Home » Jazz News » Recording

220

Opening Day Proudly Presents "Spirit Dance," The New Album Featuring David Braid and the Canadian Brass

Source:

Sign in to view read count
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 9, 2010

Multi-award winning Canadian pianist David Braid is joined by the legendary Canadian Brass for Spirit Dance, a new album featuring jazz-inspired compositions for piano and brass quintet written by Braid. Inspired by everything from whirling dervishes to Frederic Chopin's Nocturnes to a walk in Beijing, Braid has created an array of new sounds that are intimate, spontaneous and warm. Spirit Dance is an exceptional fusion of jazz and classical aesthetics.

This is the first collaboration between Braid, who has released five previous and critically-acclaimed CDs on the Opening Day label, and the Canadian Brass. “Although I had 50 compositions involving brass in my portfolio, some apprehension about orchestrating specifically for brass quintet motivated me to prepare by studying the exquisite work of the arrangers in the Canadian Brass library," says Braid. The result is a set of works Braid calls “enjoyable to play because of their singable melodies, rhythmic movement, and fertile harmony for improvisation."

The title track, Spirit Dance, ties together Middle Eastern influences and rhythms from European folk dances—a representation of the various musical ethnicities and the relatively peaceful reality of multicultural urban Canada. Interior Castles is inspired by the mystical book “El Castillo Interior" written by Teresa of Avila in 1577, with its simple triad-based composition. Wash Away brings together the seemingly bizarre dual inspirations of Chopin's Nocturnes and the music of Ray Charles. Temple Heaven Walk interweaves melodies Braid heard while taking a walk through the Temple of Heaven Park in central Beijing, and Andalusia came to be after a day of playing through Enrique Granados' piano suite “Goyescas." Also included on this evocative musical journey is an extensive Theme and Variations on Jerome Kern's Yesterdays, the introspective Resolute Bay, and Prelude for Two Voices, spotlighting Canadian Brass' brilliant trumpeters. The compelling cover artwork, also titled “Spirit Dance," is by Ojibway artist Doris Cyrette.

Hailed as a “jazz genius to call our own" by Canada's Maclean`s Magazine, Braid, is heard often in performance across Canada, Europe and Asia. Braid, a Yamaha Performing Artist, is the recipient of the Canadian Jazz Pianist of the Year Award (2009), a Juno Award (2004), a multi-National Jazz Award and the Canada Council for the Arts' “JazzID Award."

With their “unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor" (Washington Post) and “polished musicality with impish levity to match" (Los Angeles Times), THE CANADIAN BRASS (a Yamaha Performing Ensemble) has cast its unique blend of musical magic across the world for 40 years. Pioneers in bringing brass music to mass audiences everywhere, Canadian Brass has sold well over two million albums sold worldwide.

Visit Website | Purchase

Personnel

Canadian Brass
band / ensemble / orchestra

Album information

Title: Spirit Dance | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Opening Day

Comments

Tags

News

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.