Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 54
May 1, 2019
Groundbreaking Indigenous Docu-Series Future History Returns for a Second Season Premiering May 14 2019
From a media release:
Groundbreaking Indigenous Docu-Series
Future History Returns for a Second Season Premiering May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on APTN
Season Two shares Indigenous stories that incite discussion and debate around Canadian history as we know it
• Learn more about the upcoming season here
TORONTO – Following the success of its trailblazing first season, Future History returns to explore stories of Indigenous communities at the forefront of the reclamation movement in Canada. Future History, Season Two (13×.30) premieres Tuesday, May 14 2019, at 8 p.m. ET exclusively on APTN East and 8 p.m. MT on APTN West.
This smart, heartfelt docu-series is produced and directed by award-winning Canadian producer and actress Jennifer Podemski (Empire of Dirt, Dance Me Outside, Cardinal, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and co-produced by Geoff Ewart (Empire of Dirt, The Associates, The Border). Future History is written by actress and writer Tamara Podemski (Coroner, Heartland, Four Sheets to the Wind) and co-hosted by notable Indigenous activist and artist Sarain Fox (RISE) and Kris Nahrgang, an archeologist reclaiming his identity. The co-hosts bond together as they explore their own biases and beliefs, journeying into Indigenous communities to meet innovators who are harnessing Indigenous Knowledge as a way to rewrite history and transform their future, ultimately reconnecting with their land and heritage.
“We’re thrilled to be back for a second season, sharing the incredible and inspiring ways these communities are shaping the future with wisdom from their ancestors,” says Jennifer Podemski, President of Redcloud Studios Inc. “In Season Two, our storytellers delve deep to share differing Indigenous perspectives and open the conversation to provoke dialogue and debate.”
Audiences this season can expect to be captivated by a 13-year old water activist and cultural warrior; find joy and get down at a youth dance and music workshop; hear valuable and compassionate stories from a suicide prevention and intervention organization and understand how Indigenous Knowledge is implemented in cutting edge social science research, childbirth and prenatal care, just to name a few. A full list of episode descriptions is available here.
More about the series’ producer/director and co-hosts:
Jennifer PodemskiJennifer Podemski,
Producer & Director, Future History
Of mixed First Nations and Israeli descent, Jennifer’s acting credits include Cardinal, Hard Rock Medical, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Fire Song, Sensitive Skin, Blackstone, The Diviners, and Dance Me Outside. She has produced titles including Mocassin Flats, The Other Side, Empire of Dirt as well as the The Indspire Awards. Jennifer owns and founded Redcloud Studios Inc. which produces Future History as well as APTN’s famed paranormal series The Other Side. Jennifer has been nominated for numerous Canadian Screen Awards and in 2018 was awarded ACTRA Toronto's 2018 Award of Excellence.
Sarain FoxSarain Fox,
Co-Host, Future History
Sarain is of Anishinaabe lineage and a multi-faceted performer and passionate spokesperson for her culture and community. Sarain was cast as Sacheen Little Feather in The Andy Warhol Interview Project, involved in the ARG re-release of the CBS TV drama Jericho and is the host of RISE on Vice Canada. As a fashion model she has graced the front covers of PIE, Redskin and Spirit magazines. She is a member of United Collective; a New York City based Australian aboriginal modern dance collective and a member of Khawaii Dance Theatre.
Kris NahrgangKris Nahrgang,
Co-Host, Future History
Kris is Mississauga (Ojibway) with Treaty Status held at Curve Lake. A multi-disciplinary artist in wood, stone and traditional oil mediums, Kris’s work is found in numerous private and corporate collections including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and singer Anne Murray. In 2017, Kris was commissioned by the Canadian National Exhibition to produce a 36’ UNTY POLE (totem) which received national and international acclaim from both the public and media.
Future History is made possible by the generous support of Canada Media Fund (CMF), Rogers Documentary Fund and APTN.
Groundbreaking Indigenous Docu-Series
Future History Returns for a Second Season Premiering May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on APTN
Season Two shares Indigenous stories that incite discussion and debate around Canadian history as we know it
• Learn more about the upcoming season here
TORONTO – Following the success of its trailblazing first season, Future History returns to explore stories of Indigenous communities at the forefront of the reclamation movement in Canada. Future History, Season Two (13×.30) premieres Tuesday, May 14 2019, at 8 p.m. ET exclusively on APTN East and 8 p.m. MT on APTN West.
This smart, heartfelt docu-series is produced and directed by award-winning Canadian producer and actress Jennifer Podemski (Empire of Dirt, Dance Me Outside, Cardinal, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and co-produced by Geoff Ewart (Empire of Dirt, The Associates, The Border). Future History is written by actress and writer Tamara Podemski (Coroner, Heartland, Four Sheets to the Wind) and co-hosted by notable Indigenous activist and artist Sarain Fox (RISE) and Kris Nahrgang, an archeologist reclaiming his identity. The co-hosts bond together as they explore their own biases and beliefs, journeying into Indigenous communities to meet innovators who are harnessing Indigenous Knowledge as a way to rewrite history and transform their future, ultimately reconnecting with their land and heritage.“We’re thrilled to be back for a second season, sharing the incredible and inspiring ways these communities are shaping the future with wisdom from their ancestors,” says Jennifer Podemski, President of Redcloud Studios Inc. “In Season Two, our storytellers delve deep to share differing Indigenous perspectives and open the conversation to provoke dialogue and debate.”
Audiences this season can expect to be captivated by a 13-year old water activist and cultural warrior; find joy and get down at a youth dance and music workshop; hear valuable and compassionate stories from a suicide prevention and intervention organization and understand how Indigenous Knowledge is implemented in cutting edge social science research, childbirth and prenatal care, just to name a few. A full list of episode descriptions is available here.
More about the series’ producer/director and co-hosts:
Jennifer PodemskiJennifer Podemski, Producer & Director, Future History
Of mixed First Nations and Israeli descent, Jennifer’s acting credits include Cardinal, Hard Rock Medical, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Fire Song, Sensitive Skin, Blackstone, The Diviners, and Dance Me Outside. She has produced titles including Mocassin Flats, The Other Side, Empire of Dirt as well as the The Indspire Awards. Jennifer owns and founded Redcloud Studios Inc. which produces Future History as well as APTN’s famed paranormal series The Other Side. Jennifer has been nominated for numerous Canadian Screen Awards and in 2018 was awarded ACTRA Toronto's 2018 Award of Excellence.
Sarain FoxSarain Fox, Co-Host, Future History
Sarain is of Anishinaabe lineage and a multi-faceted performer and passionate spokesperson for her culture and community. Sarain was cast as Sacheen Little Feather in The Andy Warhol Interview Project, involved in the ARG re-release of the CBS TV drama Jericho and is the host of RISE on Vice Canada. As a fashion model she has graced the front covers of PIE, Redskin and Spirit magazines. She is a member of United Collective; a New York City based Australian aboriginal modern dance collective and a member of Khawaii Dance Theatre.
Kris NahrgangKris Nahrgang, Co-Host, Future History
Kris is Mississauga (Ojibway) with Treaty Status held at Curve Lake. A multi-disciplinary artist in wood, stone and traditional oil mediums, Kris’s work is found in numerous private and corporate collections including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and singer Anne Murray. In 2017, Kris was commissioned by the Canadian National Exhibition to produce a 36’ UNTY POLE (totem) which received national and international acclaim from both the public and media.
Future History is made possible by the generous support of Canada Media Fund (CMF), Rogers Documentary Fund and APTN.
Travel Germany: Handel Festival / Händelfestspiele - Halle (Saale), Germany May 31 to June 6, 2019
From a media release:
Travel Germany:
Celebrate the Timeless Music of Handel in his Home Town
Handel Festival - Halle (Saale), Germany
May 31 to June 6, 2019
• Buy Advance Tickets
Every year celebrated baroque musicians perform at the Handel Festival in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, the birthplace of George Frideric Handel.
Musical greats such as the Argentinian mezzo soprano Bernarda Fink and The Dunedin Consort & Players from Scotland are among those to have made guest appearances. The festival traditionally closes with a performance of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks at the Galgenberg gorge, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
Last year's opening concert in the market square:
George Frideric Handel composed a total of 67 operas and oratorios, making him one of the most important composers in history. The Handel Festival is a spectacular place to learn what this actually means. His hometown of Halle will commemorate the musician from 31 May to 16 June this year.
Statue of Handel in the Marktplatz, Halle, GermanyThe theme of "Sensitive, Heroic, Sublime – Women in Music at the Time of Handel" will be translated to sound at more than 100 events. Take in concerts by the Handel monument or hear the carillon from the Red Tower. Enjoy nights of organ music, cruises down the Saale river with "Water Music", promenade concerts with a picnic or the famous "Music for the Royal Fireworks" in the Galgenberg Gorge.
Handel Festival in Halle
31.05.2019 - 16.06.2019
Venue
Händel-Haus
Große Nikolaistraße 5
06108 Halle (Saale)
The closing concert - complete with fireworks - from the 2017 Händelfestspiele
Travel Germany:
Celebrate the Timeless Music of Handel in his Home Town
Handel Festival - Halle (Saale), Germany
May 31 to June 6, 2019
• Buy Advance Tickets
Every year celebrated baroque musicians perform at the Handel Festival in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, the birthplace of George Frideric Handel.
Musical greats such as the Argentinian mezzo soprano Bernarda Fink and The Dunedin Consort & Players from Scotland are among those to have made guest appearances. The festival traditionally closes with a performance of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks at the Galgenberg gorge, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
Last year's opening concert in the market square:
George Frideric Handel composed a total of 67 operas and oratorios, making him one of the most important composers in history. The Handel Festival is a spectacular place to learn what this actually means. His hometown of Halle will commemorate the musician from 31 May to 16 June this year.
Statue of Handel in the Marktplatz, Halle, GermanyThe theme of "Sensitive, Heroic, Sublime – Women in Music at the Time of Handel" will be translated to sound at more than 100 events. Take in concerts by the Handel monument or hear the carillon from the Red Tower. Enjoy nights of organ music, cruises down the Saale river with "Water Music", promenade concerts with a picnic or the famous "Music for the Royal Fireworks" in the Galgenberg Gorge.Handel Festival in Halle
31.05.2019 - 16.06.2019
Venue
Händel-Haus
Große Nikolaistraße 5
06108 Halle (Saale)
The closing concert - complete with fireworks - from the 2017 Händelfestspiele
Eclectic Singer Songwriter: Patrick Ames - Patrick Ames (Independent / Apr 4 2019)
Eclectic Singer Songwriter:
Patrick Ames - Patrick Ames
(Independent / Apr 4, 2019)
• Stream It On Spotify
Inventive song writing and unusual arrangements combine with an eclectic musical sensibility in this intriguing EP release from Patrick Ames.
The EPs four songs offer wildly different aspects of his music. I Want You combines his urgent, quasi-spoken word delivery with sweet vocal harmonies over a compelling, minimalist groove. He adds a nimble acoustic guitar line over it all in an unusually beautiful mash-up.
Lyrically, he covers familiar terrain of love and loss with a fresh eye and a quirky take.
While you were making babies,
I saw on the sofa, all by myself...
While You Were Making Babies is a bouncy pop song about regrets in life, in contrast to the moody and atmospheric Queen Kae, or the Latin-infused Ti Amaba Locamente.
In his early 60s, Ames shares his stage with vocalists Chana and Mikaela, along with Argentinian guitarist Paulo Augustin Rzeszut. Ames began writing songs in 1968 when he was 14 years old. He inherited a guitar and dozens of classic albums from his older brothers who went off to college, but eventually dropped out of the music scene.
Now, in his early 60s, Ames has returned to songwriting armed with decades of wordsmithing, book publishing, and decades of practice. Ames performs regularly at small venues around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Track List:
1. I Want You
2. While You Were Making Babies
3. Queen Kae
4. Te Amaba Locamente
Musicians:
Patrick Ames: Guitars, midi-guitar synth, vocals; Chana Matthews: vocals; Mikaila Matthews: vocals; Paulo Augustin Rzeszut: guitars
Stay in Touch:
http://www.patrickames.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPULxySnTDo
https://soundcloud.com/patrickames/
https://twitter.com/patrickames
https://www.facebook.com/2patrickames/
Studio takes from making the album:
Patrick Ames - Patrick Ames
(Independent / Apr 4, 2019)
• Stream It On Spotify
Inventive song writing and unusual arrangements combine with an eclectic musical sensibility in this intriguing EP release from Patrick Ames.
The EPs four songs offer wildly different aspects of his music. I Want You combines his urgent, quasi-spoken word delivery with sweet vocal harmonies over a compelling, minimalist groove. He adds a nimble acoustic guitar line over it all in an unusually beautiful mash-up.
Lyrically, he covers familiar terrain of love and loss with a fresh eye and a quirky take.
While you were making babies,
I saw on the sofa, all by myself...
While You Were Making Babies is a bouncy pop song about regrets in life, in contrast to the moody and atmospheric Queen Kae, or the Latin-infused Ti Amaba Locamente.
In his early 60s, Ames shares his stage with vocalists Chana and Mikaela, along with Argentinian guitarist Paulo Augustin Rzeszut. Ames began writing songs in 1968 when he was 14 years old. He inherited a guitar and dozens of classic albums from his older brothers who went off to college, but eventually dropped out of the music scene.
Now, in his early 60s, Ames has returned to songwriting armed with decades of wordsmithing, book publishing, and decades of practice. Ames performs regularly at small venues around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Track List:
1. I Want You
2. While You Were Making Babies
3. Queen Kae
4. Te Amaba Locamente
Musicians:
Patrick Ames: Guitars, midi-guitar synth, vocals; Chana Matthews: vocals; Mikaila Matthews: vocals; Paulo Augustin Rzeszut: guitars
Stay in Touch:
http://www.patrickames.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPULxySnTDo
https://soundcloud.com/patrickames/
https://twitter.com/patrickames
https://www.facebook.com/2patrickames/
Studio takes from making the album:
Ambient Instrumental: Javier Velez aka Versal - Versal (Independent / Mar 3, 2019)
Ambient Instrumental:
Javier Velez aka Versal - Versal
(Independent / Mar 3, 2019)
• Stream it on Spotify
Fans of classically inspired ambient music - or is it classical crossover? - will love this new and melodic album by Javier Velez aka Versal.
Versal, is a Houston based composer, CG artist and programmer with a long but interrupted history in music. His mother taught him to read and write from the age of three, which led to his skipping grades and arriving at college at age 16.
He studied harmony, composition, orchestration and counterpoint under professor James McCoy, PhD. His musical ambitions took a back seat to professional necessity for many decades, but in the meantime, Versal has worked on several films and documentaries in multiple capacities, as editor, colorist, visual FX artist, director of photography, composer, and director. He came back to music in the last few years.
Versal's classical formal training comes through on the well structured pieces that offer harmonic and melodic. They have a narrative kind of drive that would lend themselves readily to movie or other soundtrack use. Whether it's a backdrop to work or relaxing, the music offers a largely upbeat mode and a sweeping kind of cinematic vision that piques the imagination. El Camino a Montserrat, in particular, is evocative, adding a note of mystery and intrigue to the mix.
This is his first release, and it represents over nine months of work. He plans on adding two additional tracks as a bonus in the coming months.
Track List:
1. Eternal
2. Flamenco en Culebra
3. Dawn
4. Carrousel
5. All Together
6. El Camino a Montserrat
Musicians: Javier Velez, aka Versal
A sampler:
Javier Velez aka Versal - Versal
(Independent / Mar 3, 2019)
• Stream it on Spotify
Fans of classically inspired ambient music - or is it classical crossover? - will love this new and melodic album by Javier Velez aka Versal.
Versal, is a Houston based composer, CG artist and programmer with a long but interrupted history in music. His mother taught him to read and write from the age of three, which led to his skipping grades and arriving at college at age 16.
He studied harmony, composition, orchestration and counterpoint under professor James McCoy, PhD. His musical ambitions took a back seat to professional necessity for many decades, but in the meantime, Versal has worked on several films and documentaries in multiple capacities, as editor, colorist, visual FX artist, director of photography, composer, and director. He came back to music in the last few years.
Versal's classical formal training comes through on the well structured pieces that offer harmonic and melodic. They have a narrative kind of drive that would lend themselves readily to movie or other soundtrack use. Whether it's a backdrop to work or relaxing, the music offers a largely upbeat mode and a sweeping kind of cinematic vision that piques the imagination. El Camino a Montserrat, in particular, is evocative, adding a note of mystery and intrigue to the mix.
This is his first release, and it represents over nine months of work. He plans on adding two additional tracks as a bonus in the coming months.
Track List:
1. Eternal
2. Flamenco en Culebra
3. Dawn
4. Carrousel
5. All Together
6. El Camino a Montserrat
Musicians: Javier Velez, aka Versal
A sampler:
Alt-Rock CD Release: Outerfield - Pleasant Grove Hotel (US Highway 50 / May 3 2019)
Alt-Rock CD Release:
Outerfield - Pleasant Grove Hotel
(US Highway 50 / May 3, 2019)
• Preorder/Buy on iTunes
Outerfield is the result of a partnership between guitarist, pianist and songwriter Matt Hutson and bassist Gary Schrader, who met playing in their church's worship band in Columbus, Indiana. You can hear ghosts of a church choir in Wondering If You're Real, and it's an interesting musical influence throughout the release. Swamp music brings sweet vocal harmonies and growling guitars together with compelling rhythms for music that has an earn worm quality from the beginning.
The rock, country, and sometimes retro influences are familiar, but the duo mix them up for a sound that is uniquely their own. Matt's vocals are raspy and appropriate for the genre. It's the musicianship and a genuine groove that sparks up on each song that elevates the album above the ordinary.
Stay The Same is a stand out track with an intriguing rhythmic complexity, anchored by a tight rhythm section, adding a jazzy note to the alt-rock release. Throwing Your Life Away is another highlight of the album, with an anthemic groove that sticks in your head. Vending Machine is a bright and bouncy rocker. I'm in the mood for something sweet... It's typical of the lyric writing on the release.
"The album is about the space it takes to put your life back together after everything has fallen apart. Not unlike the experience of making the record, which was shelved for four months and expected to never come out." The duo commented in a media release.
Track List:
1. Wondering If You're Real
2. Dust
3. Voices
4. I Don't Know Why
5. Stay The Same
6. Getting It Right
7. After The Party
8. Vending Machine
9. Throwing Your Life Away
10. You Weren't Done Yet
11. You're Out There
Musicians:
Matt Hutson: Guitar, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Bass, Vocals; Gary Schrader: Guitar, Bass
Stay in Touch:
https://www.outerfield.net/
https://www.facebook.com/outerfieldofficial/
Check out Dust:
Outerfield - Pleasant Grove Hotel
(US Highway 50 / May 3, 2019)
• Preorder/Buy on iTunes
Outerfield is the result of a partnership between guitarist, pianist and songwriter Matt Hutson and bassist Gary Schrader, who met playing in their church's worship band in Columbus, Indiana. You can hear ghosts of a church choir in Wondering If You're Real, and it's an interesting musical influence throughout the release. Swamp music brings sweet vocal harmonies and growling guitars together with compelling rhythms for music that has an earn worm quality from the beginning.
The rock, country, and sometimes retro influences are familiar, but the duo mix them up for a sound that is uniquely their own. Matt's vocals are raspy and appropriate for the genre. It's the musicianship and a genuine groove that sparks up on each song that elevates the album above the ordinary.
Stay The Same is a stand out track with an intriguing rhythmic complexity, anchored by a tight rhythm section, adding a jazzy note to the alt-rock release. Throwing Your Life Away is another highlight of the album, with an anthemic groove that sticks in your head. Vending Machine is a bright and bouncy rocker. I'm in the mood for something sweet... It's typical of the lyric writing on the release.
"The album is about the space it takes to put your life back together after everything has fallen apart. Not unlike the experience of making the record, which was shelved for four months and expected to never come out." The duo commented in a media release.
Track List:
1. Wondering If You're Real
2. Dust
3. Voices
4. I Don't Know Why
5. Stay The Same
6. Getting It Right
7. After The Party
8. Vending Machine
9. Throwing Your Life Away
10. You Weren't Done Yet
11. You're Out There
Musicians:
Matt Hutson: Guitar, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Bass, Vocals; Gary Schrader: Guitar, Bass
Stay in Touch:
https://www.outerfield.net/
https://www.facebook.com/outerfieldofficial/
Check out Dust:
Contemporary Celtic: Heather Dale Celebrates 20th Album 'Sphere' With Concert May 4 2019 In Toronto
Contemporary Celtic Singer-Songwriter Heather Dale
Celebrates 20th Album in One-Night-Only Release Concert: Sphere
Eclectic Crossover Album Inspired by #MeToo and Time’s Up
Rewrites Male-Centric Legends with a Message of Female Empowerment
Church of the Holy Trinity on May 4, 2019 at 7:30pm
• Buy Tickets To The Album Release May 4
• Buy/Stream the album Sphere
Expect the unexpected from contemporary Celtic singer songwriter Heather Dale, who is hitting Toronto with her latest album for a one-night show on May 4. As an extra treat, the concert takes place in the gloriously atmospheric Church of the Holy Trinity - just next to the Eaton Centre at 19 Trinity Square (between Yonge & Bay).
Heather's music is a compelling and seamless mash-up of a wide range of influences, with a distinctive Celtic lilt that underlies it all. Sphereis Heather’s 20th album release — timed to coincide with her 20th anniversary as a professional recording musician.
“Every song on Sphere was influenced by current events; I felt the need to embed a message of inclusivity, equality, and respect in these pieces,” says Dale in a media release. “Rather than perpetuate the stereotypical figure of the ‘damsel in distress,’ the narratives in this album highlight folk heroines who speak their minds, stand up for themselves, and rebuild their lives after upheaval. They are easily dismissed stories, but they shouldn't be. This album is deeply personal and was written for those who are willing to share their voice and vulnerabilities, as well as their strengths."
There are 11 tracks on the album. Bacchanalia ventures into a hypnotic electronica groove, underpinned by a wandering bass line. Triumphant Return - a modern riff on the story of Penelope from the Odyssey - is a mesmerizing rhythmic track, with the flavours of Indian and Middle Eastern music drifting in and out of the song. Lyrically, she's eclectic and often throws in a dash of humour. From Triumphant Return,
...and your dog is the only one who's happy to see you again.
In Three Axes, she sings about a Viking defending her kin from warring neighbours over a kinetic rhythm section and haunting flute melodies. Heather uses her voice in unusual ways - unusual, as compared to typical contemporary pop music idioms. Her vocals are clear and expressive, sometimes exploring the very low end for effect.
Through creative songwriting, she offers something different with each track. Sleeping Beauty is slow, driving rhythm, her vocals high with a sweet tone that belies the lyrics about sweet oblivion. Fans of her more traditional Celtic mode will love Lark and Dove, closest to the folk roots of her music.
Live, she performs with a dozen folk instruments, alongside multi-instrumentalist Ben Deschamps and the Amphis Chamber Strings. The group includes Deschamps on viola, Amanda Penner and Felix Flores on violin, and Leanne Wright on cello. Jazz percussionist John Stadtlander from Thunder Bay rounds out the ensemble. On the recording, musicians also include early music specialist Ben Grossman (Loreena McKennitt, Tafelmusik), Maple Blues Award-winning drummer Jim Casson, and Canadian producer Dave MacKinnon.
Heather's poetry has been featured by other writers in seven novels, including by authors, S.M. Stirling and E.K. Johnston. Her hit song, Mordred’s Lullaby has been viewed more than 20 million times on YouTube.
Like many artists today, Heather depends on her fans for their support. Members of Heather Dale’s SUPPORTERS program are invited to join Heather before the concert for a private salon reception, and will have reserved seating. Join today - supporters get all their music free, with monthly online concerts and other perks.
Celebrates 20th Album in One-Night-Only Release Concert: Sphere
Eclectic Crossover Album Inspired by #MeToo and Time’s Up
Rewrites Male-Centric Legends with a Message of Female Empowerment
Church of the Holy Trinity on May 4, 2019 at 7:30pm
• Buy Tickets To The Album Release May 4
• Buy/Stream the album Sphere
Expect the unexpected from contemporary Celtic singer songwriter Heather Dale, who is hitting Toronto with her latest album for a one-night show on May 4. As an extra treat, the concert takes place in the gloriously atmospheric Church of the Holy Trinity - just next to the Eaton Centre at 19 Trinity Square (between Yonge & Bay).
Heather's music is a compelling and seamless mash-up of a wide range of influences, with a distinctive Celtic lilt that underlies it all. Sphereis Heather’s 20th album release — timed to coincide with her 20th anniversary as a professional recording musician.
“Every song on Sphere was influenced by current events; I felt the need to embed a message of inclusivity, equality, and respect in these pieces,” says Dale in a media release. “Rather than perpetuate the stereotypical figure of the ‘damsel in distress,’ the narratives in this album highlight folk heroines who speak their minds, stand up for themselves, and rebuild their lives after upheaval. They are easily dismissed stories, but they shouldn't be. This album is deeply personal and was written for those who are willing to share their voice and vulnerabilities, as well as their strengths."
There are 11 tracks on the album. Bacchanalia ventures into a hypnotic electronica groove, underpinned by a wandering bass line. Triumphant Return - a modern riff on the story of Penelope from the Odyssey - is a mesmerizing rhythmic track, with the flavours of Indian and Middle Eastern music drifting in and out of the song. Lyrically, she's eclectic and often throws in a dash of humour. From Triumphant Return,
...and your dog is the only one who's happy to see you again.
In Three Axes, she sings about a Viking defending her kin from warring neighbours over a kinetic rhythm section and haunting flute melodies. Heather uses her voice in unusual ways - unusual, as compared to typical contemporary pop music idioms. Her vocals are clear and expressive, sometimes exploring the very low end for effect.
Through creative songwriting, she offers something different with each track. Sleeping Beauty is slow, driving rhythm, her vocals high with a sweet tone that belies the lyrics about sweet oblivion. Fans of her more traditional Celtic mode will love Lark and Dove, closest to the folk roots of her music.
Live, she performs with a dozen folk instruments, alongside multi-instrumentalist Ben Deschamps and the Amphis Chamber Strings. The group includes Deschamps on viola, Amanda Penner and Felix Flores on violin, and Leanne Wright on cello. Jazz percussionist John Stadtlander from Thunder Bay rounds out the ensemble. On the recording, musicians also include early music specialist Ben Grossman (Loreena McKennitt, Tafelmusik), Maple Blues Award-winning drummer Jim Casson, and Canadian producer Dave MacKinnon.
Heather's poetry has been featured by other writers in seven novels, including by authors, S.M. Stirling and E.K. Johnston. Her hit song, Mordred’s Lullaby has been viewed more than 20 million times on YouTube.
Like many artists today, Heather depends on her fans for their support. Members of Heather Dale’s SUPPORTERS program are invited to join Heather before the concert for a private salon reception, and will have reserved seating. Join today - supporters get all their music free, with monthly online concerts and other perks.
April 22, 2019
Indigenous Futurism: STOiK - Pareidolia (Independent / April 9 2019)
Indigenous Futurism:
STOiK - Pareidolia
(Independent / April 9 2019)
• Stream/Buy on your platform of choice
sto·ic (ˈstōik)
In 2042, Earth becomes uninhabitable and humans are forced to evacuate. Some refuse, most of them Indigenous, and move underground. Their descendants survive into the distant future, anchored by ancient knowledge and practice. It is in this future where we meet STOiK, a group of Indigenous artists & warriors led by Gidochige which translates in Anishinaabemowin to "He plays music."
This is Indigenous futurism - with ultra cool images to flesh out the scenario.
Gidochige - image by Ratul DebnathIndigenous Futurism is a phrase that was coined by writer Grace Dillon in her 2003 book Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction. It was inspired by the Afrofuturism movement, and becomes a thread that cuts across literature, music, visual arts, fashion, and other creative expression to blend the traditions of the past into a future where Indigenous peoples have a place on their own terms - an imagination cut free of the constructs of colonialism.
Gidochige - image by Ratul DebnathThere are 18 tracks on the release, blending futuristic electronic music with the compelling rhythms of traditional Indigenous music. Those rhythms meld seamlessly with an insistent electronic pulse, and the voices of protesters on Earth Abides, an powerful track that goes for the gut. Aleah Belle lends her vocals to Tonight, an upbeat electronic dance track. The band is inventive in finding new ways to shape the sound in each song - it's never repetitive.
Gidochige - image by Ratul DebnathThe lyrics talk about the environment, war, and other assorted topics that you'd associate with the dystopian theme and the political present.
Until we have our own government,
We'll never be even...
Other guest appearances by Indigenous artists include Drezus, Aleah Belle (notably, also on Werewolf, a haunting and sexy track, among others) Plex (with Aleah on How's That Sound) & Jah-kota (with Plex and Drezus on Behold A Pale Horse). Rod Crowhop is a mesmerizing track where the pounding of the drum and jingling of the bells is the constant underneath a cacophony of voices and electronic noise.
Pareidolia is the first album release for STOiK.
STOiK - Pareidolia
(Independent / April 9 2019)
• Stream/Buy on your platform of choice
sto·ic (ˈstōik)
In 2042, Earth becomes uninhabitable and humans are forced to evacuate. Some refuse, most of them Indigenous, and move underground. Their descendants survive into the distant future, anchored by ancient knowledge and practice. It is in this future where we meet STOiK, a group of Indigenous artists & warriors led by Gidochige which translates in Anishinaabemowin to "He plays music."
This is Indigenous futurism - with ultra cool images to flesh out the scenario.
Gidochige - image by Ratul DebnathIndigenous Futurism is a phrase that was coined by writer Grace Dillon in her 2003 book Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction. It was inspired by the Afrofuturism movement, and becomes a thread that cuts across literature, music, visual arts, fashion, and other creative expression to blend the traditions of the past into a future where Indigenous peoples have a place on their own terms - an imagination cut free of the constructs of colonialism.
Gidochige - image by Ratul DebnathThere are 18 tracks on the release, blending futuristic electronic music with the compelling rhythms of traditional Indigenous music. Those rhythms meld seamlessly with an insistent electronic pulse, and the voices of protesters on Earth Abides, an powerful track that goes for the gut. Aleah Belle lends her vocals to Tonight, an upbeat electronic dance track. The band is inventive in finding new ways to shape the sound in each song - it's never repetitive.
Gidochige - image by Ratul DebnathThe lyrics talk about the environment, war, and other assorted topics that you'd associate with the dystopian theme and the political present.Until we have our own government,
We'll never be even...
Other guest appearances by Indigenous artists include Drezus, Aleah Belle (notably, also on Werewolf, a haunting and sexy track, among others) Plex (with Aleah on How's That Sound) & Jah-kota (with Plex and Drezus on Behold A Pale Horse). Rod Crowhop is a mesmerizing track where the pounding of the drum and jingling of the bells is the constant underneath a cacophony of voices and electronic noise.
Pareidolia is the first album release for STOiK.
April 16, 2019
Coming to Toronto: Eifman Ballet in Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA May 9 to 11 2019
From a media release:
Coming to Toronto's Sony Centre:
Russian Ballet Auteur, Boris Eifman, Honours Musical Muse with Powerful Exploration of the Nature of Genius and the Price of Fame in
– Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA –
May 9 to 11 2019
Vibrant athleticism, nuanced physicality, and dramatic intensity take centre stage as the renowned Eifman Ballet brings the man behind the music to life
• Buy Tickets
TORONTO, ON — Show One Productions and TO Live proudly present Russia’s premier contemporary ballet company Eifman Ballet in Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA, on stage for three performances only, May 9–11, 2019, at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. This heart-rending choreographic love letter to the illustrious Russian composer implements Artistic Director Boris Eifman’s signature sublime theatricality, delving into the tormented psyche of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as he battles to reconcile his public persona with his inner demons.
Eifman Ballet of St. PetersburgTickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, by phone, or in person at select TO Live box offices.
“Eifman Ballet is a perennial favourite with Toronto audiences. Their unabashed emotional commitment and unparalleled physical prowess are a rare spectacle,” says Svetlana Dvoretsky, President & Executive Producer of Show One Productions. “With Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA, we witness the marriage of two great Russian artists, Tchaikovsky and Eifman, each at the pinnacle of their respective art forms. Interpreted by Eifman Ballet’s exquisite dancers, the result is a powerful meditation on the nature of genius and the price of fame.”
“TO Live is thrilled to once again work with Show One Productions in presenting the return of Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg,” said Clyde Wagner, President & CEO of TO Live. “Having played to sold out houses on previous visits to Toronto, we look forward to continuing their success with their innovative presentation Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA and its tragic exploration of the well-known artist.”
Eifman Ballet of St. PetersburgThe result of decades of contemplating the great composer’s oeuvre, Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA premiered in Russia in 2016, just before Eifman’s 70th birthday. Having choreographed several ballets to Tchaikovsky’s music, including The Idiot (1980), Tchaikovsky (1993), Red Giselle (1997), Musagete (2004), Anna Karenina (2005) and Eugene Onegin (2009), Eifman has long drawn creative energy from the iconic composer, admiring his ability to awaken real emotion in the listener. The harrowing thread of tragedy woven throughout Tchaikovsky’s music has long inspired a deep curiosity in Eifman, prompting him to explore the source of Tchaikovsky's suffering: the hostility of the world, the oppressive awareness of his own otherness, and the eternal loneliness of his soul.
Set amidst Tchaikovsky’s death-bed reveries, poignant chapters and recollections from the composer’s life blend with intrusions of characters from his iconic masterpieces, including audience favourites The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Eugene Onegin. The breathtaking lighting design by Alexander Sivaev and Eifman illuminates the elegant minimalism of Zinovy Margolin’s sets and provides a beautiful foil for Olga Shaishmelashvili’s lavish costumes. Embodying the joy, the suffering, and the devastating isolation that accompanied Tchaikovsky’s towering talent, the exquisite company of 40 dancers will express a symphony of passion through Eifman’s ingenious choreography and the composer’s own immortal creations.
Eifman Ballet of St. PetersburgBorn in Siberia in 1946, Eifman is considered one of the world’s leading choreographers working today. His innate sense of movement and choreographic training at the Leningrad Conservatory led to a decade-long tenure choreographing at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In 1977 he founded Eifman Ballet (originally called Leningrad New Ballet), an innovative and daring company that stirred a passionate debate among ballet critics. The audacity of his movement vocabulary and his unprecedented choices of music and source material earned him a reputation among the traditional ballet establishment as “a choreographic dissident.” Distinguished by its brilliant technique and charismatic theatricality, Eifman Ballet has come to represent the highest level of artistic achievements of contemporary Russian ballet and is an ambassador of the spiritual heritage of the Russian culture in performances around the world. Eifman holds the titles of People’s Artist of Russia and the Laureate of the State Prize of the Russia in Federation, and Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd Class, among others.
Pre-Show Talks will take place May 9-11 from 7pm to 7:30pm in the Sony Centre Lower Lobby, moderated by Dance Critic Deirdre Kelly with artists from Eifman Ballet.
Tickets at ticketmaster.ca, by calling 1.855.872.7669, or in person at any TO Live box office:
● Toronto Centre for the Arts Box Office, 5040 Yonge St., Tuesday – Saturday, 1–6pm
● St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Box Office 27 Front St. E., Monday – Friday, 12–6pm
Further information at showoneproductions.ca.
Coming to Toronto's Sony Centre:
Russian Ballet Auteur, Boris Eifman, Honours Musical Muse with Powerful Exploration of the Nature of Genius and the Price of Fame in
– Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA –
May 9 to 11 2019
Vibrant athleticism, nuanced physicality, and dramatic intensity take centre stage as the renowned Eifman Ballet brings the man behind the music to life
• Buy Tickets
TORONTO, ON — Show One Productions and TO Live proudly present Russia’s premier contemporary ballet company Eifman Ballet in Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA, on stage for three performances only, May 9–11, 2019, at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. This heart-rending choreographic love letter to the illustrious Russian composer implements Artistic Director Boris Eifman’s signature sublime theatricality, delving into the tormented psyche of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as he battles to reconcile his public persona with his inner demons.
Eifman Ballet of St. PetersburgTickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, by phone, or in person at select TO Live box offices.“Eifman Ballet is a perennial favourite with Toronto audiences. Their unabashed emotional commitment and unparalleled physical prowess are a rare spectacle,” says Svetlana Dvoretsky, President & Executive Producer of Show One Productions. “With Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA, we witness the marriage of two great Russian artists, Tchaikovsky and Eifman, each at the pinnacle of their respective art forms. Interpreted by Eifman Ballet’s exquisite dancers, the result is a powerful meditation on the nature of genius and the price of fame.”
“TO Live is thrilled to once again work with Show One Productions in presenting the return of Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg,” said Clyde Wagner, President & CEO of TO Live. “Having played to sold out houses on previous visits to Toronto, we look forward to continuing their success with their innovative presentation Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA and its tragic exploration of the well-known artist.”
Eifman Ballet of St. PetersburgThe result of decades of contemplating the great composer’s oeuvre, Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA premiered in Russia in 2016, just before Eifman’s 70th birthday. Having choreographed several ballets to Tchaikovsky’s music, including The Idiot (1980), Tchaikovsky (1993), Red Giselle (1997), Musagete (2004), Anna Karenina (2005) and Eugene Onegin (2009), Eifman has long drawn creative energy from the iconic composer, admiring his ability to awaken real emotion in the listener. The harrowing thread of tragedy woven throughout Tchaikovsky’s music has long inspired a deep curiosity in Eifman, prompting him to explore the source of Tchaikovsky's suffering: the hostility of the world, the oppressive awareness of his own otherness, and the eternal loneliness of his soul.Set amidst Tchaikovsky’s death-bed reveries, poignant chapters and recollections from the composer’s life blend with intrusions of characters from his iconic masterpieces, including audience favourites The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Eugene Onegin. The breathtaking lighting design by Alexander Sivaev and Eifman illuminates the elegant minimalism of Zinovy Margolin’s sets and provides a beautiful foil for Olga Shaishmelashvili’s lavish costumes. Embodying the joy, the suffering, and the devastating isolation that accompanied Tchaikovsky’s towering talent, the exquisite company of 40 dancers will express a symphony of passion through Eifman’s ingenious choreography and the composer’s own immortal creations.
Eifman Ballet of St. PetersburgBorn in Siberia in 1946, Eifman is considered one of the world’s leading choreographers working today. His innate sense of movement and choreographic training at the Leningrad Conservatory led to a decade-long tenure choreographing at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. In 1977 he founded Eifman Ballet (originally called Leningrad New Ballet), an innovative and daring company that stirred a passionate debate among ballet critics. The audacity of his movement vocabulary and his unprecedented choices of music and source material earned him a reputation among the traditional ballet establishment as “a choreographic dissident.” Distinguished by its brilliant technique and charismatic theatricality, Eifman Ballet has come to represent the highest level of artistic achievements of contemporary Russian ballet and is an ambassador of the spiritual heritage of the Russian culture in performances around the world. Eifman holds the titles of People’s Artist of Russia and the Laureate of the State Prize of the Russia in Federation, and Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd Class, among others.Pre-Show Talks will take place May 9-11 from 7pm to 7:30pm in the Sony Centre Lower Lobby, moderated by Dance Critic Deirdre Kelly with artists from Eifman Ballet.
Tickets at ticketmaster.ca, by calling 1.855.872.7669, or in person at any TO Live box office:
● Toronto Centre for the Arts Box Office, 5040 Yonge St., Tuesday – Saturday, 1–6pm
● St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Box Office 27 Front St. E., Monday – Friday, 12–6pm
Further information at showoneproductions.ca.
April 4, 2019
Toronto Hotel/Restaurant News: The Broadview Hotel Café + Bar reimagines menu with French roots
From a media release:
Toronto Hotel/Restaurant News:
The Broadview Hotel Café + Bar reimagines menu with French roots
The Broadview Hotel introduces bistro inspired fare by celebrated Le Cordon Bleu alumnus
Toronto, ON (April 4, 2019) – The Broadview Hotel, east Toronto’s storied locale and celebrated venue, managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, introduces new menus to its uniquely vibrant Café + Bar. Offering fresh takes on breakfast, lunch and snacks, the delicious new additions are sure to sate. Leading Café + Bar’s reimagined menus is Executive Chef Richard Singh, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who brings experience from a number the world’s finest kitchens, including Michelin-Starred restaurants Noma (Copenhagen), Alinea (Chicago), The Fat Duck (England) and Per-Se (New York).
Broadview Hotel, TorontoCafé + Bar’s soaring windows and light filled space make it the energetic heart of the hotel, and a perfect setting for enjoying the new lunch and dinner menu’s bright flavors inspired by France’s iconic bistros. The menu offers five starters and seven entrees, accompanied by a thoughtful selection of red, white and sparkling wines. French Onion Soup with gruyère, Grilled Vegetable Tartine, Croquettes and a Provençal Flatbread are introduced as starters, while beloved cultural mainstays such as Steak Frites with Maître d’Hôtel butter, Niçoise Salad and a Savory Tart debut as entrées. Classic Café + Bar favourites re-appearing on the new menu include Crisp Skin Rainbow Trout and the Broadview Burger.
“Café + Bar’s iconic old-meets-new space makes it a perfect match for casual, classic French fare” says Richard Singh, Executive Chef, The Broadview Hotel. “The updated menu will enhance what Café + Bar provides to our community as a meeting place. Whether they’re here for weekend breakfast, celebratory lunches or a post-work glass of wine, we’re delighted to deliver a truly memorable experience to guests both old and new.”
Broadview Hotel, TorontoAlso new to Café + Bar is a refreshed breakfast menu, which features mouthwatering brioche French Toast, savory Avocado Toast with braised peppers and bomba, and a delightful French Omelet alongside a selection of classic morning favourites. Breakfast will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with their new lunch menu to follow. Further culinary enhancements are to come for The Broadview Hotel, as their main floor dining room, The CIVIC, prepares to reveal a new menu signed by Executive Chef Richard Singh in spring 2019.
Locally sourced, seasonal menus, warm, exacting hospitality and modern elegance are the hallmarks of The Broadview Hotel’s restaurant experience. From the stunning view of Toronto’s skyline at the Rooftop Bar and intimate elegance of The Tower, to the dramatic interiors of The CIVIC and bright, inviting Café + Bar, The Broadview Hotel offers a dining destination unlike any other.
About The Broadview Hotel
Located in the heart of Riverside at the corner of Queen St. E. and Broadview Ave., The Broadview Hotel is a boutique hotel, The Civic restaurant, Lobby Bar + Café and Rooftop. The Romanesque Revival-style building constructed in 1891 is a heritage property, as designated by the City of Toronto. Cleverly reimagined as a charismatic gathering spot, each space is infused with the spirit of the east end: it’s a place where international travelers relax alongside local residents. Drawing from The Broadview’s iconic façade, visitors and community members will enjoy a uniquely crafted hospitality experience.
Website: thebroadviewhotel.ca
Instagram: @BroadviewHotel
Twitter: @BroadviewHotel
Facebook: The Broadview Hotel
Hashtag: #BroadviewHotel
About Crescent Hotels & Resorts:
Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, nationally recognized, elite operator of hotels and resorts. Crescent currently operates over 100 hotels, resorts & conference centers in Canada and the United States. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. Crescent also operates a collection of legendary independent lifestyle hotels and resorts under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. Crescent’s clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit www.crescenthotels.com & www.latitudesbycrescent.com or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn.
Toronto Hotel/Restaurant News:
The Broadview Hotel Café + Bar reimagines menu with French roots
The Broadview Hotel introduces bistro inspired fare by celebrated Le Cordon Bleu alumnus
Toronto, ON (April 4, 2019) – The Broadview Hotel, east Toronto’s storied locale and celebrated venue, managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, introduces new menus to its uniquely vibrant Café + Bar. Offering fresh takes on breakfast, lunch and snacks, the delicious new additions are sure to sate. Leading Café + Bar’s reimagined menus is Executive Chef Richard Singh, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who brings experience from a number the world’s finest kitchens, including Michelin-Starred restaurants Noma (Copenhagen), Alinea (Chicago), The Fat Duck (England) and Per-Se (New York).
Broadview Hotel, TorontoCafé + Bar’s soaring windows and light filled space make it the energetic heart of the hotel, and a perfect setting for enjoying the new lunch and dinner menu’s bright flavors inspired by France’s iconic bistros. The menu offers five starters and seven entrees, accompanied by a thoughtful selection of red, white and sparkling wines. French Onion Soup with gruyère, Grilled Vegetable Tartine, Croquettes and a Provençal Flatbread are introduced as starters, while beloved cultural mainstays such as Steak Frites with Maître d’Hôtel butter, Niçoise Salad and a Savory Tart debut as entrées. Classic Café + Bar favourites re-appearing on the new menu include Crisp Skin Rainbow Trout and the Broadview Burger.“Café + Bar’s iconic old-meets-new space makes it a perfect match for casual, classic French fare” says Richard Singh, Executive Chef, The Broadview Hotel. “The updated menu will enhance what Café + Bar provides to our community as a meeting place. Whether they’re here for weekend breakfast, celebratory lunches or a post-work glass of wine, we’re delighted to deliver a truly memorable experience to guests both old and new.”
Broadview Hotel, TorontoAlso new to Café + Bar is a refreshed breakfast menu, which features mouthwatering brioche French Toast, savory Avocado Toast with braised peppers and bomba, and a delightful French Omelet alongside a selection of classic morning favourites. Breakfast will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with their new lunch menu to follow. Further culinary enhancements are to come for The Broadview Hotel, as their main floor dining room, The CIVIC, prepares to reveal a new menu signed by Executive Chef Richard Singh in spring 2019.Locally sourced, seasonal menus, warm, exacting hospitality and modern elegance are the hallmarks of The Broadview Hotel’s restaurant experience. From the stunning view of Toronto’s skyline at the Rooftop Bar and intimate elegance of The Tower, to the dramatic interiors of The CIVIC and bright, inviting Café + Bar, The Broadview Hotel offers a dining destination unlike any other.
About The Broadview Hotel
Located in the heart of Riverside at the corner of Queen St. E. and Broadview Ave., The Broadview Hotel is a boutique hotel, The Civic restaurant, Lobby Bar + Café and Rooftop. The Romanesque Revival-style building constructed in 1891 is a heritage property, as designated by the City of Toronto. Cleverly reimagined as a charismatic gathering spot, each space is infused with the spirit of the east end: it’s a place where international travelers relax alongside local residents. Drawing from The Broadview’s iconic façade, visitors and community members will enjoy a uniquely crafted hospitality experience.
Website: thebroadviewhotel.ca
Instagram: @BroadviewHotel
Twitter: @BroadviewHotel
Facebook: The Broadview Hotel
Hashtag: #BroadviewHotel
About Crescent Hotels & Resorts:
Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, nationally recognized, elite operator of hotels and resorts. Crescent currently operates over 100 hotels, resorts & conference centers in Canada and the United States. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. Crescent also operates a collection of legendary independent lifestyle hotels and resorts under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. Crescent’s clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit www.crescenthotels.com & www.latitudesbycrescent.com or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn.
April 3, 2019
Jazz Fusion: Joan Torres's All Is Fused - Revolution (Independent / 21 April 2019)
Jazz Fusion:
Joan Torres's All Is Fused - Revolution
(Independent / 21 April 2019)
• Preorder or Pre-Save
"When I set out to start All Is Fused I thought of a possible trajectory for our sound. I knew enough about my favorite artists to know that it was unlikely our sound would be fully developed by our first album. I started planning our phase 1 – the road it would take us to get closer to that sound. I believe Revolution to be the culmination of said phase 1."
Interesting, inventive, and highly original, Joan Torres's All Is Fused offers listeners an intriguing ride on Revolution, the fourth release for the San Francisco based ensemble.
Joan has added different bass guitars other than his tried and true Fender Jazz Bass for the instrumental release, and each track offers something different. Rebellion is appropriately named - a wild, high energy ride of rhythm, melody, and dissonance thrown in for good measure.
High Stakes sticks to a contemporary jazz mode, with Torres showcasing his bass chops in a melodic solo against a kinetic drum line. A rhythm driven track, it also features a moody sax line juxtaposing a bombastic rhythm section to interesting effect.
In Moving Mountain, Joan takes the bass solo in a minimalist and avant garde piece that explores the different sounds he can wring from his instrument. He begins with a simple thematic rhythm that he builds on, extracting melodies, counterpoint rhythms, and more in a bassist tour de force. About halfway through, he adds other instrumentation, and a more conventional take on melody, rhythm, and harmonic structure. Still in a fairly minimalist mode, it ventures into trippy jazz fusion territory.
Ambivalence - the notes don't say what the title of the song was inspired by, but I'm wondering if it's the mash up between new music classical and modern jazz in the track. There are more than shades of prog rock in the song, with a hint of the symphonic sounds of bands like King Crimson.
Loss is appropriately elegiac, downtempo and moody, emphasizing mournful strings and bass. Barriers lightens the mood with a melodic keyboard driven theme, and Aftermath adds a distinctly Latin touch to the mayhem.
Finale begins simply, incorporating more complex rhythms and a kinetic sax line, then a guitar pattern over the drum kit in a beat that gets wilder and wilder. It's a track that lets all the soloists shine.
Joan, who writes all the material, was in his first band by the 8th grade, studying music at a private music academy in his native Puerto Rico, and eventually taking part in the Berklee in Puerto Rico workshops in 2004, where he met many musicians along with furthering his musicianship and composition skills. He formed the Raices Rusticas, who opened and gigged with many of the area's jazz luminaries.
If this album marks the end of the band's Phase I stage, it will be interesting to see where the journey leads them next.
Track List:
1. Rebellion
2. High Stakes
3. Moving Mountain
4. Ambivalence
5. Loss
6. Barriers
7. Aftermath
8. Finale
9. (Bonus Track) True (Revamp)
Personnel:
Jonathan Suazo: Alto Sax; Gabriel Vicéns: Guitar; Sergio González: Guitar; Emanuel Rivera: Piano and Keyboards; Fernando García: Drums; Joan Torres: Bass
Special guests: Paoli Mejías: Percussion on Aftermath; Julius Meléndez: Trumpet on Barriers; Elana Hedrych: Vocals on Barriers
String quintet on Loss: Fermín A. Segarra Cordero on Violin; Guillermo A. Peguero Alers on Violin; Lourdes N. Negrón Santos on Viola; Fermín Segarra Vásquez on Cello; Andrés E. Almodóvar Santiago on Double Bass
Stay in touch:
https://www.facebook.com/joantorresmusic
https://joantorresmusic.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4a1VUZmpgfqodDigGv08rm#_=_
https://soundcloud.com/joan-torres/
https://www.instagram.com/joantorresmusic/
Aftermath - a live version:
Joan Torres's All Is Fused - Revolution
(Independent / 21 April 2019)
• Preorder or Pre-Save
"When I set out to start All Is Fused I thought of a possible trajectory for our sound. I knew enough about my favorite artists to know that it was unlikely our sound would be fully developed by our first album. I started planning our phase 1 – the road it would take us to get closer to that sound. I believe Revolution to be the culmination of said phase 1."
Interesting, inventive, and highly original, Joan Torres's All Is Fused offers listeners an intriguing ride on Revolution, the fourth release for the San Francisco based ensemble.
Joan has added different bass guitars other than his tried and true Fender Jazz Bass for the instrumental release, and each track offers something different. Rebellion is appropriately named - a wild, high energy ride of rhythm, melody, and dissonance thrown in for good measure.
High Stakes sticks to a contemporary jazz mode, with Torres showcasing his bass chops in a melodic solo against a kinetic drum line. A rhythm driven track, it also features a moody sax line juxtaposing a bombastic rhythm section to interesting effect.
In Moving Mountain, Joan takes the bass solo in a minimalist and avant garde piece that explores the different sounds he can wring from his instrument. He begins with a simple thematic rhythm that he builds on, extracting melodies, counterpoint rhythms, and more in a bassist tour de force. About halfway through, he adds other instrumentation, and a more conventional take on melody, rhythm, and harmonic structure. Still in a fairly minimalist mode, it ventures into trippy jazz fusion territory.
Ambivalence - the notes don't say what the title of the song was inspired by, but I'm wondering if it's the mash up between new music classical and modern jazz in the track. There are more than shades of prog rock in the song, with a hint of the symphonic sounds of bands like King Crimson.
Loss is appropriately elegiac, downtempo and moody, emphasizing mournful strings and bass. Barriers lightens the mood with a melodic keyboard driven theme, and Aftermath adds a distinctly Latin touch to the mayhem.
Finale begins simply, incorporating more complex rhythms and a kinetic sax line, then a guitar pattern over the drum kit in a beat that gets wilder and wilder. It's a track that lets all the soloists shine.
Joan, who writes all the material, was in his first band by the 8th grade, studying music at a private music academy in his native Puerto Rico, and eventually taking part in the Berklee in Puerto Rico workshops in 2004, where he met many musicians along with furthering his musicianship and composition skills. He formed the Raices Rusticas, who opened and gigged with many of the area's jazz luminaries.
If this album marks the end of the band's Phase I stage, it will be interesting to see where the journey leads them next.
Track List:
1. Rebellion
2. High Stakes
3. Moving Mountain
4. Ambivalence
5. Loss
6. Barriers
7. Aftermath
8. Finale
9. (Bonus Track) True (Revamp)
Personnel:
Jonathan Suazo: Alto Sax; Gabriel Vicéns: Guitar; Sergio González: Guitar; Emanuel Rivera: Piano and Keyboards; Fernando García: Drums; Joan Torres: Bass
Special guests: Paoli Mejías: Percussion on Aftermath; Julius Meléndez: Trumpet on Barriers; Elana Hedrych: Vocals on Barriers
String quintet on Loss: Fermín A. Segarra Cordero on Violin; Guillermo A. Peguero Alers on Violin; Lourdes N. Negrón Santos on Viola; Fermín Segarra Vásquez on Cello; Andrés E. Almodóvar Santiago on Double Bass
Stay in touch:
https://www.facebook.com/joantorresmusic
https://joantorresmusic.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4a1VUZmpgfqodDigGv08rm#_=_
https://soundcloud.com/joan-torres/
https://www.instagram.com/joantorresmusic/
Aftermath - a live version:
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