Togetherness!
Trumpeter Ellwood Epps' Togetherness! is nothing short of a Montréal supergroup, offering bold uplifting renditions of repertoire by Abdullah Ibrahim, Dudu Pukwana, Don Cherry, and, among others, Epps himself. Formed in 2016, the band includes lauded saxophonist and musique actuelle innovator Jean Derome, Guelph Jazz Festival artistic director Scott Thomson (trombone), bassist Stéphane Diamantakiou (Eguiluz/ Eyevin Trio) and drummer Ivan Bamford (Land of Kush/ Eyevin). They've made appearances at the Montreal Jazz Festival and at a previous iteration of Something Else!, this joyous, swinging group has won audiences over with driving South African-inspired grooves that veer in surprising directions.