Brubeck-Braid (Canada) + Simpatico
Simpatico 8.30 – 9.30pm
…their music is always heartfelt and genuine, and never relies on cliché… leaves me wanting more – Cadence Magazine (USA)
Simpatico sees two of our most celebrated improvisers, Andrew Robson and Paul Cutlan, join forces for a concert set of spontaneous music making. The rapport and skill of these two elite musicians is evident on stage and results from a longstanding association as the horn section of the Mara Ensemble as well as working together in the Original Otto Orchestra, Ten Part Invention, Mike Nock’s Big Small Band and The Coltrane Project.
Texturally it is as abundant as a rainforest… – John Shand, SMH
Like Dolphy playing against himself… – All About Jazz.com
Immediately unusual and totally captivating – Leon Gettler, The Age
Andrew Robson (alto saxophone) Paul Cutlan (tenor saxophone / clarinets)
Brubeck-Braid Duo 10.00 – 11.00pm
American jazz cellist Matt Brubeck teams up with Canadian jazz pianist David Braid. Together they perform original compositions, jazz standards and free improvisation with fluid versatility. Both classically trained but steeped in jazz, they easily segue between genres, blurring the distinctions between jazz, classical and new music. Their first CD, twotet/deuxtet, was nominated for a Canadian Juno Award in 2007. Brubeck Braid has played the Montreal, Toronto, and Atlantic Jazz festivals, performed throughout Ontario and Quebec, as well as toured China. The duo format provides a great opportunity to hear the intimate interplay of these very talented and like-minded musicians.
The alive and vital Twotet/Deuxtet, from cellist Matt Brubeck and pianist David Braid, is a recording to celebrate and become immersed in – All About Jazz (USA)
In all, this recording is well produced and performed with supreme confidence. But the most enduring quality of the music is its uncommon marriage of styles which are blended seamlessly in the masters’ hands – Scene Magazine (UK)
Wide-ranging, exploratory, contemplative and at times surprisingly funky – Arts Journal (USA)
I have to stop thinking of Braid as ‘Canada ‘s-best-young/most- promising etc.’ jazz piano player, and (because I’ve not heard all the others) ‘among-the-top anywhere.’ He has arrived… I’ve now moved on to expecting a high standard in his work, and he and Brubeck more than justify my trust on this album – Wholenote (Canada)
This is a duo of like-minded musicians who seem to know each other well and they make some very enjoyable music full of melody and energy – Cadence Magazine (USA)
Matt Brubeck – cello
Matt Brubeck is a Juno-nominated performer/composer specializing in improvisation on the cello. He also plays piano and bass. Raised on jazz and classically trained at Yale, Matt is at ease in multiple genres and has taken his cello improvisation skills into diverse musical territories.
Matt’s current projects include Brubeck Braid (a duo with jazz pianist David Braid), as well as various trio projects who perform widely at jazz festivals across Canada and USA. Matt has enjoyed performing with a wide range of other musicians including Evan Parker, John Geggie, Pierre Tanguay, David Buchbinder, Natalie MacMaster,and Yo-Yo Ma to name a few. During his many years in San Francisco, Matt was very active in the musical community there, playing with artists including Will Bernard and Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. He founded Oranj Symphonette, which recorded two CD’s for Rykodisc and went on to play many of the major jazz festivals, from Monterey to Montreal. In the pop/rock world, his eclectic adventures include touring with the Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, and the Indigo Girls, as well as performing and/or recording with Tom Waits, Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman and others.
Matt teaches jazz strings, jazz piano, improvisation, composition, and leads various ensembles at York University. In addition, he is on the jazz faculty of both Humber College and the University of Toronto. (And, yes, he is the tallest son of Dave.)
More: mattbrubeck.com
David Braid, piano
Touted as one of Canada’s newest and most promising jazz pianists and composers, David Braid is a Juno Award winner, National Jazz Award recipient and has appeared in concert halls and festivals across Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Brazil. Nominated for the Canadian Governor General’s Academic Medal, he was recognised in 2001 by the Canada Council for the Arts (JazzID program 2001) as one of five important young composers and jazz musicians in Canada. Since that time, he produced seven recordings (garnering four Juno nominations) with four ensembles: The David Braid Sextet, Brubeck Braid, Nimmons’n‘Braid and Davidson/Murley/Braid Quintet (DMBQ).
Braid is a recipient of the “SOCAN Composer of the Year (2007),” recognizing his output of over 70 works including his first orchestral piece unveiled by the Winnipeg Symphony blending jazz form, symphonic texture and improvisation. Aside from performing and composing, 33-year-old Braid has been a faculty member at the University of Toronto since 2003.
More: davidbraid.com
