The Brodie West Quintet creates an elastic loop in the space/time continuum where a crew of savvy musicians can engage with West’s compositional sophistication.
Bass and piano (provided by Josh Cole and Tania Gill) build a trampoline floor underneath West’s playful saxophone work, but it’s the double-drummer dynamic (from Evan Cartwright and Nick Fraser) that really drives the group.
Sharing and co-deconstructing rhythmic patterns (and sometimes working meticulously independently of each other) the pair’s hypnotic in-phase/out-of-phase grooves add a bit of uncertainty, pushing everything into new realms of experimentation.
Alto saxophonist Brodie West’s fascination in sound has taken him from Alexandra Park to Addis Ababa. As a bandleader and collaborator he is a key member of Toronto’s vibrant creative music scene.
The leader of avant-calypso unit Eucalyptus as well as his eponymous quintet, West also regularly performs with The Ryan Driver Sextet, the Lina Allemano 4, a duo called Ways and an ongoing collaboration with Andrew Zukerman/Fleshtone Aura.
West’s music has been released by some of Toronto’s most celebrated labels, including Healing Power, Pleasence, Blocks Recording Club and Rat-Drifting, while his European connections have put him in the company of legendary art-punks The Ex as well as the late Getatchew Mekuria, the revered veteran of the Ethiopian saxophone.
Originally hailing from Nanaimo, jazz studies at Humber College brought West to Toronto. Emerging as a member of Zebradonk, Deep Dark United and Drumheller, he was soon in demand as a featured guest, adding his spirit to recordings ranging from Broken Social Scene’s seminal You Forgot It in People to more recent appearances with Jennifer Castle, Snowblink and Tasseomancy.
Studies at the Amsterdam Music Conservatory with Misha Mengelberg lead to musical encounters with percussionist Han Bennink as well as The Ex, culminating in two tours to Ethiopia and the group’s collaborative recordings with Getatchew Mekuria.
West’s current artistic practice sees him inspired by the radiant joy of being a father as well as frequent improvised gigs with a wide range of musicians.
As a composer working with some of Toronto’s leading creative musicians (including Nicole Rampersaud, Ryan Driver, Mike Smith, Nick Fraser, Tania Gill and Evan Cartwright) he is always leading new melodic excursions while his ensembles, often featuring two or even three percussionists, are also exploring fresh rhythmic terrain.
Studio Live is presenting the Brodie West Quintet on Sunday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Advance tickets, $20, are available at Bop City Records, Courtenay, Rider’s Pizza, Cumberland and by e-transfer to studiolivestudio@gmail.com.Come out and enjoy a wonderful evening of engaging music at the intimate and great sounding Studio Live in Cumberland.