E L E P H A N T I Z E R

This quartet comprising of trumpet + upright bass + drums + contra-alto clarinet play exciting music with improvisations linking and inspired by the written parts. The alluringly discordant harmonies overlap other melodies that can then become the driving bass line for the next part or improv. The unusual intervals of these harmonies are inspired by those found in traditional Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Bavarian and Georgian vocal music.

The melodies themselves have a powerful heaviness stemming from the use of complex time signatures and unusual instrumentation with an emphasis on the lower registers.

Contra-alto clarinetist Dominic Legault draws from his intensive studies of Gnawa music in Morocco to create the ploughing motion in the music he writes for Quattuor Exaro. Gnawa music has a simultaneous pushing and pulling feel that can be built and released.

Other inspirations for the approaches to integraging the improvisations and the written music are the works of Tim Berne and John Zorn.

Michael Mazza holds a BA of Music from UVIC. He teaches music and drama in Elementary School and can be seen performing with ensembles such as the Garden City Dixieland Band, Robots on Fire, Yaga, the Wassabi Collective and the Yiddish Columbia State Orchestra. He has been a guest musician on many recordings and is known for his rich trumpet.

Joel Lower is a multi-instrumentalist and improviser who has been involved in various musical, theatrical and multi-media projects and performances that operate mainly in the realm of jazz, experimental and avant-garde. He is a member Roof-Brain Chatter, Critter, L.S.B. String Trio, Surface Tension, Bruce Freedman Trio, Electric Dragon Quintet and the Eye of Newt Collective. He has also performed at the Vancouver Jazz Festival with Paul Plimley, Ron Samworth, Little Stitches, Smoke Rings, and the Eye of Newt Collective. Joel continues to live, work and play in Vancouver.

Dave Chokroun has studied composition, theory and improvisation at York University and holds a BA in Music from UVIC. He has been featured as improviser and performer in festivals and venues across Canada. He has studied double bass with Andrew Downing, Ed Tait, and Mark Dresser and has performed with notable artists including Braino, Lori Freedman, Fred Frith, Glenn Hall, Giorgio Magnanensi, Evan Parker, eldritch Priest, Robots on Fire, James Tenney, Brodie West and Vancouver New Music.

Dominic Legault is self-taught on Contra-alto clarinet, having taken workshops with Vinny Golia, Wadada Leo Smith, Peter Brotzmann and Francois Houle. He is also proficient on accordion having performed in Europe, Australia and Canada as solo accordionist. Dominic writes the music for Quattuor Exaro and has also composed, recorded and produced 3 CDs of original compositions. He teaches accordion and piano and lives in the rainforest near Masset, Haida Gwaii.