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Wayne Eagles - Articles
Fusion Revisited
by Andrea Poncia
Bitches Brew, the Miles Davis album that popularized the method of combining musical styles, techniques and people into one distinct genre (often called jazz fusion), is a musical milestone.
On Oct. 27, the Bayou Jazz and Blues Club will see five musicians pay tribute to that album and its era.
The quintet is made up of five experienced musicians with mixed backgrounds. Wayne Eagles, Rob Frayne and Clyde Forsberg are educators and musicians, Bruce Wittet is a musician and journalist for Modern Drummer and Canadian Muzik and Mike Milligan is a jazz musician who has played in the Montreal circuit for years.
For Eagles, the decision to do the tribute concert was a simple one.
"These were some of the band members' earliest jazz records," said Eagles. "And they continue to have an influence on their playing."
For those new to the jazz scene, this concert should provide a good opportunity to jump in. It will feature the music of many of the most influential artists in modern jazz history.
Frayne, who has been doing the tributes for years, picks his favorite players to sit in at the concerts, which revisit the material that continues to have an impact on music today. As such, the quintet is made up of musicians who have played in bands like Chelsea Bridge and The Shuffle Demons. Many of them have also produced their own albums and have participated in similar tributes in the past.
The concert promises to feature arrangements of songs from the Davis albums In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew and A Tribute to Jack Johnson. There will also be spontaneous improvisations, which will incorporate the experiences and people that have influenced the five musicians throughout their careers.
"By improvising and having musical relationships with other musicians, you learn about your strengths and weaknesses as a player and you become open to inspiration," said Eagles. "You learn about yourself."
Eagles continued by stating that when jazz musicians come together, they can connect in a way that leads to cohesive improvisation and many interesting surprises, especially when the group has played together and known each other for years. This familiarity also contributes to an atmosphere very similar to an open jam session among friends.
Eagles claims that this almost telepathic bond between musicians is a big part of improvised music's appeal.
It should be noted that the Bayou Jazz and Blues Club has a tendency to fill up fast. Consequently, newcomers should drop in early, as jazz fans will pour in to hear the music that changed the genre forever.
The Bitches Brew-era tribute concert takes place at the Bayou Jazz and Blues Club, on Friday Oct. 27, at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information call 738-1709
Taken from: The Fulcrum (University of Ottawa Student Newspaper), Vol. 62, Issue no. 9, October 25 2001
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