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1. Source Code - Harry Stafylakis (2019/ 2021)
This piece is perhaps one of my most explicit attempts at writing contemporary progressive metal music for a non-metal ensemble. The musical language of metal is, in a real sense, the source code behind my artistic persona, and here is presented in relatively pure form – a sure sign that I’m long past caring about academia’s allergy to music with tunes and grooves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkMYf2HZiz0
https://www.hstafylakis.com/

Eliot Doyle - drums
Andre Lachance - bass
Harry Stafylakis - guitar, piano
Mark Ferris - violin
Tom Keenlyside - soprano, alto, tenor, baritone saxophones
Michael Herriott - trumpets
Jim Hopson - trombones, bass trombone
Mixed by Adam Pietrykowski

2. a bilateral, a symmetry - James O’Callaghan (2021)
A bilateral, a symmetry was created by manipulating recordings of improvisations and notated fragments by 8 of Vancouver’s most daring musicians. Prompted by Hard Rubber Director John Korsrud’s invitation to create something “totally free,” and in admiration of the polyvalence of the musicians, I drew on my diverse practices in electroacoustic music, contemporary classical composition, and electronic dance music, to create a piece intuitively and expressively, drawing on genre freely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b18B3nKmLtg
https://jamesocallaghan.com/

Tim Proznick - drums
Kerry Galloway - drums
Viviane Houle - voice
Ron Samworth - guitar
Mark Ferris - violin
Tom Keenlyside - flute and saxophones
Michael Herriott - trumpets
Jim Hopson - trombone
Mixed by James O’Callaghan

3. Dissolver - Peggy Lee (2021)
Dissolver begins in ordered chaos, descends into dirge, builds and rises to complete chaos and is released into groove! I began writing the piece on an acoustic guitar while hearing a big band in my head.
I tried to imagine the sounds of the individual soloists as I wanted to create a space for them to shine as improvisors, which they do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyaQDE5UC7c
http://www.peggylee.net/

Dave Robbins - drums
Andre Lachance - bass
Ron Samworth - guitar
Jillian Lebeck - piano
Jon Bentley - soprano, alto, tenor saxophones
Mark Ferris - violin
Vince Mai - trumpets
Jim Hopson - trombones, bass trombone, tuba
Mixed by Chris Gestrin

4. Iguana - John Korsrud (1992/ 2021)
2020 was the 30th anniversary of the Hard Rubber Orchestra. For this, I dust off one of my earliest compositions, the hip-hop/ mashup-inspired Iguana, featuring several guests.

Dave Robbins - drums
Jack Duncan - percussion
Andre Lachance - bass
Ron Samworth - guitar
Mark Ferris - violin
Tom Keenlyside - soprano, alto, tenor, baritone saxophones
Michael Herriott - trumpets
Jim Hopson - trombones, bass trombone, tuba
Chris Gestrin - synth
Soloists (in order) - Chris Gestrin, Tom Keenlyside, Brad Turner, Mike Herriott, Jillian Lebeck, Chris Gestrin, Eli Bennett, Luis Melgar
Mixed by Chris Gestrin

5. From the Earth featuring Marianne Trudel - John Korsrud (2021)
I met Marianne Trudel and Mike Herriott in one of my treasured visits the the amazing Banff Centre for the Arts. Montreal composer/ pianist Marianne Trudel beautifully interprets this piece about light and earth. Mike Herriott plays french horns, trombones, bass trombone, and flugelhorns.

Mariane Trudel - piano improvisation
Michael Herriott - flugelhorns
Michael Herriott - French horns
Michael Herriott - trombones, bass trombone
Mark Ferris - violin
Ofra Harnoy - cello
Mixed by Eric Mosher

6. Force Majeure - John Korsrud (2020)
First thing I wrote after the pandemic. I was hearing vast multifarious layers of rhythms, at first working together, then disintegrating into semi-chaos, resolving at 2:42. Then our tuba and bari sax give us for a long grounding melody. At 3:40 we get a variation of opening theme until the end. Kudos to the world-class drumming by Trent Otter and Kai Basanta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1TtPhHt2NM&t=253s
johnkorsrud.com

Trent Otter - drums
Kai Basanta - drums
Tom Keenlyside - baritone sax
Jon Bentley - tenor saxophone
John Korsrud - trumpet/ organ
Jim Hopson - trombones, bass trombone, tuba
Mixed by Eric Mosher