Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Festival of New Trumpet Music Canada 2015!!!

I'm excited to be one of the artistic directors of this great festival, coming to Montreal in March 2015. This is our second year and we need your help in covering the costs of travel and accommodation for our visiting artists. Please have a look at our amazing lineup, and make a donation today!!!

Je suis fier de faire partie de ce relativement nouveau festival, comme l'un de ses directeurs artistiques. Le festival fait toutes sortes de grandes choses pour la musique nouvelle et créative et nous avons de grands rêves pour l'avenir.
Nous avons besoin d'aide avec les frais de voyage et d'hébergement pour nos artistes invités.
Jetez un oeil à notre gamme incroyable et se il vous plaît faire un don aujourd'hui.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Interview with Écho (Résonance Café's blog)

On a recent trip to Montreal I was interviewed by Nicholas McGrath. He asked me some very intelligent questions and it was a real pleasure talking with him. You can read the interview here:

http://resonancecafe.com/echo/?p=604#more-604

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Yves Charuest & Ellwood Epps ''La Passe'' album release and TOUR!!!

''La Passe'' to be released October 30th!
''to rejoice in belonging to the continuum of a musical becoming''


I am very happy to be able to share some very special music with you. Please come hear Yves and I in Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal, or purchase the record at www.smallscalemusic.wordpress.com (available October 30)

----------------------------------------

Ontario-Québec tour in support of ''La Passe'', their debut recording on Small Scale Music.


Yves Charuest and Ellwood Epps represent an ongoing story of improvised music in Montréal. Ellwood arrived in Montréal in 2005 and promptly set to work becoming one of the city's busiest creative musicians, concert presenters, and teachers. Yves was heavily involved in the scene during the 80's and 90's, and was one of the few players to branch out onto the world stage. During the period of Epps' arrival and leading up to about 2011, Charuest was on a long sabatical, and so when they met in Nicolas Caloia's Ratchet Orchestra, they were both new to each other, despite both having paid their dues for many years on the Montreal and international scenes.

Finding a common ground in energy and spirit, and with a great respect for the history of creative music in America, Canada, and Montréal, Yves and Ellwood decided to explore the possibilities of working together as a duet. They gave performances at several of Montréal's fertile loft venues over a couple years, while continuing their work together in the Ratchet Orchestra, Epss' group Rosasharn’s Dream, and other formations.

As a duet, the chemistry is immediate enough that prearranged material didn't seem to be necessary. Rather, the two musicians find material in the immediate surroundings (place, time, people, energy), and arrange, develop, and transform it as any composer works with their own musical materials. In the summer of 2014 they felt ready to document their work together, and responded eagerly to the offer of bassist Raphael Foisy-Couture's offer to record and release their music on his new Small Scale Music label.

Yves' and Ellwood's differences (in age, mother tongue, so-called 'generation'...) are easily overcome in their willingness to participate immediately in the musical moment, to rejoice in belonging to the continuum of a musical becoming. Their first tour is sure to be full of exciting times, transformative adventures, and soulful music.


Thursday October 30, Guelph Ontario (Silence, 46 Essex St, 8pm, $10)

Friday October 31, Hamilton Ontario with Gary Barwin & David Lee (Zula Presents the Something Else! series at Artword Artbar, 8:30pm, 15 Colborne St, $10-15)

Saturday November 1st, Toronto Ontario with Preanderthals and Heather Segger & Doug Tielli (Burn Down the Capital presents at Ratio, 283 College St 2nd floor, 9pm, $10) www.ratiospace.ca

Sunday November 2nd, Ottawa Ontario (IMOO series at Raw Sugar, 692 Somerset St W, 7pm, $5-10)

Tuesday November 4th, Montreal Québec (Mardi Spaghetti series at Cagibi Café, 5490 St-Laurent, 9pm, $5+)



Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Pink Saliva, All Up In There, and Ratchet Orchestra at l'Off Festival de Jazz de Montréal

Ellwood Epps, Alexandre St-Onge, Michel F. Côté are Pink Saliva. 
(photo Etienne Mangonaux)

I'll be very happy to be in Montreal to play with 3 bands at the 15th Off Festival de Jazz de Montréal.

Pink Saliva is back after winning the 2012 François Marcaurelle Prize, performing at Résonance Café on Sunday October 5th. Also featured the same night is All Up In There, a group that made its debut at the 2008 Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival, featuring myself, Michel F. Côté, and the superb theremin player Frank Martel.

I'll also be part of the mighty Ratchet Orchestra , hot off our Victoriaville performance with Marshall Allen, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra's earth arrival. We are making our Off Festival debut at the Cabaret du Mile End on Saturday October 11th.

Details on both concerts and on an upcoming tour with saxophonist Yves Charuest can be found to the right in the performance section. Hope to see you out there!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

William Hooker Trio at Whynot Jazz Room, Sunday August 31


7:30 pm William Hooker Trio:William Hooker, drums; Dave Soldier, violin; Ellwood Epps trumpet

9 pm Amigo-Nix Duo: Cristian Amigo, guitar; Bern Nix, guitar

Whynot Jazz Room
14 Christopher St.
1 train to Christopher Street, or any train to West 4th
Reservations Strongly Suggested: Whynotjazzroom1@gmail.com
Wine, Cheeses, Beer, Teas, Coffees, Light Fare
www.whynotjazzroom.com
$10 for the evening

www.williamhooker.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bern_Nix
www.davesoldier.com
www.ellwoodepps.blogspot.com
http://amigocristian.wordpress.com/

Friday, August 1, 2014

Toronto Solo Performance

 August 10, The Tranzac, Toronto
292 Brunswick ave.

10:00pm
from Montreal, Ellwood Epps solo trumpet

10:30pm
LINA ALLEMANO FOUR
Lina Allemano trumpet;
Brodie West alto saxophone;
Andrew Downing bass;
Nick Fraser drums.

Lina Allemano Four
www.linaallemano.com

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Solo performance + Workshop on Sun Ra's music

I'll be playing a short solo performance as part of a fundraising night for ''Mardis tous croche', a new series that will take place on the last 2 Tuesdays of each month. There are 3 other acts on the bill, and all the money goes to help tune the piano at the venue. Pay attention: it's an early show!
1214 de la Montagne, starting at 7pm. Pay what you can (not the same as pay what you want)
More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/441446972658075/ if you are a facebooker.

I am also teaming up with Nicolas Caloia in offering a 3-week workshop on the music of Sun Ra, as part of the Studio d'Improvisation de Montréal. I'm really looking forward to delving into and sharing that fantastic music with a wonderful group of people. www.studioimpromontreal.blogspot.ca for information.


Friday, March 21, 2014

3 performances for SPRING!

The first-ever Festival Of New Trumpet Music Canada went very well, even if I badly damaged my horn and got sick enough to miss the last night. My trumpet should be out of the shop by Wednesday in time for the first of 3 performances I will be doing in a one-week period. Please come and hear the music and buy some CD's and make me a little less poor.


Wednesday March 26 : Rosasharn's Dream @ Résonance Café
Ellwood Epps trompette
Scott Thomson trombone
Félix-Antoine Hamel tenor saxophone
Yves Charuest alto saxophone
Olivier Prud'homme-Richard guitar
Faye MacCalman tenor saxophone
Ivan Bamford drums

A new version of an old dream! Resurrecting a group from 11 years ago: www.soundcloud.com/elwoodepps Nothing new under the sun, nothing ever the same.

5175a ave du Parc, 2 sets: 21h et 22h15, $8 à la porte



Sunday March 30: Annett/Epps/Hamel/MacCalman 4tet @ Noise Sunday

James Annett viola
Ellwood Epps trumpet
Félix-Antoine Hamel tenor saxophone
Faye MacCalman tenor saxophone


185 Van Horne, 330pm, $5+ donation




Tuesday April 1st: Mardi Spaghetti 6th Anniversary Marathon @ Le Cagibi

James Annett viola
Ellwood Epps trumpet
Félix-Antoine Hamel tenor saxophone
Faye MacCalman tenor saxophone


5490 St-Laurent, 5pm*, $5+ donation
*event goes from 3pm to midnight!!
www.mardispaghetti.blogspot.com

Sunday, February 2, 2014

FONTMusic Canada growing strong--please help us make it all the way!!!


By now you may know that I am helping to present the first-ever Festival of New Trumpet Music Canada (FONTMusic Canada) in Montreal from March 13th to 16th. While we have been fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to pay our artists, we are relying on music lovers like you to help us fund the travel and accommodations for our many visiting artists, who are coming from as far away as Vancouver. You are the real arts council!!

We had a very successful launch/fundraiser night at Résonance. 8 trumpeters performed 5 sets to a full house, and we raised nearly $400! Thankyou!! We still have a long way to go. Please visit the campaign page and make a donation. We can do this together!!!

For more information visit us at www.fontmusic.org/canada.



Wednesday, January 22, 2014

8 Trompettes pour un Festival !!!!!!!

I am very excited to invite you to a fundraising event on Wednesday January 29for the first-ever Festival of New Trumpet Music Canada, which will be happening in Montreal from March 12-16 2-14!
I will be performing with four of my favourite Montreal trumpet players: Philippe Battikha, Paul Seralheiro, Craig Pedersen, and Eric Lewis. The night also features sets by fell trumpeters Amy Horvey, Jacques Kuba Séguin, Craig Pedersen, and Bill Mahar.



l'Envers announces a fundraising event for the first-ever Festival of New Trumpet Music Canada, coming up from March13-16 2014!

l'Envers est fière d'annoncer une levée de fonds pour le tout premier Festival de la Nouvelle Musique de Trompette au Canada, qui se déroulera du 13 au 16 Mars 2014!

(English follows)

Participez à cette levée de fonds et assistez au dévoilement officiel de la programmation du Festival avec 5 concerts offerts par 9 superbes trompettistes , le 29 janvier 2014 au Résonance Café!

Craig Pedersen (tpt) & Joel Kerr (basse) ''It's a Free Country''
Amy Horvey (tpt) Pièces Solo
Bill Mahar (tpt) & Dave Watts (basse)
Jacques Kuba Séguin (tpt), Frédéric Alaire (basse), Martin Auguste (batterie)
Ellwood Epps, Paul Serralheiro, Craig Pedersen, Eric Lewis, & Philippe Battikha (5 trompettes!)

Le Festival de Nouvelle Musique pour Trompette du Canada a pris comme modèle le FONTMusic Festival de New York qui a eu un grand succès. Quatorze des trompettistes les plus créatifs et novateurs sont réunis durant quatre soirs, ici, à Montréal. Le Festival inclut des sonorités du monde du jazz, de l’ improvisation, l’ électro-acoustique, et la composition contemporaine avec des influences du globe entier. Venez nous rejoindre le 29 janvier et découvrir tout ce que nous avons à vous offrir!

La programmation sera dévoilée à 20h, et la musique commencera à 21h pile.
$10- $15 prix d’ entrée.
Les gains serviront aux frais de transport et hébèrgement à la cinquantaine d’ artistes invités au Festival. Les membres de la presse doivent réserver leur place de courtoisie au courriel suivant: bellmahar@sympatico.ca

-----

Join us for the official unveiling of the festival program, as well as 5 performances by 9 great trumpet players on January 29th at Résonance Café!

Craig Pedersen (tpt) & Joel Kerr (bass) ''It's a Free Country''
Amy Horvey (tpt) Solo pieces
Bill Mahar (tpt) & Dave Watts (bass)
Jacques Kuba Séguin (tpt), Frédéric Alaire (bass), Martin Auguste (drums)
Ellwood Epps, Paul Serralheiro, Craig Pedersen, Eric Lewis, & Philippe Battikha (5 tpts!)

The Festival of New Trumpet Music Canada is modeled after the highly successful FONTMusic festival in New York. 14 of Canada's most creative and innovative trumpeters will assemble for 4 nights in March right here in Montreal. The festival includes sounds from the worlds of jazz, improvisation, electro-acoustic, and contemporary composition with influences from around the globe. Join us on the 29th to discover all that we have in store for you!

The program will be unveiled at 8pm, with music starting promptly at 9pm. $10-$15 cover charge will help us to cover the travel and accommodation costs for our nearly 50 artists. Members of the press who would like to be on the guest-list please write to bellmahar@sympatico.ca.

mercredi le 29 janvier
Résonance Café 5175a ave du Parc
8pm Unveiling
9pm-12am Music
$10-$15
http://fontmusic.org/festival-of-new-trumpet-music-canada/
www.lenvers185.blogspot.com