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Hutchinson Andrew Trio

The Hutchinson Andrew Trio (HAT), is a unique voice on the Canadian Jazz Scene. Over the past 8 years this acoustic piano based trio has been bringing their own sound to the Canadian jazz landscape. The Trio is comprised of three-time Western Canadian Award nominated bassist Kodi Hutchinson, CBC Galaxie Rising Star pianist Chris Andrew, and Downbeat award-winning drummer Karl Schwonik. They are the winners of the 2013 TD Grand Jazz Award from the Montréal International Jazz Festival.

HAT’s music can be categorized as contemporary acoustic jazz. They bring their unique Prairie perspective to music mixing elements such as contemporary swing, latin, oddmeter and acoustic groove. Kodi and Chris list artists such as Robert Glasper, Aaron Parks, and Brad Mehldau as some of their influences. Their music is representative of where they come from; the serenity and beauty of the Prairies and Rocky Mountains, alongside the excitement of the vibrant and growing young cities of the Canadian West.

A distinct voice emanating from Western Canada, the Hutchinson Andrew Trio is excited to release their third album “Prairie Modern”. The album consists of 13 original tracks that are a reflection of the vast array of musical and personal influences growing up in Canada’s Prairies. The album released March 19, 2013, features 6 tracks with Grammy-nominated saxophonist Donny McCaslin and 3 tracks with Brazilian percussion star Rogério Boccato. The music represents the harmony, beauty, energy and excitement of the modern Canadian West. ‘Prairie Modern’ has been nominated for a 2013 Western Canadian Music Award – for Outstanding Jazz Recording of the Year, the third nomination for the band. It was also featured by Downbeat Magazine’s website as the Editor’s Pick for July 2013.

Their debut album ‘Lost but not forgotten’, charted on the Canadian Jazz Radio Charts for over three months. In addition, CBC Radio put the album on their regular rotation as well as recording them live for air at the inaugural Canmore International Jazz Festival. The album garnered a 2006 Western Canadian Music Award (WCMA) nomination in the Outstanding Jazz Recording category. HAT was joined on their sophomore album ‘Music Box’ by Canadian Jazz legend Ralph Bowen on tenor saxophone. ‘Music Box’ was released in January 2008 and also charted across Canada. The Trio earned it’s second WCMA nomination in 2008 for Outstanding Jazz Recording for the disc.

A regular fixture on the Western Canadian jazz scene, HAT has performed to enthusiastic crowds at the events such as the Montreal, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Canmore and Yardbird Jazz Festivals, as well as headlining for numerous concert series in Western Canada. They were also featured as part of Alberta House on the final weekend of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, had Chris Andrew represent Alberta musically at the 2012 London Olympics, and have been featured as part of the Alberta Foundation, Alberta Music, and Chronograph Records compilation albums. The trio plays regularly throughout the year for engagements across Western Canada, and have opened for Monty Alexander, and have played with Lee Konitz.

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14
Extended Analysis

Hutchinson Andrew Trio: Prairie Modern

Read "Hutchinson Andrew Trio: Prairie Modern" reviewed by John Kelman


If Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are the only places in Canada considered, in any way, as hotbeds for jazz, the prairie provinces are, with the exception of the annual Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music, pretty close to the bottom of the list of other Canadian cities that have small but aspiring jazz scenes. If anything, the Alberta-based Hutchinson Andrew Trio (also going by the name HAT) is clear evidence of not existing jazz scenes in Edmonton and ...

6
Album Review

Hutchinson Andrew Trio: Prairie Modern

Read "Prairie Modern" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Grammy-nominated sax titan Donny McCaslin adds some red- hot verve to the Canadian piano trio's third album, including expert Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Boccato, appearing on three works. Indeed, the core unit injects pastoral elements into the jazz-centric vibe, while enhancing its panorama with cascading storylines, brawny developments and a host of harmonically attractive thematic opuses. The band often kicks matters into 10th gear while incorporating Latin jazz and a few windblown Midwestern movements into the grand schema. However, many of ...

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4 of 5 Stars for Hollow Trees "Borderlines between the trio and the quartet often fade completely in a genre-crossing dynamic that pushes and pulls the listener with an elegant range of moods, from prairie pastorale to more exotic wind-swept musical horizons." Roger Levesque - Edmonton Journal

"Prairie Modern is a terrific listen, with great musicianship throughout…The Hutchinson Andrew Trio offers a distinct musical vision from one of the many great music scenes in Canada.” Frank Alkyer – Downbeat Magazine

"[Prairie Modern] transfixes. Surpassing beauty. Absolutely absorbing. Makes me sit still and just listen." Lark Clark, Host – Ballads & Blue Notes – CKUA Radio

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Hollow Trees

Chronograph Records
2016

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Prairie Modern

Chronograph Records
2014

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Hutchinson Andrew...

Chronograph Records
2014

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Prairie Modern

Refuge Records
2013

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Music Box

Chronograph Records
2008

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Lost But Not Forgotten

Chronograph Records
2005

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