Months after the release of his widely celebrated
album In Good Hands, seasoned NYC based
improviser, composer, and guitarist Avi Granite has
delivered another adventurous album of original
music, this time with his mainstay Toronto-based
project Avi Granite 6. A follow up to their critically
acclaimed 2018 release Orbit, the group presents
their most succinct and focussed studio recording to
date: Operator.
Operator is about perseverance in the face of
disruption. It’s about connectivity, communication,
otherness, and what brings people together.
The group navigates Granite’s compositions with a
fine tuned sensitivity, finding improvisational
launchpads at every turn, while retaining a clarity of
ensemble unity. From the energetic opener Crushing
Beans, to the soaring ballad My Sunken Ship; from the
funky Ubiquitous Miles to the grind of The Long
Tomorrow, Operator takes the listener on an
expansive journey through the group's thematic
explorations.
The recording finds the 6 in top form, as they
recorded Operator fresh off of a tour in Nov. 2019.
Stunted by the pandemic, the album will finally see
the light of day in February 2023. The release will be
accompanied by a tour across Canada this winter.
Jim Lewis - Trumpet
Peter Lutek - Reeds
Tom Richards - Trombone
Avi Granite - Guitar
Neal Davis - Bass
Ted Warren - Drums
“If ever there was a launchpad to immerse
oneself in Canada’s creative jazz and vibrant
scene, Toronto guitarist and composer Avi
Granite is the ideal place to start... The results
are truly a revelation...”
- JazzTimes Magazine
“The sextet comes together to offer a gorgeous evocation of Granite's music... a thoughtful composer with exceptional resourcefulness and imagination.”
- The WholeNote Magazine
Brooklyn based Canadian guitarist/composer Granite goes to those special places full of surprise and delight. These tunes are hard to put on a finger on. Like Zappa, the changes are all fucked up and perfect at the same time.
- KUCI 88.9FM
" ★ ★ ★ ★ "
- Downbeat Magazine