Avi Granite:6
The “Avi Granite:6” is a neo-jazz group out of Toronto who have been carving out their sound and music language for the past 2 years. A highly improvised group concept pervades their music, the layering of groove and metric indulgences are ever present. The group consists of young, upcoming players on the Toronto scene. A horn section of two saxes and a trombone is offset by a rhythm section of electric guitar, upright bass and drums. The “AG:6” explore and combine many elements from far reaching places. There is an evident influence of the Avant-Garde in jazz as well as thematic concepts reminiscent of film music, traces of tribal elements can also be found - the title of the new CD “Red Tree” is derived from the image of embrace that it fosters. All the tunes are penned by Avi Granite, an improvising restructuralist composer, guitarist and producer whose sense of melody is slightly twisted and whose concept of groove is uniquely penetrating.


Reviews of Avi Granite:6 - Red Tree

" * * * * " - James Hale Downbeat Magazine

"...slick charts and distinctive structures... Thick ensemble work, strong shape-changing melody narratives, diverse textural colour and a kind of loose togetherness..."
Geoff Chapman Coda Magazine

"Avi Granite and his serpentine guitar, half-intellect, half-instinct, fatten up a whole new jazz sound... Red Tree is flavourful and accessible, for jazz of such original coinage. I loved it..."
- Jeff Mahoney The Hamilton Spectator

"...chalk-full of invigorating improvisational change-ups, restless rhythms, and developing melodies that seep through like fresh moisture in a well-aged barrel in the barn."- Eric Theriault PANPOT

"Toronto guitarist Avi Granite delivers an impressive collection of twisting melodies and free-form arrangements on the follow-up to his debut Avi Granite:5..." - Chris Bilton EYE

"...boisterous, well-conceived, edgy music."
- Peter Hum Ottawa Citizen

read the full reviews here

Sounds click a track to listen

News
This burgeoning group performed at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival in 2006 and has played in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto in the past year. A version of the song “Ghetto Panda” was selected and included on the NCRA’s “Jazz Creative” compilation CD released in March 2007. The group performed in Europe in the winter of 2008 in support of their new CD “Red Tree”. The AG:6 performed at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal summer 2008.

Live
Sunday August 24th/08
AG:6 @ The Rex
194 Queen St. W.
Toronto
$6
9pm
Chris Roberts alto sax
Peter Lutek tenor/sop. sax
Tom Richards trombone
Avi Granite guitar
Neal Davis bass
Nick Fraser drums

Saturday October 18th/08
AG:6 + Arkana @ The Concord Cafe
937 Bloor West
Toronto
$10
9pm

Saturday November 15th/08
AG:6 @ The Concord Cafe
937 Bloor West
Toronto
$6
9pm

 
click cover to listen to samples or buy cd.

Avi Granite:6  Red Tree
The new CD on Pet Mantis Records.

Featuring:
Avi Granite - electric guitar
Jonathan Kay - tenor sax/bansuri
Chris Roberts - alto sax/slide whistle
Tom Richards - trombone/melodica
Neal Davis - double bass/melodica
Nick Fraser - drums

The group recorded the CD at
Studio at Puck’s Farm April 2nd
and 3rd 2007.

made possible with support from: