Myriad, a superb new jazz trio from Toronto will be performing at Music on Sunday May 27 at The Old School House (TOSH).
Myriad was an accident. Chris Donnelly, Dan Fortin, and Ernesto Cervini had never played together until a few substitutions and a twist of fate put them on stage together for the first time in late 2010.
Since then, the trio has been making music in every jazz club in the greater Toronto area. The band is a true collective. Each member acts simultaneously as a leader and a sideman.
They play mostly original music that features different aspects of jazz improvisation, ensemble playing and contemporary composition.
Myriad is modern jazz, meets classical, meets pop, meets Oscar Peterson.
From May 26 to June 3 Myriad will be leaving Toronto for the first time to tour Western Canada and have a stop in Qualicum Beach.
Immediately following the tour, they will be recording their debut album, which will be released and celebrated with a Cross-Canada tour in the fall.
In September 2008, Donnelly released his Juno-nominated, debut album with Alma Records called Solo, featuring a blend of original material and arrangements of jazz standards. This also earned the pianist nominations for Best Recording of the Year and Best Keyboardist of the Year from the 2009 National Jazz Awards.
Cervini is a consummate bandleader and buoyant drummer. The in-demand sideman is repeatedly praised for his deeply musical, infectiously energetic talents. The drummer released There, his third album as leader of the Ernesto Cervini Quartet in 2011.
Fortin graduated from the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance Program in 2007. Since moving to Toronto, the bassist has been an active member of the city’s music scene. He participated in both the 2008 Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music, and the Centre For Improvisational Music’s 2010 Summer Intensive in Brooklyn, NY.
Music on Sunday May 27 goes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at The Old School House Arts Centre, 122 Fern Road West, in Qualicum Beach. Admission is $16. For more information phone 250-752-6133 or visit www.theoldschoolhouse.org.