meet the crew!!
"I get to play with some of the top cats out of the East Coast. It's a good thing too, 'cause a bit back, I had started to play more on my own and it was zero fun. I said, 'kids... I need some help!'
Luckily, I know some of the best players, cut from the best cloth, and together... we just give'r. Meet the good mates I am blessed to call bandmates..."
-r
Luke Arsenault, bass
Luke is a versatile beast on the bass who regularly performs a wide range of styles as a freelance musician. He first started playing with Rankin in 2014, covering some live shows with the band Party Boots. Now, he supplies the low end as the other half of the rhythm section of the Broken Reeds alongside Shane.
Shane Martin, drums
Holding down the groove and singing his heart out, Shane Martin is that smiling drummer behind Rankin & the Broken Reeds. Shane has been playing with Rankin since 2014, when he was asked to join the band Party Boots. After countless shows and a killer album with Party Boots, his style and skill have evolved and he has become a 'someone to watch' in the Halifax music scene.
Luke Levy, guitar
Hailing from the rugged shores of Sober Island, Luke Levy proudly slings the 6-string for Rankin & the Broken Reeds. He first started doing one-off performances with Rankin in 2018 and a musical bond was quickly formed. Formerly of Halifax greats the Regal Beagle Band and Floodland, Luke is right at home in this eclectic collective.
Calen Kinney, fiddle
Calen Kinney is a Halifax based violinist who hopped into the music scene in 2011 with the beloved Regal Beagle Band. Now, as a member of the Stanfields, he has performed on stages across the world. Calen has dipped his toes in just about every genre, from Celtic to hard rock and electronic to bluegrass. He also is half of the musical comedy duo, Tommy and Calen. Though fairly new, it is already a hit on many cruise ships. His latest adventure is as a member of the Broken Reeds.
James Shaw, sax
James Shaw is a Halifax based saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator. He is the Director of Jazz at the Halifax Music Co-op and faculty for the 1st year Music Arts program at NSCC. Being very active as a freelance musician, he has become an icon in the Halifax and Maritime music scene.
Iain Beaton, fiddle
Iain Beaton is a mathematician by day, fiddle player by night. He grew up in Coldbrook, NS and also has strong ties to Mabou, Cape Breton. Iain first played with Rankin in 2019 and is known for his playing in other Halifax high-energy bands, such as the Fourth Well and the East Enders.
Trevor Wentzell, keys/sax
Trevor Wentzell is a multi-instrumentalist and music educator from Lower Sackville N.S and has been playing and studying music since the age of five. Trevor holds a music degree from St.FX University and can always be seen and heard following his passion for music, jamming it up on hammond organ, piano, flute, clarinet and of course, saxophone. Playing mostly with jazz, blues and funk bands, he is a member of the Back Ally Big Band, the Chronos Band, Zim Gars Trio, Tom Collins Band, Wentzell/Burton/Haley Organ Trio, Zulkamoon and the Broken Reeds, just to name a few... Trevor has opened for musical greats such as Charles Bradley, John Scofield and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
Tori Cameron, vocals
Tori Cameron is a self taught musician/vocalist who started her music career at the tender age of thirteen. Fast forward 17 years, Tori has more experience than musicians twice her senior. She is one of the most familiar faces of the Halifax music scene, currently performing as an award winning freelance artist.