LIVIN’ ON THE EDJE
Band reunites for jazz fest
There’s nothing quite like a band reunion to remind musicians of how they got to where they are.
Sean McAnally admits he’s been “too overwhelmed for words” on recent return visits to Edmonton, meeting with former musical mentors, colleagues and students. The trumpeter, composer and music educator is back in town for a 30th anniversary reunion of his award-winning band, the Edmonton Jazz Ensemble (a.k.a. EdJE), performing for the final show of this year’s jazz festival Sunday afternoon.
After an informal jam with friends last weekend he was pleased to feel familiar vibes.
“The chemistry was still there, just playing riffs and making stuff up. The simpatico and the friendship was there again, and the coolest part is that we’re so much better as individual musicians.”
A little history is in order. McAnally was asked to start the EdJE with sponsorship from the Jazz City Festival around the end of 1985. In 1988 the band entered and won the Alcan Jazz Competition, a national corporate-funded prize which subsequently evolved into the main prize for competing bands at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Part of the prize was a recording session and release with CBC in 1989. The resulting EdJE debut album Something’s Here was nominated for the 1989 Juno jazz award.
The sextet’s members included some of Edmonton’s best young players, trumpeter McAnally, saxophonist Jim Pinchin, trombonist Al Jacobson, pianist Wayne Feschuk, bassist Marek Semeniuk and drummer Tom Foster. As their repertoire grew the hard bop influences of Horace Silver and Art Blakey echoed in original cutting-edge compositions by McAnally, Pinchin and Jacobson.
“I remember very clearly, on my way to the first gig, thinking, ‘oh my God, I’m 25, leading this band with my own tunes at the Yardbird Suite.’”
Later on, McAnally recalls “feeling amazed” that his band was competing at the Montreal Jazz Festival under the eyes and ears of judges like Pat Metheny.
After their win the band was asked to open for Metheny’s group in a main stage performance at Montreal’s Place des Arts. A later gig representing Canada at the Paris Jazz Festival saw them opening for the Carla Bley Big Band. Such triumphs helped McAnally get a job as musical director with Calgary’s Decidedly Jazz Dance company for several years, where he met his dancer wife.
However, EdJE’s initial success was short-lived. By the early 1990s most of the members had moved elsewhere: Pinchin and Foster to Vancouver, Jacobson to Germany, Semeniuk to Montreal, and McAnally to New Jersey.
Since his move to the U.S. in 1994 McAnally has enjoyed a career as a player and music educator in the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia area, working and recording with the John Vanore Band, and playing for the Phil Woods Big Band (now The Watergap Band) which still performs at the legendary Deerhead Inn jazz club. Along the way the trumpeter and his wife have had three children.
For the reunion date this Sunday, all three EdJE horn players are back with a new rhythm section, pianist Chris Andrew, bassist Rubim de Toledo and drummer Sandro Dominelli. McAnally promises some new tunes alongside numbers that showed up on the debut album.
The EdJE 30th anniversary reunion happens at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the Yardbird Suite (86 Ave., Gateway Blvd.). Tickets are $25 in advance from edmontonjazz.com or $30 at the door.
Jazz Fest final weekend
Several nights remain in the 2019 TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival, promising some intriguing musical options.
Swing and vintage jazz fans shouldn’t miss the Thursday show at MacEwan’s Triffo Theatre, marking the Edmonton debut of singer-pianist Davina Sowers and her quintet, billed as Davina & The Vagabonds. The band originated in Minnesota’s Twin Cities over a decade ago but today they’re an international touring act. Toronto jazz vocal fave Alex Pangman opens the show with her band.
Several other international takes on jazz hit smaller venues. Moscow’s Oleg Butman/Natalia Smirnova Trio (her piano and vocal, his drums, plus bass, with two shows at Varscona Theatre on Thursday). Sweden’s LSD trio brings good humour and high energy (two shows at the Yardbird Suite on Thursday). From London, England, the quartet Empirical bring a touch of class with sax, vibes, bass and drums (two shows at the Yardbird Suite on Friday), while Toronto drummer Larnell Lewis (who sets the grooves for Snarky Puppy) brings his electric sextet (two shows at the Yardbird Suite on Saturday).
I’m looking forward to the Cuban duo, pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and percussionist Pedrito Martinez, playing Cuban jazz classics and original tunes. Don’t forget happy hour trio sessions and late night jam sessions in Bellamy’s Lounge at the Chateau Lacombe Hotel.
The best deal comes free of charge at the Capital Plaza on the Legislature Grounds between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday. Catch sounds from local stars like Mallory Chipman, Audrey Ochoa, and the Latin-jazz of Montuno West with a special import act: Polish drummer Adam Czerwinski and his trio bring the great enthusiasm you can still hear for jazz music in Eastern Europe.
Look for programs around town or find full details at edmontonjazz.com.