Badge Époque Ensemble

A Canadian project led by Max Turnbull, Badge Époque Ensemble brings together Chris Bezant, Karen Ng, Alia O’Brien, Giosuè Rosati, Ed Squires and Jay Anderson in a variable lineup that alternates between instrumental pieces and sung tracks. Badge Époque Ensemble develops music where jazz, progressive rock, psychedelic rock and funk intersect, working with collective arrangements, flexible rhythms and an ongoing interplay between guitar, saxophone, flute, bass and drums. The project also features guest vocalists such as Jennifer Castle, Dorothea Paas, James Baley and Meg Remy, which broadens its palette toward song-based forms while retaining its instrumental grounding. After a self-titled debut released in 2019, Badge Époque Ensemble issued Self-Help in 2020 and Clouds of Joy in 2022. The group is part of a Canadian scene attentive to the crossings of improvisation, off-centre pop songwriting and psych heritage, with a collective approach remaining central to Badge Époque Ensemble’s identity.