The David Braid Sextet's Asia Tour

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One of Canada's most celebrated acoustic jazz ensembles, the David Braid Sextet will conduct a two-week Asian tour this Fall. With the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs Canada, the Sextet will perform in Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen from September 24 to October 5. Leading the ensemble is one of Canada's most respected and fastest-rising jazz artists, pianists and composers: David Braid.

Thirty-one-year-old Braid has written over 50 works for his sextet, whose members have collectively won over 30 Juno (Canada's highest music honour) and Grammy awards. They are drummer Terry Clarke (Order of Canada) and bassist Steve Wallace (formerly of the Oscar Peterson Trio); multi-Juno-award-winning saxophonist Mike Murley; trombonist Gene Smith (Woody Herman Orchestra, Department Head of Music at Saint Francis Xavier University); and trumpeter John MacLeod, who has performed with Ray Charles, Zoot Sims and Tony Bennett.

The success resulting from veteran jazz artists performing the music of an emerging artist has catapulted Braid to become one of Canada's most sought-after jazz artists. Canada's national public broadcaster, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, recognized the talent of Braid early on in his career and touted him as "the most gifted young pianist and composer in the country."

This tour marks Braid's third performance visit to Asia, after playing sold-out concerts in 2004 and 2005 in Asia and Australia. The tremendous response by music audiences and presenters prompted the itinerary for the 2006 Asia Tour.

The David Braid Sextet will be performing the music from three recordings, including VIVID: The David Braid Sextet Live -- which was awarded the country's most prestigious musical honour, the 2005 Juno Award for Jazz Album of the Year; and his new album, Live from the Senator, Vol. II: The David Braid Sextet, which is slated for release in late 2006. Among Braid's many new works that will be featured in the new album, "Sai Kung" was inspired by the landscape and harbour in Sai Kung and the spirit of Hong Kong's inhabitants, during his first tour of the city in 2004.

Braid is a Yamaha Music performing artist, University of Toronto Faculty of Music professor, and leads/co-leads & writes original music for seven ensembles, including his talent-heavy sextet. As a sideman, Braid performs in over 15 major Canadian ensembles.

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