Travelling in Curves

You are Frank Sinatra admiring the sun shimmering on the swimming pool. You climb the ladder, execute a perfect double flip and realize the pool has been drained. How would you express your reaction in jazz? TRAVELLING IN CURVES sketches the ebb and flow of reactions to the surprises, challenges and pleasures of daily life. Whispers of anticipation open to pools of certainty; clouds of doubt break in sweeps of exhilaration. The tunes on this album thrive on the creative tension created by mixing the familiar and the unexpected. Blues, ballad and Spanish-inflected melodies develop through surprising turns of time, form, and harmony. For Robert McFadden (guitar), stretching forms and conventions has always been an essential part of the creative process. Described by Gay Delorme (Frank Zappa, k.d. laing) as “seriously bent; way hip”, Robert’s music has been presented in theatres, clubs and galleries across Canada and Europe. Zakari Frantz (saxophone) has quickly earned a reputation as a versatile and lyrical reed player sharing the stage with artists such as Femi Anikulapo Kuti, Dele Sosimi and Joe Sealy . Zakari has played to great acclaim with the Soul Jazz Orchestra throughout Europe, across Canada and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Trained as a classical pianist, Jennifer Giles (piano) has focused her recent playing on free improvisation with groups including Radar and Rakestar. Jennifer teaches ear training, music theory and keyboard classes, with past students including Rufus Wainwright and Kellylee Evans. Classically trained, Jaco-inspired and fuelled on the sounds of North Africa and India, Alun Davies (bass) developed his reputation as a musician and producer working with artists including Juno Award winners Maestro Wes Fresh, 2 Rude and Glenn Lewis. In 2005, Alun returned to the bass full-time, playing with Ropeadope recording artists Antizario until his death in February 2008. Rooted in popular music - rock and jazz – Mike Essoudry (drums) brings a unique blend of groove/riff based playing to groups exploring the frontiers of folk (Megan Jerome Trio), country (Three Jimmies), and free improvisation (Parade, Fly Poem).