Dylan Canterbury Quintet was the debut performance of the 2025 Jazz on Jay on Thursday, June 5.
These Thursday afternoon performances in downtown Schenectady are one of many free concerts that are part of the celebration of summer. The musicians included Dylan Canterbury – trumpet/flugelhorn, Wyatt Ambrose – guitar, Tyler Giroux – keyboards, Dave Shoudy – bass, Matt Niedbalski – drums.
Introducing the band was Lanea Bailey. This premiere performance featured all local musicians. The originals and covers were inspired by the full gamut of Canterbury’s recent life experiences. The self penned “Spin” was classic hard bop reflecting on the various cycles of life. “Quiet Revolution” was a meditation on self transformation, featured melodic solos by all. Dylan switching to the more mellow flugelhorn for this composition. “Torgo’s Lament” was inspired by one of those bad late night TV movies. Oddly enough, it was a serious sounding tune.
The set then turned to reflecting on the nature of small group jazz. “Trust Fall” refers the trust that musicians in a small jazz combo have to have when performing. It was noted that they have never performed together as a band although they have performed in various other configurations with each other. They only had one rehearsal together 4 days before!
Motherhood was referenced in Canterbury’s composition in “The Bullfrog”, inspired by female bullfrog agressive defense of their tadpoles. Other references to the animal world were the Canterbury original El-Ahraitah and c Steve Swallow cover “Eiderdown”, referring to the soft down feather of a duck.
The inevitable composition inspired by the pandemic and the feeling of hopelessness that we all experienced was expressed by “One More Event”.
The set was concluded with 2 covers of optimistic songs. Contemporary jazz Composer Dave Grusin’s “Chanson” and pianist Bill Evans’ “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams”. Providing a happy wrapup of the debut concert of Jazz on Jay. To make this a multi art event, painting was being done simultaneously by Dominque Thomas dba Ubu.
Thank you to all the sponsors who made this performance possible including The Schenectady Foundation, the Proctors Collaborative, Electric City Arts And Entertainment District, NYS Council On The Arts, The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, MVP, Market 32 , AFM, The Music Performance Trust Form and NYSMusic.
Setlist Spin (Canterbury), Quiet Revolution (Canterbury), Torgo’s Lamet (Canterbury), Trust Fall (Canterbury), Eiderdown (Swallow), The Bullfrog (Canterbury), One More Step (Canterbury), El -Ahrairah, Chanson (Grusin), Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (Evans)
Jazz on Jay 2025 Concert Series Lineup
June 19: Steve Horowitz Quartet
June 26: Jeff “Siege” Siegel Quartet
July 3: Winelight
July 10: Jeanine Ouderkirk Quartet
July 17: Art D’echo Trio
July 24: Linda Brown Jazz Project
July 31: Nicholas Dwarika Quartet
Aug. 7: Heard
Aug. 14: The Evidence
Aug. 21: Arch Stanton Quartet
Aug. 28: Chuck Lamb Trio featuring Ria Curley
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