The Element Choir and William Parker: "At Christ Church Deer Park"

One of the many things there is to love about music is innovation. But what does it mean to be truly innovative? Well to answer that question, we're going to show you by way of an example. The Element Choir is what we'd like to call a musical experiment. Led by Christine Duncan, and funded by a Canada Council Arts Grant, the choir brings together a group of fifty vocalists coming from varied musical backgrounds. So lets get into why this choir is so innovative. We're going to start off by introducing the conductor of this great ensemble, Christine Duncan. Duncan was born into a musical family, whom she sang gospel and jazz with as a child. However, as her musical pallet grew, her taste for music became deeply routed in vocal improvisation. With her five octave range, Duncan has had a successful career as both a performer, and instructor. Now, lets get into the choir and their music. The Element Choir produces music based on both structure and improvisation, queued by their conductor. However, this music is both tonal and atonal, resulting in a masterful engagement of its audience's emotions, and curiosity. This brings us to the album. "At Christ Church Deer Park" is a collaboration of different musical connections, including The Element Choir, New York bass legend William Parker, and The Andrew Downing Trio, which includes Downing on the bass, Jim Lewis on the trumpet, and Jean Martin on the drums. Sounds like a lot of sound doesn't it? To be honest, we are a bit lost for words. The only thing else we can tell you is that if you really want to know what innovation means, give this spectacular record a listen to.

The Element Choir's Myspace

Purchase "At Christ Church Deer Park" 

*Warning* This music isn't for all ears. Some of you may be blown away.

Robi Botos Trio: "Place To Place"

For today's post, we are going to be featuring the Toronto based, Robi Botos Trio. This group, led of course by Botos, also includes his brother Frank on the drums, and Attila Darvas on the bass. Born into a musical family, Botos began his musical career as a child growing up in Hungry, self-teaching himself both the drums and the piano, which he soon mastered. Since moving to Toronto in 1998, this pianist has won numerous international awards such as the 2004 first prize and public prize at the International Montreux Jazz Festival's solo piano competition, and the 2007 Now Magazine award for best jazz artist; just to name a few. He has also made his mark on the Canadian jazz seen, frequently collaborating with legendary bassist Dave Young, and being a member of the acclaimed fusion group rinsethealgorithm. Despite numerous appearances as sideman and leader, "Place To Place" is Botos' first album with this trio. The record includes mostly Botos originals, however a few covers as well. The first song we're going to note is Botos' arrangement of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints". Botos adds his own uniqueness to the song, slowly building it up with band, as his improv moves the piece forward towards climax. In our opinion, this solo gives Botos something to brag about, putting him in the same musical realm as other modern piano virtuosos, like Geoffrey Keezer and Brad Mehldau. The next song we're going to note is "Smedley's Attack". This Botos original allows the listener to make out some of this pianist's diverse influences, such as Oscar Peterson and Thelonious Munk. The song also features both bass and drum solos, allowing Botos' sidemen to make their mark on the album as well. To conclude, this was a fantastic album, and a great first effort by Botos. Now that the album has made headway, we look forward to seeing Botos perform during the 2012 summer jazz season. 

Buy "Place To Place"

Robi Botos

Caleb Elias : "Dualistic Forces"

For today's post, we're going to be featuring Toronto based guitarist Caleb Elias. This artist is particularly special to The Canadian Jazz Review because without him, this blog may have never existed...Let us explain. In 2009, our editor-in-chief, Myles Rosenthal, was looking for a guitar teacher. After consulting his brother, Myles was pointed towards Elias, one of his brothers best friends. The lessons began, and Myles was inspired by this guitarist's superb musicianship, and teaching method. After a few months, Myles became interested in Jazz, as that was what Elias was studying at Humber College in their prestigious jazz program. It took a while for our editor-in-chief to get into jazz, however, it was in 2010, when he saw Elias' final recital live, that got him hooked forever. So, as you can see, from years back of inspiration, Caleb Elias is actually part of the backbone of our review, and we thank him for that. So, it is only fitting, although it will never be released officially, that we discuss his debut album, "Dualistic Forces". The album begins with a soft acoustic number called "Revelations". This first song sets the tone for the album. It is a duet, including Elias on the guitar and Steve Lavery (Aphrodite's Bodice) on the keyboards. Just like the album, the song slowly builds on itself, as both musicians continuously adds a new layer of sound to the mix. The next song on the album is "St. Anne Des Lacs", which was written by Caleb in the summer of 2009, while spending time at his family cottage in the Laurentians, Quebec. An acoustic song as well, this composition picks up right where the last one left off. However, it adds another element to the already sweet sound, percussion, which is played by masterful drummer Jon Hyde. The number concludes with Elias' beautiful acoustic solo. The third composition, "Lights and Color", forwards the transition into the second half of the album. This song, again building on the last, adding two new musicians into the mix: Julian Nalli on the alto sax, and Jon Amador on the bass (both reviewed bellow). The song climax's with a very tasteful, now electric, solo from Elias, and just when you think it's going to end, they go right back into the head of the piece to the listener's delight. The fourth and final number, "Funky Thang" was co-written by Elias and bass sensation Josh Cohen, while they were playing together in Toronto based jam band, Toast. Yet again, the song adds even more musicians into the mix: Andrew Jackson on the trombone, Tom Moffett on the trumpet, and Phil Skladowski on the baritone sax. This song is characterized by a fusion between funk, jazz, and a re-harm on the 12 bar blues. "Funky Thang" is definitely the climax of the album, as it includes a heavier new sound, and an amazing improvisations by Elias, Amador, Nalli, Lavery, and Hyde. Although "Dualistic Forces" will never be released officially, Elias has generously posted the album onto soundcloud, so everyone can listen to it for free! Caleb Elias has been at the forefront of the Canadian jazz student scene for years, now beginning his professional career, we cannot wait to see what's yet to come from this amazing Canadian jazz artist. 

Listen to "Dualistic Forces" For Free!

Caleb Elias' Myspace

Guido Basso: "Changing Partners"

Today, The Canadian Jazz Review will be presenting Guido Basso and his most recent release "Changing Partners". Now for those of you who don't know who he is, Guido Basso is a legendary, Montreal born, jazz musician who has built his career by mastering both the flugelhorn and the trumpet. On "Changing Partners", Basso arranged eleven duets of jazz standards, featuring himself performing with changing partners, literally... His duet partners include pianists Robi Botos, John Sherwood, and legendary Don Thompson. As well, the album also includes guitarists Lorne Lofsky, and Rob Piltch. For most of the songs, Basso serenades the listener with his beautiful flugelhorn playing, however he does manage to pull out his pocket trumpet on the track "Down By The Riverside". Well lets start out by noting the obvious... ("Down By The Riverside"). Besides Basso's superb trumpet playing, the song also features Robi Botos on the piano, who shows off a powerful stride influenced rhythm and solo that transports you back in time to an old western saloon. The next song to note is "On a Clear Day" which features Lorne Lofsky on the guitar. On this track, Basso has no difficulty impressing the listener with his flugelhorn playing, however, he is perfectly accompanied by Lofsky, who acts like an expertise bass player while playing the rhythms, and an amazing lead man while improvising. To conclude this review, we don't think there's anything else that we can say other than buy the album...Its Guido Basso... 

Buy "Changing Partners"

David Braid: "Verge"

Today, we are going to be featuring David Braid, and his recent release "Verge", where he explores the uncharted territory of solo piano. The album has garnered recent attention because it won a 2012 Juno Award. David Braid began his musical career while studying at the University of Toronto. Since then, the student has become the master, winning countless awards, and being a National Jazz Awards recipient. Braid has become most well known for his works with the David Braid Sextet, and his collaborations with Mike Murley. However, recently, he has opened the door to solo piano music, as seen on "Verge". The record features compositions that blend modern classical and jazz idioms together. The first song to note on the album is "Le Phare", which is characterized by Braid's left hand producing a strong bass line, and a powerful rhythm. Despite this, the listener's interest is equally ignited by Braid's right hand, which produces a swaying melody line that pulls you in just like the great romantic pieces of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The next song that we're going to note is "The Way You Look Tonight", which is characterized by Braid's use of a prepared piano ("A piano that has its sound altered by placing objects (preparations) between or on the strings or on the hammers or dampers." (from wikipedia.com)). The sounds created by the preparations almost add a ringing sensation to the song. David Braid has been called one of the most gifted and talented young pianists in Canada. However, with his most recent release, he has also proven to be one of the most innovative as well.  He will be traveling as far as China on his upcoming tour. We here at the Canadian Jazz Review cannot wait for more releases from this talented Canadian jazz artist.

Buy "Verge"

David Braid

Tunnel Six: "Lake Superior"

For todays post, we are going to feature Tunnel Six, and their superb new release "Lake Superior". Although not entirely Canadian, the group has three Canadian members which is good enough for us! Well, lets start off by introducing this "border crossing" jazz sextet. On the Canadian side, there's Ben Dietschi on the saxophones, Brian Seligman on the guitar, and Ronald Hynes on the bass. On the American side, there's Chad McCullough on the trumpet, Andrew Oliver on the piano, and Tyson Stubelek on the drums. This eclectic group of musicians all met at the Banff Centre For The Arts in 2009 where their chemistry was noted almost immediately. On a side note, for all of you rock fans out there, Brian Seligman is best known for his position as lead guitarist in the hit Canadian pop band, The Little Black Dress. Well, lets get into the album. "Lake Superior" features compositions by all six members in the band. The first song we're going to note is "Moving Day". The song begins with a beautiful chord progression by Oliver. The rest of the band joins in and the song beings to progress. Suddenly, a spectacular solo by Hynes. This is quickly followed by McCullough, who shows the listener how talented you really have to be to attend Banff's prestigious program. The piece begins to conclude with a slow building solo by Seligman, where the listener can make out assorted influences such as Kurt Rosenwinkel. As the melody comes back in, and the song begins to dwindle down to completion, out of nowhere, Stubelek comes in, showing off everything he learned while in Alberta. The next song we're going to note is "Lake Superior". It starts off beautifully with another short piano intro. Each member begins to join in, adding into a very relaxing mix of sounds. Oliver now comes in with a tasteful piano solo that creates a ton of interest in the listener. Following this is a change in the rhythm as Dietschi begins to improvise, adding an entirely knew light to the song. Unfortunately, because the band lives so far apart they we don't get to see them that often. Nevertheless, we are all going to have to live with only having "Lake Superior" (which is absolutely fantastic) for now. We can't wait to see what's next for these guys!Take a listen to some songs from their North American tour bellow!

Tunnel Six

Purchase "Like Superior"

Saint Dirt Elementary School: "Abandoned Ballroom"

Saint Dirt Elementary School is at the forefront of Canadian avant-garde jazz. No, this isn't some elementary school marching band (even though that would be cool too), do not worry. However, what does it mean to be at "the forefront of Canadian avant-garde jazz"? Well, I hope you're all prepared because today we have a pop spelling quiz, and the first and only word is "avant-garde". No? Ok ok, lets turn to our friends from dictionary.com. Avant-garde can be described as "the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods". So how does this pertain to Saint Dirt? Well, this ensemble is "an advanced group", in the "musical arts", "whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods". Don't worry, there is a point to all this... Lets introduce the band. The ensemble includes: Wes Cheang on the acoustic guitar, Ryan Driver on the analog synthesizer, Myk Freedman on the lap steel, Tania Gill on the piano and the melodica, Julia Hambleton on the clarinet, Kai Koschmider on the alto sax, Jake Oelrichs on the drums and glockenspiel, and Mike Overton on the bass. If you couldn't tell by the diverse list of instruments, this band is most definitely unorthodox and experimental, but lets get into the album. Saint Dirt's most recent release, "Abandoned Ballroom" features an assorted group of compositions, each one more different than the next. The first song on the record to note is "Zombies Love Dancin' to This Number". When listening to this composition, its like you're entering the world of Jacques Tati's Playtime (for all you film buffs out there), characterizing itself with almost a carnival like theme. The next song to note is "Lulliby for Naughty Children". In regards to this particular tune, the title says it all. This piece is characterized by many different keys, tempos, and movements...in other words... tension! Despite the tension (not what a child wants to hear before bed), it is a subtle tension, allowing the listener to stay interested, very interested. All in all, this album is two things, different and amazing. It is so "avant-garde", that it isn't even available on itunes! Do not fret, it is still available online (see bellow). Well, we hope you all enjoyed your first lesson in avant-garde jazz, and don't worry, you all passed the pop spelling quiz! 

Saint Dirt's Myspace

Purchase "Abandoned Ballroom"