Announcing The Path - the new CD from the Toronto Jazz Orchestra
The Toronto Jazz Orchestra recently completed recording a new CD - the first in five years ! Called The Path, the new CD will feature five compositions or arrangements by Josh Grossman (including the hit single The Path); Erik Patterson's Happy at Sad Things (the winning composition from the 2008 Young Composers Competition); Moiya Callahan's i love you on the microphone; and two tunes featuring vocalist Sophia Perlman. Read on for a detailed track listing;
Click the button to order "The Path" via PayPal now
TJO (Josh Grossman)
The Toronto Jazz Orchestra's unofficial theme song. After being told for many years by my grandfather that the band needed a theme song, I assembled every big band cliche I could muster to produce this catchy tune.
Esperanto (Vince Mendoza, lyrics by Kurt Elling, arrangement by Josh Grossman)
This arrangement was written for and premiered by Kurt Elling when he performed with the Toronto Jazz Orchestra on March 24, 2005. Sophia Perlman takes the voice part and makes it her own.
The Path (Josh Grossman)
playThe title track, we've been playing this tune for several years now. It continues to be one of our big hits for it's gospelly funky goodness.
Amazing Grace (Traditional, arrangement by Josh Grossman)
This is one of my favourite spirituals. It's simple yet powerful lyrics and melody move me each time I hear it, sing it or play it. Chris Hunsburger is the featured soloist but the whole band gets a workout.
Chazz (Josh Grossman)
The birth of my nephew was an important moment in my life. As he's grown, his personality has emerged and I've tried to capture it here - fun, rambunctious, and groovy.
i love you on the microphone (Moiya Callahan)
We performed the world premiere of this piece on May 8th at the Music Gallery. Moiya is a contemporary music composer based in Montreal and has applied her unique compositional style to the big band setting. No chords symbols, no improvisation - a beautiful new take on big band music.
Cereal Blocks (Johan Pyykko)
playWe hooked up with Finnish composer Johan Pyykko via the internet and he generously sent us a few of his tunes to try. Cereal Blocks incorporates elements from the drum and bass world into a big band chart - a great sound.
Happy at Sad Things (Erik Patterson)
This unique tune was chosen as the winner of the Toronto Jazz Orchestra's 2008 Young Composers Competition. Erik takes the band through shifting rhythms and shifting melodies, creating a tune that is at times mellow and reflective and at times powerfully intense.
Old Portrait (Charles Mingus, arrangement by Vickie Yang)
Now studying in New York, Vickie Yang is a talented pianist, composer and arranger who graduated from Humber College. She has taken this beautiful ballad and arranged it as a vocal feature, allowing Sophia Perlman to demonstrate her outstanding range.
The Call (David Braid, arrangement by Andrew Jones)
playTwo of Canada's top young talents combine on this great chart: Juno Award-winning pianist David Braid wrote the tune, and Andrew Jones, winner of the 2007 SOCAN/IAJE Phil Nimmons Emerging Jazz Composer award, arranged it to feature piano and soprano sax - played here by Ali Berkok (piano) and Mark Laver (soprano sax).
