Contxt by Trane
This was the 1st time I had a chance to visit this club that sits right above BSMT254 with the same address. So, below in the basement the club focuses on underground style music whether it is live music or DJ music. On the street level is Contxt that houses a great jazz scene.
It is a wonderful open spaced room, much like a large café with a chilled vibe. When you walk in the walls are stark white, because they contain plenty of colourful paintings that adorn the room. We have a jazz club with an art gallery in one. Yes, before you ask the question, these paintings are for sale.
With long tables against the wall and small intimate tables that surround the staged area, this place can hold up to 70 people. They also have a food and drink service. I came in from out of the cold for this show and they warmed me up with a coffee.
This is the way a jazz club should be presented. It has a great layout, an intimate setting and a wonderful sound system. They are now part of my directory, so you can look them up and find out who will be playing there in the future. The prices for the quality of these shows are very reasonable as well.
Brownman celebrates Miles!
Brownman Ali and his band decided to take on a monster project to celebrate the greatest trumpet player of all time. Once a week, these musicians get together and took a chapter out of Miles Davis’ history and presented it in chronological order.
By the time I got around to seeing this, they were on week 4. This is my personal favourite period of Miles’ career. It was his electric period where he produced albums like “In a Silent Way”, “On the Corner” and of course, “Bitches Brew”. The second half of the show was focused on Miles in the eighties and closing out his long and wild career.
The Show
We punched our train ticket into the unknown. The first stop the band took us was, “In a silent way”. This ushered in moments of leaving this earthly plane and explores our personal cosmos. Once lift off was achieved, The Bitch was brewing and it added a layer of voodoo magic. The band recreated this madness with deep layers of ethos and wildly brave interpretations. The room was completed hypnotized and was fully locked into each and every sound that was being produced.
They continued this fantastic voyage with “Black Satin” from, “On the Corner”. This was the moment where you slid into a wormhole of pure conciseness while your outer layer was mentally dancing to the funk rhythms that were coming from a primal urge to move within the skin you are in. They jumped from one funk in the next and jumped to 1982’s “We want Miles”. One of my personal favourite pieces, “Jean- Pierre” delivered that joyful funk with that unmistakable happy trumpet riff that brings this piece to light.
The band was careful enough to recreate the original pieces and loose enough so when they went and soloed, they added their own personality. This kept this show fresh and invigorating. Speaking of the band, may I present to you these talented folks.
Jay Yu- Guitar
Sean Dennis- Bass
Aaron S- Drums
Nick McLean- Keyboards
Brownman Ali- Trumpet
The Second Half
After a short break, the band returned to capture Miles in the Eighties. Brownman took the time to encapsulate the career of Miles Davis, to teach the audience things, we may not have known about this man. I loved listening to the history lesson.
Amandla was on the list, and I was really hoping they would play, “Jo-Jo” for obvious reasons. They chose, “Big Time” instead. This was a forgivable moment. They handled this piece like a glorious and smooth ride. It was climbing on a magic Persian rug.
By this time, Miles was loosening up and actual did a couple of cover songs to represent what he felt to be important music for those times. His cover of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature”, was represented well especially with a bass line that was truly superb and sublime.
Then there was Cindy Lauper’s, “Time after Time’. As heartfelt as that song is, this band brought on even a warmer hug. It was a little tighter, more playful and joyous.
Brownman warned us that he was going to play the title track of a not so popular album, “Decoy”. I knew nothing about this album and after hearing this version, I will be on the hunt for this to be in my collection.
“TuTu” was a slow burn through a dark dream. It became a long haunted walk that staggered with a strut that contained a level of sincere uncertainty. The awakening at the end seemed filled with relief and lets everyone breathe a little lighter.
Once we reached the end, there was one last piece that felt Prince inspired. You could feel the direction Miles was about to embark on, if his career continued. The middle of the piece we caught the last bass solo and was in awe wondering what just happened.
The final moments was filled with some wicked nervous energy that had to leave our essence. I think this would Price approved. It was certainly crowd approved as we stood in awe of such a wonderful evening that went on for over three hours.
Brownman and his bandmates, pulled off the principle spirit of Miles Davis and elevated his music that only live music can do. This is why we gather and sit in a room and commune together to elevate our spirit so we can move through life with that sense of freedom
This is Brownman and his band-
Browntasaurus Records.
Brownman has created a record label for high end jazz player to release their music through. 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the artists. This really should be the way the music business should be moving. Keep our artist well fed and they will give us their best work.
If you want to learn more about this jazz movement simply hit this link and get started to discover more amazing jazz music in the present form.
If you want to catch the last show of this incredible series go to Contxt by Trane and grab a last-minute ticket before this one sells out. 5 Weeks for Miles – CONTXT by Trane
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