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Saturday, February 12, 2005
National Arts Centre Fourth Stage

With a sell-out almost one month in advance of the performance, expectations for the first concert in the series were high and the assembled audience was not disappointed. Those lucky enough to be in attendance were treated to an unforgettable evening of music in a three-hour long show presented by series producer and bassist Adrian Cho.

The performance featured an all-star lineup of some of Ottawa and Montréal's leading jazz musicians along with renowned brass soloists and members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Playing as a quintet, sextet, and a nonet, they paid tribute to the landmark contributions of Miles Davis and his sidemen from 1948 to 1968 with music made famous by three of the most influential small bands in jazz. The large ensemble feature was the Ottawa-premiere performance of the complete Birth of the Cool suite.

All concert attendees received a copy of the extensive programme notes and these were a great hit. Audience members could read about each of the original Davis-led bands and the music played that evening.

Personnel Nicholas Atkinson      tuba Ian Babb      alto & baritone saxophones Adrian Cho      double bass Jim Doxas      drums Mark Ferguson      trombone Brian Magner      tenor & alto saxophones John Roney      piano Elizabeth Simpson      french horn Jean Trudel      trumpet Production Adrian Cho      programming, programme notes content, arrangements & transcriptions Deborah Ann Taylor      programme notes editing Programme Quintet with Cho, Doxas, Magner (tenor), Roney, and Trudel playing the music of the Miles Davis Second Quintet: 1. Joshua   Victor Feldman 2. Eighty-One   Ron Carter 3. Prince of Darkness   Wayne Shorter 4. Little One   Herbie Hancock 5. Pinocchio   Wayne Shorter 6. Pee Wee   Tony Williams 7. Seven Steps to Heaven   Miles Davis and Victor Feldman Sextet with Babb (alto), Cho, Doxas, Magner (tenor), Roney, and Trudel playing the modal music of Miles Davis: 1. All Blues 2. Flamenco Sketches 3. Teo 4. Milestones Intermission

Nonet with all personnel including Babb (baritone) and Magner (alto), playing the complete Birth of the Cool suite: