Waxwing

Formed in 2007, Waxwing is a co-led group created by three veterans of the Vancouver music scene: Tony Wilson on guitar, Peggy Lee on cello and Jon Bentley on saxophones. The trio has released three studio recordings featuring their original compositions: "Flicker Down" (2021 Songlines Recordings) , "A Bowl Of Sixty Taxidermists" (2015 - Songlines Recordings), and "Escondido Dreams" (2007 - Drip Audio). The recipient of numerous Canada Council Grants, Waxwing has performed their unique works in concerts across Canada and has been a regular favourite in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. The trio has also been featured many times on various CBC radio programs, both from live performances and studio recordings including a live SignalFest recording at CBC Vancouver in 2011.

Awards

Waxwing was nominated for Instrumental Artist of the Year at the 2022 Western Canadian Music Awards for Flicker Down.

A Bowl of Sixty Taxidermists: "Elegant and bittersweet…. the original compositions accommodate fluttery abstraction as well as glowing consonance" - Nate Chinen (New York Times)

"Top drawer modern chamber jazz" - Ken Pickering (Artistic Director, Vancouver International Jazz Festival)

"Quietly gorgeous music….. contemplative and delicate, the product of a careful conversation between the three players" - Alexander Varty (The Georgia Straight)

"This is music that is introspective in spirit and outward bound in action. And it’s music that is sublime in any number of ways. Don’t wait for more words… go buy it now" - Dave Sumner (Bird Is The Worm)

A Bowl of Sixty Taxidermists: "Elegant and bittersweet…. the original compositions accommodate fluttery abstraction as well as glowing consonance" - Nate Chinen (New York Times)

"Top drawer modern chamber jazz" - Ken Pickering (Artistic Director, Vancouver International Jazz Festival)

"Quietly gorgeous music….. contemplative and delicate, the product of a careful conversation between the three players" - Alexander Varty (The Georgia Straight)

"Often elegant, consistently crafty and unpredictable.... economical & thoughtfully expressed. In other words, magical" - Bruce Lee Gallanter (Downtown Music Gallery)

"A thoroughly satisfying collection...that confidently explores multiple moods and styles.. a recording that eschews histrionics and aggression for playing of a more peaceful character" - Ron Schepper (Textura)

"Waxwing explores the outer reaches of the sonic universe and the inner workings of human emotion, reflecting the perplexing nature of that phrase... Through these intriguing and sonically diverse mood paintings, Waxwing proves that substance is of greater importance than stylistic single-mindedness" - Dan Bilawsky (All About Jazz)

"A treasure-trove of melody, emotion, and masterful musicianship... This is bold, exciting, fervent, often daring, but always eminently listenable jazz" - Derek Stone (The Free Jazz Collective)

"A Bowl of Sixty Taxidermists stands out on multiple-listens as a thoughtful, serious, chamber triumph" - Grego Applegate Edwards (Gapplegate)

"Fascinating, appealing and highly individual music from the fertile Canadian scene" - Peter Bacon (The Jazz Breakfast)

"A trio that seems to create its own genre…. the mood is reflective, at times playful, rather than somber. The work is less about loss than passage, a gentle trip into the unknown." - Stuart Broomer (The WholeNote)

"Brilliant, exhilarating performances which combine lively momentum with a sense of poise... beautifully characterized in all its varied aspects. All of the music is especially fine, actually, full of energy and grace, and the barnstorming finale, is quite the crowning glory of this ever so memorable record." - Raul da Gama (JazzdaGama)

Escondido Dreams: "...a gorgeous release." - Panpot.ca

"...the album drips with relentless energy..." - Gaz-Eta

"...a career highlight for guitarist Wilson and cellist Lee." - Eye Weekly

"...rich in stylistic range." - textura.org

"...a distinct sound that will appeal to fans of both free-improv and the ever-growing contemporary third-stream scene." - Left Hip Magazine

"...a refreshing dose of exciting rist-taking." - La Scena Musicale

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