TD JazzFest ’24 Presents: Bellbird

Event Description

“If it can be tagged free jazz, it is the most approachable and melodious kind. The vibe keeps a hold on serenity even when the leash is loosened, suggesting a certain level of organic harmony...” – All About Jazz

Bellbird is a collective of Montreal-based musicians. Their debut album Root In Tandem was released worldwide in August 2023. It is a culmination of several years of composing and music-making by tenor saxophonist Claire Devlin, alto saxophonist and bass clarinetist Allison Burik, bassist Eli Davidovici, and drummer Mili Hong. The album represents a communion of four distinctive spirits putting all their creative weight into a shared artwork.

While rooted in modern jazz, Bellbird’s music bares influences from a myriad of musical styles, from moving folk melodies, to atonal counterpoint, to rock grooves that stretch the boundaries of the jazz genre. Capturing the ethos of the band, the music on their debut album grows out of a mutual curiosity and creativity, with feelings of space and calm pierced by exhilarating solos and free improvisation.