The Ratchet Orchestra seeks to creatively and rigorously explore the relationships and tensions between instinctive and intellectual approaches to music-making. The Ratchet Orchestra is a creative cauldron of Montréal's musical avant garde with a personnel that includes many of Montréal’s most imaginative and engaging musicians. During a typical Ratchet Orchestra concert styles of music including jazz, contemporary European, noise, and musique actuelle spontaneously coalesce in unexpected and exciting ways. The Orchestra's 2012 recording of leader and bassist Nicolas Caloia's compositions, Hemlock (released on Vancouver based label Drip Audio), made numerous “Best of 2012” lists, and was nominated for both Juno and GAMMIQ awards. The group has been producing their own shows since 1995, performing at major avant-garde music festivals including a previous visit to FIMAV, the Guelph Jazz Festival, and Montreal’s Suoni per il Popolo.
P R E S S
“for non-Montrealers the Ratchet Orchestra came as a revelation” Stuart Broomer, Music Works – Winter 2011
“This set might have been my favorite of the fest, it was certainly the most focused and successful.” Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery – June 2nd, 2011
”La foule a tellement aimé ce voyage qu’elle a tôt fait de le souligner en ovationnant l’orchestre dès la dernière note jouée.” ” Pendant plus d’une heure, les musiciens ont fait transporter les spectateurs dans un tourbillon de rythmes, de sons et de bruits, et ce, avec une précision ainsi qu’une exécution remarquable.” Steven Lafortune, La Nouvelle Union – 21 Mai 2011
”Ce musicien a une vraie signature. Nous avons affaire à un collage d’influences en voie d’intégration, déphasage rythmique, dialogues entre instruments solistes, expression de chaque section (cordes, cuivres, anches, percussions, claviers, etc.), expression individuelle parfois remarquables.” Alain Brunet, La Presse – 22 mai 2011
"should have Ellington smiling down from above" Richard Moule, Signal to Noise 2010
"This is a lovely recording of a band which displayes a wonderful variety of approaches to improvisation," David Dax, Exclaim! November 28, 2007
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