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SAXMAN GERRY HEBERT FINDS CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE:
In jazz music, interference can be a good thing. Take saxman Gerry Hebert's newest CD The Beat Niq Sessions Volume 2: Constructive Interference. Turns out, the title is
a perfect description of Hebert's new quartet. "Constructive interference as a theory and as a practice has to do with how waves compound into other waves," Hebert explains.
"It's sort of like the sum of the four is greater than the individuals."
The CD title came from Hebert's designer for this project, Scott Shymko, and the name stuck. After listening to the quartet's music, Shyrnko suggested a CD cover that features four merging pools of colour. "That was a neat idea' Hebert says. "I wanted to keep the visuals kind of questioning, and it's also why I made the packaging with very little text on it. [The colours show] the equality of the four of us, which I really do feel, even if it's my name in front." This name is also appropriate since Hebert's new quartet is such a radical departure from the one featured in his first CD in 2003. This group "interferes" with the traditional definition of a quartet — it's anything but the usual three
guys plus a bandleader dynamic. "It has been a completely different experience," Hebert confirms. "Not in any way that the quartet for the first CD wasn't good, but this one is much more transcendent. The chemistry is way more natural. We are still as interested and excited about performing together and writing together as we were from the first time we played. It's been quite a remarkable couple of years playing with these guys — much more organic."
So, here we have a quartet that can be described as organic, transcendent, and equal. In jazz circles, this usually 1eads to the word "collective" Hebert laughs when asked if that term applies, though. "Yeah, I think so," he says. "I mean, I would say that. I don't know if the others would all say that. It's just a lot of fun playing and hanging with these guys, and everybody is really themselves. I think we bring out the best in each other, and there's no question that we challenge each other and we force each other to engage
musically. There's no freeloading, because one of the other guys is going to start pushing buttons. It seems to be interesting how that happens, so I think there's a very collective energy to us."
by DENNIS SLATER - FFWD Weekly - Mar 27, 2008
Discography
1) Beat Niq Sessions Vol. 1 - 6th Ave & 2 am. (2003)
2) Beat Niq Sessions Vol. 2 - Constructive Interference (2008)
All tracks available for preview at itunes.
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Bio
The Gerry Hebert Quartet has been presenting concerts actively since 1997. A dedicated musician and educator, Gerry owns and operates The Jazz Edge Corporation and was a founding member of The Swinging Bovines, a professional concert touring saxophone quartet. Currently, Gerry is Artistic Director of the Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club and the founder and the director of the Calgary Youth Jazz Orchestra. Gerry also serves as the President of the Calgary Musicians Association and presents masterclasses and clinics as a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Gerry has been playing for 28 years and his professional saxophone career began 18 years ago. Music studies have included a 2 year diploma in music performance from Grande Prairie Regional College, a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Calgary, an 8 month study period in French language and music in Paris, France and numerous residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Extensive performance experience with The Swinging Bovines have included releasing 3 C Ds and performed over 500 concerts on tours across Canada, the United States and Europe.
Gerry is very active throughout the musical community and in demand as a performer, arranger, contractor and clinician. He has performed on over 18 Compact Disc recordings and is also active in arts administration, marketing and music publishing.
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