Ensemble brings unique sound

The Lily Quartet and Hutchinson Andrew Trio join forces in a high-energy concert at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall on Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.

Jordan Verlage/OWW

Wednesday, Jan 14, 2015 08:28 am
By: Tammy Rollie

Seven Alberta musicians are giving new meaning to classical and jazz music in Turner Valley this weekend.

Calgary’s The Lily Quartet and the Hutchinson Andrew Trio are combining their talents to reach beyond the stereotypes of a classical quartet and jazz trio in a high-energy concert through the Beneath the Arch Concert Series at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall on Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.

“It’s a great blend of the two styles,” said Kody Hutchinson of the Hutchinson Andrew Trio, who will also lead the seven-piece ensemble. “If people aren’t necessarily jazz or classical people we find we are the group that are maybe the gateway – the one that gets your foot in the door.”

The Hutchinson Andrew Trio is a jazz group that has been performing a mixture of contemporary swing, Latin and acoustic groove tunes for more than a decade. The trio consists of Hutchinson on bass, Chris Andrew on piano and Karl Schwonik on drums.

Hutchinson said this weekend’s audience will hear a unique mixture of music under the expertise of the group’s pianist and arranger Chris Andrew. The performance will draw on the Hutchinson Andrew Trio’s third album Prairie Modern.

“I find why we connect with audiences that maybe didn’t think this was the type of music they’d be into was because of how (Andrew) writes with that connection to rock groups and Latin groups and the type of music people understand,” said Hutchinson. “We bridge that gap and take music they do like and understand and mix it with a style they might not be familiar with.”

Andrew admits he was one of those children whose mom forced him into classical music, which he didn’t learn to appreciate until he grew up. Now with an appreciation for various types of music, Andrew said that influence often comes out in his arrangements.

read more: http://www.westernwheel.com/article/20150114/WHE0302/301149981/-1/WHE0802/ensemble-brings-unique-sound