Performances

Nervous Systems – Musician Biographies

By Heather Close
2 min read | March 17, 2023

Carsten Rubeling – Musical Director – Trombone, Keyboards

Carsten Rubeling is one of Canada’s most active and dynamic trombonists and composers. Originally from Rocky Mountain House Alberta, Carsten performs a wide array of music from jazz and classical music to hip hop, salsa and almost everything in between.  He has released two albums, VOLK//PEOPLE (2019) and Headwaters (2022) on Inner Ocean Records.  After many shows with DJD this is his first as Composer and Musical Director.

Carsten has performed and recorded with Sean Jones, Ingrid Jensen, Seamus Blake, Brian Lynch, Brad Turner, David Braid, Nick Fraser, Laila Biali, Jens Lindemann, the Foothills Brass, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Jan Arden and Weird Al.

Daniel Nava – Bass

Daniel Nava is a Juno Nominated Musician, composer, producer, arranger, and songwriter from Venezuela. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry. He started music studies at age 10. A founder of the Symphony Orchestra of the Zulian Young Adults, performing with Gustavo Dudamel, Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and others. At age 18, he started his bachelors at Haute École De Musique de Lausanne, in Switzerland, performing in music festivals like Montreux Jazz, Cully Jazz, Festival De Jazz De Fribourg and Fête De La Musique in Geneva, Lausanne and Fribourg. Daniel relocated to Miami in 2015 where he taught upright bass and worked with artists like Franco De Vita, Nacho, Tony Succar, Marc Anthony, and others. He performed on stages like American Airlines Arena, Radio City Music Hall, and many others. Currently based in Canada, he works with many artists, has been performing at Jazz YYC since 2019, and is currently working on his first solo project.

Luis Tovar – Percussion

Luis Tovar, a Venezuelan-born musician, has earned a Juno nomination for his outstanding percussion skills. Since moving to Alberta, Canada 16 years ago, he has made a name for himself on the Western Canadian music scene. With 25 years of professional experience mastering world percussion instruments, he is the leader and creative force behind the area’s top salsa band, ‘Distrito Salsa.’ Regardless of the musical genre or collaborators, Luis Tovar brings a unique blend of energy and positive dynamics to the stage or recording studio, drawing on his Venezuelan/Afro-Caribbean roots to contribute to any project. He has played a prominent role in a variety of musical groups, including the Esteban Herrera Quintet, Montuno West, Tendavillage, Perpie Nwa Olisa, Notas de 4, and THE GRANDSTAND SHOW. Most recently, Luis collaborated with Sabrina Naz Comanescu to create a piece for DJD’s production, Old/New/Borrowed/Blue called ‘The Storm We Are In’.

André Wickenheiser – Trumpet

André Wickenheiser began his musical studies at Mount Royal University where he completed an Artist Diploma in jazz performance. From there, he went on to finish both a Bachelors Degree, and Masters Degree in jazz performance at McGill University in Montreal. André is a busy educator, composer/arranger, and freelance musician performing regularly in many local groups. He is on the music faculty at Ambrose University, the Mount Royal Conservatory, and the University of Calgary. André has performed with artists and groups including Laila Biali, Jens Lindemann, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra.

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April 27 – May 14, 2023

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