Joshua Banks – Piano, Compositions
Connor Milkman – Bass (1, 5, 6, 7)
Kessler Douglas – Bass (2, 3, 9)
Graeme Newburn – Drums (1, 5, 6, 7)
Joel Jeschke – Drums (2, 3, 9)
Dana Anderson – Alto Saxophone (2)
Nick Lange – Tenor Saxophone (5)
Hazel Cavida – Voice (3)
Corazon Banks – Spoken Word (4)
Tea Fannie – Rap (9)
Strings (3, 9): Raphaelle Erdman & Louisa Lu (Violin); Yitian Fan (Viola); Julian Eveneshen (Cello)
Nick Lange – Rhodes (9)
Micah Carter – Field Recording (1, 4, 7)

With his first recording project, Para Sayo, Edmonton pianist Joshua Banks has proven himself to be a thrilling new compositional force in contemporary jazz. After studying the sounds of illustrious Asian pianists Hiromi Uehara, Kie Katagi, and Nahre Sol, Banks called upon his formidable technical facility developed through years of classical study to craft an album featuring a distinctive fusion of styles that strives to expand the presence of Asian-inspired jazz in North America.

Banks refined the music of Para Sayo over the course of two years. After affirming his personal sound, he connected with his good friend, lyricist Hazel Cavida. “I approached Hazel about collaborating on a lyric in both English and Tagalog. As someone who often feels disconnected from my heritage, I leaned on her a lot to flesh out the album’s themes, titles, and stories. When Hazel came on board, the album really began to get its legs, not just as an exploration of Asian musical identities, but of my own identity as an Asian/Filipino-Canadian in general. I was born ‘here’ in Canada, and so I have nothing from ‘there’— my family’s homeland. The album is an exploration of what it means to find space as an Asian artist, and what it means to find space for ourselves, our families, our people, and our culture in the west.”

In addition to Cavida’s contributions, Para Sayo showcases the artistry of many of Western Canada’s most exciting up and coming young musicians. Banks’ own mother, Corazon Banks, recorded a spoken word contribution in her native Ibaloi— the language belonging to her indigenous group native to the Philippine Cordillera mountains— as a way to honour her ancestral contribution to his music. The result is a scintillating modern jazz album that is deeply grounded in both musical and emotional storytelling.

banksjmusic.com

Release Date: Friday, May 16th 2025