Quartertones-Live Hip-Hop/Jazz @ Reflections

[benniep]

Reflections Cabaret is proud to present the Quartertones this Friday (February 25).

A collaboration of three classically trained jazz musicians along with two local veteran hip-hop producers, The Quartertones bring the Funk, Jazz-Hip Hop fusion to another level.

The Quartertones are at the forefront of Toronto’s organic rare-groove scene, providing the audience with the latest soulful sounds. Born of atmospheric smoky lounge club environs, the Quartertones are part professionally trained jazz musicians and part hip hop experimentalists groomed on a diet of live improvisation, making them both exceptionally musical and highly innovative. Experimental and progressionist in their approach, The Quartertones dedication to emancipating themselves from the common fare comes with honesty and respect for musicality. Traversing the land of old soul, jazz, funk, and hip-hop, The Quartertones emerge as a fusion band combining Bob James, Grant Green, and Roy Ayres, with an organic hip-hop feel. In brief, the sound is live Hip-Hop, Jazz and Funk performed over a drum machine, with a DJ.

Joined by hip hop producer Planet Pea on the drum machine and DJ Serious who augmented Pea’s drums. With the band solidified, they began to play at the live improvisational shows named Freestylin’. Organized by Planet Pea, the idea of the shows were to bring live jazz to hip-hop in a new way by giving local emcees the chance to freestyle (improvise) over a live jazz-hip hop jam session. With this element weaved into the bands ethic, The Quartertones often offer fresh approaches to their songs, making their sets unpredictable, exciting and raw. With the recent addition of Katherine Bates, a classically trained Jazz singer with a BA in Music from the University of Toronto, the band has taken on yet another change in form and expanded its repertoire into the world of vocals.

Show starts promptly at 10pm and tickets are $12.00.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

these guys are awesome... definitely a band to check out..