MURLEY/BRAID quartet

Mike Murley, saxophone
David Braid, piano
Jim Vivian, bass
Ian Froman, drums

Fredericton, NB Friday, September 17, 2004 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.	Playhouse Theatre, 696 Queen St. $10 888.622.5837 Presented by Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
Charlottetown, PEI Sunday, September 19, 2004 8:00 p.m.	Steel Recital Hall , UPEI
Antigonish, NS Monday, Sept 20, 2004 8:00 p.m.	Nicholson Hall, St. Francis Xavier University 902.867.2106 Presented by St. FX School of Music
Halifax, NS Wednesday, Sept 22, 2004 8:00 p.m .	The Music Room, 6181 Lady Hammond Rd $18/$15 902.492.0284 Presented by JazzEast
St. John's, NF Friday, Sept 24, 2004 8:00 p.m.	D.F. Cook Recital Hall, Memorial University $10/$5 709.737.4700 Presented by Memorial University
Saskatoon, SK Saturday, Sept 25, 2004 9:00 p.m.	The Bassment, 245 Third Avenue South 306.683.2277 Presented by Saskatoon Jazz Society
Edmonton, AB Sunday, Sept 26, 2004 8:00 p.m.	Yardbird Suite, 11 Tommy Banks Way Presented by Edmonton Jazz Society
Calgary, Alberta Monday, Sept 27, 2004 7:30 p.m.	Western Canada HS, 641 17th Ave SW $8 403.228.5363 ext. 2084 Presented by Western Canada and Central Memorial Thanks to St.John's Music, YAMAHA Canada
Victoria, BC Wednesday Sept 29, 2004 8:00 p.m.	Hermann's Jazz Club, 753 View St. 250.388.4423 Presented by Victoria Jazz Society
Vancouver, BC Friday, Oct 1, 2004 8:00 p.m.	Performing Arts Theatre, Capilano College 2055 Purcell Way, North Van $23/$20 604.990.7810 Presented by Capilano College
Toronto, ON Saturday Oct 2, 2004 9:30 p.m.	Rex Jazz & Blues Bar , 194 Queen St W $10

About the Ensemble:

A newly formed group dedicated to the performance of original compositions by its co-leaders and marked by a unique synergy between its members, the Murley / Braid Quartet brings together four musicians with a unique affinity for one another, and a wealth of common playing experience.

One of the great strengths of the Murley / Braid Quartet is found in the multifaceted musical relationships that link the players who have fostered a deep musical respect and understanding. Mike Murley has been a member of the David Braid Sextet since its inception and appears on both of the group's recordings, and Braid often performs with Murley's Quintet. Bassist Jim Vivian has been playing with Murley for more than twenty years, appearing on six of his recordings (including the Juno-winning "Two Sides"), and recently performed with Murley, drummer Ian Froman and legendary saxophonist Dave Liebman at jazz festivals in Toronto and Halifax. Since 1996, drummer Ian Froman and Murley have been members of Canada's premier electric jazz group Metalwood, a group with which David Braid also performed a number of jazz festival dates in the summer of 2003.
 

About the music:

The original music mainly consists of compositions from two new CDs: “Extra Time” by The Mike Murley Quintet, and “VIVID” by The David Braid Sextet (VIVID.) 

Although the compositions were originally written for quintet and sextet, this ensemble has adapted the arrangements to a smaller format to allow more opportunity for spontaneous interpretation. In addition to performing material from their CDs, the quartet will debut two new pieces by Murley: Rundle and Cascade, inspired by Banff, Alberta.  

This music will be recorded live in concert in Vancouver for a possible release early next year.   

About the musicians :

Mike Murley:   www.mikemurley.com

An engaging, lyrical player, Mike Murley has emerged as one of the nation’s finest jazz talents.  Currently active in The Murley Quintet, Murley / Occhipinti Duo, Murley / Braid Quartet, an acoustic trio featuring Steve Wallace and Reg Schwager, Metalwood, The  Rob McConnell Tentet and as a solo artist, Murley is easily one of the most versatile players on the scene today. 

Since 1991, Murley has played on more than seven Juno Award winning recordings, and has been named saxophonist of the year six times by the Jazz Report Awards and National Jazz Awards.  He is on the faculty at both York University and The University of Toronto, and has since 2002 been among the returning faculty to the prestigious Banff Jazz Workshop

David Braid:    www.davidbraid.com

Toronto - based jazz pianist David Braid has been dedicated to developing as a composer and performer since graduating magna cum laude from the University of Toronto performance program in 1998.  

Braid was a semi-finalist in the Concours Internationaux de Piano Jazz in Paris France, and was nominated for the Governor General's Academic Medal by the U of T Faculty of Music.  In 2001, Braid was selected by the Canada Council for Arts for the JazzID program which showcased Braid as one of five important young composers and jazz musicians in Canada.  In 2004, he received four nominations at the national jazz awards: Best Pianist, Best Composer, Jazz Musician of the Year, and Best Acoustic Jazz Ensemble.

As a leader, he has recorded two albums with "The David Braid Sextet", a popular ensemble which performs a repertoire of original works by Braid.   This group employs the major talents of Steve Wallace, Terry Clarke, John MacLeod, Mike Murley, and Gene Smith.

Aside from performing and composing, Braid is on faculty at the University of Toronto.

Jim Vivian

One of the most sought after bass players in the country, Jim Vivian has performed and recorded with virtually every major Canadian jazz artist including Don Thompson, Mike Murley, Ed Bickert, Kirk MacDonald and Sonny Greenwich, as well as with international artists such as Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler and John Abercrombie.  A integral part of countless recordings and performances, Vivian is as well a vital part of jazz education in Canada, and has been the instructor of jazz bass at the University of Toronto since 2002.

Ian Froman

An integral part of the dynamic electric jazz group Metalwood, drummer Ian Froman has appeared in the United States, Great Britain, Asia and Europe with such artists as Jerry Bergonzi, Michael Brecker, Gary Burton, Garry Dial, Larry Grenadier, Dave Holland, Dave Liebman, Rick Margitza, Ben Monder, Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor.  In Canada, Froman has recorded six albums and garnered two Juno Awards with the highly acclaimed group Metalwood, and has appeared at nearly every Canadian jazz festival in a variety of ensembles.  Froman now resides in New York City.