In anticipation of SEE columnist and wonderful Jazz artist Don Berner's album release party, February 26th at the Yardbird:

"THE DON BERNER SEXTET INVADES CALGARY-LIVE AT THE BEATNIQ! ”is the third album release as a leader from Saxophonist Don Berner.   Distributed through the Dynasty Records label it will be available in January at HMV and other select stores throughout Canada in January 2011 as well as Transworld Records Stores in the U.S.! It is also already availablethrough e-music outlets including iTunes, Napster, EMusic, Yahoo, Amazon, Rhapsody and more! The new album includes access to an online DVD The making of the Don Berner Sextet Invades Calgary and is a live recording in the tradition of decades of Jazz!

The sextet features the compositional talents of all it’s members — all very capable bandleaders and composers in their own right. The horns in the sextet consist of Doug Berner, Don Berner, and Audrey Ochoa, while the rhythm section is filled out by Rob Thompson at the keys, Marc Beaudin on the bass, and Juno award nominee Sandro Dominelli at the drumkit.

 
In addition to working on a national summer festival tour the sextet will be performing a string of western Canadian CD release shows! If you’re a fan of the high energy, heavy swing, and intricate compositions of the groups of Dave Holland, Art Blakey, or the Marsalis Brothers, this is a band that carries on those traditions while engaging in new and original material composed in Edmonton!

Jazz icon Hugh Fraser has stated, ”Don’s talent as a great saxophonist is supported by his compositional and band leading talents” and Juno Award winner P.J. Perry has called Don Berner "one of Canada's fastest rising saxophone stars. Reads, doubles, solos, he does it all." In addition to appearing alongside such notable jazz luminaries as P.J. Perry, Bobby Shew, Hugh Fraser, Slide Hampton, Bob Stroup, Chu Cho Valdez, Lew Tabackin, Guido Basso, and Tommy Banks, Hillario Duran and commercial talents E.C. Scott, Bobby Curtola, the Temptations, and the Retrofitz,  he has performed at a large number of jazz clubs and festivals throughout Canada , the U.S., and Hong Kong. Berner was co-producer of Edmonton’s Yardbird Jazz Festival in 2005/06 and can be heard on numerous CD’s including his own debut CD, “Sextet” and his last critically acclaimed album “Fortress of Solitude”. He has performed at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Polish Embassy in Ottawa, as well as leading his sextet to Mexico’s “Internacional Festival de Cervantino” and returning there to perform for the Canadian embassies “Canada week”. In addition, he has performed on numerous radio and TV specials. Berner he maintains a busy performing, lecturing, and teaching schedule. In addition to occasional appearances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Berner is formerly the announcer and producer of “A Time For Jazz”, on the CKUA radio network. He also regularly does commentary on the Edmonton Jazz scene in his column, “jazz Standards” in Edmonton’s SEE magazine.  Berner was the director of the Jazzworks small group creative workshops for a number of years and regularly leads his own ensembles from big band to small ensemble.