HORN OF PLENTY
Ochoa shows her versatility
She’s wonderfully adept at playing jazz trombone, but Audrey Ochoa’s career has come to embrace so much more, pop, ska, Latin, blues, funk, even electronica.
“I wanted to be perceived as a jazz trombonist because it seemed there was prestige attached to that,” she recalls, “but I got rid of that idea a few years ago. I realized I really liked playing pop music, commercial music, Latin dance music and that whole culture. It’s not any easier, but it is more fun. It turns out the music scene is huge and jazz is just one part of it.”
When she’s not blowing her horn, the musician often sports a smile and enjoys injecting her sense of humour into the music, as you might guess from the cover art of her two albums.
There are hints of that broader approach on Ochoa’s entertaining new second album, Afterthought (on Chronograph Records). At a glance, it’s a jazz trio album with bassist Mike Lent and drummer Sandro Dominelli adding their expertise to the mix, but two tracks were tweaked by mixmaster Battery Poacher (Victoria’s Dallas Budd). She brings a strong melodic sense to original compositions, serious technique and a warm, conversational feel to soloing.
Either way, Ochoa’s versatility has made her much in demand. You might have seen her playing in King Mustafa or the Rooster Davis Band, with David Babcock, Ben Sures, P.J. Perry, Hilario Duran or others. She also teaches music to elementary kids for Edmonton Catholic Schools, and along the way her example may be helping to break down gender stereotypes.
“Every single gig, in whatever sort of band, some well-meaning soul will point out how odd it is to see a female horn player. That’s been my experience from Day 1.”
When it comes to trombonists, she likes players who make the most of the instrument.
“Willie Colon sounds so raw and aggressive, almost like the trombone is going to split in two, and I also love Roswell Rudd and Ray Anderson because they play with such a huge sound.”
Edmonton native Ochoa grew up in a very musical household starting with her father, trumpeter Romeo Ochoa, who played with the ESO and Tommy Banks. She recalls hearing Souza, Elgar and a lot of musicals around the house, some jazz, too. Following piano lessons, a neglected trombone in the basement piqued her interest at age 12.
She spent four years in the Littlebirds Big Bend, took private lessons with the ESO’s John McPherson and played her first paying gig in a Latin dance band while she was still in high school. Studies at the University of Alberta included big band experience, but she credits a lot of learning to sitting in on jam sessions.
Her 2013 debut album, Trombone & Other Delights, was produced by Banks. Its eclectic feel leaned toward Latin grooves, and while a few people bought it for the cover (a brilliant parody of Herb Alpert’s Whipped Cream & Other Delights with Ochoa wearing a lot of shaving cream), they also wound up discovering her serious musical gifts.
That first disc featured a quintet with guitar and percussion, so recording the new album with a chord-less trio was very different and the players find a loose, intuitive feel.
“I wrote the tunes for the album, but it had a lot less planning and more fun. It really felt like doing the trapeze without a safety net because I was responsible for the harmonies and melodies.”
To mark the new album’s release this weekend, Ochoa will be joined by Cuban bassist Daymar Calvaria, drummer Dominelli and Battery Poacher guests on electronics.
THE MUSIC HAPPENS AT 8 P.M., SATURDAY, AT THE YARDBIRD SUITE (GATEWAY BOULEVARD AND 86 AVENUE), WITH TICKETS $22 FOR MEMBERS, $26 FOR GUESTS, IN ADVANCE FROM TIX ON THE SQUARE OR AT THE DOOR.
SONGS OF BRAZIL
For over a decade, the exquisite Brazilian singer Fernanda Cunha has had a special relationship with Canadian audiences. She made her Canadian debut in Edmonton and even recorded most of one album here. We’re lucky to have that connection, since she’s an exceptional artist and ambassador for those rich Brazilian musical traditions.
The singer returns to sing at the Yardbird Friday with an excellent backing trio (Toronto guitarist Reg Schwager, Edmonton pianist Chris Andrew and bassist Rubim de Toledo) and a mix of repertoire that’s sure to melt a few hearts.
Born in Rio de Janeiro but based in Sao Paulo, Cunha also comes from a musical lineage and sings in both Portuguese and English. One of her recent releases plumbs contemporary Brazilian songwriters, while the new album Jobim 90 marks what would have been the 90th birthday or Antonio Carlos Jobim this past January.
Jobim remains Brazil’s greatest songwriter, famous for tunes like The Girl From Ipanema, Desafinado and many others. Cunha taps both Jobim favourites and a few lesser known numbers to great effect. Hearing her live again will be a rare treat.
CUNHA PERFORMS AT THE YARDBIRD AT 8 P.M., FRIDAY. TICKETS ARE $24 FOR MEMBERS, $28 FOR GUESTS.