Pretzil Stex is Matt Steckler, saxes/flute; Jeff Presslaff, keys; James Hamilton, bass; and Eric Platz, drums. There's a great story to this album. Check out:

https://mattystecks.bandcamp.com/album/garden-variety

Jeff and his longtime collaborator, bassist Julian Bradford, have just released a piano/bass duo album. It features 7 of Jeff's original tunes, and one new arrangement of an old standard. It's a beautiful conversation from beginning to end. The cover art features the exquisite paintings of Aija Svenne, and the whole project was made possible by John and Shelley Page.
You can find it in Winnipeg at McNally-Robinson, or online at: https://presslaff.bandcamp.com/album/impromptu

Michel Paré and Jeff have had their song Vol du Pélican nominated for a Just Plain Folks music award. JPF is the world's biggest music awards organization. You can listen here

...for big band is complete and ready to go! Jeff has reimagined the famous piano duet for modern jazz big band, and the WJO will perform it on Dec. 11.

Andrea is a fiery jazz and latin flutist from NYC. She and I played together for 10 years before I moved to Winnipeg. I am thrilled to bring her back here for a series of concerts and workshops. Join us at WJO, Mardi Jazz, The Music Studio and The Bassment. (See Calendar)

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra will premier my new arrangement of Peter and the Wolf reimagined for big band. Dec. 13.

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My new double album of extended improvisations with sax/flutist, Michel Paré, is done and will be available soon. These are some extremely varied meditations -- in the sense of Zen shakuhachi music; not necessarily calming, but taking you deep inside yourself. Link will be posted when it's available

The University of Connecticut Jazz Nonet, led by Prof. Earl McDonald has done a brilliant job of performing all of the pieces from The Complete Rebirth of the Cool. Check out their performance here.

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra just released its third album, Suite Messiah, with 11 original arrangements of holiday themed tunes, including our re-imagining of three movements of Handel's Messiah. Not your typical Xmas album!

The Complete Rebirth of the Cool will be featured at the BreakOut West festival's Classical (sic!) Showcase on Oct. 4. We'll do a 7tet concert on Oct. 3 as part of the Jazz Showcase. See Calendar for details.

I'll have a 7-piece group performing Presslaff originals at Maw's Eatery and Bar from 10pm on Saturday, October 3.

The Complete Rebirth of the Cool has been nominated as Jazz Recording of the Year by the Western Canadian Music Awards!

The Complete Rebirth of the Cool rose to #14 on the Roots Music Review Jazz charts this week!

Canada's premier Latin band celebrates 25 years. Dance party and concert at the West End Cultural Centre, May 9, 8 pm.

The Complete Rebirth of the Cool has spent the last 4 weeks on the CMJ US jazz radio charts, rising as high as 16.

Our new cd The Complete Rebirth of the Cool just got airplay in Cape Town, South Africa! We've also been heard recently in The Netherlands and Australia.

Our 1990 album Collective Unconsciousness has been re-released, and is now available for download at
CdBaby.com. There are six original tunes and it features the late great Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers saxophonist, Cornelius Bumpus.

Sanctuary for big band is finished and in the hands of Darryl Ferguson and his young, talented acolytes at Acadia Jr. High. Performances will be in April, May and June