Bellbird - The Call

Taking their name and sonic inspiration from the bird responsible for one of the loudest and most distinct calls in the animal kingdom, Bellbird explores themes of interconnectedness between musicians, genres, and the natural world. Their second album and first for Constellation, The Call draws directly from the white bellbird itself, whose extreme, distinctive cry was analyzed and woven directly into the album’s explosively beautiful title track.

The Montréal-based quartet of Claire Devlin (tenor sax), Allison Burik (alto sax, bass clarinet), Eli Davidovici (bass), and Mili Hong (drums) began playing together during pandemic park jams, inspired by the jazz and free improv scene that had formed around Café Résonance. But the four Montréal transplants fully cohered as Bellbird after an invitation to play the 2021 Ottawa Jazz Festival, and they’ve since been refining their rapport and collective voice over years of touring and playing together. The quartet pushes beyond their acclaimed 2023 self-released debut Root in Tandem, embracing a deeply collaborative compositional process. Having previously split compositional duties, the eight songs on The Call emerged from workshopping musical cues and improv games, drawing on poems and conversations exchanged during residencies outside the city. The result is a powerful, cohesive statement that blends their jazz-centric instrumentation with influences from rock, fusion, and folk, from Mingus and Eric Dolphy to Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time and indie rock.