Carlo Muscat quintet featuring Luis Deniz
May 13 @ 5:00 PM
Carlo Muscat: Tenor Sax
Luis Deniz: Alto sax
Diogo Peixoto: Guitar
Marika Galea: Bass
Eric Platz: Drums
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Carlo Muscat is recognized as one of the most promising voices on the European jazz scene. With seven albums already to his name, Muscat has established himself as a distinctive saxophonist and composer, a journey that now culminates in the release of his eighth album as a leader. For this concert, he presents the music from this latest project, That’s About It, originally recorded in Kyiv under wartime conditions with a Ukrainian ensemble.
His sixth album, Hymns, received critical acclaim, earning a four-star rating from Downbeat Magazine and a place on their Best Albums of 2023 list. This recognition marked a defining moment in his artistic development and his emergence as a distinct presence in contemporary jazz.
His seventh album, The Body Is Only Light, was released in October 2024 on the American label ears&eyes Records. Recorded in Kyiv on Sunday 24th March 2024, it features a dynamic Ukrainian rhythm section interpreting his compositions. The album reflects the emotional weight of his experiences in Ukraine, a country he has been deeply connected to since before the Russian invasion. The music captures an essence of freedom, strength, grief, determination, outrage, love, and hope.
Winner of the Grand Prix de Jazz General Motors 2006 at the Montreal Jazz Festival(David Virelles Quintet) and Galaxie Rising Star 2010 at the Halifax Jazz Festival(Rich Brown & Rinsethealgorithm),Grammy Nominated and Juno Award Wining artist(Hilario Duran Latin Jazz Big Band),alto saxophonist Luis Deniz was born in Camaguey, Cuba on April 21st, 1983. In 1993, Luis started his musical studies at the Escuela Vocacional de Arte Luis Casas Romero in his hometown of Camaguey, where he subsequently continued at the Escuela Profesional de Musica Jose White. Luis later moved to the Cuban capital, where he gratuated at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Musica (ENA), the alma mater of several of Cuba's most prominent musicians. After graduating with high honors, he was awarded 1st place at the international jazz competition JOJAZZ, held in Havana(2003). Luis also kept a busy schedule, both teaching saxophone at the National School of Music and playing locally and touring internationally as well,Luis has performed and given workshops all over Cuba, Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, Bermuda, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, England, Ireland, Scotland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Upon his arrival in Toronto in 2004, Deniz has performed/ recorded with some of Toronto and International most outstanding musicians, including Mark Turner,Tony Allen(Fela Kuti) Hilario Duran, Luis Mario Ochoa, Paquito D Rivera, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Reg Schwager, Dafnis Prieto, Francisco Mela, Barry Romberg, Darren Sigesmund, Cubanismo, Rich Brown's Rinsethealgorithm
and Rich Brown & The Abeng(currently), Mark Kelso & the jazz Exiles, NOJO, Kirk MacDonald Jazz
Orchestra,Roberto Occhipinti, Canadian Idol jazz Orchestra,The Art of Jazz Orchestra, Jane Bunnett, Canada’s Global Orchestra Kune, among others.He has also shared the stage with international figures such as Barry Harris,Howard Johnson, Ray Vega, Steve Turre, Randy Brecker, Donald Harrison,Ingrid Jensen, Mark Feldman, Gary Versace and Hermeto Pascoal. One of the highlights of Luis’s career has been as educator as well, acting as a part time faculty member at Toronto’s Humber College, since September 2013, as well as University of Toronto Jazz studies, since September 2021, imparting private saxophone lessons and as a small and large ensemble instructor, and as associate professor of saxophone at Brandon University since January 2024.With an impressive career as a sideman and saxophonist, Luis keeps on working on his own development. In 2010 he was awarded a Canada Council for the Arts Grant to study with innovative saxophonist Greg Osby in New York City. With all this achievements, Luis Deniz is definitely a name to look for in the future of jazz. Luis Deniz’s debut album entitled “ El Tinajon”, on Modica Music, was released in May 2021, and has been positively received by critics and fans alike. Luis plays exclusively Yamaha Saxophones, Legere reeds and BG France accessories.