Composer, saxophonist, artistic director

Toronto based saxophonist & composer Ben Dietschi's performance experience includes major festivals and venues in Canada as well as international performances in Europe and the U.S. His most recent performance projects include the international modern jazz collective Tunnel Six, the crossover ensemble Ben Dietschi’s Synergy Ensemble, and the Toronto based Convergence Quartet. Ben has formed, managed and directed many ensembles and has been recognized as a performer and composer by the Manitoba, Ontario and Canada Arts Councils. He is currently completing a composition project for string quartet and jazz rhythm section under the tutelage of Canadian composer Gary Kulesha. Tunnel Six frequently tours Canada and the U.S. and released their debut album on Seattle based Origin Records in the Spring of 2011.

Ben's style reflects a broad spectrum of expression, and a willingness to seek out new directions. "All art should express something about the human condition; I hope that my music can do the same."

Composer, bassist, cellist

Andrew Downing is a double bass player, cellist, composer, teacher and bandleader living in Toronto. He plays primarily in the creative jazz scene in Canada, but also performs classical chamber music, improvised music, folk and roots music, and world music. He teaches bass, composition and improvisation at the University of Toronto.

Andrew has written many compositions and arrangements for his own groups as well as others around Toronto and Canada. He studied composition with Sasha Rapoport at The University of Toronto.

Composer, project contributor

Caitlin Smith is a composer based in Toronto. She also works as a conductor, arranger and copyist, and clarinetist. She spent a year in New York studying composition with Jim McNeely on a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. There, she also took lessons in orchestral conducting and founded a 50-piece jazz philharmonic orchestra with the Wanton Fawns composers’ collective.

Caitlin founded the 19-piece Tiny Alligator Large Band in Toronto in 2005, and continues to conduct and write music for this ensemble (which includes six woodwinds, six brass, four rhythm section and three vocalists. She served as an assistant producer on albums for Darcy Argue’s Grammy- and Juno-nominated Secret Society Big Band (Infernal Machines) and for the Daniel Jamieson Orchestra’s forthcoming debut record. As a performer, Caitlin performs regularly with folk-rock, jazz and classical music ensembles.

Composer, guitarist

Guitarist/composer David Occhipinti’s fourth CD featuring his own compositions, Forty Revolutions, was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the contemporary jazz category. David has also released two duo CD’s with saxophonist Mike Murley. Their first CD, Duologue, was nominated for a Juno Award in 2003.

David is beginning to make a name for himself as a composer and has received commissions to compose for solo artists, chamber groups and large ensembles.

Aside from touring in Canada, David has often toured in Italy where he lived for a short time. He has also performed in the U.S., Europe and Japan. David’s development as an artist has been aided by the composition, recording and touring grants received from the Canada Council for the Arts, Chalmer’s Arts Fellowship, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, FACTOR and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

David Occhipinti studied in New York with the legendary jazz guitarist Jim Hall during the mid 1990's. David presently teaches guitar and ensembles at the University of Toronto and Humber College.

Composer, bassist

Originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, double bassist and composer Patrick Reid has been an integral part of the Montreal and Toronto music scenes in the last decade. He as also been intricately involved with activities at the Banff Centre for the Arts throughout the last five years, this environment often providing a catalyst for creative output for his many appearances as a sideman and bandleader.

Patrick has released three critically acclaimed albums of original music with his project Fieldtrip including their latest release, a quintet collaboration entitled No Destination featuring Jim Head on Guitar and Kelly Jefferson on reeds. In 2011, he will be recording a new full length album of original music that will feature the internationally celebrated Tinalley String Quartet from Melbourne, Australia. Now in his mid-twenties, he has had opportunities to collaborate with many of North America’s great creative artists including Mike Allen, Duane Andrews, Kris Davis, Kevin Dean, Chet Doxas, Christine Jensen, Ingrid Jensen, Kelly Jefferson, Jake Langley, Joel Miller, Andy Milne, Dave Restivo and Chris Speed.