Ginger Beef is on a mission to drag instrumental pop back into the mainstream. The band is the first major collaboration of the husband and wife team of award-winning flutist Jiajia Li and veteran producer/multi-instrumentalist Warren Tse (AKA MSG). Since moving to Calgary after getting her master’s degree in classical performance, Li’s profile has soared in numerous local music scenes, and you’ve almost certainly heard MSG’s work, even if you don’t know it (he is also the organist for the Calgary Flames).

The resulting combination is Ginger Beef, which balances dazzling virtuosic performances and catchy melodies with deep grooves that lend pop appeal. MSG envisions Ginger Beef as a ‘funky Van Halen,’ — noting that brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen were classically trained pianists. The music is “a little exotic, crunchy, and surprisingly satisfying”.

Ginger Beef brings high-energy instrumental acrobatics to life with Li on a range of flutes — both Chinese and western — and MSG on synth, keys, and guitar. Backing up the duo are a lineup of top R&B and jazz players from Calgary’s robust Gospel music scene, like slap-funk bassist Dave Lewis, and drummers Orlando Retana, JD Johnson and Steve Jackson.

Ginger Beef debuted their first single and music video, “Flashback” at the Camp Sled Island event in 2021, and performed at the 2022 and 2023 Sled Island Music Festival. Ginger Beef is excited to release their self-titled debut album on Oct 27, 2023.