It was another night to remember in North Battleford.
Tuesday night, at our beautiful Chapel Gallery, three of Canada's finest jazz musicians wove magic with two hours of delectable jazz improvisation. Touted as one of Canada's most gifted young pianists and composers, David Braid is among a new generation of Canadian artists making his mark on stages everywhere. He has been called "a jazz genius to call our own" by Maclean's Magazine and his 2011 solo album, Verge, won a Juno award for Traditional Jazz Album of 2011.
Braid is one of the most sensitive, refined and thoughtful pianists I have ever heard. He "blames" Mozart for getting him into jazz. Check out his website for some of his writings on jazz and art.
Calgary Saxophonist Mark DeJong is a graduate of the prestigious jazz program at Rutgers University and teaches at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Mark has performed with many of the world's leading musicians from all genres and styles.
Career highlights have included sharing the stage with such international icons as Ray Charles, Ian Tyson, Wayne Newton, and Lennie Pickett, Canadian music legends Rob McConnell, Moe Koffman, Tommy Banks, Victor Sawa, Hugh Fraser, P.J. Perry, as well as renowned vocalists Nikki Yanofsky, Denzal Sinclaire, and Carol Welsman.
DeJong is another highly sensitive musician with a vast range of expression.
Simon Fisk on bass and cello is also from Calgary. A master musician, he created amazingly complex and soulful textures, rhythms and sounds. His reputation is well established, having performed for over 20 years with pianist Chris Gestrin and drummer Tom Foster and more recently with acclaimed Canadian pianist Michael Kaeshammer.
The three young men spent Tuesday afternoon working with music students of Adam Streisel (trumpeter and music teacher) at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. A number of these young music students attended Tuesday night's performance and stayed after the concert asking questions and talking with the trio.
Along with extraordinary musicianship, the generosity and humility of DeJong/Fisk/Braid was equally impressive. Bravo!
