Album Notes

Double Helix: Bio

Sons of the well known Canadian pianistcomposer, Neil Chotem, Tony and Peter Chotem grew up with a father who was working with the likes of Harry Belafonte, Gordon Lightfoot, Petula Clarke and the Quebec rock group, Harmonium. Turning to the guitar rather than the family piano, they have become instrumentalists and composers in their own right.

Tony, a North Vancouver resident, divides his time between performing in a variety of styles, producing CD’s for himself and other artists, and teaching both privately and at Capilano College. Peter is an active composer and performer who lives and teaches in the Vancouver area.

Together they are the nucleus of the jazz quartet, Double Helix, whose music is perhaps best described in the liner notes of their recently released CD, Phoenix Rising:

“Phoenix Rising” is a lush and energizing jazz banquet of nine original tunes rendered with guitars and percussion. The atmosphere is intimate, the tunes intelligent and evocative, the development imaginative and resourceful, with occasional use of guitar synth. The overall tone is contemplative, with moods ranging from the melancholy of Phoenix to the unabashedly upbeat title track, Double Helix. Stand out track, Zoloph Spaceman, speaks to the frenetically dissonant struggles and triumphs of life, where valiant Zoloph strives for, and eventually attains, peace, signified by celestial harmonics. The set is unified by a pervasive E minor/major tonality, and masterful musicianship, featuring elements of acoustic classical guitar technique seamlessly fused in a jazz matrix. A thoroughly satisfying album replete with sophisticated taste, clarity, and direction.”

Nick Strathy, Musician