Bent River Records invites you to celebrate the release of two new big band recordings.

In 2022, MacEwan University formed the Generations Big Band, a band comprised of MacEwan University faculty, alumni, and students. Over two weeks, this all-star ensemble, under the direction of Raymond Baril, recorded two new records: The Long View and Pipe Dreams.

The Long View showcases ten new commissioned works for big band, five written by MacEwan faculty and five written by recent MacEwan composition students.

Pipe Dreams celebrates the career of legendary flutist Jim Walker. Walker was the principal flutist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for seven seasons and the first-call studio flutist in L.A. for the better part of two decades. He has played on over 700 films, including Jurassic Park, Memoirs of a Geisha, Titanic, Finding Nemo, and Back to the Future.

Band members

Director, Ray Baril
Dan Davis, alto saxophone
Dana Anderson, alto saxophone
Jerrold Dubyk, tenor saxophone
Jeremiah McDade, tenor saxophone
Aidane Schafer, bari saxophone
Joel Gray, trumpet
Doug Berner, trumpet
Marlouie Saique, trumpet
Elissa Moores, trumpet
Craig Brenan, trombone
Matt White, trombone
Madeline Vandersluys, trombone
Ken Read, trombone
Chris Andrew, piano
Jim Head, guitar
Murray Woods, bass
Dave Laing, drums

This special event is a MacEwan University production supported by the Edmonton Jazz Society.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Doors 7pm. Music 7:30pm.

Adults/Seniors – $12 online (includes $2.00 online ticket charge), $10 at the door with proceeds going to MacEwan University scholarships and awards.

Students – free upon showing student ID.

Please RSVP at yardbirdsuite.com

The Bent River Records Songwriting Competition was conceived as a way to provide competitive songwriting opportunities to MacEwan students while honouring our Provost and benefactor, Dr. Craig Monk. Songwriters are invited to write a song based on the theme of “Gratitude” and using the provided lyrics.

The competition will accept up to two submissions per participant. 

The songs must be based on the provided lyrics and may incorporate some or all of the melodic or harmonic material in the provided demos, but this is optional. If the existing melody or chords from the demo is used, additional writing credit will be given to the originator.

Deliverables:

To be considered, participants will deliver the following:

1. A Lyric sheet with chords, or a leadsheet (.pdf format)
2. A One minute demo recording of the song (.mp3 format)
3. Please upload all deliverables using the submissioin form. You must label the folder with the title of your song and your name.

The lyric sheet or lead sheet must be clear and easy to read, and must include all chords and lyrics in the song. 

The demo recording must be a professional-sounding, broadcast-ready version of your song. It will be at least one minute in length, which will be an incomplete version that accurately reflects your vision for the song. The demo must include vocals.

Competition Winners

A Bent River Records jury panel will choose two winners for this competition, one winner for each song, who will be awarded a prize of $750 each.

The winners of this competition will have the opportunity to complete their song in collaboration with the original lyricist, and with the assistance of Assistant Professor, John McMillan.

Any questions may be directed to John McMillan at mcmillanj0@macewan.ca

The lyrics and initial audio demo can be found along with the submission form HERE

PRIZE: $750.00 honorarium

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 12:00 pm MST on February 26, 2024

Meet Russell Comrie, the newest addition to the Bent River Records team.

Russell’s route to BRR is an unusual one. He moved to Edmonton from South Africa a year ago to develop his career as a professional magician and to that end is now in his second year in MacEwan’s Arts & Cultural Management degree program.

Prior to that, he spent the last decade working in marketing as a copywriter and then Head of Strategy at an award-winning independent advertising agency, working with some of South Africa’s top brands, big and small.

Russell is looking forward to the wonderful learning opportunities that Bent River Records offers, deepening his connection to Edmonton’s arts community while putting his marketing experience to good use. Most of all, he is excited to work with such talented, creative, and kind people.

Bent River Records Interns Connor Archibald and Megan Sell had a chance to catch up with Kevin Dean and Jean-Michel Pilc to discuss their upcoming album Duets, ahead of their performance at the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton, AB on Thursday, November 30th, 2023 for the Bent River Records Artist Spotlight.

Check out the full interview:

The Fall 2023 Bent River Records Artist Spotlight is back and takes place on the 30th of November, 2023 at the Yardbird Suite, 11 Tommy Banks Way NW, Edmonton, AB. Doors open at 7:00pm, and showtime is at 7:30pm.

The evening’s lineup features two Montréal-based artists: trumpeter and organist, Kevin Dean, and jazz pianist, Jean-Michel Pilc, who are releasing a new album of duets with Bent River Records. Bent River Records merchandise and other previously released works from Bent River Records will also be available for purchase. Entry to this event is by donation to MacEwan’s Students First Campaign. A QR code with the link to donate will be available at the event. No RSVP or ticket purchase is necessary.

Bent River Records is an innovative and artist-focused record label based out of MacEwan University in Edmonton that inspires community and student engagement. It was conceived and designed with the dual purpose of providing a support network for recording artists while providing an important and rare educational and research platform for students to obtain hands-on experience in the music industry.

Click here for the Yardbird Suite event page.