Born: April 2, 1988 Primary Instrument: Drums
Curtis Nowosad is a Winnipeg drummer and a recent graduate of the Jazz Studies degree program at the University of Manitoba, mentoring with master drummers Terreon Gully and Quincy Davis, and internationally-recognized jazz bassist and Director of Jazz Studies, Steve Kirby. He has already performed in club and concert settings nationally and in New York City with such world-class jazz musicians as Stefon Harris, Miguel Zenón, George Colligan, Anthony Wonsey, Dave Douglas, and Steve Wilson. A versatile musician, Curtis has also performed with smooth jazz artists Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber, Carol Welsman, Nick Colionne, Four80East, and Brian Hughes, country artists Chad Brownlee and Ali Fontaine, and hip hop groups Alfa and Magnum KI. He performs every Sunday at the King’s Head Pub in Winnipeg with All the King’s Men, a rock band featuring members of Loverboy and The Guess Who.
His eclectic musical taste is reflected in his debut album, “The Skeptic & the Cynic,” which was released in November 2012. The album showcases original compositions alongside Curtis’ arrangements of songs by Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, 2pac, and Black Star. The powerhouse band features Jimmy Greene on tenor saxophone, Derrick Gardner on trumpet, Will Bonness on piano and keyboards, Steve Kirby and Julian Bradford on bass, and Laurent Roy on guitar, with special guest and two-time Grammy nominee Taylor Eigsti on piano.
Curtis can be heard on several recordings, including The Lytics’ “They Told Me,” Erin Propp's “Courage, My Love,” Keith Price’s “Gaia/Goya” and “Breakfast of Champions,” Dejan Rafajlović’s “Balkan Folk Tales,” and Marco Castillo’s “Brazilian Season.” He is also active as an educator and clinician, working with private students, high school bands, and jazz camps, as well as teaching for two years in the University of Manitoba’s Bridge program, which provides music education to inner city students, many of whom are new Canadians. He hosts his own radio show on 101.5 UMFM called “Tomorrow Is the Question!”
Peter Hum – jazzblog.ca, The Ottawa Citizen
“[The Skeptic & the Cynic is] Eclectic? Yes, and all tied together by an inventive mind and superb musicianship.”
Charlene Diehl – dig! Magazine
“It’s hard to listen to live music in Winnipeg without running across drummer Curtis Nowosad.”
Chris Smith – Winnipeg Free Press
“Nowosad’s command of the drums displays his skills for subtlety and nuance, as well as strong fluidity when he gets into a groove.”
Shaleem Hosein – Triniman Blog, The Seattle Post Intelligencer
“Since he started playing music professionally at the age of 18, Nowosad has made a name for himself as one of Winnipeg’s premier drummers.”
Aaron Epp – The Uniter
“Upon the foundations of established killer tracks, [Curtis Nowosad’s] group constructed sparkling new edifices. It was a testament, in fact, to the inherently mutable nature of music itself.”
Kenton Smith – Stylus
“There’s a new generation of jazz musicians coming up in Manitoba. It’s a revolution, and it’s being led by the Curtis Nowosad/Keith Price Quintet.”
Mike Sherby – Manitoba Music News
Primary Instrument:
Drums
Location:
Winnipeg
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Bachelor of Jazz Studies, University of Manitoba, 2011.
$40/hr
Clinic/Workshop Information:
I work with small jazz ensembles, big bands, and drummers.
