W hen it comes to understanding the climate crisis, Andrew MacKelvie knows that “the numbers don’t mean anything out of context.” The fixture in Halifax’s jazz and improv scenes has spent four months wading through data about the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, looking to find a way to wake us up from […]
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A Canadian, through and through
Founded in 1967, the Halifax All-City Music program provides free music education for public school students throughout HRM. In addition to string, choral, and band instruction, the program boasts three jazz ensembles that challenge students to “learn the art of spontaneous creation,” the HACM website notes. So I was stunned to discover during a recent exchange […]
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Andrew MacKelvie wants you to hear the silence
Sounding Evolution: Andrew MacKelvie w/Lukas Pearse, Geordie Haley Monday, April 10, 8pm 1313 Hollis, 1313 Hollis Street $20/PWYC Silence is seemingly the opposite of music. For Andrew MacKelvie, though, there’s a certain resonance to it—and that’s what he seeks to explore in his work. “There’s certain patterns, almost, in the air that you can start […]
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Chronos’ tick tock
Chronos Friday, March 24 Bearly’s House of Blues and Ribs Chronos’ latest invitation to the dancefloor is upbeat, soulful and bursting with brass. The eight-piece instrumental ensemble brings a fuller, more luscious sound in its sophomore album, What It Is. Chronos’ 2013 debut, Boots the Cat, earned nominations for Jazz Album of the Year from […]
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Thundercat’s bass progression
Stephen Bruner has had a love for the bass for as long as he can remember. He says that he always gravitated towards stringed instruments as a kid, and has countless family photos of himself as a young boy holding a bass to prove it. Bruner—who’s now 31 years old and better known as Thundercat—hasn’t […]
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It’s the summer of Reeny Smith
Reeny Smith has a secret and she doesn’t want to share. Chatting by phone one recent morning, she drops succulent clues and small details, but politely declines to say too much, no matter which way the question is rephrased. As the North Preston performer gracefully changes the topic to her recently hectic schedule, she seems […]
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Lauryn Hill goes electric
Tuesday night at the 30th Halifax Jazz Fest’s big opening show, a thunder and lightning storm erupted over Ms. Lauryn Hill and her band. As the musicians were ushered off the stage, the light show over the harbour kicked up in dreamy purples and hazy greys, then the skies opened up and rain fell like […]
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Joshua Abrams takes jazz in all sorts of different directions
On Saturday night, Halifax will be treated to one of Chicago’s most interesting film composers and jazz multi-instrumentalists. Joshua Abrams makes music that is challenging, accessible and it rings in tune with the body. For over 15 years, Abrams has been creating worlds within worlds. Since 2010, he performs with a rotating ensemble called the […]
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Toronto poppers Metric just announced to play Halifax Jazz Fest
The Halifax Jazz Festival, in partnership with Sonic Concerts, just announced the fourth headliner for its 30th anniversary celebration: Toronto pop-quartet Metric will play Halifax once again, like it’s 2006. Except it’ll be Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The band joins the legendary Ms. Lauryn Hill, the T.Dot singer Basia Bulat and Ontario rockers City and Colour as headliners. The poppers, fronted […]
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The local roots of Canadian jazz
Canada’s rich black heritage and music history are closely linked, and today’s jazz fans have benefited from that strong union of culture and art. Jazz may have been born in New Orleans around the end of the 19th century, but it didn’t take too long before it grew up and headed north, to other US […]
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Dive into Open Waters
“There the jazz archipelago and the classical archipelago. They can be traversed, it’s not impassable, there’s no barriers between them, except maybe distance,” says Lukas Pearse, the artistic director of this year’s Open Waters Festival. From Thursday to Sunday, Upstream Music will collaborate with Symphony Nova Scotia, SuddenlyListen and more for 14 extraordinary music events. […]
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#ICYMI New Trax: Outtacontroller, EDDY, Negative Rage +
In case you missed it (#ICYMI), here are some recently released tracks and demos that’ll punk you up on this rainy Thursday, plus a free jazz freak out. Caution: this shit is BAD ASS. Outtacontroller – Television Zombie Halifax’s favourite punk band is back with a new LP called Television Zombie on P-Trash (Germany), Young […]