SUSSEX – PARADE DAY 
Sussex is the brainchild of Michael Emenau and Rob Lutes. The two renowned musicians were childhood friends and high school bandmates in New Brunswick. They went their separate ways following university—Michael to Tokyo, San Francisco and Paris, where he made a name for himself as a world-class jazz percussionist and composer; Lutes to Montreal, where he has recorded six albums and earned a reputation as one of Canada’s finest songwriters and roots performers.
Reunited in 2012, the pair began to write together for the first time in 20 years. Encouraged by the results, and by CALQ and Canada Council grants, they decided to make a record. Enlisting the services of some of Montreal’s finest musicians, including Benoit Charest (guitar), Josh Zubot (violin), Sage Reynolds (bass), Ivanhoé Jolicoeur (trumpet/flugelhorn), they went into the legendary Studio Frisson in Montreal in Fall 2014 and Winter 2015 and came out with
Parade Day.
Featuring a unique mix of instruments on 11 compelling and diverse originals and the Randy Newman gem “Dayton, Ohio, 1903,” the album represents a modern day love letter to the early jazz, blues and folk music that were their primary musical influences.
In a live setting, this new ensemble calls on its diverse talents and extensive experience to spin this mix of genres into an inspiring musical experience.
BookingRÉSONANCES/PS PARÉ
C.P. 111, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville
Québec, J3V 4P8
Téléphone: 514-521-4445
Agence ResonancesReviews ‟An absolutely charming mix of blues, jazz and folk.” - Metro Montreal
"...a truly great evening...energy, intricacy, texture, nuance, expressiveness, and power, but all with great subtlety. Suffice to say, a great show."
- Thom Meredith, AD, Sainte-Anne Blues Cafe
''A feast for the ears. An excellent album.'' - Rein van den Berg, Music that Demands Attention
''What this eclectic group came up with is a treat. Lutes rose to the occasion with sophisticated songs that make the most of these instrumental colours. They say they were aiming for a sound that incorporated their early jazz and early blues influences and while these are apparent, they’ve quite clearly moved far beyond that. The combination of Lutes’ songs, his strong vocals and the band arrangements makes this an album to watch for when this year’s ‘best of’ lists come out.''
-Toronto Blues Society - Maple Blues Magazine
''Whether or not veteran blues/roots performer Rob Lutes and jazz vibraphonist Michael Emenau set out to create something totally new is beside the point; they did, it's here in this genre-ignoring group, Sussex.... Lutes, a spry and light-hearted lyricist, keeps the fun going and the pace lively. Emenau, on that most heavenly instrument, pours on a supply of wonderful, surprising notes, a beautiful compliment to Lutes' aching vocals. This is new, I want more.''
Read full review. - Bob Mersereau, CBC, Top 100 Blog
''With
Sussex, Rob has taken his music to a new level. The jazz-meets-roots fusion really comes alive on such numbers as “Truth and Lies,” with some nimble, Reinhardt-like guitar lines by Ben; “Superman’s Escape,” a bouncy song with the vibes, guitars, violin, bass and horn all contributing to the toe-tapping groove; and “Sparkle Blues,” a slow, jazz ballad.''
Read full review. Mike Regenstreif, Folk Roots/Folk Branches
Contact: 514-515-4413;
sussexrootsmusic@gmail.com 
