X Avant XX Night 1- Explosion, Retrospect, Melting Point

Night 1 curated by John Gzowski (MG AD 2006–2008) & Jonathan Bunce (MG AD 2006-2011) is an homage to the works of James Tenney & Ron Gaskin. Through Critical Band and Eucalyptus, two Toronto mega-bands, we recollect the innovative moments threaded into the rich sonic history of our city.

This year is special. As we celebrate 50 years of history & 20 years of X Avant, we’ve gathered 5 curators to take over 918 Bathurst to enliven and celebrate 5 eras of precious sound. 

John Gzwoski says, “Named after James Tenney’s seminal work, Critical Band was originally led by violinist Marc Sabat. [I] ran the group in the early 2000’s as a group dedicated to microtonal and tuning based new music. Performing original compositions and the works of guest composers, the group performed on new and returned instruments. Concerts were rare and precious as it usually meant building new instruments, learning them and the notation required to write for them.

In the 25 years since there are now more available instruments for this kind of music, from the Lumatone keyboard designed by Critical Band member Garnet Willis to the totally adjustable guitar fretboards designed by Prof. Dr. Tolgahan Çoğulu played in this concert. As tunings become almost mainstream with inclusions into software like Ableton Live and Dorico, its use in practice is still on the edges of experimentation.

This version of Critical Band will be [myself] on guitars, Debashis Sinha on percussion and electronics, Ben Grossman on hurdy gurdy and electronics, Christine Duncan on voice and Amahl Arulanandam on cello. A 25 year pearl of insight from decades of investigation into pitch and temperament.”

Jonathan Bunce says, “Eucalyptus will close out Night 1 of X Avant XX as a special nine-piece edition to celebrate the release of their new album, Topology of Time & Up Express etc., on Telephone Explosion Records. Founded in 2009 by composer, alto saxophonist, and bandleader Brodie West, the loose, swinging crew mix loungy sway, tropical polyrhythms, cosmic skronk, calypso grooves and Ethio-infused melodies into something both off-kilter and inviting. It’s cocktail jazz happy hour at the Mos Eisley cantina.

Together 16 years, they’re now one of Toronto’s longer-running bands, yet they’re a pearl of the city’s deeply interconnected music scene — continually discovered with delight by unsuspecting audiences at street festivals and park picnics. This X Avant nonet will include special guest Nicole Rampersaud on trumpet — traveling in from New Brunswick for this gig — as well as recent addition Aline Homzy on violin. Don’t get too comfortable in those folding chairs.”