Chris Butcher Music

Getting press as a jazz musician is extremely difficult. Partly for that reason, I’m very happy that an article on both myself and a band I’m involved with have been published in the past week.

The most recent is a blog post by the Artistic Director for Toronto Downtown Jazz, Josh Grossman, on The Heavyweights Brass Band. You can check out the article here http://torontojazz.com/blog/just-fun-it Josh is the real deal, an accomplished musician, bandleader, and promoter of the music so his words carry a lot of weight for me.

The other article was published in the Winnipeg Free Press this Monday by Chris Smith . You can check it out here http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/music/former-winnipegger-gets-to-jam-with-mentors-98729144.html

Well not totally factual, (I told him I was playing some trio gigs with Archie Alleyne not in Kollage) I’m really glad Chris wrote the article. If you’re in Winnipeg it’s about a gig I’m playing for Mardi Jazz at the CCFM August 3, 8PM-11:30PM. It would be nice to see you and catch up as that’s the only engagement I’m playing back in Winnipeg and I’ll only be back for a few days (it’s been 11 months since I’ve been back).

I’ll be accompanied by one of the finest rhythm sections in the country:

Ron Paley on Piano- Ron played bass with Buddy Rich and Woody Herman, but he’s one of my favourite piano players on this planet. The most tasteful accompanist who also builds expertly constructed solos, there’s at least a couple solos he’s played live I have etched in my memory from YEARS ago.

Steve Kirby on Bass- Steve is one of my greatest influences in how seriously you need to take music. He’s played with some of the most important musicians in the music, (Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis etc.) he swings like no one else and has a huge bass sound just to say a little about his playing.

Curtis Nowosad on Drums- I grew up with Curt infact we had a weekly restaurant Jazz gig were I started to learn to play the music when I was 17. Curtis has matured into one of the finest young drummers, with taste and technique.

Come out on August 3rd, you won’t want to miss it.