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

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)

www.silencesounds.ca

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)

www.zulapresents.org

Saturday November 1^st, 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 2^nd, Ottawa Ontario (IMOO series at Raw Sugar, 692 Somerset St W, 7pm, $5-10)

www.improvisedmoo.com

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

www.mardispaghetti.blogspot.com

www.smallscalemusic.wordpress.com

www.ellwoodepps.blogspot.com

www.actuellecd.com/en/bio/charuest_yv/

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!!

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/

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

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.

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