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| Geggie Jazz series presents a CD release concert The National Arts Centre Fourth Stage is delighted to welcome John Geggie and his guests on January 30, at 8 p.m. for this CD release party for John's most recent recording, Across the Sky, featuring The Geggie Trio with saxophonist Donny McCaslin. The CD is available on Plunge Records. John Geggie has played in a trio with pianist Nancy Walker and drummer Nick Fraser for many years in a wide variety of contexts and has wanted to record with them for some time. He first collaborated with Donny McCaslin in 2005 in a series of trio concerts (with drummer Jim Doxas) which included a performance at the Fourth Stage and a CBC Radio broadcast. "It seemed a natural thing for me to do a quartet recording with my trio and Donny, " says John. "Nancy and Nick are consummate musicians and are capable of adapting to any playing situation. I knew that there would be a high level of creativity and inspiration with them and Donny—the vibe in the studio was great and so positive. Donny is such a virtuoso saxophonist and is so open to whatever direction the music might take." John Geggie has established himself on the Canadian and international jazz scene as a versatile musician and creative composer. This fall he celebrated the release of two new CDs of his own compositions. He has also recorded or performed with a veritable who's who of creative improvised music: Edward Simon, Seamus Blake, Donny McCaslin, Jon Christensen, Andy Milne, Ben Monder, George Colligan, Craig Taborn, Sheila Jordan, David Murray, Andrew Cyrille, Matt Brubeck, Ted Nash, Billy Hart, Vic Juris, Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford, Bill Carrothers, Cuong Vu, and Mark Dresser. He has for many years hosted the Late Night Jam Sessions at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, and has performed at various international festivals including Rouen and Maubeuge (France), Molde (Norway), and throughout the United States. Most recently, he performed extensively at the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival and the Guelph Jazz Festival. He is regularly heard on CBC and SRC Radio. In addition, he continues to maintain a busy concert schedule with the Thirteen Strings Chamber Ensemble and is involved in many recording projects. John is on faculty at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York (SUNY Potsdam) and has students at both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Donny McCaslin waited until his sixth album to use the title In Pursuit, but the concept of "pursuit"—single-minded devotion to a distant goal, marked by inventive exploration—has characterized his music almost from the beginning. Donny grew up in Santa Cruz, CA; inspired by his father, a pianist and vibraphonist, the youngster started playing tenor saxophone at 12. Since completing his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he has played with Gary Burton and Steps Ahead. He has proved himself a valued sideman on recordings by Danilo Perez and Luciana Souza, and in performances with Tom Harrell, Brian Blade, John Pattitucci, The Mingus Band, and Pat Metheny. In addition to his own projects, he performs regularly with the acclaimed Maria Schneider Orchestra and the Dave Douglas Quintet. Donny has also been a faculty member at the Jazzworks Jazz Workshop at CAMMAC, north of Montreal. Jazz pianist and composer Nancy Walker has been recognized Canada-wide. Winner of the 2008 National Jazz Awards Keyboardist of the Year Award, Nancy has released several critically acclaimed recordings. Her CD Levitation, released in 2003, is "a fine example of the modern jazz musician's art" (Mark Miller, Globe and Mail). Next came When She Dreams (2004), which shot to the Number One position on Canadian campus radio jazz charts. In 2006, her recording Rainy Days and Mondays was nominated for a JUNO Award in the "Instrumental Album of the Year" category. Her latest recording is Need Another, distributed by Fontana North/Universal. Nancy was also the recipient of the 2003 Montreal International Jazz Festival's prestigious Grand Prix de Jazz. "Harmonically she's influenced by the usual suspects—Evans, Hancock, Jarrett, etc.—but her delicate touch and denser harmonic constructs bring to mind British pianist John Taylor as well… Walker's music is easy on the ears, but don't mistake that for lacking in interest or challenge, because she masks an advanced harmonic concept within an accessible veneer." (John Kelman, All About Jazz). Nick Fraser has been an active and engaging presence in the Toronto new jazz and improvised music community since he moved there from Ottawa in 1996. He has worked with such outstanding Canadian jazz and improvised musicians as Justin Haynes, Mike Murley, Lina Allemano, Quinsin Nachoff, Dave Restivo, Jim Vivian, David Braid, David Mott, Lori Freedman, Jean Derome, Ron Samworth, John Stetch, and Kirk MacDonald. In addition, he has had the opportunity to perform and/or record with such international artists as Michael Moore, Bobby Shew, Donny McCaslin, Marilyn Crispell, Anthony Braxton, Joe McPhee, William Parker, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Wynton Marsalis, David Binney, Steve Turre, Matt Welch, Bill Carrothers, and Bill Mays. He co-leads the co-operative group Drumheller with Brodie West, Rob Clutton, Eric Chenaux, and Doug Tielli; the group released their self-titled debut CD (on the Rat-Drifting label) in 2005 and Wives in 2006. Nick is a founding member of The Association of Improvising Musicians of Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to the Toronto improvising community. The Geggie Trio + Donny McCaslin Across the Sky CD release concert Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8 p.m. NAC Fourth Stage John Geggie – double bass Donny McCaslin (New York) – tenor saxophone Nancy Walker (Toronto) – piano Nick Fraser (Toronto) – drums Single tickets: $25 / Series subscription: $77 (4 concerts) UPCOMING CONCERTS IN THIS SERIES March 6, 2010 Modern and contemporary jazz by four adventurous horn players: Lina Allemano (Toronto) on trumpet, Rémi Bolduc (Montreal) on alto sax, Bret Zvacek (USA) on trombone, and Joel Miller (Montreal) on tenor sax. Playing drums on this concert will be Montreal-based Isaiah Ceccarelli. April 17, 2010 Lyrical and impressionistic improvisation with pianist Frank Kimbrough (New York) and drummer Jean Martin (Toronto). May 15, 2010 Creative contemporary jazz and original compositions played by young Canadians on the New York jazz scene: Michael Webster (tenor sax), Erica vonKleist (alto sax and flute), and Greg Ritchie (drums). All performances begin at 8 p.m. in the NAC Fourth Stage. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |