Band members
Ben Gilbert leads and composes the music for Cope Land, as well as writing lyrics, playing guitar, singing and rapping within the group. Always a sponge to a very wide variety of music, he brings these multiple influences together within this project. Born and raised in Montreal, he in formally trained in both classical and jazz guitar, from both the Montreal Conservatory of Music and Mcgill University, which eventually led to a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance. Over the years he played in many different contexts, specializing in rock, jazz, and pop. He currently plays with the Dominique Poirier Quartet, Lauriane Pothier, Tevet Sela, Dreamer and Noé Talbot. Within Cope Land, he strives to bring honesty to the music, trying to accurately transmit the music that flows from him, without trying to fit a specific mold.
Born in Montreal and raised in the Mile End neighborhood, Abigail Galwey is a born performer. As the granddaughter of writer Marie Cardinal and theater director Jean-Pierre Ronfard, the arts in all their forms have always been at the center of her world. After reaching the quarterfinals on the TV show La Voix as part of Isabelle Boulay’s team in 2017, and following numerous collaborations and extensive artistic exploration, Abigail has settled at long last into her artistic voice. While her trip-hop project Feed the Beast explores darkness, The Sound Of Eddy reflects light. Led by herself and her longtime partner, Danny Trudeau (Dominique Fils-Aimé), the psychedelic neo-soul duo is signed to the Ensoul Records label.
Alex Desjardins expertly plays in jazz, popular music and classical contexts, both on stage, and in the studio. In addition to graduating from McGill University with a degree in jazz performance, Alex has played among others with the Anomalie Big band, Yelo Molo and the Orchestre National De Jazz de Montréal. He can also be heard on many albums (Alexandre Leblanc ''Musique pour jeunes fous'', Fred Tremblay ''Hurlez'', Lynda Lemay ''Il était onze fois'', Fat Kid Big Band ''New Beginnings'', etc.), which testify to the impressive stylistic range of the trombonist. Alex also brings his own compositions to life with his own projects: the creative music trio Trio Intersidéral and the Utopik Jazz quartet. All this makes him a complete musician with a rich musical personality who can perform in just about any situation. As a member of Cope Land, he brings his intensity, technical excellence and rhythmic wizardry to the music, along with the unique sound of the electric trombone.
Julien Pageau-Grégoire is a Montreal based electric bassist, known for his impressive technique, creativity, and versatility. Having previously played in many active bands, such as El Son Sono, he has been a perfect addition to Cope Land's sound.
Gregory Kustka-Tsimbidis is a drummer, composer, and educator based in Montreal, QC. Known for his versatility, Gregory is equally at home in rock and groove settings as he is playing jazz and experimental music. After over ten years living in Montreal, and a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from Mcgill University, Gregory has established himself as an in-demand sideman, contributing his unique voice and powerful groove to artists such as Gas Station Mentality, Boulila, and James Parm. As a composer, Gregory's music is inspired by an eclectic range of influences, blending elements of jazz, classical, and folk music together to create pieces that walk the line between instrumental chamber music and songwriting. Within Cope Land, his versatility has made him perfect for the project, contributing pulverising beats, powerful fills, as well as deeply sensitive playing and tasteful grooves.