Carn Davidson 9

The Carn Davidson 9 (CD9) was formed in 2010 as a collaborative project between JUNO Award winning artists, trombonist William Carn and saxophonist Tara Davidson. This co-led ensemble is an opportunity for both artists to craft their original compositions for this chamber jazz instrumentation. With its seven wind instruments underpinned by acoustic bass and drums, CD9 is a dynamic and engaging ensemble that commands and entertains a live audience. From swing to Brazilian baião, CD9 performs a diverse and compelling repertoire of compositions by Carn and Davidson that is eclectic yet cohesive.

The Carn Davidson 9’s unique sound is made stronger by an all-star lineup of prominent Canadian artists who are all exceptional ensemble players as well as outstanding soloists. CD9 has produced three recordings. CD9’s debut recording, “Nine”, was released in 2012; “Murphy” was released in 2017; “The History of Us” was released in 2021. All three recordings garnered JUNO nominations for Jazz Album of the Year.

CD9’s fourth studio album, “Reverence”, was released in Fall 2024.

CD9 is…
Tara Davidson, woodwinds              Jason Logue, trumpet              Christian Overton, bass trombone 

Kelly Jefferson, woodwinds              Kevin Turcotte, trumpet            Andrew Downing, bass

Shirantha Beddage, woodwinds      William Carn, trombone            Ernesto Cervini, drums                                                       

Co-Leaders CARN & DAVIDSON
Trombonist William Carn has emerged as one of Canada’s leading contemporary jazz composers and performers. As a bandleader, William has garnered four JUNO nominations for “Traditional Jazz Album of the Year”, and he has been associated with approximately forty nominations for his work as a side musician. He has also been nominated for Trombonist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards from 2004 to 2008.  He has performed and recorded with jazz artists including Rob McConnell, Randy Brecker, David Binney, Kenny Wheeler, Ingrid Jensen, Tim Hagans, Barry Harris, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Vince Mendoza, Don Braden, Mike Murley, and Hilario Duran, among many others. William also enjoys a diverse freelance career and has performed with musical theatre companies such as Mirvish Productions and the Stratford Festival. William is a RATH Trombone artist and is an instructor at the University of Toronto.

Tara Davidson is a JUNO Award winning alto and soprano saxophonist who has performed around the world at such prestigious venues as New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the acclaimed North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the International Jazz Festival in Lima, Peru, and The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C.

As a bandleader, Davidson has produced eight recordings since 2004 and performed on more than forty recordings as a side person. Five of her recordings as a leader have been nominated by the JUNO Awards for “Album of the Year” in the jazz categories. She has been associated with seven additional JUNO nominations for her work as a side musician. In 2020, Davidson won the JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Group, as a member of Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop. Davidson holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance Degree from the University of Toronto (2002) and a Master of Arts degree in Composition from York University (2021). Davidson is proud to be a Yamaha Canada Music artist and is an active educator presently on faculty at the University of Toronto and York University (Toronto).

Awards

JUNO Nomination for Best Traditional Jazz Album of the Year (2014). JUNO Nomination for Jazz Album of the Year: Group (2018 and 2023).