Jazz doesn’t always have the best reputation. While popular music relies on simple patterns and structures to connect with the listener, jazz can seem overly complicated and disorganized to the untrained ear. How do we make sense of it all? Does it have to be the calculus of music? What are the prerequisites? My suggestion is plain and simple: go out and experience a live performance. After all, you may leave with a reminder of one of life’s great lessons: live for the moment, even if only for a short while. Jazz can certainly be viewed as the act of creation in progress. Stop worrying about what just happened or what is coming. Enjoy the moment for what it is!
Bellbird, a Montréal-based quartet, graced us with their presence during Fredericton’s Jazz on the Wolastoq Festival. They played two sets on July 13th. I was fortunate to catch the second one at Broken Record Bar & Music Room. While the bands that played earlier in the night were no slouches, there was palpable excitement as Bellbird began their set. One of the first things I noticed was the strength of their non-verbal communication. All it took was a glance or a smile to move the song from one section to another. I found myself reminiscing about a Medeski Martin & Wood concert I attended a decade ago. Their communication was that strong!
It almost seemed like there were three ‘teams’ on the stage that night. Bassist Eli Davidovici and drummer Mili Hong formed the first one, an extremely strong rhythm section. Hong’s drumming was especially inspiring, with a fearless Davidovici in hot pursuit! At the front of the stage, saxophonist/clarinetist Allison Burik and saxophonist Claire Devlin added layer upon layer of melodies. Sax battles! Woodwind harmonies! It was all there, and the content was so strong! Those attending rose to their feet, often in awe of what they were observing. It’s no wonder that Bellbird left the stage to endless chants of “One more song!” The third and final team consisted of the band as a whole. None of this would be cohesive without the glue that the full band provides.
I later learned that Bellbird is comprised of two real-life couples (Burik/Devlin and Davidovici/Hong). That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? The four members of the collective are visibly happy to share the stage with one another. They possess a dynamic that pushes each other to strive as individual musicians while keeping a focus on the team. The collective formed during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Hong and Davidovici would often jam at a park near their apartment. Burik was quick to take notice and later invited Devlin to join them. Performances started piling up as restrictions eased. “Root in Tandem,” their first album, was released in August of 2023. The rest is history in the making!
Find out more about Bellbird here: https://www.bellbird.band/
Listen to Bellbird here: https://bellbirdband.bandcamp.com/
Ollie LeBlanc, based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, discovered his love for music in his parents' basement with a box of classic rock LPs. A lifelong fan, his fascination with music has only grown over the past three decades as a musician. Ollie has worn many hats, including bassist, producer, engineer, and photographer. As he matures, his journey has become more about contributing to the musical community and sharing its richness. What better way to give back to the medium that has given him so much!
