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| David Braid Sextet at the Rex, Toronto David Braid Sextet will promote their new CD at The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, Toronto, February 22-23, 2007. Canadian-born David Braid recently launched his third Sextet CD, Zhen: The David Braid Sextet Live, Vol. II, following his 2005 Juno Award win for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year. The latest CD was recorded live at the Top o' the Senator in 2005 -- the last recording made before the closing of the historic jazz venue in Toronto. The recording engages with six distinct Braid originals and concludes with his surprising reworking of John Coltrane's composition, Giant Steps. The apparent eclectic mixes of musical inspirations are connected together by the common roots which exercise melody, harmony and form to inspire improvisation. This recording is a tribute to the great live jazz recordings as it prioritizes the enjoyment of jazz made in the moment. This explains the inspiration for the title Zhen (djen), borrowed from the Chinese expression for real, which is the root character to express such concepts as genuine, sincere, or 'the real situation.' Formed in 1999, the popular ensemble has toured Canada twice, performing repertoire entirely composed by David Braid. With Braid as leader, pianist and composer, the ensemble comprises the international talents of Terry Clarke, Mike Murley, Steve Wallace, Gene Smith and John MacLeod. These players augment the ensemble by their incredible wealth of musical experience: Clarke with The Fifth Dimension, John Handy, Oscar Peterson, Ed Bickert, Roger Kellaway and a long list of others; Smith with Sarah Vaughan, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin; Murley with Dr. John, Randy Brecker, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Metalwood and a host of Juno award winners; Wallace has played with Clark Terry, Sweets Edison, Lockjaw Davis, Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme, Woody Herman and many others. And, finally John MacLeod, whose trumpet skills are listed on Grammy and Juno award winning hits, has accompanied the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Nancy Wilson and Ray Charles. The ensemble's debut CD (David Braid: The David Braid Sextet) was released in 2002 and accompanied with liner notes by internationally acclaimed jazz critic and author, Gene Lees. This recording made Jazz- FM's Top 20 best releases of the year. In 2004, the Sextet released its second disc (Vivid: The David Braid Sextet Live), recorded live at one of Canada's premier jazz venues, The Top o' the Senator in Toronto. The Sextet was granted a showcase at the International Association of Jazz Educator's Conference (IAJE) and received nominations for "Best Canadian Jazz Ensemble" at the 2003 and 2004 National Jazz Awards. The CD also received a 2005 Juno Award in the Traditional Jazz Album of the Year category. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |