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Ally Fiola

Ally Fiola is a Nova Scotian saxophonist, film composer, and bandleader of the groove-based jazz ensemble, The Next Quest. Quirky melodies combined with joyous grooves and unexpected twists and turns, The Next Quest is inspired by funk, soul, and traditional New Orleans brass band. As an experienced composer, Ally connects to a wide-range of listeners with music that is emotionally charged, infused with personality yet widely accessible. “Thoughts of Home”, an original composition from her latest album, was nominated for the 2022 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards in the jazz category.

Ally's recently released original jazz album, Interblaze, features 3x Grammy winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), Grammy winning keyboardist Glenn Patscha (Bonnie Raitt), Kurdish guitarist Shvan Kaban, and many top-tier Nova Scotian musicians, including co-producer Chris Mitchell. The full-length album considers themes of grief, wonder, fear, and passion through the exploration of one’s inner fire. It includes seven original compositions and concludes with a tribute to Ally’s late grandfather, which are strategically arranged to highlight the talented artists she assembled for this project. The melodies are often artfully handed off from one musician to the next, and each has their opportunity to demonstrate their proficient improvising skills.

Ally participated in the 2019 Winter Musicians in Residence session at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity where she performed with international musicians, notably working with the Quasar Saxophone Quartet. While completing a Masters in Film Composition in London, UK, from 2019-2020, she collaborated with diverse musicians and performed across London, including at the award-winning Pheasantry Jazz Club. Most recently, in April 2023, Ally attended the La Napoule Canadian Artist Residency in France where she composed a Canada Council funded orchestral piece exploring the effects of climate change on coastal communities.

Gear

1958 Conn 6m, Meyer New York Bros mouthpiece, Vandoren optimum ligature

Ally Fiola & The Next Quest: Interblaze

Read "Interblaze" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
March 18, 2023

Nova Scotian alto saxophonist Ally Fiola considers the themes of grief, wonder, fear and passion with her octet The Next Quest, on Interblaze. With a lot of low-end brass--baritone saxophone, trombone, sousaphone--the sound has a New Orleans brass band feel. It is also fun, celebratory music. The title tune and opening number sounds like a prance down Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras--beads flying through the air, people in outlandish dress dancing. An insouciant organ opens “Backtrack"; the horns ...

"Fiola shines as a composer with a crack band in tow. Her alto playing is just one ingredient in the mix, as she spreads the soloists around democratically. Her ability to mesh contemporary jazz with the NOLA brass band sound is impressive. She bears watching."

Jim Hynes – Making a Scene

"Interblaze is a fresh and exciting listening experience for modern jazz connoisseurs, highly recommended!"

Jim Cox - Midwest Book Review

"Swinging, funky, thoughtful and engaging, Fiola's Interblaze is an exciting second album from this Canadian talent. It's also a celebration of Nova Scotia's finest musicians, making it sound like they're just down the road from New Orleans."