NAC - Studio March 13th, 2018
Generation NOW with
Petr Cancura - saxophones
Michael Blake - saxophones
Rebecca Hennessy - trumpet
Marianne Trudel - piano
Remi-Jean Leblanc - bass
Greg Ritchie - drums
The creative drive that spawns unique musical voices are the lifeblood of the Canadian Jazz Scene! Generation NOW features some of today’s most important Canadian jazz musicians. This group is carefully assembled to create a band that will not only relish in great time feel, but give you, the listener, a canvas of true original canadian musical personalities. Stacked with seasoned, award winning composers and brilliant performers, Generation NOW is a snapshot of a once in a lifetime event featuring Petr Cancura and Michael Blake on woodwinds, Rebecca Hennessy on trumpet, Marianne Trudel on piano, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc on bass and Greg Ritchie on drums.
Michael Blake is one of the true great saxophonists of our time. With cult followings, Michael has a deep, soulful sound that embraces dimensions beyond the tradition - a personal style that is immediately identifiable. His voice as a composer speaks volumes and reflects influences that span the world of music and probe the imagination, with a prolific discography. Originally from Vancouver Michael is a contemporary of the great jazz musicians today and a mainstay of the New York City jazz scene.
Marianne Trudel is a true born leader, multi-talented pianist, composer, and improviser based in Montreal. At once energetic and passionate, her music crosses a wide swath of musical interests. As a performer, she pursues an active career in a variety of settings ranging from solo performance to duo, Trifolia, Marianne Trudel 4 + Ingrid Jensen, septet, and large ensembles. She has presented her music in various countries: Canada, United States, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, and China. Marianne Trudel also presented concerts with the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and shared the stage with artists such as Chucho Valdes, Kenny Wheeler and George Lewis.
Rebecca Hennessy, from Toronto, is emerging as one of Canada’s most unique trumpet players. Rebecca’s original project, FOG, is a New Orleans inspired brass band party with the intricacies of a modern jazz group, nominated for the Grand Prix de Jazz at the Montreal and Halifax Jazz Festivals. With significant residencies in NYC, Rebecca is a co-leader of thre chamber-jazz quartet, Hobson’s Choice and the musical director of Massey Hall’s Women’s Blues Revue. She regularly performs with The Woodshed Orchestra, Drumhand, Rita Chiarelli, as well as Viva Mexico Mariachi.
Bassist Rémi-Jean LeBlanc, born in 1984, is a Montreal bassist who has already played with some of the world’s great jazz icons such as Seamus Blake, Greg Osby and Terri Lyne Carrington, which has taken him to the far reaches of the world. He is presently a member of a variety of creative music projects in the Montreal area such as Yannick Rieu's "Spectrum", Rafael Zaldivar Cuban Revival, Jean-Nicolas Trottier Trio, l'Orchestre national de jazz, and a leader in his own right with two releases under his own name.
Greg Ritchie is a world-class drummer in every sense of the word. Now based in Montreal, Greg lived in NYC for 11 years, where he performed/recorded with David Binney, Mark Turner, Donny McCaslin, Seamus Blake, Geoffrey Keezer, David Liebman, Gilad Hekselman, Adam Rogers among others. He has performed at such notable venues as The Blue Note NYC, The Bowery Ballroom, Smalls, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and was the house drummer for the National Arts Center’s Crossroads project of the last two seasons.
Petr Cancura, saxophonist, mandolinist and composer lives in Ottawa. Originating in Czech Republic, Petr played with great jazz, folk and African artists with a 10 year residency in Brooklyn, New York. Petr re-established himself in Ottawa a year ago as the Artist-In-Residence of Carleton University, the Program Director of the Ottawa Jazz Festival and the Musical Director of the National Arts Center’s Crossroads Series.
Cancura’s aesthetic blends roots music and jazz to create an authentic, fresh and sound. Petr’s Down Home was nominated for a 2015 JUNO nomination for best Instrumental Album and awarded the Independent Music Award for Best Instrumental Album of the Year.