David Braid :

Award-winning Canadian pianist David Braid is joined by the legendary Canadian Brass for Spirit Dance, an original set of jazz-inspired compositions for piano and brass quintet written by Braid. Freshly inventive and full of singable melodies and rhythmic movement, Braid has created an array of new sounds that are intimate, spontaneous and warm. Inspired by everything from whirling dervishes to Chopin's Nocturnes to a walk in Beijing, Spirit Dance is an exceptional fusion of jazz and classical aesthetics.

The title track ties together Middle Eastern influences and rhythms from European folk dances - a metaphorical representation of the various musical ethnicities and the relatively peaceful reality of multicultural urban Canada. Interior Castles is inspired by the mystical book "El Castillo Interior" written by Teresa of Avila in 1577, with its simple triad-based composition. Wash Away brings together the seemingly bizarre dual inspirations of  Chopin's Nocturnes and the music of Ray Charles. Temple Heaven Walk interweaves melodies Braid heard while taking a walk through the Temple of Heaven Park in central Beijing, and Andalusia came to be after a day of playing through Enrique Granados' piano suite "Goyescas." Also included on this evocative musical journey is an extensive Theme and Variations on Jerome Kern's Yesterdays, the introspective Resolute Bay, and Prelude for Two Voices, spotlighting Canadian Brass' brilliant trumpeters. 

THE ARTISTS

David Braid

• Touted as one of Canada's most gifted young pianists and composers, David Braid is among a new generation of Canadian artists making his mark on international stages.
• A formidable jazz artist, David Braid is poised to break out in the US - he's already a major jazz star in Canada, Europe and the Far East – winning awards, fans and critical praise.
• Recently awarded 2009 Jazz Pianist of the Year in Canada as well as a Juno Award, a multi-National Jazz Award Winner and a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts' "JazzID Award". In 2007 he was SOCAN Composer of the Year recognizing his output of over seventy works including compositions for solo piano, jazz ensemble and orchestra.
• Born in Hamilton Ontario, Braid graduated from the University of Toronto in 1998 and was nominated for the Canadian Governor General's Academic Medal.
• He has produced seven recordings, garnering four Juno nominations with five ensembles: The David Braid Sextet, Murley Braid Quartet, Brubeck Braid, Nimmons'n'Braid and Davidson/Murley/Braid Quintet (DMBQ).
• In addition to performing and composing, Braid is on faculty at the University of Toronto, and is an honorary guest professor at Xinghai Conservatory.