THE BLUE FISHER BAND
MONDAY, JUNE 28 • 12 NOON
OLD MARKET SQUARE
FREE
The Blue Fisher Band is a contemporary jazz ensemble lead by bassist Peter Frohlich and pianist David Hildebrand. The group’s additional members include guitarist Aaron Shorr and percussionist Ryan Voth. The project was initiated in the winter of 2007 and resulted in a short studio recording of original material as well as a few choice standards. The groups sound is characterized by a strong melodic component coupled with simplistic but driving organic rhythm. The groups original compositions are influenced by a variety of artists ranging from Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Avishai Cohen to Chopin, Beatles, Pixies, Beck, and many more.
Peter Frohlich, originally from Poznan, Poland, relocated to Winnipeg in 1985 and begun to study music at the age of 13. Peter’s first musical experience was on jazz trumpet followed by the electric bass during high school. Peter’s first professional engagement was with the rock/fusion group Kids Can’t Fly at the age of 20. His next endeavor was as bassist with the French Canadian outfit Mayonnaise (presently known as recording artists Telepathic Butterflies). Peter spent three years, recording and performing with Mayonnaise. The group was awarded a Manitoba Film and Sound Recording Grant and performed alongside bands such as Sloan and Big Sugar at festivals such as Sun Fest, Core Fest, and the Home Grown Festival. The group also appeared on Canada’s MuchMusic in 1997.
In 1999 Peter spent a year performing and recording with the Inside Out Blues Band. The band spent a brief time on the road and was invited to perform at the Regina Blues Festival. Peter started studying the double bass at age 25 with a number of jazz and classical bassists. In 2004 Peter was accepted to the University of Manitoba School Of Music and in 2005 he was awarded the Dave Young Scholarship in Jazz Performance. In the spring of 2006 Peter graduated with a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Performance. Presently, Peter is performing in Winnipeg as both a side man and a band leader. In collaboration with pianist and composer/arranger David Hildebrand, Peter is compiling music for a future Blue Fisher debut album.
