Longhand Plays Long with special guests Jesse and Josh Zubot

Featuring:
Tony Wilson: guitar, kora, kalimba
Russell Sholberg: bass, musical saw
Kenton Loewen: drums, percussion
Jesse Zubot: violin and electronics
Josh Zubot: violin and electronics 

Longhand Plays Long is led by the acclaimed guitarist Tony Wilson, hailed by Down Beat Magazine as “…a talismanic West Coast Figure…” and Coastal Jazz and Blues as “unquestionably one of the most original guitar stylists on the Canadian Scene.”

In the mid-eighties guitarist Tony Wilson studied jazz guitar at Malaspina College in Nanaimo, BC. It was during this time that he met composer and saxophonist, Peder Long.  Initially, the two musicians played jazz standards together. As their musical relationship developed they began to perform Peder’s original compositions.  Wilson then moved to Vancouver and focused on his career as a composer and bandleader. Throughout this time, Wilson would bring Peder’s tunes to his own ensembles and eventually he thought about making a dedicated recording of Peder’s music.   Longhand Plays Long is that recording, released in 2023 on the Drip Audio label.

The Longhand Trio, led by Wilson, has been together for fifteen years having performed in Canada and Europe.  The trio also includes Juno Award winning musicians Russell Sholberg (Pugs & Crows, Aeroplan Trio) on bass and Kenton Loewen (Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, Gord Grdina’s Haram) on drums.   With the support of Canada Council funding, Longhand was able to add acclaimed and multiple award winning violinists Jesse Zubot (Tanya Tagaq, Darius Jones, Fond of Tigers) and Josh Zubot (Ratchet Orchestra, Sam Shalabi, Darius Jones) to the trio to record ten of Peder’s tunes, arranged for the quintet by Wilson.

Longhand Plays Long touches on many musical genres including free-jazz, Afrobeat, folk and groove rock with an edge.  Long’s compositions are unpredictable and cartoon-like with many twists and turns offering endless surprise.