Suns is a set of solo piano improvisations and compositions performed by Toronto pianist Chris Pruden.
While already recognized as a notable Canadian pianist/keyboardist in several projects (Tara Kannangara, Sammy Jackson, Zinnia, Future Machines, Language Arts), this is the first release under his own name.
Suns, released on Elastic Recordings, is refreshingly informal, recorded amongst friends, documenting unfinished thoughts and new reflections in the moments they arrive and depart. Pruden exhibits technical and musical control that is always on the edge, tumbling through insecurities and surrendering to the sound of the moment. It is both meditative and frenetic, playful and serious, vulnerable and resilient.
The seven pieces take influences from the music of György Ligeti, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Unsuk Chin, Ann Southam, and Elliott Carter (whose piano piece Catenaires is featured as a final track).
The album launch will feature a performance from Chris, and a set of music from Yunjin Claire Lee. The event will be live streamed. No tickets will be made available publicly.
Yunjin Claire Lee is a Korean Canadian pianist, keyboardist, sound designer, composer and producer; a sought-after collaborator for creating electrifying soundscapes. She has worked on local and international projects in an extensive range of genres including traditional and avant-garde jazz, contemporary classical, musique concrète, ambient techno, synthwave, and pop. Her debut album Voluntary Response (2020) – a solo piano improvisation recordings weaved with electronic processing via Rabid Elephant’s prototype synth, gained her an international fanbase in the experimental music scene. Her ambient electronic singles Underwater Arcade (2020) and Dive (2021) had been featured on radio stations across the country such as CJSW 90.9 FM, CKUT 90.3 FM, CITR 101.9 FM, and CHMA 106.9 FM. In October 2021, she was featured on Discover Women in Jazz series on JAZZ.FM91, showcasing a new electro-acoustic duo with Ben Grossman on hurdy-gurdy. They are currently working on a new album to be released in 2022. Photo credit: Brendan Mariani Elastic Recordings is the co-creation of Canadian vibraphonist, Michael Davidson, and Canadian double bassist, Dan Fortin. It is a collective outlet exploring the spaces where composition and improvisation overlap; the points at which nostalgia meets the present moment. The label will promote music that fits between the gaps of genre and that has been historically difficult to classify. Follow Elastic Recordings | Instagram, Twitter
Chris Pruden is a pianist/keyboardist based in Toronto, ON. Heavily influenced by jazz, contemporary classical, folk, rock and electronic music, Chris has performed across North America, China, and Europe. He is a frequent sideman and collaborator with Tara Kannangara, Sammy Jackson, Zinnia, Language Arts, Future Machines, and Ronley Teper’s Lipliners.