Join us at the Rio for John Korsrud’s HARD RUBBER ORCHESTRA

An evening of high-energy music with 18-piece all-star ensemble
Opening with 10-piece Star System: A Tribute to Sun Ra

Music by John Korsrud, Peggy Lee & Eric Wettstein

Hard Rubber Orchestra makes its historic first appearance at The Rio, East Van’s cinematic hotspot. The 18-piece big band will perform music from its acclaimed CD, Crush with visual projections by Brian Johnson and Ryan McCann. The cosmic 10-piece Star System: A Tribute to Sun Ra led by drummer Dan Gauthier will open the show. The Hard Rubber Orchestra is one of Canada’s most active, unpredictable ensembles of creative music of the past 25 years. The Orchestra has toured across Canada and to Europe and produced operas, TV specials, arts raves and avant ice shows, led by composer, trumpeter, John Korsrud.

Bill Runge, Chad Makela, Brent Mah & Dave Branter, saxes; Derry Byrne, Kent Wallace & Chris Davis, trumpets; Rod Murray, Dennis Esson, Luis Melgar & Andrew Broughton, trombones; performed by the 18-piece jazz powerhouse featuring Cameron Wilson, violin; Ron Samworth, guitar; André Lachance, bass; Dave Robbins, drums; Jack Duncan, percussion

Their blend of serious music and hot grooves makes them a powerhouse of intelligent entertainment – All Music Guide

There’s more stuff crammed into its 10 minutes than most bands fit onto an entire CD, and it’s good stuff. In a word, it’s awesome—and I’m trained not to use that word lightly. – Alex Varty, Georgia Straight

John Korsrud and his Hard Rubber Orchestra have created a powerful and tempestuous piece of work that stimulates both the brain and the booty while always sounding fresh, exciting and somewhat dangerous. – BC Musician.

With very few modern artists writing music for large groups, the Hard Rubber Orchestra stands out. But it also separates itself from the mundane by providing music of a high quality – intelligent compositions, tight playing, and a sense of fun to accompany more than a little noir. The intricacies of the instrumental layering will keep your head spinning through multiple listens. Highly recommended. – Avant Music News

Media contact: Diane Kadota Arts Management. 604.683.8240 / [email protected] / www.hardrubber.com

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of BC through Direct Access to Charitable Gaming and the City of Vancouver through Cultural Services.