EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY 11 TOMMY BANKS WAY - Yardbird Suite

Mike Murley/David Braid Quartetwith guest Tara DavidsonToronto has long beenacknowledged as Canada'sAnglophone home of Jazzmusic in all its guises, from theacademic pursuit of itslabyrinthian vocabulary toperforming, recording and allother torch-bearing exercises inhonour of this venerablemusical tradition. Toronto is theplace in this country where theold adage really applies: if youcan make it there, you canmake it anywhere. With this inmind, David Braid and MikeMurley are to contemporaryCanadian Jazz what Chic Coreaand Michael Brecker are tocontemporary American Jazz,which is to say that they aregiants of the form. They are ascreatively unbound to themusic's history as they arestylistically indebted to itsforefathers.The affinity between thesemusicians is clearly expressedin the free-spirited, uneditedperformances captured on theirnew CD Mnemosyne’s March.The album interprets sixoriginals and one standard, withBraid and Murley contributingthree originals each. Ofparticular note, Murley includesa suite inspired by Banff,Alberta and Braid adds a piecewritten for the short film,Dream Recording, as well as“Mnemosyne’s March”, acharacter sketch of the Greekgoddess of memory.An engaging, lyrical player,Mike Murley has emerged asone of the nation’s finest jazztalents and one of the mostversatile players on the scenetoday. Currently active as aleader in various formationsfrom duo to septet, Murley alsokeeps a busy schedule as asideman with the David BraidSextet, the Rob McConnellTentet and the David OcchipintiQuartet, among others.Since 1991, Murley hasplayed on nine Juno Awardwinning recordings and hasbeen named saxophonist of theyear eight times by the JazzReport Awards and NationalJazz Awards. With a musicalpersonality known for itswarmth, lyricism and wit, MikeMurley is truly one of theforemost voices in Canadianjazz today.David Braid has been toutedas one of the most gifted youngpianists and composers inCanada. A Juno Award winnerand National Jazz Awardrecipient, Braid is in demand fora variety of projects and hasperformed extensively acrossCanada, Europe, Australia,Japan and other parts of Asia.Joining the pair on this tourfrom TorontoMike Murley - tenor saxophoneDavid Braid - pianoTara Davidson - alto saxophoneJim Vivian - bassIan Froman - drumswill be the albums powerhouserhythm section of bassist JimVivian and Ian Froman on thedrums along with Tara Davidsonwho will be adding the extradimension of Alto saxophone tothe quartets' sound.FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 10DOORS 8PM • SHOW 9PM • MEMBERS $14/GUESTS $18Wallace Roney SextetAt a time when much of theJazz world seems content tosimply attempt to recreate thepast, trumpeter/composerWallace Roney follows the truejazz tradition of utilizing the pastto move forward. This hasresulted in acknowledgment bythe public and his peers withhis receipt of three GrammyAwards and numerousnominations for projects inwhich he was the featuredperformer and/or collaborator.Wallace Roney earned theadmiration and respect of hiscolleagues and his elders by thetime he was 16. He has beenan integral part of bands withArt Blakey, Elvin Jones, PhillyJoe Jones, Walter Davis Jr.,Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams,Jay McShann, David Murray,and McCoy Tyner; he has alsobeen a featured soloist withOrnette Coleman, SonnyRollins, Curtis Fuller, CaroleKing, Joni Mitchell, and DizzyGillespie, to name a few. Hebecame one of the mostpopular jazz sidemen in themusic industry early into hisprofessional career and hecontinues to push thedevelopment of new conceptsin jazz.Born in Philadelphia, May25, 1960, Wallace beganstudying the trumpet and musictheory at age four atPhiladelphia's SettlementSchool of Music. When heentered the Duke Ellington HighSchool for the Performing Arts,he had already made hisrecording debut at age 14, andhad attained distinction as agifted local performer. In 1979and again in 1980, Mr. Roneywon DownBeat's Award forBest Young Jazz Musician ofthe Year. Between studies atBerklee College of Music andHoward University, he playedwith Art Blakey's JazzMessengers before departing toperform as a leading sideman.Wallace was mentored by MilesDavis after Miles heard him in1983 in a gala performance atRadio City Music. Theirassociation peaked when Mileschose Wallace to share thestage at his historicperformance in Montreux in1991. After Davis died, HerbieHancock, Ron Carter, WayneShorter, Tony Williams andRoney banded together andtoured the world in tribute.Since then, Wallace has ledhis own ensembles in liveperformance and in recordingsfor Muse, Warner Brothers,Concord/Stretch, and now withHigh Note Records."Art Blakey taught me aboutthe integrity of the music. Hefrom New Yorkbelieved that this music wasspecial and he imparted that toall of us, and that we shared anobligation to take it serious...""I feel that my music isalways a tribute to Milesbecause my music definitelyhas Miles' stamp. He was likemy father and I never ran fromhis influence."SATURDAY • NOV 11DOORS 8PM • SHOW 9PM • MEMBERS $24/GUESTS $28Wallace Roney - trumpet Antoine Roney - saxophone Robert Irving - pianoClarence Seay - bass Kimberly Thompson - drums Val – turntables4 • www.yardbirdsuite.com • NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2006