Ken McDonald
Ken McDonald is a Toronto based jazz bassist and composer. Born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, he started playing guitar at the age of 10 and cut his teeth in several rock and heavy metal groups throughout his teenage years. In the fall of 2003 he relocated to Toronto to pursue a degree in jazz performance at York University on guitar but it wasn't long until the upright bass became his new passion. "It's the instrument that I am most expressive with," says McDonald. "I like that it's always present in the music and has a great rhythmic responsibility to the performance but is rarely the lead instrument. I love to solo, but I get more of a kick out of holding the band together."
Ken completed his Bachelors degree in the summer of 2007 and started his Masters degree in composition (also at York) the following fall. During this time he wrote and recorded his debut album "The Master Plan". The album contains eight original songs and is performed by his working quartet Half Beat Mishap. Ken also performs regularly with the Dan McKinnon Trio, Karen Ng, Robb Cappelletto, Arch Rockafeller and The Ken McDonald Trio. He has studied privately with some of Toronto's best jazz musicians including David Mott, Artie Roth, Roy Patterson and Andrew Downing. He has performed in several venues throughout Toronto and played the Markham Jazz Festival in the summer of 2008. Ken currently works at the Toronto Long and McQuade Music Education Center where he teaches guitar, upright bass and leads the Teen Rock School.
Half Beat Mishap
Half Beat Mishap formed in the spring of 2008 by Ken McDonald (bass), Demetri Petsalakis (guitar), Karen Ng (saxophones) and Jay Sussman (drums) as a platform to perform and experiment with new original material. The quartet met while attending York University's Undergraduate Music program in Jazz Performance and could not ignore the chemistry that emerged when these particular four members got together. It is this intuitive group chemistry that allows the unique occurrence of ensemble improvisation rather than mere soloing.
The ensemble creates music ranging from simple to complex, with all members contributing material, but always retains a motto of songs with a strong sense of melody, rhythmic drive and inherent groove.
Half Beat Mishap performed eight original compositions by bassist Ken McDonald on his debut album earlier this year and enjoyed the success of a standing room only release show in September in trendy Downtown Toronto. The album was recorded over two days at Romhog Digital Studios with Toronto jazz all-star Barry Romberg.
McDonald's album, The Master Plan, featured a frequent guest to the ensemble, George Karounos who lent his dynamic trumpet line to two key tracks "A Fist Full of Swing" and "Rhythm and Vision".
Half Beat Mishap keeps a regular schedule of booked performances in Toronto venues such as The Concord Cafe, Augusta House, Zemra Bar and Lounge and the newly opened Magic Underground.
The Members:
Karen Ng
Karen is one of the busiest young saxophonists in Toronto. She graduated from York University in 2007 and continued onto Humber College to further expand her playing. She has studied with some of Toronto's best horn players including Sundar Viswanathan, Mike Murley, Kelly Jefferson, Don Palmer and Pat LaBarbera and has had many notable public appearances including an interview on JazzFM91 and a performance at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Karen keeps busy playing in many local groups including The Woodchoppers Association, The Woodshed Orchestra (both led by The Rheostatics' Dave Clark), Barbarella, Daredevils of Soul and Fullspeed Velocipede. Karen also teaches privately at Long and McQuade Music Education Center in North York.
Demetri Petsalakis
Demetri is one of Toronto's finest musical imports. Hailing from Athens, Greece, Demetri came to Toronto in 2005 to study music at York University. Since then Demetri has studied with Lorne Lofsky and Dan Ionescu and keeps himself busy playing with several groups including Where's One?, The Breakdown and Jace P and the Big People. Demetri has had the pleasure of performing with Ndidi Onokwulu, three-time Juno award winner Madagascar Slim and has performed at the Thornhill Music Festival. Demetri is also well versed in traditional Greek music and plays the bouzouki. Demetri teaches private lessons at the Long and McQuade Music Education Center in North York.
Jay Sussman
Jay is a versatile and highly sought out drummer. Currently finishing up his studies at York University, where he has studied privately with Barry Romberg and Anthony Michelli, Jay keeps busy performing with groups such as Where's One? and The Breakdown. He is a busy session musician having recorded with several rock and jazz groups and accompanies dance classes and recitals at York University and George Brown College. He has also been heavily involved with composing and performing for film and television including such documentaries as Banished (2007), Isreal Night Life (2007), Journey of Miracles (2007), Pride (2006) and Disengaging Democracy (2005). Jay currently teaches private drum and percussion lessons at Cosmo's Music in Richmond Hill.