Album Notes

Top 10 of 2005:
- JAZZ.FM
- CODA Magazine
- Zeitgeist (Scotland)

"A terrific CD!" - Matt Galloway, CBC


Shimmering Rhythm goes from a regular jazz "Rhythm" tune with a strict three part classical fugue smack in the middle (Rhythmaron) to an Old World Hebrew tune (Chassal Siddur Pesach), back to a languid jazz ballad accompanied by classical voice (Les Angeliques), and a good old boogaloo (Pawpwalk). It's jazz meets classical meets klezmer meets pop, and back to jazz again.

I had heard Tania Gill's arrangements for the 5-woman group Runcible Spoon, in which she also plays piano. I was inspired to wed her arranging talents, as well as the unique instrumentation of Runcible Spoon (piano/ cello/ viola/ clarinet/ voice) to my Trio's work. Tania did a brilliant job, as did the "Spoons" who recorded with us, Monica Fedrigo (cello), Julia Hambleton (clarinet) and Karen Moffatt (viola). In addition to my genius Trio mates- bassist Drew Birston and drum-guy Ted Warren -I was eager to bring the amazing Sasha Boychouk and his compelling multi-reed player sound to our audience. The addition of opera great Jean Stilwell's mezzo-soprano was icing on this multi-layered cake.

My hope is that listeners will find the emotion and pleasure I find in the emotions, in the journey, and in each of the stops along the way.

Notes on the individual tracks:

1. Rhythmaron (Ron Davis) 5:22
Many jazz standards are based on the chord changes to Gershwin's I Got Rhythm. I had never written a "Rhythm" tune, so this was it. Tania's arrangement captures the playful flavour of the piece. After the solos, we go to a strict three part classical fugue that lasts over a minute, before we fly out of the ending.

2. Oratio (Ron Davis) 5:51
This is a gospel-like piece. I play at an African-Canadian church some Sundays. It was the inspired feeling playing there that I wanted to capture.

3. Shimmering Interlude #1 (Sasha Boychouk & Ron Davis) 0:30
Sasha and I improvised this Interlude based on a standard klezmer chord progression. It looks forward to Chassal Siddur Pesach.

4. Pawpwalk (Ron Davis) 3:26
This is the "radio piece". DJ's often complain that jazz tunes are too long and abstract. Well, this one isn't! It's in the tradition of some of Herbie Hancock's and Lee Morgan's work from the 1960's.

5. Les Angeliques (Ron Davis) 7:39
I wanted to write a very slow, very beautiful piece. This is what came out. The addition of the classical voice was to provide a different hue to the pallet.

6. Jeanamora (Ron Davis) 4:42
A latin-influenced song. It's fun to play latin!

7. Shimmering Interlude #2 (Ron Davis) 0:30
Another improvisation, to set up the following tune.

8. Chassal Siddur Pesach (trad.) 4:01
Since I was a child, my father sang this tune at the close of the Passover seder. This meant I only heard twice a year. It haunted me. I never heard it any other time. It stayed with me. I've never met anyone who knows this achingly beautiful tune. My father brought it with him out the Hungarian part of Romania where he was born in 1923. He survived the Nazi concentration camps, as did my mother, to make his way to Canada. This song is a bridge to his past, through my present and future as a musician.

9. Shimmering Interlude #3 (Sasha Boychouk & Ron Davis) 0:30
Sasha and I in one final improvisation to wind down Chassal Siddur Pesach.

10. Rhosymedre (trad. / R. Vaughan Williams) 7:11
This is a Welsh hymn, arranged by the great 20th century English classical composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. I've always thought it is one of the most beautiful tunes in the classical canon. The juxtaposition of this tune with Chassal Siddur Pesach seemed especially apt- different religious contexts, but beautiful music nonetheless.

11. The Way You Look Tonight (J. Kern ) 5:58
A jazz standard. One of my favourites. Too bad I don't sing, because the lyrics are a marvel.

12. Chassal Chassal (trad.) 2:07
Chassal Siddur Pesach closes the Passover seder. So we took a stunning portion of Tania's arrangement to close the cd. Then we added a brief explanation of Chassal Siddur Pesach by my father.