Sunday, July 3 Eve at Bridgeworks
FRANÇOIS HOULE 4: RECODER
“Strong from our first release on Songlines Records, the quartet is about to embark on a Canadian Jazz Festival tour in July of 2022, and going to record a second album at East Side Sounds in NYC.
This band features some of my favourite musicians on the planet. I’ve been dreaming of working with Gerry Hemingway (drums) ever since I heard him for the first time on those legendary Braxton Quartet recordings from the 80’s. Mark Helias (bass) has performed with pretty much everyone you can imagine, from Ed Blackwell to Tony Malaby. Joining these two monster musicians is my long time collaborator (and Juno Award winner!) Gordon Grdina on guitar.”
— François Houle (clarinets, composition)
“listed in DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE on Best of 2020!!! (January 2021 edition)”
“One reason why Canadian clarinettist François Houle’s compositions roar with such fierce and indefatigable energy lies in the personnel and instrumentation he’s assembled to play them”
— Daniel Spicer, The Wire (november 2020)
“The leader’s writing reflects the chamber-like vibe of Jimmy Giuffre’s trio with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow”
— Peter Margasak, Downbeat (November 2020)
GORDON GRDINA’S NOMAD TRIO
Complex, intricate, idiosyncratic, and rocking — those are the adjectives that best describe this cross-border collaboration between Vancouver guitarist Gordon Grdina, and New York’s Matt Mitchell piano, and Berliner Jim Black drums. Juno Award winner Grdina’s compositions give the nod to 20th century classical composition, rock, free jazz, and third stream, and this trio promises to explore those ideas at their highest levels.
Gordon Grdina is known for his incredible versatility and ability to bring a fresh and edgy vibe to any ensemble he joins or forms. His musical output is diverse, including 10-piece Arabic/avant-garde ensemble Haram, the intricate GG Quartet and cinematic GG Septet, high-energy collective Grdina/Houle/Loewen, free-punk duo Peregrine Falls, and contemporary Persian-influenced ensemble The Marrow.
Jim Black is a legend in the downtown New York jazz and improv scene and a world-renowned drummer. He has been part of legendary groups Endangered Blood, Tim Berne’s Bloodcount, and Human Feel as well as leading his own groups the Jim Black Trio, Alas No Axis, and Malamute.
Matt Mitchell is a mainstay on the New York jazz scene playing with internationally acclaimed ensembles like the Dave Douglas Quintet, John Hollenbeck’s Large Ensemble and Tim Berne’s Snakeoil. He also leads his own Quartet, Phalanx Ambassadors and Friction duo with Ches Smith.
$20 advance tickets via Eventbrite
$20 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed
$25 at the door regular
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
Food and beverages available at venueLimited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.
These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.
Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.