8EAST Recording Project

8EAST Recording Project 

The 8EAST Recording Project aims to create recorded documents of select performances that happen at the space 8EAST. These documents might be in the form of digital recordings and/or physical media. 

This first project was supported by the City of Vancouver's Cultural Learning and Sharing Grant with mentors Jesse Zubot and Nichole Mitchell facilitated by Matthew Ariaratnam. The first recording for the project was made on April 11th, 2026.

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Album: Live at 8EAST: April 11, 2026  
Artist: Ariaratnam / Avendaño / Kidane / Whitworth / Yohannes 
Release Date: October 20, 2026 
Track Listing: 
I 
II 
Audio Streaming

Live at 8EAST: April 11, 2026, is a collaboration between friends Feven Kidane, Nebyu Yohannes, Matthew Ariaratnam, Nikko Whitworth, and Adrian Avendaño joined together in an improvised meeting that takes place at 8EAST. A space on the corner of Pender and Carrall between Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside. Run by the New Orchestra Workshop (NOW) Society that has hosted many nights, workshops, and festivals of improvised music from musicians all over the world and is home to a diverse community of improvisors in Vancouver, BC. This will be a first release on the 8EAST Recording Project that is archiving recordings at 8EAST and other performances curated by the NOW Society.  

The improvised performance creates spontaneous sonic world building to sit oneself inside of featuring melodic brass on top of rhythmic undercurrents, pairs of gentle duos, textured sul ponticello double bass solos, pitch shifted guitar, and strong bombastic full ensemble sections. Weaving in and out of sonic palettes – some smooth and long, others short and crisp.

The ensemble involved in this recording all have their own sophisticated artistic practices themselves playing in several music scenes in Vancouver (Free Improv, Jazz, Grindcore, Pop, Ambient) that are melded together in this recording. The evening has been captured and polished to be able to share beyond its usual ephemeral experience to demonstrate the high-quality music that is created at the unassuming space, 8EAST. 

Performers: 
Feven Kidane – Trumpet, Nebyu Yohannes – Trombone, Matthew Ariaratnam – Guitar, Nikko Whitworth - Double Bass, Adrian Avendaño - Drums 

Artwork - marcela oñate-trules, Design - Jocelyn Sanchez, Recording - Thomas J. Hoeller, Mixing and Mastering – James Meger