writers and arrangers, although it has perhaps prevented him from receiving the recognition he deserves. Nimmons' own works in both the jazz and classical vein date from 1948. The 1974 recording of his Atlantic Suite received the first Juno Award given in the jazz category. The Olympic Arts Festival of the 1988 Winter Games commissioned Nimmons' work, "The Torch," which was premiered at the Calgary Winter Olympics, by a band under the direction of fellow-Canadian writer/arranger, Rob McConnell. ~ Dan Cross, All Music Guide
