{{Short description|Canadian jazz band}} The '''Hard Rubber Orchestra''' is a jazz band led by composer and trumpeter John Korsrud in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1990, it has a shifting membership of 15-30 musicians. It is known for spotlighting work by contemporary composers and won the Alcan Performing Arts Award in 2004.
== History == The Hard Rubber Orchestra was founded in 1990 by John Korsrud. It had instrumentation similar to a big band, but the music was "an unholy mashup of minimalism, free jazz, noise, and funk".<ref name=Varty-2014-03-30>{{cite news|last=Varty|first=Alexander|title=Hard Rubber Orchestra celebrates 20 years with its greatest hits|url=https://www.straight.com/arts/hard-rubber-orchestra-celebrates-20-years-its-greatest-hits|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Georgia Straight|date=8 November 2010}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 1992, a non-profit "Hard Rubber Music Society" was created as a vehicle for funding the orchestra. It operates with a mix of private donations, city funding, and Canada Council grants.<ref name=hrnms>{{cite web|title=Hard Rubber New Music Society|url=http://www.hardrubber.com/hard-rubber-new-music-society/|publisher=Hard Rubber Orchestra|accessdate=30 March 2014|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419222721/http://www.hardrubber.com/hard-rubber-new-music-society/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Andrews-2013-06-27>{{cite news|last=Andrews|first=Marke|title=Vancouver-based Hard Rubber Orchestra embraces tough challenges|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/vancouver-based-hard-rubber-orchestra-embraces-tough-challenges|accessdate=3 March 2025|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304003624/https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/vancouver-based-hard-rubber-orchestra-embraces-tough-challenges |archive-date=2025-03-04}}</ref>
== Notable commissions == The Hard Rubber Orchestra is characteristically open to new music. It has commissioned over 40 works from 30 contemporary jazz and classical composers.<ref name=hro-bio>{{cite web|title=Hard Rubber Orchestra|url=http://www.hardrubber.com/hard-rubber-ochestra/|publisher=Hard Rubber Orchestra|accessdate=30 March 2014|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419222726/http://www.hardrubber.com/hard-rubber-ochestra/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Here are some highlights. * John Korsrud, Giorgio Magnanensi, and Brad Turner contributed original compositions to the February 2005 multidisciplinary theatre piece, ''Enter/Exit''.<ref name=Smith-2004-03-04>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Janet|title=Prize Lets Rubber Stretch Out|url=https://www.straight.com/arts/prize-lets-rubber-stretch-out|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140912181536/http://www.straight.com/arts/prize-lets-rubber-stretch-out|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2014|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Georgia Straight|date=4 March 2004}}</ref><ref name=Varty-2005-02-24>{{cite news|last=Varty|first=Alexander|title=Hard Rubber Enters a Rave New World|url=https://www.straight.com/arts/hard-rubber-enters-rave-new-world|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Georgia Straight|date=24 February 2005}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * ''Ice Age 2010'', where the Hard Rubber Orchestra played pieces by Peter Hannan, Brad Turner, Tony Wilson, and Bill Runge, while dancers and ice skaters performed on a hockey rink, was part of the ''Cultural Olympiad'' festival which accompanied the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.<ref name=Varty-2010-03-17>{{cite news|last=Varty|first=Alexander|title=The Hard Rubber Orchestra's Ice Age 2010 hits the rink with athletes|url=https://www.straight.com/article-298127/vancouver/hard-rubber-hits-ice-athletes|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Georgia Straight|date=17 March 2010}}</ref> * Linda Bouchard, and Scott Good (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra composer-in-residence), contributed compositions to the Hard Rubber Orchestra's 20th-anniversary concert on May 14, 2011.<ref name="Varty-2014-03-30"/> * Kenny Wheeler composed a 30-minute piece, which the orchestra premiered in Vancouver on October 19, 2013. The orchestra was joined by trumpeter Mike Herriott, singer Christine Duncan, and trombonist Hugh Fraser as conductor.<ref name=Varty-2013-10-15>{{cite news|last=Varty|first=Alexander|title=Hard Rubber Orchestra fetes composer Kenny Wheeler|url=https://www.straight.com/music/503116/hard-rubber-orchestra-fetes-composer-kenny-wheeler|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Georgia Straight|date=30 October 2013}}</ref> * Darcy James Argue composed ''Tensile Curves'', a 30-minute work funded by the Canada Council, which was premiered in Vancouver by the orchestra on 20 June 2014, in a joint concert with Argue's Secret Society.<ref name="Varty-2014-06-11">{{cite news |last1=Varty |first1=Alexander |title=Hard Rubber Orchestra changed Darcy James Argue’s outlook |url=https://www.straight.com/music/664051/hard-rubber-orchestra-changed-darcy-james-argues-outlook |access-date=3 March 2025 |work=The Georgia Straight |date=11 June 2014}}</ref> * Darcy James Argue later composed ''Ebonite'', which the orchestra premiered in Vancouver on May 25, 2019.<ref name="Hard-Rubber-Orchestra-2019-05-25">{{cite web |title=Hard Rubber Orchestra with the New York Heavies |url=https://www.hardrubber.com/new-york-heavies |website=Hard Rubber Orchestra |access-date=3 March 2025}}</ref> * At the same May 25, 2019 concert, the orchestra also premiered ''Source Code'' by [[Harry Stafylakis|Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis]].<ref name="Hard-Rubber-Orchestra-2019-05-25" /> * Marianne Trudel composed ''Nature Speaks: 8 Haikus'', which the orchestra premiered in Vancouver on October 15, 2019.<ref name="vct-2019-10-15">{{cite web |title=Hard Rubber Orchestra with Marianne Trudel |url=https://vancouvercivictheatres.com/events/hard-rubber-orchestra-with-marianne-trudel-oct-15-2019/ |website=Vancouver Civic Theatres |access-date=3 March 2025}}</ref> * John Hollenbeck composed two pieces, ''Sighs'' and ''Owt Shgis'', which the orchestra premiered in Vancouver on May 27, 2023.<ref name="Varty-2023-05-20">{{cite news |last1=Varty |first1=Alexander |title=Composer and percussion master John Hollenbeck works Hard Rubber Orchestra's many colours in new commission |url=https://www.createastir.ca/articles/john-hollenbeck-hard-rubber-orchestra |access-date=3 March 2025 |work=Stir |date=20 May 2023}}</ref>
== Discography == *Hard Rubber Orchestra: ''Cruel Yet Fair'', 1997 Les Disques Victo – VICTO cd059 *Hard Rubber Orchestra: ''Rub Harder'', 2001 Les Disques Victo – VICTO cd 080 *John Korsrud's Hard Rubber Orchestra: ''Crush'', 2015, self-released *Hard Rubber Orchestra: ''Kenny Wheeler: Suite for Hard Rubber Orchestra'', 2018 JTR *Hard Rubber Orchestra: ''Iguana'' 2022; Redshift TK520
== Notable collaborations ==
* The orchestra was the on-camera backing band for the CBC special, ''Cantata for the King'', which aired on 3 March 2005.<ref name="IMDB-cantata-2005-03-03">{{cite web |title=Cantata for the King |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458220/ |website=IMDB |access-date=4 March 2025}}</ref> It was "a post modern musical celebrating the music and genius of the King of Rock and Roll", Elvis Presley. It featured punk artist Joe Keithley, soprano Robin Driedger-Klassen, and actor Kevin McNulty.
* On 9 May 2015, the orchestra featured composer Christine Jensen and her sister, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, at a concert launching the orchestra's album ''Crush'', and celebrating its 25th anniversary.<ref name="Varty-2015-05-11">{{cite news |last1=Varty |first1=Alexander |title=John Korsrud's Hard Rubber Orchestra remains as uncategorizable as ever |url=https://www.straight.com/music/448436/john-korsruds-hard-rubber-orchestra-remains-uncategorizable-ever |access-date=4 March 2025 |work=The Georgia Straight |date=11 May 2015}}</ref>
== Awards == In 2004, the Hard Rubber Orchestra won the C$60,000 Alcan Performing Arts Award. This funded their February 2005 work, ''Enter/Exit'', a multidisciplinary theatre piece featuring compositions by John Korsrud, Giorgio Magnanensi, and Brad Turner. Videographers HoneyBee Visuals, set designer Andreas Kahre, and director Kim Collier also contributed.<ref name="Smith-2004-03-04"/>
Their album ''Cruel Yet Fair'' was a Juno Award nominee for Best Contemporary Jazz Album at the Juno Awards of 1999.<ref name="Junos 1999 Search Results">{{cite web |title=Past Nominees + Winners |url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1999&search_year_val2=1999&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=hard+rubber&submit=submit |website=Juno Awards |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>
Their album ''Iguana'' was a Juno Award nominee for Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/news/here-are-all-the-2023-juno-nominees-1.6724343 "Here are all the 2023 Juno nominees"]. CBC Music, January 31, 2023.</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite web|title=Hard Rubber Orchestra|url=https://www.hardrubber.com/|publisher=Hard Rubber Orchestra|accessdate=29 April 2022}} * {{cite web|title=Hard Rubber New Music Society|url=http://www.hardrubber.com/hard-rubber-new-music-society/|publisher=Hard Rubber Orchestra|accessdate=30 March 2014|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419222721/http://www.hardrubber.com/hard-rubber-new-music-society/|url-status=dead}} * {{cite web|last=Couture|first=François|title=Artist Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/hard-rubber-orchestra-mn0000724922|work=AllMusic.com|accessdate=30 March 2014}}
{{Authority control}} Category:Canadian experimental musical groups Category:Canadian jazz ensembles Category:Musical groups from Vancouver