Trombonist Ryan Keberle and his group Catharsis are getting ready to release a new album, The Hope I Hold, on the 28th on Greenleaf Music. The new album which also has Keberle on keys and vocals this time around changes up the group a bit with Camila Meza on guitar, Jorge Roeder on bass, Eric Doob on drums, and Scott Robinson on sax. To give you a bit of what to anticipate, the … [Read more...]
Nextbop Interviews Chet Doxas
Chet Doxas, arguably one of Montreal’s most illustrious saxophonists, left my endearing hometown three years ago, off to pursue his dream in the bigger and better pastures of the Big Apple. His first project since his self-imposed exile, entitled Rich in Symbols, is set to drop September 8th on Ropeadope Records. Rich in Symbols is as unique in sound as it is in concept. … [Read more...]
Matthew Stevens – ‘Preverbal’
What is the actual difference between adventurous, guitar-based contemporary jazz music and instrumental post-rock? Depending on the day, I can get down just as much to Explosions in the Sky or Mogwai as much as I would to Rafiq Bhatia or, in this particular case, Matthew Stevens. For the creators, there's likely little difference, or moreso it matters less to these folks, but … [Read more...]
Chet Doxas’ “Pieces for Art – NYC 1975- 85”, Sept. 29 at The Jazz Gallery
Montreal boasts the world’s largest jazz festival, usually a grandiose and extravagant display featuring some of the world’s brightest jazz (and non-jazz) talent, yet outside those ten summer days, the local jazz scene leaves us wanting more. There are a select few up and coming musicians who show true potential amidst the plethora of students produced by our four universities, … [Read more...]
Matthew Stevens – “Ashes” (Video)
Another video by Matthew Stevens, Ben Williams and Eric Doob has surfaced in a series christened “Live Off the Floor”. The video, filmed at the Victory Social Club in Toronto, is for an original by Stevens entitled “Ashes”, of which two renditions appear on the guitarist’s debut album, Woodwork, physically released last week on Whirlwind Recordings. Watch the video below as … [Read more...]