For Immediate Release
March 8, 2023
Canadian Jazz Collective Launches Debut Album
with Canadian & International Tours
HGBS Blue Records (Germany) and Judith Humenick Productions are proud to announce the
March 31, 2023, release of Septology – The Black Forest Session by the newly formed Canadian
Jazz Collective (CJC) Septet. The launch of the CJC’s debut album will be supported by a number
of live performances in Ontario, Montreal, Birdland (NYC) and other U.S. venues, as well as
major European cities during May 2023.
Fronted by three of Canada’s most acclaimed and accomplished jazz treasures: saxophonist Kirk
MacDonald, guitarist Lorne Lofsky and trumpeter Derrick Gardner, the CJC is augmented by
clarinetist Virginia MacDonald and supported by a noted rhythm section comprised of pianist
Brian Dickinson, bassist Neil Swainson and drummer Bernd Reiter. This innovative
intergenerational septet takes a collaborative approach to the presentation of original Canadian
jazz and blends the unique artistic visions of the leaders into one powerful, creative, and
cohesive voice.
The CJC is the pre-COVID brainchild of artist manager Judith Humenick, who had a hunch that
putting powerhouses like MacDonald, Lofsky and Gardner together would result in something
truly special. In May 2022, the group embarked on a string European dates, culminating in a sold-out performance at London's famed Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. The recording of the album Septology was the centerpiece of the group’s initial tour.
Deepening the CJC’s rich musical lineage is the studio Septology was recorded at: the iconic
MPS Studio (Most Perfect Sound) in Villingen, Germany in the Black Forest. MPS Studio holds a
place of high distinction in Canadian jazz canon, as one of Oscar Peterson’s favorite places to
record. Some of Peterson’s most notable recordings of the 1960’s were recorded there. “The
tour was wonderful. The reception we had was great everywhere. And the live-to-tape
recording at MPS Studio was a real throwback to the way high-quality sound albums used to be
made,” MacDonald shares. And Lofsky, a former member of Peterson’s Quartet in the 1990’s,
admits to a strong sense of “delayed synchronicity” in recording there himself, despite it being
decades later.
Simply put, MacDonald, Gardner and Lofsky are icons of Canadian jazz. Kirk MacDonald, a 2x
Juno Award winner and recipient of the Toronto Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement
Award, is one of the most well-established Canadian musicians of his generation. Having
appeared on over 50 albums as either leader or sideman, and with over 100 compositions to his
credit, MacDonald’s influence and reach cannot be overstated. Chicago-native Derrick Gardner
has performed with a who’s-who of jazz greats as well as some of the most revered large
ensembles in jazz, including the Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Band,
Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band and more. An Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba for
over a decade, Gardner has garnered international attention for his two most recent works, Still
I Rise (2019), with the Big dig! Band, and Pan Africa (2023), with the Jazz Prophets. Lorne Lofsky
is a master guitarist, known for his pianistic voicings and virtuosic skill. For 40+ years, the
Toronto native has left an indelible mark through his definitive solo work, fruitful collaborations
with fellow guitarist Ed Bickert, and earlier as a member of the Oscar Peterson Quartet. With so
much history between them, it is no exaggeration to say that the members of the Canadian Jazz
Collective are the torch bearers of this storied tradition.
Six striking, original compositions make up the collector-edition vinyl album Septology. It
swings right out of the gate with Gardner’s “Dig That!”, which showcases Gardner on a
ferocious solo that takes no prisoners. Virginia MacDonald and Kirk MacDonald also shine on
their respective solos. The reflective and pensive “Silent Voices”, penned by Kirk MacDonald for
the “people who are no longer with us” features stunning two-part writing for the saxophone
and clarinet. Kirk’s daughter, clarinetist Virginia, shows that the apple doesn’t fall far from the
tree on this gorgeous display. Lorne Lofsky’s nods to Thelonious Monk’s “Well You Needn’t” on
the next track, with “Waltz You Needn’t”, which first appeared on Lofsky’s landmark 1992 self-
titled solo album. The three-decades later update takes on a new life as Lofsky and his
bandmates soar above the changes. “Terre de DuSable” is Gardner’s homage to his Chicago
roots, and its clever construction allows each member of the band to marvelously shine.
Beautiful harmonies shine through on Kirk MacDonald’s “Shadows”, before the program comes
to a close with Lofsky’s “The Time Being”, which, as the composer reflects, “relates to my musical development thus far in my life,” and alternates between the deftly ordered polyphony
of the writing for horns and giving freedom to pianist Brian Dickinson.
The Canadian Jazz Collective strives to uphold Canada’s rich tradition of jazz. By displaying their
virtuosic, world-class artistry through their original work, and with so much history between
them, it is no exaggeration to suggest that the members of the Canadian Jazz Collective are the
torch bearers of this storied tradition. "I've been playing with several members of the CJC for
over 40 years. The kind of trust and rapport that has developed over this time has certainly
contributed to a deeper connection within the group and the repertoire," shares Lofsky.
Anchored by these long-standing ties, as well as their respective musical histories, with
Septology, the Canadian Jazz Collective ushers in a new era of Canadian jazz excellence.
Septology – The Black Forest Session will be available digitally on Spotify, Amazon, and Apple
Music, as well as on compact disc through Bandcamp on March 31, and as a Collector Edition
Vinyl LP by mid-April. The digital and compact disc versions include two bonus tracks, Lofsky’s
“Highway 9” and Gardner’s “One Thing Led to Another”.
Private Link to the CD on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/friedhelm-schulz-hgbsblue/sets/canadian-jazz-collective/s-gpuAEA5I7kusi=8cc329c55c6f4255a80ab94cbb187c33&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Track Listing: Septology – The Black Forest Session:
1. Dig That! (Derrick Gardner) (7:25)
2. The Time Being (Lorne Lofsky) (4:38)
3. Waltz You Needn’t (Lorne Lofsky) (6:33)
4. Silent Voices (Kirk MacDonald) (7:46)
5. Highway 9 (Lorne Lofsky) (5:49)**
6. Shadows (Kirk MacDonald) (8:44)
7. Terre de DuSable (Derrick Gardner) (9:35)
8. One Thing Led to Another (Derrick Gardner) (8:08)**
** Bonus tracks on digital and CD
Canadian Tour Dates 2023:
March 30 Concert Hall at Victoria Hall, Coburg ON
April 1 Church of the Ascension, Port Perry ON – All Star Quintet
April 2 The Jazz Room, Waterloo ON
April 3 The Hare Winery, Niagara on the Lake ON
April 6 National Arts Center Studio, Ottawa ON
April 7 Diese Onze, Montreal QC
April 8 The Jazz Bistro, Toronto ON
4
European Tour Dates 2023:
May 4 Bix Jazz Club, Stuttgart, Germany
May 5 Jazztone, Loerrach, Germany
May 6 Jazzclub in der Mitte, Reutlingen, Germany
May 7 Museum Café Jazz, Passau, Germany
May 8 Jazz Club, Zeltwig, Austria
May 10 Graz, Austria
May 11 Frei Raum Jazz Club, Jenbach, Austria
May 12 Birdland, Neuburg, Germany
May 13 Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, United Kingdom
May 14 Sala Clamores, Madrid, Spain
May 15 Ourense, Spain
May 16 King Georg Jazz Club, Cologne, Germany
May 17 Jazzland, Vienna, Austria
May 19 Piemonte Jazz Festival, Turin, Italy
May 20 Duc Des Lombards Jazz Club, Paris, France
May 21 Le Vauban, Brest, France
US Album Launch:
July 2 Birdland Jazz Club, New York, NY
For Further Information:
Judith Humenick Productions
judith@humenickproductions.com
613-859-8438
The Canadian Jazz Collective
Website: https://canadianjazzcollective.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canadianjazzcollective/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canadianjazzcollective/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CanadianJazz