Metalwood

The jazz quartet Metalwood comprises saxophonist Mike Murley, bassist Chris Tarry, keyboardist and trumpeter Brad Turner, and drummer Ian Froman. Its members first assembled in 1997 and issued a self-titled debut album the same year, completing the project mere days after their initial joint appearance on stage. From that point through 2002 the ensemble produced one recording annually while attracting widespread praise among jazz critics and listeners alike. The opening release captured a Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1998, and the follow-up, Metalwood 2, secured a second Juno for the group.

The story behind the band reaches back to 1996, when Murley and Turner first encountered each other as instructors at a summer jazz camp. Tarry and Froman had already connected in Boston before crossing paths with Murley at a jazz festival. Although the musicians resided in different countries, circumstances aligned seamlessly; once the Canadian and American players united, Metalwood emerged.

On the day of their formation the four musicians rehearsed briefly, performed together that evening, and entered the studio the following morning to begin tracking their debut. Completed within days, the album earned the quartet its first Juno. In 1999 they captured the live set Metalwood Live, which was succeeded the next year by Metalwood 3; spring 2001 brought the Blue Thumb Records release Recline. Among the tracks featured on these albums are “Pressure,” “New Pants,” “U.B. the Monster,” “Steeplejack,” “New Congregation,” “Five Minute Margin,” and “Not Disappointed.”