Toronto's
2005 Distillery Jazz Festival proudly presents
Justin Time Recording
Artist
Nick "Brownman"
Ali &
15-man latin-jazz-urban
orchestra
Fri May 27
2
shows - 8pm & 10pm
Ticket info at DistilleryJazz.com
| Fest pass $25 adv or $30 at the gate | Ticket King 1-800-461-3333
*JUST
ANNOUNCED* - single ticket to JUST this performance can be obtained at
the door - $15 - no festival pass required
View the event poster
The band will be playing large-ensemble orchestrations specially crafted for this show by the 2002 Canadian National Composer of Year from the music of CRUZAO, Ali's multi-award-winning 5-piece Latin-jazz-urban outfit. A 6-piece horn section, 2 bass players, 2 stellar Latin vocalists, and 3 percussionists will be laying the foundation over which the luminous Phatt Al (from God Made Me Funky) and Enlight (of Gruvasylum fame) will treat the crowd to some of Canada's finest freestyle rapping. Also featured in this monsterous ensemble are Richard Underhill (2003 Juno winner),lead trumpeter extraordinaire Jason Logue (of NOJO), heavy hitter and National Jazz Award nominee Daniel Barnes, percussionist of the year Luisito Orbegoso and 2 of the finest electric bassists in the country facing off - Marc Rogers and Paco Luviano. From the group's opening notes it will be clear that this is an ensemble of epic proportions."The idea was to thematically explore and expand on the initial latin-jazz-urban concept of CRUZAO, to delve deeper into those sonic qualities and inflate the ideology from 5 to 15 men", says Brownman. "Having these top-shelf latin musicians, jazz artists and hip-hop brothers all stand as one, and play together with grand unified motion, is a staggering and pride-filling experience to witness both as composer and bandleader."
Last year's show was considered by many to be the best of the year at this distinguished venue; this year's event could establish it as a tradition not to be missed by those who wish to experience live some of this country's most unique music. Giving it even more potential is the fact that Ali will have just returned full of inspirations from a prestigious tour of South America with members of the legendary IRAKERE and some of the continent's leading jazz players.
The double bill starts at 8:00 PM, with the second set beginning at 10:00 PM.
Single-show tickets are $15; Festival passes are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.
Visit DistilleryJazz.com for more ticket information.
View the event poster |
A latin-jazz-urban orchestra. . 
. CRUZAO GRUPO MONSTRUOSO amalgamates authentic latin rhythms jazz harmonies urban ideology and big band lineage in a chordless setting. (CRUZAO was recently named by New York University's jazz department as the first chordless latin-jazz group in history) .
. "...latin-jazz-funk - monstrously joyfully, energetically big..." - NOW Magazine "...a one of a kind
big band..."
"... four concepts
so smoothly mixed
|
| Brownman | trumpet
/ electric trumpet /
flugelhorn / compositions |
Trinidad | From CRUZAO - National Jazz Award winner |
| Jason Logue | lead trumpet / flugelhorn | Canada | From NOJO |
| Marcus Ali | alto sax / flute / bass clarinet | Trinidad | From CRUZAO |
| Jeff King | tenor sax | Canada | From CIMARRON |
| Jamie Stager | trombone | Canada | From CACHE |
| Rich Underhill | baritone sax | Canada | JUNO winner (Album of the Year) |
| Paco Luviano | 5 & 6 string electric basses | Mexico | From CRUZAO's original bass player |
| Marc Rogers | 6 & 7 string electric basses | Canada | From GRUVASYLUM |
| Daniel Barnes | drumset / timbales | Canada | National Jazz Award nominee |
| Luisito Orbegoso | congas / additional perc | Peru | National Jazz Award nominee |
| Ruben Esguerra | bongos / campana / add. perc. | Colombia | From CHIVA |
| Ricky Franco | latin vocalist | Mexico | From MARRON MATIZADO |
| Yani | latin vocalist | Cuba | From CAFE CUBANO |
| enlight | freestyle rapper | Trinidad | From GRUVASYLUM |
| PHATT al | freestyle rapper | Jamaica | From GOD MADE ME FUNKY |
| N.I.Gel | freestyle rapper (special guest) | Jamaica | From POCKET DWELLERS |
Trinidadian-Canadian Justin Time Recording Artist Nick "Brownman" Ali & CRUZAO have achieved much in the Canadian jazz community to date including being awarded the 2002 Canadian National Jazz Award for "Composer of the Year", NJA nominations in 2002, 2003 & 2004 for "Electric Jazz Group of the Year", and 2003 "Trumpet Player of the Year". This group has also been awarded the Montreal Jazz Festival's coveted "Grand Prix du Jazz" award, CBC Galaxie's Rising Star award and the "Canadian Independant Music Artist award". The group's debut CD "Shades of Brown" (Justin Time Records 2002) spent 3 months as number 1 on the college and community radio stations Canada-wide upon it's release and, along with Jane Bunnett, are one of the only Canadian latin-jazz recordings recognized in New York City. As a sideman this young hornman has just under 150 CDs to his credit making him one of the most in demand session musicians in Canada. As a leader his group CRUZAO has toured this country's jazz festival and club circuit extensively and has been called by the Globe and Mail "the busiest jazz unit of 2002". Europe welcomed the NICK ALI TRIO in 2002 and 2003 as the group toured the continent and recorded a record for release on a European label. He has headlined the Havana Jazz Festival twice as Cuba as a featured soloist, the Montreal Jazz Festival to 120,000 with GRUVASYLUM and the various American festivals, Buffalo's jazz festival calling him "the Canadian/Trinidadian jazz trumpet monster".
