Trumpeter Ellwood Epps formed this Montreal quintet in 2016 to explore the special histories of South African jazz, with its roots in kwela, mbanqanga, gospel, and more. These histories are embodied in the work of Abdullah Ibrahim, Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani, Hugh Masekela, and many more to emerge from apartheid-era Townships like Soweto in the 1960s. The group features a top-flight personnel of dynamic soloists –– Jean Derome (woodwinds), Lori Freedman (clarinets), Stéphane Diamantakiou (double bass), and Ivan Bamford (drums) –– to reinvent this too-little-known repertoire. Togetherness! plays uplifting, driving, joyful music that is a coming together of distinct voices to celebrate those who came before them from a special time and place in musical history.
Thursday, 16 September, 5:30pm, GJF in the Parks, Mollison Park, free
Friday, 17 September, 5:30pm, GJF in the Parks, Brant Park, free
Saturday, 18 September, 3:30pm, GJF in the Parks, York Road Park, free
Purchase music from Togetherness!:
https://ellwoodepps.bandcamp.com/album/togetherness
Purchase merchandise from Togetherness!:
https://ellwoodepps.bandcamp.com/merch/togetherness-t-shirt-black
https://ellwoodepps.bandcamp.com/merch/togetherness-t-shirt-white