The Pugs and Crows have been garnering acclaim for their instrumental performances that bridge jazz, rock and classical sounds into something really quite interesting. If you’ve been enjoying the experimental music nights at Pressed, this might be the show for you. They won the Galaxie Rising Start award at the Vancouver Jazz Festival and are playing tonight at the National Arts Centre, presented by the Ottawa Jazz Festival. I shot a few questions over to Cat Toren, pianist for pugs and crows in advance of their show.
Apartment613: You’ve had some success at Jazz Festivals this year. Can you talk a bit about how Jazz Fest audiences have been responding to your work?
Cat Toren: Our festival shows have been really well received, which we feel very thankful for! The nice thing about jazz festivals is that our audience is quite varied. Our music speaks to listeners of any age and musical interest. We adapt well to performing in different environments, from loud rock clubs to quiet jazz venues, and it is nice to have all our fans in one place during the festival season.
Apartment613: Do you think Jazz Festivals are particularly valuable venues for emerging artists?
Cat Toren: Of course! It’s a time when people are most interested in checking out artists they may not be familiar with. It’s a chance for emerging bands to play on the same stage as their heroes. It’s an inspiring time for performers and listeners alike!
Apartment613: What can we expect from your show here in Ottawa? Anything special planned for the night?
Cat Toren: We will be playing music mainly from our recent release “Fantastic Pictures” with a few new pieces which were premiered last Summer at the Vancouver Festival with guest guitarist Tony Wilson. We are set to record this new music in December. We expect it to be a dynamic and energetic show and we are really looking forward to it!
The Pugs and Crows perform tonight on the NAC’s Fourth Stage. The show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 and available online.
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