Ensembles

Paul Cram Quintet

The Paul Cram Quintet is a recent manifestation in the musical journey of saxophonist/composer Paul Cram. The group performs a broad range of PC’s original material written recently and over the past 25 years. These compositions draw on a wide world of places and attitudes that are accessible and exotic launching pads for the members’ far-reaching improvisational skills.

“Cram thinks orchestrally in his arrangements. The music is lively, original, the sounds unpredictable in their direction and the solos intriguing.” Stephen Pedersen, Halifax Chronicle-Herald, May 21st, 2004..
Commencing in 2002 the group was enthusiastically received at Hell’s Kitchen, Shelburne Arts, St of X University and the Atlantic Jazz Festival. In 2004 the group performed for Upstream Music’s Spring Fever Festival. In 2005 the group performed again at the Atlantic Jazz Festival and at the Guelph Jazz Festival. The band is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia where the member’s reside. The PCQ’s main goal is to tour internationally, take the music to new levels and bring home a quintessentially Canadian music to Canada.

Paul Cram - composer/arranger/tenor saxophone/clarinet

Paul Cram has a career that spans thirty years from coast to coast in Canada. Originally from the West Coast he spent his early years playing in R B bands and burlesque houses. He attended the University of British Columbia from 1774-78 and earned a Bachelor of Music Degree. In that period he co-founded the New Orchestra Workshop, an organization dedicated to the pursuit of creative music. In 1982 he moved to Toronto and worked there for six years where he co-led the Hemispheres Ensemble and created the original Paul Cram Orchestra before moving with his family to Nova Scotia. He has toured Canada extensively and been nominated twice for Juno Awards for Best Jazz Album. He now writes for theater, film, television, dance and concerts and also performs with the UpStream Orchestra , the Grrilla Orchestra and the Paul Cram Orchestra. He was nominated for National Jazz Awards in two categories: best composer and best big band. He just released “Live in Lisbon“ with the PCO on Ombu Records. Currently he is Artistic Director of the UpStream Music Association an organization dedicated to producing collaborations of local, national and international cross-genre composer/performers interested in creating new 21st Century works.

Rick Waychesko –trumpet/flugelhorn

Rick Waychesko has been a professional musician for many years. Initially based in Toronto, he has played for extended periods with the Tommy Dorsey Band, Tower of Power, Lighthouse, the Moscow Circus, and the Philosopher Kings. As a busy session man he has performed on many movie soundtracks and albums. He has also backed shows with arists such as the Rolling Stones, Heart, Boz Scaggs, Herbie Hancock, Eartha Kitt and Junior Walker to name a few.

Shan Arsenault – guitar

Shan Arsensault has been a main-stay of the Halifax music scene for many years, performing in clubs, and on radio and television. He has played through-out North America and appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival. He has been featured on CBC’s Jazzbeat and was nominated in 1997 for an East Coast Music Award for best jazz album of the year for the “Jazz Beat Sessions”.

Danny Sutherland – electric and acoustic bass

Danny has many accomplishments to his credit including a musical performance degree from St. Francis Xavier University. He taught music for 13 years in the Nova Scotia school system in the area of Big Bands, jazz combos and private lessons. Danny also taught at various music camps such as The CFB Borden Cadet Camp for three years and The Acadia Jazz Camp. He is a professional stand-up and electric bass player and a first call musician for the stage and studio alike. He is not only relied upon for his styling' licks and ballsy groove, but also for his engineering/producing/composing expertise. Danny now lives in Halifax playing with artists such as Zappacosta, Richard Wood, Mike Murley, Charlie A’ Court etc. In the past Danny has played with Holly Cole, Rosemary Clooney, Theresa Malenfant, Kenny Wheeler, Cyrus Chestnut and many other well-known artists.

David Burton - drums

Dave Burton is one of the finest drummers in the Atlantic region. Most recently he was a member of the house band for Rita MacNeil’s CBC Television program. He is also an active studio musician and composer. He has written for theater and radio and television and has appeared on over 40 CD recordings.
Paul Cram Orchestra
Past and Future