Olivier Babaz

Beth McKenna: Beyond Here

by Dan McClenaghan
October 27, 2021

Montreal-based multi-reedist Beth McKenna's Beyond Here proves a few things. One, she is a fine arranger of her original compositions for her jazz quintet. Two: she writes. complex-yet-engaging tunes that often go after the groove. And three: there is an expansiveness--compositionally and production-wise--in her music that could probably transfer nicely to larger ensemble work. She studied with one of Canada's finest big band leaders, Christine Jensen, so some of this probably comes from that direction. Like many artists, ...