Montreal-based American drummer John Hollenbeck is a singular composer and bandleader as his work with Claudia Quartet and his Large Ensemble make abundantly clear. He conceived GEORGE during the pandemic, inviting three extremely talented collaborators from different locales and stylistic backgrounds to execute his challengingly vibrant musical ideas: Saxophonist and flutist Anna Webber is a Canadian working within the core of New York’s creative music scene; saxophonist and vocalist Aurora Nealand is a leading light in New Orleans, working inspiringly across that magical city’s traditional and contemporary music-making milieux; Chiquita Magic is a Colombian-born, Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and singer with a particular focus on microtonal synthesisers. GEORGE’s music, some of it song-based, bristles with dynamic energy and quick intelligence.
Thursday 15 September, 8pm, Studio Theatre, River Run Centre, $20/$15 [buy tickets]
John Hollenbeck website
Anna Webber website
Aurora Nealand website
Chiquita Magic Bandcamp
Photo by Evan Shay