Land of Marigold is the mysterious convergence of two of Montreal’s busiest improvisers, Josh Zubot and Ellwood Epps. Originating in rural Saskatchewan and Toronto respectively, the two have played together in Nicolas Caloia’s Ratchet Orchestra, Michel F. Côté's Mecha Fixes Clocks, Matana Roberts’ Coin Coin, Sam Shalabi’s Land of Kush, and with Marshall Allen, John Butcher, Malcolm Goldstein, William Parker, and Myra Melford. They are also two of the founders of the weekly Mardi Spaghetti series, a mainstay in Montreal’s improvised music scene since 2008.
The music they make in Land of Marigold is foot-tapping for ghosts, seeing the northern lights from underwater; it’s music that engages the psyche as well as the soul and the body. It’s music that moves fast enough to get up a good sweat following it, or being followed by it. Relying on complete improvisation, Josh and Ellwood bring serious technique to the stage and go beyond it with a lifetime of preparation and no rehearsals.
Land of Marigold has played all over Montreal, as well as appearing at the Guelph Jazz Festival, in Rimouski Québec, and completed a short tour of Western Canada in January 2013 in celebration of their debut recording on Calgary’s Bug Incision label. They have also received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to produce their second recording.
Josh Zubot - Violin, Viola
Elwood Epps - Trumpet
