Murley / Braid Quartet
A truly collaborative effort between Juno Award winners Mike Murley and David Braid, the Murley/Braid Quartet represents world-class improvisation with lyrical grace, contemporary harmony, and rhythmic vitality. Completing the quartet is the dynamic rhythm section of Jim Vivian (bass) and New Yorker Ian Froman (drums).
The quartet first performed at the Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal International Jazz Festivals in the summer of 2004. They followed this successful debut with a national tour from St. John’s NF to Victoria BC in September 2004. In January 2005 they recorded live at the Montreal Bistro in Toronto, the result of which is the group’s debut CD on Cornerstone Records, “Mnenosyne’s March” (Cornerstone Records).
This recording was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award for best mainstream jazz album. The group also received a 2007 National Jazz Award for “Acoustic Group of the Year.”
The affinity between these musicians is clearly expressed in the free-spirited, unedited performances captured on the CD, recorded live at the Montreal Bistro in January 2005. The album interprets six originals and one standard, with Braid and Murley contributing three originals each. Of particular note, Murley includes a suite inspired by Banff, Alberta and Braid adds a piece written for the short film, Dream Recording, as well as “Mnemosyne’s March”, a character sketch of the Greek goddess of memory.
In 2006 the quartet was expanded to a quintet with the addition of new co-leader Tara Davidson to the group (see DMBQ).
Musician bios:
David Braid – piano
Juno-award winning pianist David Braid has been dedicated to developing as a composer and pianist since graduating magna cum laude from the University of Toronto performance program in 1998.
Braid was a semi-finalist in the Concours Internationaux de Piano Jazz in Paris, France, and was nominated for the Governor General’s Academic Medal by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. In 2001, the Canada Council for the Arts (jazzID program) selected and showcased David Braid as one of five important young composers and jazz musicians in Canada. In 2005, he received six nominations at the National Jazz Awards: Acoustic Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Arranger of the Year, Keyboardist of the Year, SOCAN Composer of the Year and Musician of the Year. Braid has performed throughout Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan.
His first commission was from the Global Knowledge Foundation to compose a piece to honour Dr. Stephen Hawking’s visit to Toronto in 1998.
Ian Froman – drums
Drummer Ian Froman has appeared in the United States, Great Britain, Asia and Europe with such artists as Jerry Bergonzi, Michael Brecker, Gary Burton, Garry Dial, Larry Grenadier, Dave Holland, Dave Liebman, Rick Margitza, Ben Monder, Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor. In Canada, Froman has recorded six albums and garnered two Juno Awards with the highly acclaimed group Metalwood, and has appeared at nearly every Canadian jazz festival in a variety of ensembles. Froman now resides in New York City.
Jim Vivian – bass
As one of the most in demand bassists in the country, Jim has performed and recorded with numerous Canadian artists including Don Thompson, Jeff Johnston, and Sonny Greenwich. He has also worked with international artists such as Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, and Tim Hagans, and John Abercrombie. Jim teaches part-time in jazz departments at both the University of Toronto and York University.