The Montreal Bistro, one of Toronto's premier jazz clubs, will host the Nimmons 'N' Nine...Now! tentet on Wednesday, June 22. The ensemble comprises some of Toronto's hottest jazz musicians, including York music faculty David Mott, Michael Cado and Anthony Michelli.
The tentet is led by guitarist Cado, who recently completed his MA in jazz composition and is working towards a PhD in ethnomusicology at York, where he also teaches jazz workshops, guitar and musicianship.
Mott is a saxophonist and composer who has performed as soloist and sideman with a virtual Who's Who in North American music, from Stevie Wonder to I Musici de Montreal to Gil Evans. He was a founding member of the contemporary music ensemble Sound Pressure and the saxophone quartet 40 Fingers, and has appeared with many other ensembles including Chelsea Bridge and the International Baritone Conspiracy. With concert accordionist Joseph Petric he performs as the duo Erosonic. Much in demand on the festival circuit, Mott has given solo concerts all over North America and Europe. He has been a professor in York's Music Department since 1978, teaching jazz composition and performance.
The award-winning Michelli, who is a drummer, enjoys an active international recording and performance career, supporting and collaborating with a vast number of distinguished composers and performers. Michelli has toured extensively in Japan, the United Kingdom and Mexico. He teaches jazz workshops and directs the third-year level Rhythm Studies course at York.
York's music faculty will be joined on stage by distinguished band mates John MacMurchy, clarinet; Andy Ballantyne, alto saxophone; Pat LaBarbara, tenor saxophone; Chase Sanborn, trumpet; Terry Promane, trombone; Tom Szczesniak, accordion; and Andrew Downing, bass.
Nimmons 'N' Nine...Now! takes its name and inspiration from Phil Nimmons – affectionately referred to as the "Dean of Canadian Jazz"– who formed his first professional group in 1953 as a rehearsal band to play his own innovative compositions and arrangements. The rehearsal band evolved into Nimmons 'N' Nine. The group went on to record numerous albums and performed on countless CBC radio and television broadcasts throughout the late 1950s and 60s.
On June 22, Nimmons 'N' Nine...Now! will offer up fresh interpretations of Nimmons' historic compositions plus some of their own original works, including a "hot off the press" composition written specifically for the tentet by band member Andy Ballantyne.
The ensemble will take to the stage at 9pm and play until 10:15pm, followed by a second set from 10:45pm to midnight.
The Montreal Bistro is located at 65 Sherbourne Street (at Adelaide). For more information, visit the Montreal Bistro Web site. visit the Nimmons 'N' Nine...Now! Web site for more information about the tentet.
This story was submitted to YFile by Mary-Lou Schagena, Faculty of Fine Arts.