Christian Antonacci – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Matt Greenwood – Electric Guitar
Brian Dickinson – Piano
Christopher Parnis – Double Bass
Aaron Blewett – Drum Set

For several years now, bassist Christopher Parnis has been making a name for himself on the Canadian jazz scene as both an elevating sideman and a driven bandleader. In 2019, he began assembling a quintet of his own to develop and perform his original music. He started with his oldest musical colleague, fellow Peterborough, Ontario born musician Aaron Blewett on drums. He then added Zimbabwean guitarist Matt Greenwood, Toronto-based trumpeter Christian Antonacci, and acclaimed Canadian pianist and two-time JUNO award winner Brian Dickinson. It is with this band that Christopher recorded his debut album Everything You Could Be, adynamic  recording that chronicles his journey to Toronto to pursue his art.

Everything You Could Be finds Parnis and his bandmates playing memorable compositions that move fluidly from cutting-edge modern jazz, to heartbreaking ballads, to free improvisation and back again. Augmented by subtle overdubbing, the band explores soundscapes that are fully acoustic as well as ones far more surreal, all while maintaining a close connection to their strong Canadian jazz roots.

Influences on the album vary broadly. Some will come as no surprise to the listener, such as the work of Canadian composer and musical innovator Kenny Wheeler. Others are far more eclectic, including the  mission of the mars rover and the work of horror novelist Clive Barker. These influences, when combined with Parnis’ commitment to melody above all else, create a record that Canadian jazz legend Don Thompson describes as “hauntingly beautiful.”

christopherparnis.com

Release Date: Friday, August 16th 2024