Chet Doxas Quartet
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Chet Doxas Quartet

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The best kept secret in music

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"All About Jazz"

Sidewalk Etiquette is the saxophonist’s debut, and it includes an engaging set of songs by Lober, John Coltrane and Joe Zawinul, but leans most heavily toward Doxas’ writing.
Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice” swings mightily, but Doxas’ thoughtful and economical solo more closely resembles Wayne Shorter than Coltrane’s sheets of sound. Zawinul’s haunting and synth-laden “Forlorn,” from Weather Report’s Night Passage (Columbia, 1980), is cleverly reinvented as a dramatic, all-acoustic affair. Throughout the album Doxas favors an approach that eschews overt virtuosity but demonstrates a remarkably mature mindset for a twenty-something artist.

Doxas’ writing also demonstrates a depth and degree of complexity beyond his years. The ten-minute title track shifts gears multiple times, with Lober’s robust bass often providing the anchor while the drummer's emphasis-shifting approach keeps everyone on their toes. The leader's cerebral yet visceral solo gradually builds in intensity, showing that speed isn’t the only way to create energy. Roney solos over a vibrantly swinging section; Jim Doxas’ cymbal work provides a strong pulse in tandem with Lober’s powerful walk.

The uptempo “Upstart” is less episodic, but its lengthy theme twists and turns before heading into a solo section where Roney’s strong narrative explains why, along with Torontonian David Braid, he’s one of the strongest pianists to emerge on the Canadian scene in recent years. “Long for Shorter” is a darker piece. While more rhythmically propulsive than Shorter’s current quartet tends to be, it demonstrates a similar kind of abstruse lyricism. Lober’s “Rite Shoe” has a similarly knotty theme, but ultimately settles into a Latin-esque solo section where Roney’s warm Rhodes supports Doxas’ strong tenor.

There’s not a weak link to be found in the quartet, but Jim Doxas deserves special note. He emerges as an incredibly elastic drummer with open ears and a temporal looseness that sometimes feels as if he’s on the edge of a precipice.

But everyone in the group really deserves greater exposure, too. Between Roney’s acoustic trio, the electronica-centric Byproduct (featuring Lober and the Doxas brothers) and Chet Doxas’ quartet, it’s becoming clear that these four musicians have bright and varied futures ahead of them, whatever the context they choose. Wholly modern yet clearly steeped in the tradition, Sidewalk Etiquette is further evidence of the vibrancy of Montreal’s improvising scene. - All About Jazz


"Concert Review"

There can be few more intimidating jobs than opening up for Wayne Shorter, particularly with a band of the same instrumentation. However, even though tenor saxophonist Doxas is in his mid 20s, he is a well-known player in Montreal and Canada and thus his slot was deserved and a nice local touch. Doxas, along with bandmates bassist Zack Lober (who this correspondent saw in the middle of nowhere in Brooklyn earlier this year with a fantastic all Canadian bass quartet), drummer and brother Jim Doxas and pianist John Roney, performed three tunes in a 30 minute set. The material was drawn from Doxas’ leader debut on the Canadian label Justin Time, Sidewalk Etiquette, and showed remarkable maturity. Containing interesting metrical shifts and energetic dynamic variations, as well as effective use of space, Doxas’ quartet probably owed much to the band that would follow. A touching moment was the enthusiastic applause given to this local player (who no doubt will soon get his own slot at the Festival) and his thanks to the Wayne Shorter Quartet for allowing them to play. - All About Jazz


"Downbeat 4 stars"

Please click on this link to read the 4 star review of Doxas' debut CD, Sidewalk Etiquette:
http://www.chetdoxas.com/Downbeat.pdf - Downbeat Magazine


"Toronto Star"

Please follow this link to read our excellent review in the Toronto Star:
http://www.chetdoxas.com/Toronto%20Star%20Review.pdf - Toronto Star


Discography

Sidewalk Etiquette (JTR 8516-2)
- Justin Time Records 2006

ByProduct (BYP 001)
- Fusion III 2002

Much of the CD "Sidewalk Etiquette" has been getting alot of airplay over the radio and internet.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

"The level of young musicians today is often surprisingly high, but the tenor saxophonist Chet Doxas is a real phenomenon, when it comes to both improvisation and composition...." All About Jazz
The Chet Doxas Quartet is an exciting blend of Jazz and indie-rock. The main focus of the group is to produce a sound that is highly interactive between the group and it’s audience. It’s members, Chet Doxas, saxophone, John Roney, piano, Zack Lober, Bass, and Jim Doxas on drums, can be found performing in many different settings outside the group. This versatility helps to bring fresh ideas into the band. The group has also benefited from the close personal ties that each member has which each other. Most of the group has been playing together since high school. Since then, the group and it’s members have had the opportunity to perform all over the world with many exceptional artists such as, Dave Douglas, Rufus Wainwright, Joe Lovano, Ranee Lee, and Oliver Jones, among many others.