The Making of Overs’ Eleven
In 1993 Kieran Overs expanded his quartet featuring Alex Dean, Brian Dickinson and Ted Warren by four with Pat Labarbera, Mike Murley, Kevin Turcotte and Mike Malone to form the Kieran Overs Octet. The band played a week at the Senator in Toronto and an appearance at the Ottawa Jazz festival in July ’94. That same year he brought in French hornist Chris Komer from New York to form his Nonet, playing at the Senator, sound of Toronto jazz and the Peterborough concert series.
Not willing to rest, Overs further expanded the band to a Dectet by bringing in Terry Promane on bass trombone and tuba. Along with expansion of the band the writing was constantly maturing. In 2000 the Dectet recorded for CBC jazz beat and played a benefit concert for the late, great tenor player Eddie Sossin at The Rex Hotel and Jazz Bar. From then until 2006 Overs staged concerts featuring all-Canadian line-up of 8 composers’ music over three nights at the Music Gallery and the AGO with Chris Komer’s chair being filled by Rob McConnell or William Carn on trombone. That band’s last gig playing an evening of music culminated over the 10 years of his large ensemble was at the Rex in 2006.
Overs’ Eleven represents the most completely conceived band he has assembled. Going with the same philosophy of a “core group” he has Nancy Walker’s quartet (Ethan Ardelli – drums, Nancy Walker – piano and Ted Quinlan – guitars) at the heart of the band along with Alex Dean and Pat Labarbera, along with Kevin Turcotte and William Carn are still present and New York’s Chris Komer is returning on horn. Also featured is an old colleague of Kieran’s, Bruce Cassidy. They played in a short-lived latin band in 1971 when Kieran was a guitar player. Bruce brings a great spirit into the band as well as the writing possibilities facilitated by his EVI (electronic valve instrument). For the band’s debut on April 3rd, 2010 at The Rex Overs has put together a program that will feature 5 of his original compositions (including a three part suite) and tunes by Ted Quinlan, Bernie Senensky, Bill Mays, Jerry Bergonzi and Swedish guitar player Mikko Hilden.
Overs’ Eleven returns to The Rex Hotel and Jazz Bar on April 15th, 2011. Slight changes in the lineup see Barry Romberg stepping in for Ethan Ardelli who will be away touring in Europe, Jon Challoner is sitting in for Kevin Turcotte and Mike Murley replacing Chris Komer. Hope you can make it out!
Band Members for September 5th, 2015
@ The Jazz Room, Kitchener/Waterloo
- Kieran Overs – bass
- Nancy Walker – piano
- Ethan Ardelli – drums
- Ted Quinlan – guitar
- Alex Dean – tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute
- Pat LaBarbera – tenor & soprano sax, alto flute
- Kirk MacDonald – tenor & soprano sax
- Kevin Turcotte – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Bruce Cassidy – trumpet, flugelhorn, EVI
- William Carn – trombone
- Kelsley Grant – trombone