Coast to Coast Canadian Tour!!!

I will be on the road for 2 weeks performing solos and ad-hoc groups across Canada with some amazing players. I'm really thrilled, as this is my biggest tour to date, and hopefully a harbinger of many journeys to come. I hope to see you somewhere out there! Thanks to some amazing arist-run venues across this big 'ol country for their hard hard work, and thanks too to the Canada Council for the Arts for funding this tour. 

14: Vancouver, BC (1067 East, 1115b East Hastings at Glen Drive...door around the side on Glen Drive, 9pm doors, 930 music, $5) Solo and with Paul Plimley-piano and guitar.

15: Calgary, AB (National Music Centre, 134 11th Ave SE, 830pm, $7) with Jack Wright-saxophone, Chris Dadge-drums, Scott Munro Bass)

16: Calgary, AB (Weeds Café, 1903 20th Ave NW, All ages, pwyc, 8pm) with Jack Wright, Aaron Leaney, Eric Hamelin, Whitney Ota, Jonathon Wilcke, Lyle Pisio.

18: Ottawa, ON (IMOO series, Umi Cafe, 610 Somerset St. W, 7pm) Solo and with the Ellwood Epps trio: Aaron Lumley-bass, Ivan Bamford-drums

19: Toronto, ON 2 shows!! 8pm (at Somewhere There, 227 Sterling Road Unit 112, 8pm, $10) Solo. and 930pm (at the new Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave, 930 pm, $5) with Mike Gannaro-drums, Ken Aldcroft--guitar.

20: Québec, QC (at Co-op L’agitée, 251 Rue Dorchester, 8pm, $10) Solo and with Luke Dawson-bass, Frederic Lebrasseur-drums, Marie-Christine Roy violin.

22: Rimouski, QC (at La Vide, 204 ave de la Cathédrale, 8:10pm) Solo.

24: Fredericton, NB (at Gallerie Connexion, 440 York St, $10 ($8 for members), 8pm) Solo and with Joel Leblanc-guitar, and Evan Shaw-alto saxophone)

25: Halifax, NS (at 13 13 Hollis, 8pm) Solo and with Adam Linson-bass, and Geordie Haley-guitar)

Up to the eyeballs in music.

(with William Parker and Orchestra, October 12 2012)

It's been a busy, crazy, inspiring, challenging time and if it doesnt kill me it'll make me stronger. 

L'envers, the venue i've worked (and lived)  at for more than 4 years has had some problems with police, and we'll be leaving 185 Van Horne. We're too busy to get weepy, as we're finding homes for ALL of the shows in our calendar at a variety of nice venues around Montréal. I need a little break, so we're not taking any new bookings at this time, but we'll be back at it in the new year like the phoenix we've always been.

I've also been plenty busy with the horn on my face, and just had a great time at L'OFF Festival de Jazz here in Montreal. I spent 3 days rehearsing with 14 musicians from Montreal, Kingston, and Québec City under the direction of William Parker. We did 2 concert length pieces, 'Fragrances of Compassion for Lawrence D. Butch Morris', and 'Treetops and quiet son', dedicated to the recently departed John Tchicai. My trio Pink Saliva also did 2 sets, and I`m delighted that we won the Prix François Marcaurelle, which means we'll be invited back to the festival and have about $2000 of resources towards making our next record.

I'm also up to beyond my eyeballs learning the music for a performance of Italian composer Fausto Romitelli's 'Professor Badtrip', which will be presented as part of the Codes d'accès series on November 1st. It's the first time I've had to play C trumpet (and harmonica!) and the hardest music I have ever seen on a printed page.

Add to that the long-awaited CD launch (on Haloween!) for the Ratchet Orchestra, an EE trio performance, a night of Monk, another trio, and planning my cost-to-cost tour, and I really should stop typing and go to bed.

Hope to see you out there and thanks for reading.

Trio plays Mardi Spaghetti October 2nd

October 2: Montreal (Mardi Spaghetti series at Le Cagibi, 5490 St-Laurent) 9pm $5

Ellwood Epps Trio 

(Aaron Lumley-bass, Ivan Bamford-drums, Ellwood Epps-trio)

We`ll be sharing the  bill with Yves Charuest (alto saxophone) and Mathieu Frenette (sopranino saxophone)!

Land of Marigold in Rimouski

Wednesday September 19: Rimouski, QC (Tour de Bras, Centre d'artistes Caravansérail) 9pm $12

Land of Marigold (Josh Zubot-violin, Ellwood Epps-trumpet)

Save L'envers!!! Sauvons L'envers!!!

Please help save this wonderful home for improvised music!
Since 2008, this entirely volunteer-run loft venue has presented over 500 nights of the best improvised music that Montreal and the world have to offer. I`m the artistic director and the janitor (no joke) and I`m asking anyone reading this to be generous and make a donation to keep us floating. $1600 will get us back on our feet, but we could use a lot more than that to make this venue a sustainable home for the creative spirit for a long time to come.

We are offering 6 exciting levels of membership in exchange for your donation. Depending on the level at which you contribute, you`ll get great stuff like L'envers T-Shirts, Buttons, Book Bags, Stickers, Free Shows, and much more!!! Follow the above link to find out more and to GIVE!!!

If you`re in Montreal, please come to our S.O.S. Rent Party on Friday August 24th.
(http://www.facebook.com/events/412208875504192/)

And if you`re a Montreal musician, book your rehearsals now in this amazing sunny, private studio with a good piano, p.a., and drum kit. Only $10/hour and you`ll be helping pay our enourmous rent of $1110/month.

Much gratitude for you support and giving spirit!

Ottawa Solo(s) :: August 5th

I`ll be very glad to be back in Ottawa at the excellent IMOO series on August 5th. I`ll be doing a solo performance, and so will the uplifting and always creative Toronto trumpeter Nicole Rampersaud. Music starts early at 730pm. Hope to see you there, Ottawa friends!

New Interview

Here is an interview that I did at the tail end of my New York winter.
It`s published in print in Tout va bien, a great, poetic, wacky music magazine in Montreal.
You can read the French text here: http://douzepouces.com/wordpress/?p=6190

English version coming soon...

New Trio at L'envers tonight! (Friday May 25)

I`m happy to be working with a new trio that`s really turning me on. Come hear us tonight at L'envers!

(Here`s a little bit of what we did a few weeks ago at Le Cagibi)

Ellwood Epps...trumpet
Aaron Lumley...doublebass
Ivan Bamford...drums

We`re sharing the night with

Patrick Battstone...piano Richard Poole...vibraphone Brahja Waldman...saxophone alto Martin Heslop...contrebasse

Starts at 930pm and we`d love to see you there!

Henry Grimes May 16th at L'envers

I`m happy to announce that I`ll be making music with Henry Grimes, Jean Derome, and Pierre Tanguay at L'envers on May 16. Henry will play a solo, followed by the quartet.

Henry Grimes (bass, violin, poetry) performing solo and with:

Jean Derome (alto saxophone)

Ellwood Epps (trumpet)

Pierre Tanguay (drums)

Mssr. Grimes will also give an afternoon masterclass.

More information on these events can be found at www.lenvers185.blogspot.com.

Mardi Spaghetti Celebrates 4 Years!!

March 27: Montreal (Mardi Spaghetti series at Le Cagibi, 5490 St-Laurent) Mardi Spaghetti 4th anniversary marathon!!! 11am-midnight. $5

I will give two performances, one of which will be broadcast live on ckut fm...

11am: Josh Zubot (violin), Philippe Battikha, Ellwood Epps (trumpets), Thierry Amar (doublebass), live to air on ckut 90.3fm, www.ckut.fm

And at 5pm with Aaron Lumley (double bass) and Chris Dadge (drums)

Music happens all day and night, and there`s nothing like getting 4 5 or 6 hours of it in your ears.

=====

Un musée dans la ville

I am part of a film that is showing at the FIFA on Wednesday March 21 and Thursday March 22 at the Musée des Beaux Arts, and later at the Cinéma ONF. Le film est intitulée 'Un musée dans la ville', un film de realisateur Luc Bourdon. C'est un documentaire qui raconte l'histoire des premières 150 ans du Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal. I am seen performing solo trumpet improvisations in the museum, along with Pierre-Yves Martel who plays solo viola da gamba. There is also music with Michel F Côté recorded in studio. I hope you can see the film at one of its several screenings. mercredi le 21 mars à 20h30 et jeudi 22 le 22 mars à 13h, MDBA. Le film prendra ensuite l'affiche du 29 mars au 1er avril au Cinéma ONF à Montréal. http://www.artfifa.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=418&Itemid=815 http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/fra/salle-de-presse/index.php?id=20674

CKUC featuring my music tonight at 11pm...

Rabble Without A Cause

CKCU-FM 93.1

http://ckcufm.com

On Air Phone: 520-CKCU (520-2528)

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Time: 23:00 / 11:00 PM

Host: Bernard Stepien

Tonight's Subject: Montreal trumpetist Ellwood Epps

Ellwood Epps started his musical career in Toronto over 20 years ago. Somehow he got attracted by the vibrant Montreal scene, especially the avant-garde side of it and since 2005 established there. His art covers practically the entire Jazz history. Epps describes himself as being influenced by Louis Armstrong, Maurice Andre, Miles Davis, Bix Beiderbecke, Bill Dixon, Wadada Leo Smith, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Dave Douglas, Laurie Frink, Booker Little, Amy Horvey, Cat Anderson, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart.

Tonight we will sample his CD Pink Saliva, one of over 40 recordings he appears on, where he focuses on what the younger generations call ambient music. It is a rather lyrical and ecstatic mix of Miles Davis post ‘60s and Bill Dixon’s music featuring sound textures and slow dynamic on single notes on wall to wall electronics. What is remarkable here is that such a minimalistic music captivates ones attention and prevents distraction. Epps developed a rare virtuosity in the very low register of the instrument, something most trumpetists avoid altogether.

Elwood Epps will be featured again in the IMOO series in March.

Enjoy :-)

Transitions...

3 wonderful New York months are coming to an end, and i`ll be heading back to Montreal soon. It`s been a time of intense practice, bike riding over bridges, meeting wonderful musical friends, hearing amazing performances (Wadada Leo Smith birthday nights and Keith Jarrett solo at Carnegie Hall were lifetime events for me), and discovering the perfect $5 dinner in East Harlem. This city feels so much like home, and I`m grateful to all who have made me feel so welcome; I`ll be back.

I can`t wait to be in Montreal once more and feel this circle completing its course. I have lots to look forward to; getting back to teaching (miss it so much!), starting a new Monday night jam session at L'envers, and a bunch of performances that I`m very excited about. I`ll be doing a solo on March 2nd, and revisiting the duet with Sam Shalabi on March 4th. On March 9th I`ll be celebrating Ornette Coleman's and my birthday with his music (along with some new writing of mine) with some very very fine company.

And then, the present continues...hope to see you there.