Nick Maclean Quartet
featuring Brownman Ali

Led by Canadian 29-year old fast-rising piano star Nick Maclean — an 8x Global Music Award winner, a Toronto Independent Music Award winner, and one of the most in-demand young jazz piano players in Toronto — this contemplative yet thrilling quartet delivers jazz between the two poles of thoughtful introspection and powerhouse conveyance, taking influences from Herbie Hancock’s primordial 1960’s Blue Note era recordings, while paying tribute to some of the greatest improvisers in jazz history.

Maclean’s quartet heavily features one of Canada’s most provocative improvising trumpet players — Brownman Ali, heralded as “Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpet player” by New York City’s Village Voice.  Recognized as an internationally acclaimed jazz iconoclast, he currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY & Toronto, Canada and is a 2x National Jazz Award winner. This jazz veteran is best known globally as the last trumpet player with the legendary jazz-hip-hop group Guru’s Jazzmatazz, having replaced Donald Byrd in that seminal ensemble. For these shows, Ali & Maclean stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 2 of Canada’s top-tier 20-somethings: Ben Duff on upright bass, and Jacob Wutzke on drums as the group prepares to record their second studio album – a hotly anticipated follow up of their decorated debut release Rites of Ascension.

“Rites Of Ascension is one of the best [recordings] I have heard this year (and I receive about 60 + per month).  Well above average, and that Brownman Ali is just fantastic and sure rings a bell for me!  Nick Maclean’s compositions and renditions of Herbie’s stuff is of the highest standard.  Bring them to Montreal please!” — Richard Therien, CKVL 101.1 FM (Montreal, Canada)

Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:00pm
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 9:30pm

Call 514-931-6808 for reservations.
www.upstairsjazz.com