bio

Arkana Music
players Ali Berkok, Mark Laver, Gord Mowat, Jake Oelrichs

Arkana Music is noted for its creative risk taking and virtuosity. Russ Cooper of Panpot.ca described their debut album, Hyprovisation as "a truly gorgeous discovery packed with remarkable musicianship," and John Book of da bookman's blog said "these guys know how to play with the kind of tenacity which comes from not only knowing your instrument, but knowing how to play music."

Arkana Music is a Toronto based modern jazz quintet focused on improvisation and creative music. All compositions are by Ali Berkok and each piece is written in order to create a different environment, without relying on existing jazz vehicles and devices.

Since its inception, Arkana has performed in many of Toronto's established venues such as the Rex Hotel, Cameron House, Tranzac and the Trane Studio, and newer clubs like the Central and Concord Cafe. Arkana has received airplay on international radio and podcasts, reaching as high as #1 on Calgary's CJSW jazz chart. As well, the band was recently featured as the soundtrack to Deartoronto.com coverage of Toronto's "Nights of Fire" event.

The beginnings of the band date back to collaborations between Ali and saxophonist Mark Laver, which took place at the Banff Centre For The Arts in 2005. Here, Ali and Mark were introduced to a world of techniques outside of the mainstream. Shortly thereafter, while working in Hong Kong, Ali started working on the initial pieces for the band. Arkana Music first appeared in May 2006 at the Concord Cafe in Toronto.

 

press

da bookman's blog #173 - review by John Book

Arkana Music's brand of jazz cherishes the bop of he early and mid-60's, where it stays true to the form of the music while taking improvisation to any and all creative heights. In jazz, fans and afficionados enjoying flocking to their favorite albums because of the great music, the fantastic musicianship, the way all of this sounds in the right room taken in by the right microphones, many reasons are given for why an album becomes someone's personal favorite, and I feel that Hyprovisation (self-released) will be one of those albums.

The band (Ali Berkok-drums; Gord Mowat-bass; Mark Laver-saxophone, Jake Oelrichs-drums) take on an approach of embracing the theme of each song, and then moving behind the door, underneath it, within the keyhole, and sometimes hanging on the multi-locks. In other words, these guys know how to play with the kind of tenacity which comes from not only knowing your instrument, but knowing how to play music. All of the musicians stand-out, but Laver's sax work leans a bit to the ways of Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman. Berkok's playing is something you could listen to all day, whether it's that gentle wordplay that helps move the song along, or the kind of spacing Monk fans wille eat up like crazy. A track like "Brooding" could easily be a song of observation, looking at the sleekness of a rainy downtown street from the window of a limousine, or watching snow fall in reverse. Berkok's solo in "Brooding" is beautiful, one can only wonder what was in his mind as he was playing it. Also a standout in this recording is drummer Oelrichs, who dedicates himself to adding color within the main themes and solos, but knows how to say "I'M HERE" with a few flashy hits. While very different from drummers such as Brian Blade and Ben Perowsky, each of them know their position in the band and the music but each have the attitude of a drummer which will tell fellow drummers "how ya like me now?"

I enjoy jazz albums that sound good, and Hyprovisation very much has that healthy Hi-Pro Glow. The cover art is also very cool, nice to see an illustrated cover for a jazz album that isn't abstract, and has a sense of humor.

 

Panpot.ca - review by Russ Cooper

(link to original)

Mostly improvised up-tempo jazz debut from Toronto quintet— led by pianist and composer Ali Berkok— is a truly gorgeous discovery packed with remarkable musicianship. And despite the many food analogies, provided by Panpot letter writer Russ Cooper, this 10-track delight isn’t the least bit edible. Or is it?

Dear Jazz,

As I'm sitting here in my room, tired and full of grilled cheese sandwiches, I'm thinking of you. I'm remembering the times you scared the shit out of me; all your structure-less confusing blabber and your snobby hats... it was enough to make a zitty young man swear to play power chords forever. Sure, Sweet Georgia Brown was a wicked soundtrack when those big fake basketball players twirled balls on their noses for white people, but I felt you left me out in the cold on purpose. You were like an exotic restaurant for only those in the know. I was so hungry for music, but it seemed all you'd throw me was a splash of salty pickle brine or a dirty cigarette butt over your shoulder. For that, I give you a retroactive fuck you.

Yet, you never did let me turn my back completely. As I found out, you are much more complex than you seem. Each time I promised to never listen again, some juicy little jazz nugget would fly out of the back door of that restaurant and drip from my earlobe. I remember that time you cleverly supplanted yourself in the first time I fell in love with Naked Lunch. Your minion Ornette was pretty smooth in that one, I must say. Over the years, you've done well to challenge my listening ability. Major and minor in the same chord? More! More! Structure? It's always there, but you taught me that you can't look for it... know what it is you're listening to and you'll know the structure. You are dark and rich and greasy and clean and bright. And for your inherent knottiness, I thank you.

I have a couple reasons I'm writing you today. First, I wanted to say thanks for introducing me to your friend Arkana Music. I know he's from Toronto, but I won't hold that against him. He sounds pretty good, eh? It's kinda like a big, thick jazz burger. Maybe that's not the right thing to say. What I mean is that your buddy's record Hyprovisation is one of those records that you can really take a strong bite into. It's tender, yet still chewy and spicy. The arrangements are crisp and subtle and the musicianship is outstanding. It's oily but intricate enough to make me question what it's made of. I get it, but I don't understand it 100%. But really, I don't want to. This is a burger I want to enjoy for a long time.

Wrapping my brain around it now, it's kind of fitting that 'Arkana' means; 1) A deep secret, or; 2) Specialized knowledge or detail that is mysterious to the average person. Hey Jazz, you old SOB... how did you do that? Was this planned all along? You can somehow wheedle a record like this into my life, have me listen and write simultaneously, and the two are serendipitously consonant without me making the connection until this exact moment? My, you are a nimble one. I'm onto you. For that, I wink furtively.

The other thing was I wanted to tell you is that I love you. Don't ever stop confusing me.

Stay warm,

Russ Cooper 

Exclaim! - review by David Dacks

(link to original)

Arkana Music are a project from pianist Ali Berkok. As noted in the band’s bio, their aim is to create energetic music by blurring the lines between compositional and improvised sections. The average listener will certainly pick up on this but the disc starts out politely, revealing its twisted charms further in. Breaking the ice with a head that wouldn’t seem out of place in Dave Brubeck or the Modern Jazz Quartet’s repertoire, the band switches deftly between double- and half-time. Berkok’s solo starts by tracing the oblique chord changes then commenting on them in a way that doesn’t follow the forward momentum of the song. The noir-ish bop groove becomes more melodic as the tempo accelerates and decelerates. There is a historical/retro feel to the motifs of these songs, such as the “Jitterbug Waltz”-like stride piano opening to “Drive.” But this is history traced from the ’30s to the present, especially when the band’s collective structures on slower songs such as “Brooding” let loose contemporary dissonance in seemingly familiar settings.(Independent)

 

Music and More - review by Tim Niland

(link to original)

Arkana Music is a Canadian modern jazz outfit playing acoustic music that nicely bridges the gap between form and freedom. Comprised of pianist and composer Ali Berkok, bassist Mark Laver on saxophones, Jake Oelrichs on drums and Gord Mowat bass. The band uses their knotty compositions as springboards for broad based improvisational flights. "Our Man in Cleveland" is a spaceous ballad for piano, bass and drums which evolves into a calm Bill Evans-ish melancholy. Tracks like "Drive" and Monkey groove show that the band can improvise at high tempos with flash, bringing a Monk-ian angularity to their performances. This is a solid album from a promising group. Their use of space leaves the music with a wide open and expansive feel. One senses that the group enjoys musical exploration and yearns for yet more vistas to enjoy.

Jan.13, 2008