The JuJubarians
Calgary, Alberta, Canada | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
“… a great high level of refinement and creative capability.
Alternating lyric episodes with more rhythmic moments, interlace with
melodic soul and harmonic heart. Coming from the lesson of the past,
SIMON FISK's music is for our present, working for a new listening
future. True genuine art for those loving good emotions.” Scazzola
Giovanni Pietro - radio gold popular network - Italy - Rodio Gold Network Italy
"Fisk's Sixth release under his own name "Unless" demonstrates a clear, overriding intent, full of intriguing detail" - Cadence
Saskatoon's Mark DeJong, joined by the Outer Bridge Ensemble, opened for Scofield. This is a quintet that plays clean, accessible, interesting jazz -- more in the traditional format -- and the crowd ate it up. Adding to the ensemble's credit is how many of their tunes are original. They
opened with a song DeJong wrote when he moved to Saskatoon a few years ago, called Paris of the Prairies. There's a nice compliment.
One of the highlights was a tune DeJong wrote for his little son, who was born on Saskatchewan's first Family Day last year. This is a sweet, emotional and melodic work; lucky little Elliot, to have an anthem so early in life.
Another highlight was pianist Steve Hudson's terrific -- and remarkably humourous -- Last Call. It opens with lively piano and ends with a sad, tired note on DeJong's sax, truly telling a story. Contributing to the sound are Mike Noordzy on bass, David Freeman on percussion, and Jerome Jennings on drums, whose perpetual
smile must have lifted everyone's mood. The audience gave them a well-deserved standing ovation.
DeJong met the members of the ensemble while studying at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and they still play -- and record -- together.
Their CD release is tonight at Amigos Cantina, 10:30 p.m. If the title track, the Unknown, is any indication, this CD is a winner.
- Star Phoenix
Steve Hudson's Outer Bridge Ensemble is one band that doesn't play it safe. The quintet from New Jersey were fearless performers bringing their free-range fusion of Indian rage, rock, funk and Phillip Glass-like minimalism to the Jazz Festivals Confederation Park maninstage last night. Not for the musically squeamish, the Outer Bridge Ensemble proved to be handy, all-purpose showmen, keeping the 500 fans fascinated by the way these talented players explored musical possibilities. - Ottawa Sun
The Band shades its work with sounds from the East....ragas, klezmer and Balkan soul...as well as a nod to downtown NYC fok in the form of a tribute to Philip Glass. The music though is not just a crazy quilt mix of folk references. The stylistic elements are woven into the fabric of the music that gives the ensemble a distinctive sound, translating into pulsating rhythmic groove...they swing, yet with a certain Old World charm...
- Cadence Magazine June 2007
"Featuring exquisitly beautiful compositions bookended by fearless yet meaningful free improvs, this disc reveals an ensemble of considerable talent"
Ernie Rideout Keyboard Magazine - Keyboard Magazine June 2005
This latest release by Mark Dejong focuses on the power of his tenor saxophone, whose sound remains in the foreground during the epic creations that the album contains. The piano and wurlitzer give the compositions roundness and a gloomy, hidden feeling, while the solid rythm section drive through occasional deconstruction and dramatic switches. The saxophone, while mostly omnipresent, vanishes occasionally so the listener can follow the departures made by the rhythm section. What makes this album so good is it’s capacity to innovate while remaining accessible, and to produce a sound that goes well with jazz standards while sounding like an album composed and produced today". François-Samuel Fortin - Jazz Director CHYZ 94.3 - Université Laval - Québec - CHYZ 94.3 - Université Laval
Mr. DeJong
Congratulations on a stunning cd. Swinging Jazz at its best, indeed delivered with style and panache from a wonderful outfit led by your vituoso saxophone playing. Stunning reed sir, stunning. Your compositions are electric and engaging. The tempo and delivery is faultless. Will it get air-play here on the leading Jazz show? Yes it will and then the listeners will hear what l have had the absolute pleasure of listening to! Congratulations on an absolute gem of a cd.
Peter Merrett, March 2009 - PBS 106-7 FM Melbourne Australia
""Mark DeJong is one of the finest tenor players working in the jazz mainstream, a fact that's concealed by his Saskatoon residence. His playing is imaginative and grounded, thoughtful and passionate, and there's a luminosity that comes through everywhere on his CD The Unknown." - Toronto Life Magazine
The light-speed cultural osmosis of our time has yet to spoil the fact that contemporary cool jazz from the steppes of Saskatchewan is a bit craggier than its West Coast forbears. Not that there's a problem with this, for University of Saskatchewan Jazz studies instructor Mark DeJong's lyrically probing tenor and all-original, deeply modal compositions honor the tradition as well as find their own rugged paths.
"Paris of the Prairies" estavlishes the cool factoir up front with ample apaces for improvisation and multi-instrumental interplay over a bluesy five-time riff. Although DeJong's Stan Getz/Wayne Shorter-inflected tenor creations that rule the roost, pianist Steve Hudson provides a clever foil with impressionistic phrases and gestures hinting at the late Dick Twardzick, especially on eerie ballad "Darkest Hour".
As cool as these affairs are, however, DeJong and company aren't averse to a little swing ("Smile") or even some soft bop ("Appendix A"). The dramatic, kaleidoscopic shifts are skillfully anchored by the rhythm section of Jerome jennings (drums), Mike Noordzy,(bass), and David Freeman(percussion). Highly recommended stuff.
-John Patrick - Progression
Discography
Simon Fisk Trio:
"Unless" Plunge Records
"Trainwrecks" Plunge Records
"Vague Hotels" Plunge Records
"Intent" Plunge Records
"You and Yours" Plunge Records
Mark DeJong:
"The Unknown" Chronograph Records
"Shine...The music of Steve Hudson" - Groovaholic Records
Live at the Broadway Theatre - CBC Concerts on Demand
"Seamless" Indie CD Baby, Itunes, emusic
"Outer Bridge" Indie CD Baby, Itunes, emusic
Photos
Bio
The JuJubarians fearlessly take their listeners on a journey they won’t forget. Their material covers a wide gamut from haunting standards by leading composers of the 20th century including Billy Strayhorn, Ornette Coleman, Paul Bley and Thelonious Monk to their own original compositions that explore the traditional trio sound yet hints at the avant garde through electronic-infused down-home blues. The JuJubarians garnered rave reviews at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, and in Alberta and Saskatchewan during their recent OSAC tours. The JuJubarians have embarked on a mission to celebrate creative, improvised music with an ever-expanding circle of audiences.
Simon Fisk (cello, effects) is a musician/composer who has performed and recorded extensively since the mid-1990’s. Fisk is no stranger to international circuits. He has performed with Paul Wertico, Jesse Zubot, Haavard Wiik, Francois Houle, Gordon Grdina and many others. Fisk’s most consistent output over the last eight years has taken place in the trio setting, due in no small part to his musical personality, free spirit and search for uncharted territory, along with his genuine rapport with his fellow musicians. His skills as both an improviser and songwriter play off each other and give his bandmates an open territory to express themselves without formal boundary. Since his debut recording in 2002 Fisk has released six CD’s on the Plunge Records label: “Trainwrecks”, “Intent”, “You and Yours”, “Calm Abide”, and “Vague Hotels”. “You and Yours” and “Trainwrecks” garnered WCMA nominations for outstanding jazz recordings in 2007 and 2002 respectively. He has performed as a leader and sideman in Scotland, Germany, China, Mongolia, Los angeles and New York City. His performances always convey a wide range of expression, from an emotionally direct spiritual hymn, to dense, abstract and hard driving grooves.
“Simply superlative. World Class. I’ll place this on the shelf right next to Ron Carter and Buster Williams. Sweet, soulful and spellbinding. When you play New York, let me know.”
Frank Matheis, WKZE 98.1
Mark DeJong (saxophone, effects) is active as a composer, bandleader, and sideman. A versatile musician, Mark is a recent recipient of touring support from the Canada Council, and in 2008 Mark was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for his recording “The Unknown”. He has performed throughout North America and Europe with many of the worlds leading musicians. His performance experience includes sharing the stage with such international icons as Ray Charles, Ian Tyson, Wayne Newton, and Lennie Pickett, Canadian music legends Rob McConnell, Moe Koffman, Victor Sawa, Hugh Fraser, David Braid, P.J. Perry and Tommy Banks, as well as vocalists Nikki Yanofsky, Denzal Sinclaire, and Carol Welsman.
"Mark DeJong is one of the finest players working in the jazz
mainstream… his playing is imaginative and grounded, thoughtful and
passionate, and there's a luminosity that comes through everywhere on his
CD The Unknown."
Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life/Coda Magazine
Links
