Track 1 - Start (B. McKenna)
Track 2 - Open Letter (B. McKenna)
Track 3 - Strasbourg St. Denis (R. Hargrove)
Track 4 - Margareta (Comp. C. Jensen)
Track 5 - Decision for Others (B. McKenna)

Set 1 - Upstairs (Oct. 2nd, 2015)

Track 1 - Old West (B. Mehldau, Arr. B. McKenna)
Track 2 - Paranoid Android (B. Mehldau, Arr. B. McKenna)
Track 3 - Afternoon in Parc Lafontaine (B. McKenna)
Track 4 - Bike (B. McKenna)
Track 5 - Matin des Magiciens (Comp. G. Martineau)

Set 2 (Upstairs - Oct 2nd, 2015)

Track 1 - Electrophant (B. McKenna)
Track 2 - 6am Commute to the West (B. McKenna)
Track 3 - Back Home (B. McKenna)
---recording cut-off------

Set 3 (Upstairs - Oct. 2nd, 2015)

Described as a new fusion of jazz, contemporary music and inspirations from the popular music scene and a coming of age in Montreal—one of the most vibrant cities in North America, Beth McKenna Quartet is a high-energy and dynamic collective of some of Montreal’s most promising and talented upcoming musicians. The group’s sound features hip grooves, unique time feels, lush and harmonious chord progressions that evoke images of locations, musical recreations of past occurrences and conceptions of possible future.


Led by maritime-native and saxophonist Beth McKenna, the Beth McKenna Quintet carries a high-energy dynamic sound geared towards a wide variety of listening audiences. The music is inspired mostly by the incredible city of Montreal, society’s quirks, personal experiences and stories that are told through the artistic and musical imagination. The 514 Project, the current repertoire project of the BMQ, is a wide variety of music that is mostly all composed from inspirations found in the unique and vibrant city of Montreal. Some are based off the locations in the city and its unique festivities year-round. Some compositions are based off of personal experiences in the city of Montreal, and historical happenings over the past few months.

Beth McKenna Quintet:

Beth McKenna – Tenor Sax/Compositions 

Guillaume Martineau – Piano 

Olivier Babaz - Bass: 

Peter Colantonio – Drums

The musical sound of the group and Beth’s compositions combines influences from a variety of genres and musical styles. Her compositional style has been described as carrying influence from the styles of Maria Schneider, Christine Jensen, Ben Monder, Donny McCaslin, David Binney, Kenny Wheeler, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, Kenny Garrett and Joel Miller. The music has been described as “open, free and fusing together styles of many international cultures with the traditions of popular western music and jazz”, leaving the listener to allow their imagination to take them on a guided adventure through musical landscapes and emotions.

Beth McKenna 4tet