Adrean Farrugia

Last but not least in this series is my review of the debut disc from a Toronto up-and-comer who will be playing at Cafe Paradiso this Friday and Saturday:

Ricochet (Meadowlark Music)
Adrean Farrugia

Pianist Adrean Farrugia's debut disc reflects an expansive musical vision and the talent and craft to combine elements from a range of influences. On Ricochet, the 35-year-old Torontonian cogently melds the sounds of jazz, pop,classical and world musics to allow for spirited personal expressions by some of Toronto's finest.

Each of the disc's eight tracks features a different lineup. There's one trio track, the feisty 5/4 tune Highfive), a fine duet by Farrugia and his wife, vocalist Sophia Perlman (the sad and lovely Blackberry Winter, the CD's only cover), and a half-dozen tunes that are distinctively coloured as Farrugia sees fit by not just brass and woodwinds, but also voice and tabla and cello. Not only are Farrugia's compositions appealing; he's arranged them deftly to give his disc a broad sonic palette.

The disc's opener, Mourning Star, begins sing-song simple, with Perlman's warm voice and entries by trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, trombonist William Carn and then Farrugia. Their introduction gives way to a groovy, upbeat theme with layers of brass and voice. Turcotte, one of Canada's most naturally melodic improvisers, and then Farrugia coast over the the swaying beat courtesy of bassist Andrew Downing and drummer Anthony Michelli.

Situmani features trumpet, trombone, tenor saxophone and flute over an undulating 12/8 groove that's coloured by Ravi Naimpally's tablas. As the track progresses through Downing's bowed bass solo, a shared turn in the limelight for trombonist William Carn and saxophonist Kelly Jefferson, and then a rousing jam for Naimpally, it feels feels less South Asian and more multicultural or post-racial -- rather like Toronto, perhaps, the recent election of Rob Ford notwithstanding.

One of the two quartet tracks, Meadowlark (For Sophia), is romantic in the classical-music sense, with Kiki Misumi's spendid cello expressing its melody along with Farrugia. The other quartet piece, There... and Then Back Again, which closes the CD, is a samba romp with Jefferson joining in.

And then there are the pieces that I'd consider Farrugia's most ambitious. Lifetide is a performance that grows from beginning to end, from a pretty minor-key waltz that grows stronger, darker and even celebratory. Turcotte and Perlman double its stirring melody before Farrugia -- who is appealingly melodic with both hands -- and they take turns soloing. Naimpally is back on this tune, adding discrete tabla work. The CD's longest track, The Libertine, is a faster tune in 3 for quintet, featuring Turcotte and the alto saxophone of Sundar Viswanathan. The track feels like a two-in-one; a little more than half way through, its groove and vibe shift. Farrugia switches to electric piano and things become more rocking as Turcotte solos. After, the tune's final theme feels like it's floating over the churning by Michelli and Downing.

Ricochet is admirably diverse and consistently engrossing in terms of smaller details and larger structural concerns alike. I'll be surprised if there's a better debut jazz CD released in Canada this year.
- Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen October 27, 2010

Good! Better! Best! (My end-of-year jazz CD lists)

By PHUM THU, DEC 9 2010 COMMENTS(2) JAZZBLOG.CA

Filed under: Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Fraser Hollins, Danilo Perez, Kelly Jefferson, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Frank Kimbrough, Jason Moran, Steve Coleman, Eric Harland, Theo Bleckmann, Adrean Farrugia, Alan Ferber, Best of 2010, Norma Winstone
I've just sent in my submissions to this year's Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll. My picks were culled from the extended lists below, which together name-check some 40 or so discs that represent, if not some excellent jazz, my tastes as sorted into different categories.

My favourite discs of 2010:
1. Providencia, Danilo Perez (Mack Avenue)
2. Harvesting Semblances and Affinities, Steve Coleman (Pi Recordings)
3. Chamber Songs: Music for Nonet and Strings, Alan Ferber (Sunnyside)
4. Spark of Being: Burst, Dave Douglas (Greenleaf)
5. Deluxe, Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth (clean feed)
6. Suite..., Baptiste Trotignon (Naive)
7. Apex, Rudresh Mahanthappa/Bunky Green (Pi Recordings)
8. Rumors, Frank Kimbrough (Palmetto)
9. Our Secret World, Kurt Rosenwinkel and OJM (WOM Music)
10. African Flowers, Geof Bradfield (Origin)

A piano-heavy list of a dozen more, for good measure:
1. Highway Rider, Brad Mehldau (Nonesuch)
2. Whirl, Fred Hersch Trio (Palmetto)
3. Motion, Bernardo Sassetti Trio (clean feed)
4. Never Stop, The Bad Plus (Heads Up)
5. Ten, Jason Moran and Bandwagon (Blue Note)
6. Dark Eyes, Tomasz Stanko (ECM)
7. Lost in a Dream, Paul Motian (ECM)
8. Yesterday You Said Tomorrow, Christian Scott (Concord Jazz)
9. Jasmine, Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden (ECM)
10. American Dream, Taylor Haskins (Sunnyside)
11. Empire, Scott Colley (CAM Jazz)
12. Introducing Triveni, Avishai Cohen (Anzic)

Canadian jazz discs of 2010
1. Next Exit, Kelly Jefferson Quartet (Cellar Live)
2. Treelines, Christine Jensen Orchestra (Justin Time)
3. Aerial, Fraser Hollins (FairJazz)
4. Ricochet, Adrean Farrugia (Adrean Farrugia)
5. Across the Sky, Geggietrio + Donny McCaslin (Plunge)
6. Little Black Bird, Ernesto Cervini Quartet (Anzic)
7. Will It Rain?, Dave Watts (Effendi)
8. Peripheral Vision, Peripheral Vision (Step3)
9. Blow Up, Steve Kaldestad (Cellar Live)
10.Diversity, Michel Gregoire (MG)

Two fiery and profound Latin jazz discs:
1. Domador de Huellas, Guillermo Klein (Sunnyside)
2. Bien Sur!, Emilio Solla & The Tango Jazz Conspiracy (Fresh Sound New Talent)

Four exceptional vocal jazz CDs:
1. Stories Yet To Tell, Norma Winstone (ECM)
2. I Dwell in Possibility, Theo Bleckmann (Winter & Winter)
3. Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider, Dollison and Marsh (artistshare)
4. When I Was Long Ago, Rebecca Martin (Sunnyside)

Three reissues that you should know if you didn't know them already:
1. Bitches Brew, the 40th Anniversary Edition, Miles Davis (Sony Music/Columbia Legacy)
2. People Time: The Complete Recordings, Stan Getz/Kenny Barron (Sunnyside)
3. Sugar, Stanley Turrentine (CTI)

Four debuts that knocked me out:
1. Voyager Live by Night, Eric Harland (Space Time Records)
2. Simple Songs (For When the World Seems Strange), Jeremy Siskind (Brooklyn Jazz Underground)
3. Aerial, Fraser Hollins (FairJazz)
4. Ricochet, Adrean Farrugia (Adrean Farrugia)

Of course, naming more CDs rather than fewer (i.e., a single, 10-item best-of-2010 list) indicates a certain lack of resolve. I mean, if I had had more rigour, I would have figured out how to bring my favourite vocal and Canadian CDs into the Top-10 fold rather than isolate them. However, it was easier not to, and I would like some merit pay for that extra exertion. But seriously, I can't apologize for naming more than 10 discs when they are all, rankings set aside, so good. - Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen

Anyone attended this summer’s Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival would have had the opportunity of seeing one of Canada’s emerging jazz stars perform.
Toronto composer/pianist Adrean Farrugia appeared with his own band before backing headliner Matt Dusk.
Those who missed Farrugia can pick up his latest album Ricochet. The seven original tracks and one cover, featuring some of Toronto’s hottest young jazz musicians, advance Farrugia’s journey into the fusion of jazz, pop, classical and world music. As a composer, Farrugia’s tastes are informed and catholic - for example, the cello in Meadowlark (for Sophia) is terrific. As a pianist, he retains a lyrical sensitivity reminiscent of Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett without surrendering individuality. - Guelph Mercury

ADREAN FARRUGIA
“I really loved playing. I wanted to find some way into performing piano even though I thought it would be ridiculously difficult to make a living at it.”
That’s Adrean Farrugia, recalling his time at Mohawk College after giving up plans to become a lawyer. That career choice didn’t stand a chance, because music is in his genes — grandfather Ivan was a Maritime fiddler and father Bruno a professional rhythm and blues drummer.
“My dad told me to follow my heart and the money will follow you — and, knock on wood, I haven’t had a day job in 10 years,” Farrugia said five years ago.
Today the situation has changed, and like many talented peers he teaches jazz (at York University and Mohawk College, and says, at 32, he “really digs” working with young jazzniks). At the same time his playing reputation has advanced from “very promising” to “terrific” as he surges into the leading ranks of Canadian jazz pianists.
Hamilton-born Farrugia began piano with classical lessons but soon turned to jazz, playing in that city’s youthful All-Star Band before moving to Toronto in 1999 after earning a degree
in jazz performance at the University of Toronto. His first gig in Toronto was as musical director for Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.
Now, he’s a key figure in bands led by tenorman Bob Brough, in smart trios, including drummer Barry Romberg’s Three Blind Mice and numerous Toronto groups as a busy freelancer. He has also toured Canada and in September, played in Paris with drummer Karl Jannuska, a Canadian expatriate.
“The biggest thing over the past five years is my debut album as leader,” Farrugia said. That was Live At The Senator on Romhog, which featured mostly Farrugia, saxman Phil Dwyer, bass Jim Vivian, Chicago trumpeter Brad Goode and drummer Romberg. It’s an exciting disc illuminating Farrugia’s assertive approach, excellent technique, wide-ranging imagi- nation and talent for post-hard bop composition.
You can also hear him on CD with Goode on Delmark, with bass Duncan Hopkins and brass band, on recent releases by drummer Ernesto Cervini and vocalist Kira Callahan. - Geoff Chapman, Performance Magazine, Spring 2007

Busy jazz pianist coming to Saskatoon for two gigs
Cam Fuller, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009
"In demand'' hardly describes Toronto jazz pianist Adrean Farrugia. He is currently playing with the Matt Dusk Band, The Bob Brough Quartet, Ravi Naimpally's Tasa, The Brad Goode Quartet, The Ernesto Cervini Quartet and the Bruce Cassidy Quartet, to name a few. Farrugia played on the 2008 Juno winner for best traditional jazz recording, Brandi Disterheft's album Debut. In Saskatoon for two consecutive gigs, Farrugia plays solo at the Bassment's piano happy hour on Friday and returns with Cervini's band on Saturday.
Do you get out West much to play?
I've been out West a number of times recently with The Worst Pop Band Ever (a funny name for a jazz group), singer Matt Dusk, saxophonist Rich Underhill's band and a few years back with the Kelly Jefferson/Kelsely Grant Quintet. I also had a summer gig for a few summers at the Banff Springs Hotel with Vancouver vocalist Melody Daichun and bassist Doug Stevenson.
What do you think about playing at the Bassment in Saskatoon?
I'm really looking forward to playing at the "new" Bassment. When I played at the old location, it was really a wonderful experience. There seems to be a real die-hard group of jazz fans in Saskatoon and playing for people who love and appreciate the music as much as I do reminds me why I do what I do as a musician. I'm excited to play the club's new Bosendorfer grand piano. I'm a bit of a pianophile and well aware of Bosendorfer's reputation as one of the very, very best pianos on the planet. Playing a fine instrument can mean the difference for a pianist between a "good" gig and a "great" gig.
Who will you be playing with when you're here and what's your live show like?
I'll be doing a solo piano gig at the club as well as a nighttime show with drummer Ernesto Cervini's quartet celebrating the release of his second recording as a leader, Little Black Bird. Ernesto is one of the finest young Canadian jazz drummers on the scene today, as well as an accomplished composer of original music. We're really excited and honoured to have NYC sax player Joel Frahm with us on this tour. He is undoubtedly one of the best and most respected musicians of his generation. We'll be playing hard-driving modern jazz and above all having fun doing what we all love: Playing jazz.
How long have you been composing, and where do you look for inspiration?
I've been composing as long as I've been playing music. I remember learning Heart and Soul by ear and then improvising my own melodies over the chord changes. That was when I first caught the improviser's bug. I look everywhere for inspiration as a composer and musician. Some of my favourite composers have been Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Geoffery Keezer, Thelonious Monk, Alec Wilder, Cole Porter, Alexander Scriabin, W.A. Mozart and Brian Wilson, to name a small handful. - Saskatoon Star Phoenix, November 12, 2009

Ricochet
Adrean Farrugia
Independent AF0610

There is a dedicated group of younger musicians in Toronto making their mark on the jazz scene. This CD features the music of one of the outstanding members of that coterie, Adrean Farrugia. He is in the company of some of Toronto's leading players performing a programme of mostly original compositions. The one exception being Blackberry Winter, a little heard song by Alec Wilder and Loonis McGlohon in a beautiful duo performance by Adrean and vocalist Sophia Perlman who is heard on two more of the album's eight tracks using her voice very effectively in wordless vocals.

Adrean's strengths as a composer are much in evidence, displaying a wide spectrum of musical traditions which he has absorbed and developed into his own creative personality. The broadness of his musical palette is impressive, ranging from Meadowlark which features the cello of Kiki Misumi to the driving layers of sound on Situmani which features the horns of Kevin Turcotte, Kelly Jefferson, Sandar Viswanathan and William Carn. Andrew Downing on bass and Anthony Michelli on drums add immensely to the success of this recording and are joined on a couple of compositions by tabla player Ravi Naimpally.

This is contemporary music of a very high standard and an excellent addition to the growing body of artistic work by Mr. Farrugia. - The WholeNote Magazine