Cochrane’s own Josh Krushel—jazz pianist, composer, and educator—returns to his hometown for a rare and intimate evening of jazz this Thursday (May 15) at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 73 George Fox Trail.
Backed by acclaimed Calgary musicians Stefano Valdo on bass and Afolabi Kapojuwo on drums, Krushel brings his distinctive blend of jazz to local audiences for just $10 at the door. Cash is preferred. The performance begins at 7 p.m.
Operating in many musical worlds as a jazz pianist, modern classical composer, and non-idiomatic improviser. Krushel has performed in a variety of ensemble situations from solo to big band, with some of Canada's most recognized musicians, including Jon McCaslin, Lisa LaTouche, Paul Johnston, Rubim de Toledo, Jim Brennan, and Jerrold Dubyk. This experience is compounded by his study under renowned pianists such as Miki Yamanaka, Ben Patterson, Jean-Michel Pilc, and Tom Van Seters.
He developed a voice rooted in the jazz tradition of the mid-50s to mid-60s.
“It’s still swinging for sure, but it’s not as traditional as some earlier times and not as crazy wacky out there as some later things,” says Krushel. “That music for me has good melodies and a good feeling.”
Though he's played venues across Calgary, this marks the first time Krushel brings his trio to Cochrane.
“It's cool, because I remember growing up in Cochrane, to hear this sort of music you often had to travel to the big city,” he reflects. “So I’m very excited to bring it here.”
A Bow Valley High graduate, Krushel fondly recalls the support of music teacher Rob Billington, who helped to fuel his early passion.
"He was a very special teacher who was so committed to the program and to the kids. He really supported me through my time at Bow Valley. I was a music kid who was there, you know, all day, every time possible during breaks. He was probably got sick of me and my crew, but he was a wonderfully supportive teacher."
Around that time, he became interested in jazz piano as he reflected on the role music would play in his life.
"I was never going to be a classical prodigy. That wasn’t my world, and I was getting a little bit fed up with playing piano. Then I went to a big band concert with my dad, and I was like, ‘Well, that’s pretty cool. That’s still piano, you know.’"
Krushel later studied jazz piano with Calgary’s Mark Limacher before completing a four-year music program at Grant MacEwan University.
“Mark opened my mind to the possibilities. He set me on the path of piano jazz and a whole other way of making music.”
