Uzeb

Quebec, Canada-based jazz fusion band Uzeb was formed in 1976 by Michel Cusson (guitar) and Alain Caron (bass guitar). Initially calling themselves Eusėbe Jazz, they settled on the shortened name of Uzeb by the time drummer Paul Brochu joined in 1978. The group did work with a variety of keyboardists including Stephan Montanaro, Michel Cyr, Jean St-Jacques, and others, but by 1987, Uzeb was officially a trio. Uzeb made their recorded debut with 1982’s Live in Bracknell followed closely that year by their critically-acclaimed studio album Fast Emotion. With a sound that was situated on the borders of jazz, rock, and blues, Uzeb became popular in Europe and Canada. Further releases include You Be Easy (1984), Between the Lines (1985), Live à l’Olympia (1986), Noisy Nights (1988), and Uzeb Club (1989). The group won numerous awards in Canada over the course of their career including the Quebec Félix Award for best album in 1983, 1984, 1986, and 1987. While the group’s popularity exceeded any of their Canadian jazz contemporaries, they never managed to gain commercial traction in the United States. Uzeb split up in 1992 but reunited in 2016 and played numerous live shows in Europe and Canada the following year. Highlights from those live shows were compiled on the 2019 release R3union Live.