Roberto Occhipinti Quartet

Ken Prue presents Roberto Occhipinti Quartet Saturday, 21 March at 7:30 / doors at 7 The LOFT at 201 Division, Cobourg $30 + sc

Roberto Occipinti Quartet with special guest Pat LaBarbara In the fall of 2019 a group of jazz musicians ( 106 Collective Quartet) got together one afternoon in Toronto, to play some tunes, record them live off the floor and see what transpires. The album 'SURFACE' is the result of that day, a recording with no overdubs, minimal editing and a selection of original music written by each member and capped off with 2 beautiful tunes by Billy Drewes. The band is nominally led by Roberto Occhipinti on bass, Adrean Farrugia on Piano, Luis Deniz on Alto Sax and Chris Wallace on Drums, all award winners and all with a rich diversity of performance experience. Roberto Occhipinti, bassist, composer, producer, b Toronto, Ont, 25 Mar 1955; comes from a musical family that includes guitarists Michael (his younger brother) and David (a cousin). At the University of Toronto, beginning in 1972, he studied under Thomas Monohan; he was also mentored by David Young and Joel Quarrington. Occhipinti was a member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (1976-8), Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (1980-5) and Canadian Opera Company Orchestra (1984-9). In the field of contemporary music, he was principal bassist with the Esprit Orchestra (1986-94) and a member of Arraymusic (1979-2000). One of a small number of musicians who have had successful careers in both classical music and jazz, in 1997 Occhipinti began working with Cuban expatriate jazz pianist Hilario Durán, recording Killer Tumbao (1997), Habana Nocturna (1999), Havana Remembered (2001), New Danzon (2004) and From The Heart (2006). These recordings brought him into contact with saxophonist Jane Bunnett. with whom he toured and appeared on three recordings: Ritmo and Soul (2000), Alma de Santiago (2001) and Cuban Odyssey (2003). He also performed with his brother's band, NOJO; the Toronto-based sextet, Soul Stew; Gorillaz; and Damon Albarn's Mali Music. His jazz quintet toured extensively in 2006. In addition to performing, Occhipinti has been a producer for artists including Durán, Dafnis Prieto, The Gryphon Trio, Quartetto Gelato and Shurum Burum Jazz Circus, and a music supervisor and orchestra contractor for films and commercials. In 2001, as part of Bunnett's Spirits of Havana, Occhipinti shared in a Juno award for best global album. In 2005 he received a Juno as producer of Durán's New Danzon. He won National Jazz Awards for producer of the year in 2005 and 2006, and acoustic group of the year in 2005. Roberto is nominated for a 2020 Juno Award for Jazz Album of The Year producing Trouble in Mind by the Dave Young Trio. Pat LaBarbara: At the March 21 Loft Concert the sax chair will be occupied by the legendary Pat LaBarbara. Pat, born 1944 in NY is a saxophonist, educator and composer who has studied under many greats (Joe Viola, Don Menza, Joe Allard, Joe Henderson, Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh) and studied arranging and composition 1964-7 at the Berklee College of Music, Boston. After traveling 1967-74 as a featured soloist (tenor saxophone) with the Buddy Rich Big Band, he made his home in 1974 in Toronto, where he has worked in local jazz clubs, big bands, and studio orchestras. In 1975 he joined the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, maintaining the association (with intermittent breaks) through the 1980s. He has toured Europe and Japan with both Rich and Jones, and South America with Jones.

Award winning pianist and composer, Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada's most distinct voices on the piano and has played The Loft on a previous tour. Fusing many diverse musical influences he has forged a personal sound which generates dynamic sensitivity, hard-driving swing, and a powerfully creative statement.