|
By James Muretich
(Herald staff writer)
Every week, Alex Hutchison and the boys get together to make a little jazz.
It may sound like the opening to a beer commercial, but that's simply life for the four members of Calgary's leading jazz-rock combo, Shadoplay.
Bassist Hutchison, drummer Jim Bailly, guitarists Hal Hanen and Neil Brant love playing jazz and they get together to rehearse as often as possible.
Hutchison and Bailly actually have been making music together for 14 years, dating back to the days when they used to do Jimi Hendrix songs.
However, their tune has changed over the years and now, with Shadoplay, the accent is on jazz-rock or what many call fusion music.
The band doesn't have any horns, yet it is a jazz group in style, with obvious rock overtones. Considering its unusual instrumentation for a Calgary jazz group, Shadoplay has done quite well for itself.
The group has just finished working five weeks straight in various nightspots and also saw one of its songs,
Norwegian Rat, top the singles charts at CJSW, the University of Calgary's FM station. |
"We were really just hoping to get on their play list when we submitted some of our songs to them," says Hutchison.
"When it got to number one it was pretty frightening. But, in a way, I think it showed all the years of hard work we've put into our music. It wasn't just a lucky song."
Hutchison and his musical mates-M play because they like it, pure and simple.
"We're old enough now that we don't have any of those teenage ambitions — being the next big thing or dressing up in sequins," says Bailly.
"We rehearse a lot. I think a lot of other bands just rehearse when they're going to be paid. We love music. This isn't really a job for us," says Hutchison
"We just enjoy our music. That's the main thing. It's fun to play with your friends and sometimes in front of other people. It's a trip," adds Bailly.
If there's a problem for Shadoplay, it's that the term jazz-rock or fusion is still very much subject to misconceptions. |
"I think people would like our music a lot more if they gave it a chance. A lot of them hear the term jazz-rock and they don't know what to think," says Hutchison.
"People aren't exposed to that sound enough. Most people's idea of jazz is something of an acoustic sound, laid-back, fall-asleep music," says Bailly.
"All bands today are fusion in one form or another. We do a little bit of everything: new wave, swing, Latin, rhythm 'n' blues, funk. Our tunes are a fusion of all the things we like," says Hutchison.
Shadoplay feels it's here to stay and to contribute to Calgary's music scene, a scene its members say is becoming more receptive to original music from local jazz bands.
"Calgary is getting a lot better for jazz. There's been some tough limes, but it's alright to play this music in Calgary now.
"1 think there are people who have been involved with jazz on the local scene for the last 15 years or so and people are finally getting used to it.
"Local culture and music seems to tie opening up quite a bit these days," says Hutchison, who is more than ready to seize the moment with Shadoplay. |
