They’re a Montreal-based collective known for exploring everything from soul to jazz. Over the past decade, Busty and the Bass have turned student jam sessions into worldwide success. Their creativity and musical chops earned them a 2024 JUNO for Breakthrough Group of the Year.
We asked drummer Julian Trivers about the band’s early days, and and what people can expect when Busty and the Bass has live shows in Alberta this March.
Trivers met guitarist Louis Stein and trombonist Chris Vincent in 2011 They were all music students at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. “We were all in the the jazz music performance program,” says Trivers. Meeting at a house party jam session led to public performances, grass-roots support, and a recording contract. Now, after three full-length albums and numerous tours, the band has earned a reputation as a versatile and energetic collective that can play many different styles of music, with different combinations of people contributing.
The group has seen changes over the years. Singer Nick Ferraro left in 2022. After his departure, Jordan Brown joined the group. Says Trivers, “We realized we needed to bring on another singer. That’s when we thought about Jordan, who’s from Philadelphia. He opened for us and we made the decision, after working with him, to make him part of the group—make it official.”
The result is a bold, modern sound. The group loves the soul and funk groups of the 1960s and 70s, but they widen the net to include dance music, jazz, and hip-hop as well.
Trivers says the band’s new EP, The Mannequin, reflects the band’s evolution. He notes that the group listened to jazz, singer-songwriter tracks, and psychedelic stuff when preparing to make the record. “Our new music is an evolution, with soul and R&B undertones,” he says, “and it expands the sound of what Busty and the Bass is. This EP draws on where we are now, but also has elements of where we started.”
The group also loves collaborative projects. They’ve worked with Macy Gray, and Earth, Wind & Fire. They’ve also collaborated with Polaris Music Prize-winners Cadence Weapon and Pierre Kwenders. “We’ve been super lucky to work with some great artists,” says Trivers, who says that many of these collaborative projects are due to the influence of producer Neil Pogue. “He has been in the industry for 30 years. He hooked us up with Macy Gray, and Terrace Martin. And we have been able to work with Katie Tupper, who opened for us on our tour a year ago. We love collaborating, so when something feels right, we add something or someone to bring our music into a different space. It’s always a fun thing, to hear those voices shine through.”
What can people expect at the Alberta shows in March? “We will have six people on stage, and it will be the best of our band,” says Trivers. “We’ll play old stuff and new stuff. We have been thinking about the set lists a lot, how to include all the eras of the band. The energy is fun. People can dance, but they can relax, too.”
Busty and the Bass play Edmonton March 1, Calgary March 2, and Red Deer March 3. Find info and tickets at bustyandthebass.com
“I’m Not Here” is from the band’s new EP, The Mannequin.
