Kirke Karja Trio & more @ Estonian Music Week 2023
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A young visionary from Estonia meets Toronto jazz fixtures at the historic St. Anne’s Church: Kirke Karja Trio, Tania Gill Quartet & Marilyn Lerner/Matt Brubeck Duo.
Kirke Karja Trio: groundbreaking experimental improvisers
The Trio is lead by the vigorous and awarded Estonian pianist Kirke Karja. Together with German bassist Felix Henkelhausen and German drummer Ludwig Wandinger they focus on extended techniques, elements from free improvisation and contemporary composition. The trio gets their inspiration from old creepy silent films and broken machines.
Kirke Karja: piano (Estonia)
Felix Henkelhausen: double bass (Germany)
Ludwig Wandinger: drums (Germany)
Tania Gill Quartet: lyrical/wild avant-jazz
Tania Gill (piano)
Lina Allemano (trumpet)
Rob Clutton (bass)
Nico Dann (drums)
Pianist and composer Tania Gill’s name will undoubtedly be familiar to anyone that’s been keeping a close eye on Toronto’s jazz and experimental scenes over the past two decades. She has worked with numerous musicians including The Brodie West Quintet, The Titillators, Steve Reich, and The Weather Station. The Tania Gill Quartet is a primary vehicle for her writing and playing. The group launched their debut Bolger Station (Barnyard Records) in 2010 to numerous accolades including a nomination for ‘debut album of the year’ in The Village Voice jazz critics’ poll, and a spot on The Globe and Mail’s top 10 discs of the year. Their 2022 recording Disappearing Curiosities, mines Gill’s polar fascinations—pensive lyricism and playful angularity, with compositions ranging from thoughtfully melodic to wildly edgy. Of it, the Wire says, “her subtly coruscating second release as leader is a revelation.”
Marilyn Lerner & Matt Brubeck Duo: piano cello sound sculpture
Jazz pianist/improviser Marilyn Lerner performs to acclaim internationally, from her native Montreal to Havana, from Jerusalem to Amsterdam and the Ukraine. Her musical career has been marked by a deep exploration of traditional and free jazz, new music tinged improvisation, and Ashkenazic folk music.
Lerner performs and records with her two jazz trios, Ugly Beauties with Matt Brubeck and Nick Fraser and Lerner/Filiano/Grassi and accompanies silent films at the Toronto Bell Lightbox Theatre in Toronto.
Matt Brubeck is a JUNO award -winning performer/composer/educator specializing in improvisation on the cello. Raised on jazz and classically trained at Yale, Matt is at ease in multiple genres and has taken his cello improvisation skills into diverse musical territories.