Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 62
September 2, 2018
Global Grooves: Mah-Ze-Tar - Liquid Lotus (Independent/August 1 2018)
Global Grooves:
Mah-Ze-Tar - Liquid Lotus
(Independent/August 1 2018)
• Stream it on Spotify
• Buy it on CDBaby
Yes, but can you dance to it?
EDM meets the world in Liquid Lotus, the new single from Mah-Ze-Tar.
What is so-called world music, anyways? Projects like Mah-Ze-Tar and Liquid Lotus, the latest single in advance of a full length album, push the boundaries of that definition with a mash-up of styles and influences that defies categorization.
Mah-Ze-Tar is the fusion project that Maz has been working on since 2015. His ultimate vision is to fuse traditional music of the East with modern electronic composition as a form of cultural preservation.
Here's the Track List for the full album, coming out soon:
1- Maand 2- Bhoopali 3- Liquid Lotus 4- Cosmic Union 5- Yaman 6- Keshi 7- Bhatiyali Dhun 8- Hamsa 9- Bilawal
Album teaser:
In Liquid Lotus, the classic Indian Sitar meets North African trance music, with vocal textures that take on the flavours of Indian, Persian, Flamenco, Native American, and other traditions from around the world.
Based in Santa Barbara, Maz Karandish is a devoted student of music, including voice and multiple instruments. He's influenced by many genres and styles from Raga, Maqam, and Dastgah to Harmony, Jazz, and Opera. He plays a variety of instruments, including the Oud, Persian Tar, Turkish Saz, and Ney with the Santa Barbara Middle Eastern Ensemble.
The results are compelling. You don't have to know any of the background to be mesmerized by the melody, or dance to a beat that won't give up its hold on your solar plexus.
Musicians Maz Karandish- Instruments, Vocals, & Compositions
Stay in touch:https://mahzetar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MazKarandish/
https://www.instagram.com/maz_sb/
Mah-Ze-Tar - Liquid Lotus
(Independent/August 1 2018)
• Stream it on Spotify
• Buy it on CDBaby
Yes, but can you dance to it?
EDM meets the world in Liquid Lotus, the new single from Mah-Ze-Tar.What is so-called world music, anyways? Projects like Mah-Ze-Tar and Liquid Lotus, the latest single in advance of a full length album, push the boundaries of that definition with a mash-up of styles and influences that defies categorization.
Mah-Ze-Tar is the fusion project that Maz has been working on since 2015. His ultimate vision is to fuse traditional music of the East with modern electronic composition as a form of cultural preservation.
Here's the Track List for the full album, coming out soon:
1- Maand 2- Bhoopali 3- Liquid Lotus 4- Cosmic Union 5- Yaman 6- Keshi 7- Bhatiyali Dhun 8- Hamsa 9- Bilawal
Album teaser:
In Liquid Lotus, the classic Indian Sitar meets North African trance music, with vocal textures that take on the flavours of Indian, Persian, Flamenco, Native American, and other traditions from around the world.
Based in Santa Barbara, Maz Karandish is a devoted student of music, including voice and multiple instruments. He's influenced by many genres and styles from Raga, Maqam, and Dastgah to Harmony, Jazz, and Opera. He plays a variety of instruments, including the Oud, Persian Tar, Turkish Saz, and Ney with the Santa Barbara Middle Eastern Ensemble.
The results are compelling. You don't have to know any of the background to be mesmerized by the melody, or dance to a beat that won't give up its hold on your solar plexus.
Musicians Maz Karandish- Instruments, Vocals, & Compositions
Stay in touch:https://mahzetar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MazKarandish/
https://www.instagram.com/maz_sb/
August 30, 2018
Dance Toronto: Esie Mensah Presents Shades September 27 to 30 2018
From a media release:
Dance Toronto:
Esie Mensah Presents Shades
September 27 to 30 2018
• Tickets
Esie Mensah Announces World Premiere of Shades: An Explosive Exploration of Discrimination
Award-winning Choreographer and Dancer Confronts Pervasive Issue of Shadeism Within Communities of Colour
TORONTO, ON — In a searing world premiere, choreographer and dancer Esie Mensah presents Shades, a deeply personal dance theatre exploration into the discrimination between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of communities of colour known as shadeism, September 27 to 30, 2018 at Factory Theatre. A visceral and urgent work, Shades examines the deep generational trauma that shadeism has imprinted on Mensah, its six artists, and society at large.
“I’m interested in exploring the ugliness, the pain, and the truth of shadeism,” says Mensah. “In 2018, shadeism is still a reality, constantly dividing us. Shades is my unapologetic confrontation with this all-too-common actuality in communities of colour. While shadeism is explored through my lens—it is not just my story. It would be selfish to present something so universal as just my own—and that’s why I value the stories and experiences of my artists, creative team, and mentors.”
Originally developed in 2016, the now full-length 75-minute work will fearlessly examine the question of how communities of colour became fractured around the notion of skin tone, but also becomes an undeniable opportunity to start a conversation of healing across all Diasporas. In today’s world, this discrimination can often be subtle and insidious, whereas in the past shadeism was commonly used to unofficially rank enslaved people in many countries around the world.
Mensah is greatly affected by the lengths people of colour, the world over, have taken to permanently alter their skin tone in a quest for a distorted beauty ideal. Countless reports abound of dangerous and sometimes illegal products purporting to lighten or even bleach skin tone—all suggesting an ingrained psychological belief many ethnic communities have towards social acceptance, perceived value and attractiveness. While Shades doesn’t shy away from confronting the ugly truths of shadeism, Mensah feels the piece is a restorative balm through which to mediate the pain.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Toronto-based Mensah is a highly respected choreographer and dance artist. She is the 2014 Black Canadian Award Winner for Best Contemporary Dancer, the 2015 recipient of the Cultural Promotion award from the Ghanaian-Canadian Association for her 2015 production of Akoma and was named in 2017 as one of 100 Black Women to watch in Canada. She has worked with some of the industry’s biggest icons such as Rihanna, Drake, Janelle Monae, French Montana, Francesco Yates — the Canadian opener for Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Tour — and has collaborated with companies like Coca-Cola, Luminato, TIFF, Estée Lauder, FIFA, WE DAY, and more. Within the realm of the performing arts, she has worked with Shaw Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, and Obsidian Theatre, where she gained both experience and knowledge to help her create.
In addition to her accolades, Mensah is committed to bringing her own unique style of Afrofusion dance into the industry that includes movements from traditional and contemporary African fused with commercial, urban, and contemporary styles. As a choreographer, Mensah uses each artistic opportunity to express her creativity through the art of dance and theatre. She designs and directs performances that have inspired others to share in her innovative ideas.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Shades features Mensah alongside an ensemble of six highly athletic and accomplished artists, coupled with the luminary creative team including actor Akosua Amo-Adem (Soulpepper’s The Crucible, Nightwood’s The Penelopiad) as dramaturge, and triple Dora Award-winning playwright, director, and scholar d’bi.young anitafrika as Mensah’s artistic mentor. During the performance, the dancers will interact with an inherent physicality while recounting moments of rejection, pain, and discrimination. Percussionist Santosh Naidu and bass player Ian DeSouza will compose original music as they create a soundscape of pulsing African rhythms and musical flow. Audiences will discover that Shades will be an experience to remember.
Esie Mensah Presents Shades
Dates: September 27–29 at 8pmSeptember 28 at 1pm (school show)September 30 at 4pmTicket Prices: Adults: $35 + HSTSeniors/Students/Arts Workers: $25 + HSTVenue: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, OntarioTickets and InfoFrom a 2017 remount:
Dance Toronto:
Esie Mensah Presents Shades
September 27 to 30 2018
• Tickets
Esie Mensah Announces World Premiere of Shades: An Explosive Exploration of Discrimination
Award-winning Choreographer and Dancer Confronts Pervasive Issue of Shadeism Within Communities of Colour
TORONTO, ON — In a searing world premiere, choreographer and dancer Esie Mensah presents Shades, a deeply personal dance theatre exploration into the discrimination between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of communities of colour known as shadeism, September 27 to 30, 2018 at Factory Theatre. A visceral and urgent work, Shades examines the deep generational trauma that shadeism has imprinted on Mensah, its six artists, and society at large.
“I’m interested in exploring the ugliness, the pain, and the truth of shadeism,” says Mensah. “In 2018, shadeism is still a reality, constantly dividing us. Shades is my unapologetic confrontation with this all-too-common actuality in communities of colour. While shadeism is explored through my lens—it is not just my story. It would be selfish to present something so universal as just my own—and that’s why I value the stories and experiences of my artists, creative team, and mentors.”
Originally developed in 2016, the now full-length 75-minute work will fearlessly examine the question of how communities of colour became fractured around the notion of skin tone, but also becomes an undeniable opportunity to start a conversation of healing across all Diasporas. In today’s world, this discrimination can often be subtle and insidious, whereas in the past shadeism was commonly used to unofficially rank enslaved people in many countries around the world.
Mensah is greatly affected by the lengths people of colour, the world over, have taken to permanently alter their skin tone in a quest for a distorted beauty ideal. Countless reports abound of dangerous and sometimes illegal products purporting to lighten or even bleach skin tone—all suggesting an ingrained psychological belief many ethnic communities have towards social acceptance, perceived value and attractiveness. While Shades doesn’t shy away from confronting the ugly truths of shadeism, Mensah feels the piece is a restorative balm through which to mediate the pain.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Toronto-based Mensah is a highly respected choreographer and dance artist. She is the 2014 Black Canadian Award Winner for Best Contemporary Dancer, the 2015 recipient of the Cultural Promotion award from the Ghanaian-Canadian Association for her 2015 production of Akoma and was named in 2017 as one of 100 Black Women to watch in Canada. She has worked with some of the industry’s biggest icons such as Rihanna, Drake, Janelle Monae, French Montana, Francesco Yates — the Canadian opener for Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Tour — and has collaborated with companies like Coca-Cola, Luminato, TIFF, Estée Lauder, FIFA, WE DAY, and more. Within the realm of the performing arts, she has worked with Shaw Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, and Obsidian Theatre, where she gained both experience and knowledge to help her create.In addition to her accolades, Mensah is committed to bringing her own unique style of Afrofusion dance into the industry that includes movements from traditional and contemporary African fused with commercial, urban, and contemporary styles. As a choreographer, Mensah uses each artistic opportunity to express her creativity through the art of dance and theatre. She designs and directs performances that have inspired others to share in her innovative ideas.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Shades features Mensah alongside an ensemble of six highly athletic and accomplished artists, coupled with the luminary creative team including actor Akosua Amo-Adem (Soulpepper’s The Crucible, Nightwood’s The Penelopiad) as dramaturge, and triple Dora Award-winning playwright, director, and scholar d’bi.young anitafrika as Mensah’s artistic mentor. During the performance, the dancers will interact with an inherent physicality while recounting moments of rejection, pain, and discrimination. Percussionist Santosh Naidu and bass player Ian DeSouza will compose original music as they create a soundscape of pulsing African rhythms and musical flow. Audiences will discover that Shades will be an experience to remember.Esie Mensah Presents Shades
Dates: September 27–29 at 8pmSeptember 28 at 1pm (school show)September 30 at 4pmTicket Prices: Adults: $35 + HSTSeniors/Students/Arts Workers: $25 + HSTVenue: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, OntarioTickets and InfoFrom a 2017 remount:
Dance Toronto: Esie Mensah Presents Shades September 27 to 29 2018
From a media release:
Dance Toronto:
Esie Mensah Presents Shades
September 27 to 29 2018
• Tickets
Esie Mensah Announces World Premiere of Shades: An Explosive Exploration of Discrimination
Award-winning Choreographer and Dancer Confronts Pervasive Issue of Shadeism Within Communities of Colour
TORONTO, ON — In a searing world premiere, choreographer and dancer Esie Mensah presents Shades, a deeply personal dance theatre exploration into the discrimination between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of communities of colour known as shadeism, September 27 to 30, 2018 at Factory Theatre. A visceral and urgent work, Shades examines the deep generational trauma that shadeism has imprinted on Mensah, its six artists, and society at large.
“I’m interested in exploring the ugliness, the pain, and the truth of shadeism,” says Mensah. “In 2018, shadeism is still a reality, constantly dividing us. Shades is my unapologetic confrontation with this all-too-common actuality in communities of colour. While shadeism is explored through my lens—it is not just my story. It would be selfish to present something so universal as just my own—and that’s why I value the stories and experiences of my artists, creative team, and mentors.”
Originally developed in 2016, the now full-length 75-minute work will fearlessly examine the question of how communities of colour became fractured around the notion of skin tone, but also becomes an undeniable opportunity to start a conversation of healing across all Diasporas. In today’s world, this discrimination can often be subtle and insidious, whereas in the past shadeism was commonly used to unofficially rank enslaved people in many countries around the world.
Mensah is greatly affected by the lengths people of colour, the world over, have taken to permanently alter their skin tone in a quest for a distorted beauty ideal. Countless reports abound of dangerous and sometimes illegal products purporting to lighten or even bleach skin tone—all suggesting an ingrained psychological belief many ethnic communities have towards social acceptance, perceived value and attractiveness. While Shades doesn’t shy away from confronting the ugly truths of shadeism, Mensah feels the piece is a restorative balm through which to mediate the pain.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Toronto-based Mensah is a highly respected choreographer and dance artist. She is the 2014 Black Canadian Award Winner for Best Contemporary Dancer, the 2015 recipient of the Cultural Promotion award from the Ghanaian-Canadian Association for her 2015 production of Akoma and was named in 2017 as one of 100 Black Women to watch in Canada. She has worked with some of the industry’s biggest icons such as Rihanna, Drake, Janelle Monae, French Montana, Francesco Yates — the Canadian opener for Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Tour — and has collaborated with companies like Coca-Cola, Luminato, TIFF, Estée Lauder, FIFA, WE DAY, and more. Within the realm of the performing arts, she has worked with Shaw Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, and Obsidian Theatre, where she gained both experience and knowledge to help her create.
In addition to her accolades, Mensah is committed to bringing her own unique style of Afrofusion dance into the industry that includes movements from traditional and contemporary African fused with commercial, urban, and contemporary styles. As a choreographer, Mensah uses each artistic opportunity to express her creativity through the art of dance and theatre. She designs and directs performances that have inspired others to share in her innovative ideas.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Shades features Mensah alongside an ensemble of six highly athletic and accomplished artists, coupled with the luminary creative team including actor Akosua Amo-Adem (Soulpepper’s The Crucible, Nightwood’s The Penelopiad) as dramaturge, and triple Dora Award-winning playwright, director, and scholar d’bi.young anitafrika as Mensah’s artistic mentor. During the performance, the dancers will interact with an inherent physicality while recounting moments of rejection, pain, and discrimination. Percussionist Santosh Naidu and bass player Ian DeSouza will compose original music as they create a soundscape of pulsing African rhythms and musical flow. Audiences will discover that Shades will be an experience to remember.
Esie Mensah Presents Shades
Dates: September 27–29 at 8pmSeptember 28 at 1pm (school show)September 30 at 4pmTicket Prices: Adults: $35 + HSTSeniors/Students/Arts Workers: $25 + HSTVenue: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, OntarioTickets and InfoFrom a 2017 remount:
Dance Toronto:
Esie Mensah Presents Shades
September 27 to 29 2018
• Tickets
Esie Mensah Announces World Premiere of Shades: An Explosive Exploration of Discrimination
Award-winning Choreographer and Dancer Confronts Pervasive Issue of Shadeism Within Communities of Colour
TORONTO, ON — In a searing world premiere, choreographer and dancer Esie Mensah presents Shades, a deeply personal dance theatre exploration into the discrimination between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of communities of colour known as shadeism, September 27 to 30, 2018 at Factory Theatre. A visceral and urgent work, Shades examines the deep generational trauma that shadeism has imprinted on Mensah, its six artists, and society at large.
“I’m interested in exploring the ugliness, the pain, and the truth of shadeism,” says Mensah. “In 2018, shadeism is still a reality, constantly dividing us. Shades is my unapologetic confrontation with this all-too-common actuality in communities of colour. While shadeism is explored through my lens—it is not just my story. It would be selfish to present something so universal as just my own—and that’s why I value the stories and experiences of my artists, creative team, and mentors.”
Originally developed in 2016, the now full-length 75-minute work will fearlessly examine the question of how communities of colour became fractured around the notion of skin tone, but also becomes an undeniable opportunity to start a conversation of healing across all Diasporas. In today’s world, this discrimination can often be subtle and insidious, whereas in the past shadeism was commonly used to unofficially rank enslaved people in many countries around the world.
Mensah is greatly affected by the lengths people of colour, the world over, have taken to permanently alter their skin tone in a quest for a distorted beauty ideal. Countless reports abound of dangerous and sometimes illegal products purporting to lighten or even bleach skin tone—all suggesting an ingrained psychological belief many ethnic communities have towards social acceptance, perceived value and attractiveness. While Shades doesn’t shy away from confronting the ugly truths of shadeism, Mensah feels the piece is a restorative balm through which to mediate the pain.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Toronto-based Mensah is a highly respected choreographer and dance artist. She is the 2014 Black Canadian Award Winner for Best Contemporary Dancer, the 2015 recipient of the Cultural Promotion award from the Ghanaian-Canadian Association for her 2015 production of Akoma and was named in 2017 as one of 100 Black Women to watch in Canada. She has worked with some of the industry’s biggest icons such as Rihanna, Drake, Janelle Monae, French Montana, Francesco Yates — the Canadian opener for Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Tour — and has collaborated with companies like Coca-Cola, Luminato, TIFF, Estée Lauder, FIFA, WE DAY, and more. Within the realm of the performing arts, she has worked with Shaw Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, and Obsidian Theatre, where she gained both experience and knowledge to help her create.In addition to her accolades, Mensah is committed to bringing her own unique style of Afrofusion dance into the industry that includes movements from traditional and contemporary African fused with commercial, urban, and contemporary styles. As a choreographer, Mensah uses each artistic opportunity to express her creativity through the art of dance and theatre. She designs and directs performances that have inspired others to share in her innovative ideas.
Esie Mensah - Shades from a 2016 performance (by Dahlia Katz)Shades features Mensah alongside an ensemble of six highly athletic and accomplished artists, coupled with the luminary creative team including actor Akosua Amo-Adem (Soulpepper’s The Crucible, Nightwood’s The Penelopiad) as dramaturge, and triple Dora Award-winning playwright, director, and scholar d’bi.young anitafrika as Mensah’s artistic mentor. During the performance, the dancers will interact with an inherent physicality while recounting moments of rejection, pain, and discrimination. Percussionist Santosh Naidu and bass player Ian DeSouza will compose original music as they create a soundscape of pulsing African rhythms and musical flow. Audiences will discover that Shades will be an experience to remember.Esie Mensah Presents Shades
Dates: September 27–29 at 8pmSeptember 28 at 1pm (school show)September 30 at 4pmTicket Prices: Adults: $35 + HSTSeniors/Students/Arts Workers: $25 + HSTVenue: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, OntarioTickets and InfoFrom a 2017 remount:
Kudzai Kazai Mbira Manufacturer Maestro
Kudzai Kazai Mbira Manufacturer Maestro
@MbiraMasterMaker
• Check Him Out On Facebook
Based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Kudzai Kazai is a master mbira maker - or the Mbira Maestro. He makes the instruments from scratch, including the sounds boards. He ships customized mbiras, tuned according to the client's specs, all over the world.
Kudzai Kazai speaks about making and playing mbira from his workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2015
The mbira is an ancient instrument consisting of a soundboard made of hardwood with 22 to 28 staggered metal tines or keys that produce the sound. It is played holding it in your hand. It is sometimes called a thumb piano.
Kudzai Kazai- Rimuka
Rimuka means greener pastures
The instrument has been an important part of Shona culture in what is now Zimbabwe for a thousand years or so. The instrument is cited in their literature and mbira music is an integral part of their traditional religious practices and ceremonies. Today, it is still in use in Zimbabwe's popular music, and in other regions of Africa in both traditional and contemporary music.
Kudzai Kazai - Shuramurove
Shuramurove is the name of a bird
@MbiraMasterMaker
• Check Him Out On Facebook
Based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Kudzai Kazai is a master mbira maker - or the Mbira Maestro. He makes the instruments from scratch, including the sounds boards. He ships customized mbiras, tuned according to the client's specs, all over the world.
Kudzai Kazai speaks about making and playing mbira from his workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2015
The mbira is an ancient instrument consisting of a soundboard made of hardwood with 22 to 28 staggered metal tines or keys that produce the sound. It is played holding it in your hand. It is sometimes called a thumb piano.
Kudzai Kazai- Rimuka
Rimuka means greener pastures
The instrument has been an important part of Shona culture in what is now Zimbabwe for a thousand years or so. The instrument is cited in their literature and mbira music is an integral part of their traditional religious practices and ceremonies. Today, it is still in use in Zimbabwe's popular music, and in other regions of Africa in both traditional and contemporary music.
Kudzai Kazai - Shuramurove
Shuramurove is the name of a bird
August 27, 2018
TIFF2018 - Short Cuts: Filmmaker Ian Harnarine on 'Caroni' Part of the Short Cuts Programme 08
TIFF2018 - Short Cuts
Filmmaker Ian Harnarine on 'Caroni'
Part of the Short Cuts Programme 08
Toronto International Film Festival September 6 to 16 2018
• Check For Screening Times
Award winning filmmaker Ian Harnarine comes back to TIFF 2018 with a new short film. Entitled Caroni, from the film's description, it's the story of "a West Indian nanny working in New York City tries new ways to connect with her young daughter at home in Trinidad."
Ian left his mark on TIFF the first time in 2011, when his short film Doubles with Slight Pepper, which won the award for Best Canadian Short Film, and then went on to garner the Genie Award for Best Live Action Short Drama at the 32nd Genie Awards in 2012.
Caroni gets its message across using a poetic mode of storytelling. A brief excerpt focuses on the striking image of a vivid scarlet ibis amid greenery. The bird is common to the Caroni swamp on the west coast of Trinidad, and is one of the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago.
"There's definitely a narrative to it," Ian says, "but then it goes into magic realism."
Ian says the title of the film has multi-layered significance. "There's also a lot of importance to it historically," he explains. The area is where the old sugar plantations were located.
Filmmaker Ian HarnarineBorn and raised in Toronto to immigrant parents from Trinidad and Tobago, Harnarine studied physics and astronomy at York University and the University of Illinois before switching to film at New York University. While there, he took classes with famed director Spike Lee, who was credited as executive producer on Doubles with Slight Pepper.
Going from Toronto, where he lived in the midst of the city's Caribbean community, to New York City, pointed up some of the differences between the way both big cities deal with their diverse populations. Toronto's Caribbean community is quite visible, and includes members who are prominent members of the city. Even though, in terms of numbers, there are undoubtedly and actually more people of Caribbean descent in NYC, Ian calls them "hidden in plain sight." They are visible in a supporting role in the Big Apple. "In upper middle class neighbourhoods, you see white babies being pushed by black women."
It was shining a spotlight on that overlooked role that led Ian to conceiving Caroni. "I always remember the families left behind," he says. "It's really interesting. I've lived in New York City for 13 years, but New York, for all its diversity, is still a very segregated city." In Toronto, as he points out, ethnic groups may have a concentration in some areas, but are also spread out through the city and even to the suburbs.
In his goal of telling a story that was unseen by the public eye, he also included faces of NYC that filmgoers may not recognize. "I tried to film the movie in locations that aren't normally seen," he says.
In the end, it's a story about the politics of immigration, and what it means on a human level. "I'm more interested in the emotional response," he says. As he points out, a film about homesickness should find an appropriate home in Toronto, a city where so many of its residents will share the sentiment.
Filmmaker Ian Harnarine on 'Caroni'
Part of the Short Cuts Programme 08
Toronto International Film Festival September 6 to 16 2018
• Check For Screening Times
Award winning filmmaker Ian Harnarine comes back to TIFF 2018 with a new short film. Entitled Caroni, from the film's description, it's the story of "a West Indian nanny working in New York City tries new ways to connect with her young daughter at home in Trinidad."
Ian left his mark on TIFF the first time in 2011, when his short film Doubles with Slight Pepper, which won the award for Best Canadian Short Film, and then went on to garner the Genie Award for Best Live Action Short Drama at the 32nd Genie Awards in 2012.
Caroni gets its message across using a poetic mode of storytelling. A brief excerpt focuses on the striking image of a vivid scarlet ibis amid greenery. The bird is common to the Caroni swamp on the west coast of Trinidad, and is one of the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago.
"There's definitely a narrative to it," Ian says, "but then it goes into magic realism."
Ian says the title of the film has multi-layered significance. "There's also a lot of importance to it historically," he explains. The area is where the old sugar plantations were located.
Filmmaker Ian HarnarineBorn and raised in Toronto to immigrant parents from Trinidad and Tobago, Harnarine studied physics and astronomy at York University and the University of Illinois before switching to film at New York University. While there, he took classes with famed director Spike Lee, who was credited as executive producer on Doubles with Slight Pepper.Going from Toronto, where he lived in the midst of the city's Caribbean community, to New York City, pointed up some of the differences between the way both big cities deal with their diverse populations. Toronto's Caribbean community is quite visible, and includes members who are prominent members of the city. Even though, in terms of numbers, there are undoubtedly and actually more people of Caribbean descent in NYC, Ian calls them "hidden in plain sight." They are visible in a supporting role in the Big Apple. "In upper middle class neighbourhoods, you see white babies being pushed by black women."
It was shining a spotlight on that overlooked role that led Ian to conceiving Caroni. "I always remember the families left behind," he says. "It's really interesting. I've lived in New York City for 13 years, but New York, for all its diversity, is still a very segregated city." In Toronto, as he points out, ethnic groups may have a concentration in some areas, but are also spread out through the city and even to the suburbs.
In his goal of telling a story that was unseen by the public eye, he also included faces of NYC that filmgoers may not recognize. "I tried to film the movie in locations that aren't normally seen," he says.
In the end, it's a story about the politics of immigration, and what it means on a human level. "I'm more interested in the emotional response," he says. As he points out, a film about homesickness should find an appropriate home in Toronto, a city where so many of its residents will share the sentiment.
Jazz/Rock: The Goldwyn Experiment - Avenue B (Stash/7 September 2018)
Jazz/Rock:
The Goldwyn Experiment - Avenue B
(Stash/7 September 2018)
• Get The Album
Goldwyn Thandrayen is a Musician and Songwriter best known for his work in 2017 as the Lead Singer, Guitarist of Montreal's Rock N' Roll band Psychocide. He was born and raised on the Island of Mauritius, and has settled in Montreal after wandering the globe pursuing music.
The Goldwyn Experiment is a fluid band of collaborators, with the upcoming release a dazzling mix of genres and moods. The original compositions are often best explained via mood rather than musical technique. The Prologue shimmers with a flowing kind of beauty, anchored by the piano and a rhythm that ebbs and flows. It's a mesmerizing track that builds to a rising energy and then flows back down into reverie.
Vodka Tea plays with traditional Russian themes in a concoction that incorporates elements of jazz and even progressive rock. The mood turns bouncy and upbeat - perhaps ironically - in Bag Of Nails, where the lyrics talk about being born in a broken city.
From the recording sessions in Montreal:
Goldwyn's tenor has a nice range, and he's smart enough to add harmony vocals to keep it interesting. In Sad Boy Summer, he switches to a spoken word/rap vibe that suits his quick delivery, punctuated by wailing rock guitars. On Fast Response, he switches to a more operatic rock delivery.
The Goldwyn Experiment was formed in 2011, inexperienced on vocals, Goldwyn called upon numerous artists from different bands, different backgrounds and countries to help him out. He released the first single "Fadin' Away" in 2011 followed by the EP "Tonight We Fly" in 2012. In 2015 after collaborating with a Jazz trio in New York City, where he was then established, he recorded "Mr. Suit" at Kaufman Astoria Studio. The trio consisted of Art Hirahara on Piano, Evan Gregor on Upright Bass and Jared Schonig on Drums. The session went so well, that Goldwyn decided to write an album featuring the trio in what would become "Avenue A".
Interlude 44 and the Epilogue again showcase his virtuosic piano jazz chops, both in performance and the composition of a classic contemporary jazz track. Whale Jail is a fun standout track in a retro surfer rock mode complete with cheesy synth organ track. Queen Of The Night is another standout track, a moody, slow, and elegant rock fusion song.
There's plenty to keep you interested in this fresh and original upcoming release.
Track List
1. Prologue; 2. Vodka Tea; 3. Bag of Nails; 4. Sad Boy Summer; 5. Fast Response; 6. Interlude; 7. Whale Jail; 8. Arrows; 9. Let it Snow; 10. Queen Of The Night; 11. Epilogue
Personnel:
Goldwyn Thandrayen : Vocals, Guitars, Keys; Art Hirahara - Piano, Keys; Evan Gregor - Upright Bass; Kenny Grohowski - Drums; Featured Vocals/Rapper on Sad Boy Summer Tyler Guest and Tommy Atomic DiRocco; Guest Vocals - Wilson Li
Stay In Touch:
https://www.thegoldwynexperiment.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheGoldwynExperiment
https://twitter.com/goldwynth
https://www.instagram.com/goldwynt/
Teaser #2:
The Goldwyn Experiment - Avenue B
(Stash/7 September 2018)
• Get The Album
Goldwyn Thandrayen is a Musician and Songwriter best known for his work in 2017 as the Lead Singer, Guitarist of Montreal's Rock N' Roll band Psychocide. He was born and raised on the Island of Mauritius, and has settled in Montreal after wandering the globe pursuing music.The Goldwyn Experiment is a fluid band of collaborators, with the upcoming release a dazzling mix of genres and moods. The original compositions are often best explained via mood rather than musical technique. The Prologue shimmers with a flowing kind of beauty, anchored by the piano and a rhythm that ebbs and flows. It's a mesmerizing track that builds to a rising energy and then flows back down into reverie.
Vodka Tea plays with traditional Russian themes in a concoction that incorporates elements of jazz and even progressive rock. The mood turns bouncy and upbeat - perhaps ironically - in Bag Of Nails, where the lyrics talk about being born in a broken city.
From the recording sessions in Montreal:
Goldwyn's tenor has a nice range, and he's smart enough to add harmony vocals to keep it interesting. In Sad Boy Summer, he switches to a spoken word/rap vibe that suits his quick delivery, punctuated by wailing rock guitars. On Fast Response, he switches to a more operatic rock delivery.
The Goldwyn Experiment was formed in 2011, inexperienced on vocals, Goldwyn called upon numerous artists from different bands, different backgrounds and countries to help him out. He released the first single "Fadin' Away" in 2011 followed by the EP "Tonight We Fly" in 2012. In 2015 after collaborating with a Jazz trio in New York City, where he was then established, he recorded "Mr. Suit" at Kaufman Astoria Studio. The trio consisted of Art Hirahara on Piano, Evan Gregor on Upright Bass and Jared Schonig on Drums. The session went so well, that Goldwyn decided to write an album featuring the trio in what would become "Avenue A".
Interlude 44 and the Epilogue again showcase his virtuosic piano jazz chops, both in performance and the composition of a classic contemporary jazz track. Whale Jail is a fun standout track in a retro surfer rock mode complete with cheesy synth organ track. Queen Of The Night is another standout track, a moody, slow, and elegant rock fusion song.
There's plenty to keep you interested in this fresh and original upcoming release.
Track List
1. Prologue; 2. Vodka Tea; 3. Bag of Nails; 4. Sad Boy Summer; 5. Fast Response; 6. Interlude; 7. Whale Jail; 8. Arrows; 9. Let it Snow; 10. Queen Of The Night; 11. Epilogue
Personnel:
Goldwyn Thandrayen : Vocals, Guitars, Keys; Art Hirahara - Piano, Keys; Evan Gregor - Upright Bass; Kenny Grohowski - Drums; Featured Vocals/Rapper on Sad Boy Summer Tyler Guest and Tommy Atomic DiRocco; Guest Vocals - Wilson Li
Stay In Touch:
https://www.thegoldwynexperiment.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheGoldwynExperiment
https://twitter.com/goldwynth
https://www.instagram.com/goldwynt/
Teaser #2:
Jazz Single: Gideon King & City Blog - Gun To My Head (Independent/21 September 2018)
Jazz Single:
Gideon King & City Blog - Gun To My Head
(Independent/21 September 2018)
from the album Upscale Madhouse - coming March 2019
• Stream/Buy
"This song is about L.A. and New York and how when the rubber meets the road, I'll take NYC. It's about writing music against the backdrop of both of these towns. This song also speaks to the idea that trying to make it alone in life is a fool's errand. Also, there was this weird serial killer in L.A. that frightened me. He is in the tune too. Hope you like the song!" (Gideon King)
Fluid musicianship and a relentless groove make this track a keeper. Gun To My Head, despite the violence of the title, begins softly with acoustic guitar, and a riff that comes straight outta the Baroque Era. After a jazzy segue, it settles into a jazzy groove. As always, Gideon has chosen a roster of talented musicians to flesh out the music. Here, it's a quartet made up of Marc Broussard, John Scofield, Nate Smith & Donny McCaslin.
While the beats are driving, it's more of a whimsical meditation on the current madness of the world than a depressing rant.
New York City-based jazz guitarist Gideon King formed the band and released a full length CD, City Blog, in 2015. A veteran of the NYC scene, he's worked with the likes of John Scofield and members of Steely Dan, among others.
The album Upscale Madhouse, which comes out next March, is characterized by a sense of invention, and blends a variety of influences under the big tent of jazz, including electronica, rock, and adult contemporary pop. The mood ranges from reflective to sexy and langorous through to vibrant and danceable. Gideon uses a wide range of collaborators, with an emphasis on superb vocals that really elevates the release above the herd.
The new single is a prelude to a polished release of multi-layered fusion to look forward to next spring.
Stay In Touch:
http://gideonkingcityblog.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Gideonkingcityblog/
https://www.instagram.com/gideonkingcityblog/
https://twitter.com/GKCityblog
From a recent performance:
Gideon King & City Blog - Gun To My Head
(Independent/21 September 2018)
from the album Upscale Madhouse - coming March 2019
• Stream/Buy
"This song is about L.A. and New York and how when the rubber meets the road, I'll take NYC. It's about writing music against the backdrop of both of these towns. This song also speaks to the idea that trying to make it alone in life is a fool's errand. Also, there was this weird serial killer in L.A. that frightened me. He is in the tune too. Hope you like the song!" (Gideon King)Fluid musicianship and a relentless groove make this track a keeper. Gun To My Head, despite the violence of the title, begins softly with acoustic guitar, and a riff that comes straight outta the Baroque Era. After a jazzy segue, it settles into a jazzy groove. As always, Gideon has chosen a roster of talented musicians to flesh out the music. Here, it's a quartet made up of Marc Broussard, John Scofield, Nate Smith & Donny McCaslin.
While the beats are driving, it's more of a whimsical meditation on the current madness of the world than a depressing rant.
New York City-based jazz guitarist Gideon King formed the band and released a full length CD, City Blog, in 2015. A veteran of the NYC scene, he's worked with the likes of John Scofield and members of Steely Dan, among others.
The album Upscale Madhouse, which comes out next March, is characterized by a sense of invention, and blends a variety of influences under the big tent of jazz, including electronica, rock, and adult contemporary pop. The mood ranges from reflective to sexy and langorous through to vibrant and danceable. Gideon uses a wide range of collaborators, with an emphasis on superb vocals that really elevates the release above the herd.The new single is a prelude to a polished release of multi-layered fusion to look forward to next spring.
Stay In Touch:
http://gideonkingcityblog.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Gideonkingcityblog/
https://www.instagram.com/gideonkingcityblog/
https://twitter.com/GKCityblog
From a recent performance:
Rock & Storytelling: Sam Fishman - End of Time (Independent/July 21, 2018)
Recently Released:
Sam Fishman - End of Time
(Independent/July 21, 2018)
• Buy The Album
• Stream It On Spotify
Every living creature has a guardian...
So begins the narration of drummer and composer Samuel Fishman's latest project, End of Time. It's storytelling and a rock musical journey woven together in 15 tracks.
Debbie Grattan provides the soft tones for the narration - the perfect tones for a bedtime story. Her voice rises and falls to emphasize the drama of the story, with sounds and music emerging when the voice drops. The tracks bleed into each other and the spoken portions are short and poignant, rather than self indulgent.
The notes call it "a progressive rock soundtrack in search of an animated feature film" and that's probably an apt description. The release alternates musical and narrative tracks. The story is about a spiritual journey, and the music is evocative and varied in approach.
There are elements of contemporary classical music in Sh'ma Sh'ma, then melodic rock with jangly guitars on Omens. The mood turns to heavy rock on Stolen Lives, with whispery vocals that turn powerful against anthemic guitar riffs.
Mantra is a straight up head banger. The End Of Time is a standout track, with moody vocals and guitar lines weaving in and out of each other, and Samuel's hypnotic drum work that punctuate it with an insistent pulse.
Sam has an eclectic background. The New Jersey based artist is also known for his band Madison Rising, and his production work in a variety of genres, including hip hop, folk, rock, and jazz, most notably "Band Practice", a jam/rock project involving former Spin Doctors guitarist Anthony Krizan. Sam later took on the role of performer and producer with his release of "Stained Glass and Technicolor Grooves", featuring renowned jazz pianist Misha Piatigorsky.
His latest project is an interesting experiment in musical storytelling.
Track List
1. The Musings of Your Heart (A Path Illuminated) 2. Sh'ma Sh'ma 3. Don't Forget You Can Breathe 4. Omens 5. Pure Kinetic Energy (Inside the Labyrinth) 6. Voices Emerge 7. Grand Design (Outside the Labyrinth) 8. Stolen Lives 9. Sulfuric Fumes of Fury (Enter the Dark) 10. Mantra 11. Final Distance to the Clock 12. The Space Between Calm and Catastrophe (Approaching the End of Time) 13. The End of Time 14. A Short Dream 15. A Short Dream Revisited
Personnel: Debbie Grattan: Narrator; Jeremy Fishman: Writer; Samuel Fishman: Drums and Synths; Samantha Cram: Vocals; Ryan Acquaotta: Vocals; Kurt Wubbenhorst: Guitar and Bass; Alex Goldenthal: Lead Guitar; Christine Nevill: Aux Vocals; BCA Chamber Choir: Aux Vocals; Alicia Svigals: Violin' Brandon Campbell: Orchestral Programming
Stay In Touch:
http://www.naturaldrummer.com/
https://www.facebook.com/naturaldrummer/
https://www.instagram.com/naturaldrummer/
Sam Fishman - End of Time
(Independent/July 21, 2018)
• Buy The Album
• Stream It On Spotify
Every living creature has a guardian...So begins the narration of drummer and composer Samuel Fishman's latest project, End of Time. It's storytelling and a rock musical journey woven together in 15 tracks.
Debbie Grattan provides the soft tones for the narration - the perfect tones for a bedtime story. Her voice rises and falls to emphasize the drama of the story, with sounds and music emerging when the voice drops. The tracks bleed into each other and the spoken portions are short and poignant, rather than self indulgent.
The notes call it "a progressive rock soundtrack in search of an animated feature film" and that's probably an apt description. The release alternates musical and narrative tracks. The story is about a spiritual journey, and the music is evocative and varied in approach.
There are elements of contemporary classical music in Sh'ma Sh'ma, then melodic rock with jangly guitars on Omens. The mood turns to heavy rock on Stolen Lives, with whispery vocals that turn powerful against anthemic guitar riffs.
Mantra is a straight up head banger. The End Of Time is a standout track, with moody vocals and guitar lines weaving in and out of each other, and Samuel's hypnotic drum work that punctuate it with an insistent pulse.
Sam has an eclectic background. The New Jersey based artist is also known for his band Madison Rising, and his production work in a variety of genres, including hip hop, folk, rock, and jazz, most notably "Band Practice", a jam/rock project involving former Spin Doctors guitarist Anthony Krizan. Sam later took on the role of performer and producer with his release of "Stained Glass and Technicolor Grooves", featuring renowned jazz pianist Misha Piatigorsky.
His latest project is an interesting experiment in musical storytelling.
Track List
1. The Musings of Your Heart (A Path Illuminated) 2. Sh'ma Sh'ma 3. Don't Forget You Can Breathe 4. Omens 5. Pure Kinetic Energy (Inside the Labyrinth) 6. Voices Emerge 7. Grand Design (Outside the Labyrinth) 8. Stolen Lives 9. Sulfuric Fumes of Fury (Enter the Dark) 10. Mantra 11. Final Distance to the Clock 12. The Space Between Calm and Catastrophe (Approaching the End of Time) 13. The End of Time 14. A Short Dream 15. A Short Dream Revisited
Personnel: Debbie Grattan: Narrator; Jeremy Fishman: Writer; Samuel Fishman: Drums and Synths; Samantha Cram: Vocals; Ryan Acquaotta: Vocals; Kurt Wubbenhorst: Guitar and Bass; Alex Goldenthal: Lead Guitar; Christine Nevill: Aux Vocals; BCA Chamber Choir: Aux Vocals; Alicia Svigals: Violin' Brandon Campbell: Orchestral Programming
Stay In Touch:
http://www.naturaldrummer.com/
https://www.facebook.com/naturaldrummer/
https://www.instagram.com/naturaldrummer/
August 26, 2018
Fall For Dance North (FFDN) Toronto's Premier International Dance Festival October 2 to 6 2018
From a media release:
Fall For Dance North (FFDN)
Toronto's Premier International Dance Festival
October 2 to 6 2018
Tickets in Hot Demand for Fourth Annual Festivities,
Showcasing 12 Works from 11 Companies Across Three Distinct Programs
Toronto, ON — Fall For Dance North (FFDN), Toronto’s Premier International Dance Festival, proudly presents an eclectic and acclaimed line-up of world-class companies and artists as part of its highly anticipated 2018 festival from Oct. 2 to 6, 2018 at festival co-presenter Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and, FFDN’s newest venue, Ryerson Theatre, in partnership with Ryerson School of Performance.
Compagnie Marie Chouinard (by Sylvie-Ann Pare)Each evening, kaleidoscopic programming will take audiences on a journey, showcasing works from four companies who represent diversity in geography, from Toronto’s own Red Sky Performance to the Netherlands’ Introdans; diversity in style, from the polished precision of The National Ballet of Canada to the uninhibited street dance of Soweto Skeleton Movers; coupled with diversity in generation, from rising star Emma Portner to living legend Jiří Kylián.
• Founded on the value that dance is one of humanity’s most universal art forms, Fall For Dance North manifests this belief and ensures accessibility by offering all festival tickets for only $15.
• The full festival line-up can be found online at ffdnorth.com.
This year also marks the expansion of FFDN’s public programming at Union Station, which will count down the final 10 days to the festival opening. From Sept. 22 to Oct. 4, four free presentations will be hosted in Union Station’s West Wing, including: In Museum, an interactive work performed by the dancers of the acclaimed Compagnie Marie Chouinard; a tap performance by Toronto-based Toffan Rhythm Projects; a tango milonga with live accompaniment; and the return of the two-day Open Studio featuring sneak peeks of rehearsals by local and festival artists.
Red Sky Performance (by Jag Gundu)“Last year, with the our addition of free Union Station programming, we brought dance into the lives of more citizens than ever before. This year we will do so again, adding Ryerson Theatre to our list of venues and welcoming thousands more into the FFDN community,” says Ilter Ibrahimof, FFDN Artistic Director. “While we are a young organization, we are immensely proud of the support, trust, and following we have built with our patrons to date. This year, new and returning audiences will be treated to a host of milestone firsts for the festival: a spectacular contribution from New York City Ballet Resident Choreographer Justin Peck; a world premiere commissioned by FFDN from Anne Plamondon and Emma Portner; and an endless array of evocative, engaging, and exquisite artistic surprises.”
Soweto Skeleton Movers (by Owen Ling)This year's highlights include:
Anne Plamondon + Emma Portner | Counter Cantor, an FFDN commissioned world premiere will see these two women meld their unique voices to create a duet of a rare complexity through a thrilling collaboration.Obeah Opera 2019, steeped in Black music, sung entirely a cappella by a powerful all-female cast, Obeah Opera is a retelling of the legendary Salem witch trials from the fascinating perspective of Caribbean slave women. Red Sky Performance performing with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, an incredible piece that explores Indigenous connections to ancestral origins all with an incredible score by Canadian composer Eliot Britton and live orchestral accompaniment! Recent Tony-award winner Justin Peck's exciting work Paz de la Jolla performed by The National Ballet of CanadaMAMBO by Alysa Pires, an exciting, zany creation from Ballet Kelowna featuring a great soundtrack including Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como and so much more.
Fall For Dance North (FFDN)
Toronto's Premier International Dance Festival
October 2 to 6 2018
Tickets in Hot Demand for Fourth Annual Festivities,
Showcasing 12 Works from 11 Companies Across Three Distinct Programs
Toronto, ON — Fall For Dance North (FFDN), Toronto’s Premier International Dance Festival, proudly presents an eclectic and acclaimed line-up of world-class companies and artists as part of its highly anticipated 2018 festival from Oct. 2 to 6, 2018 at festival co-presenter Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and, FFDN’s newest venue, Ryerson Theatre, in partnership with Ryerson School of Performance.
Compagnie Marie Chouinard (by Sylvie-Ann Pare)Each evening, kaleidoscopic programming will take audiences on a journey, showcasing works from four companies who represent diversity in geography, from Toronto’s own Red Sky Performance to the Netherlands’ Introdans; diversity in style, from the polished precision of The National Ballet of Canada to the uninhibited street dance of Soweto Skeleton Movers; coupled with diversity in generation, from rising star Emma Portner to living legend Jiří Kylián.• Founded on the value that dance is one of humanity’s most universal art forms, Fall For Dance North manifests this belief and ensures accessibility by offering all festival tickets for only $15.
• The full festival line-up can be found online at ffdnorth.com.
This year also marks the expansion of FFDN’s public programming at Union Station, which will count down the final 10 days to the festival opening. From Sept. 22 to Oct. 4, four free presentations will be hosted in Union Station’s West Wing, including: In Museum, an interactive work performed by the dancers of the acclaimed Compagnie Marie Chouinard; a tap performance by Toronto-based Toffan Rhythm Projects; a tango milonga with live accompaniment; and the return of the two-day Open Studio featuring sneak peeks of rehearsals by local and festival artists.
Red Sky Performance (by Jag Gundu)“Last year, with the our addition of free Union Station programming, we brought dance into the lives of more citizens than ever before. This year we will do so again, adding Ryerson Theatre to our list of venues and welcoming thousands more into the FFDN community,” says Ilter Ibrahimof, FFDN Artistic Director. “While we are a young organization, we are immensely proud of the support, trust, and following we have built with our patrons to date. This year, new and returning audiences will be treated to a host of milestone firsts for the festival: a spectacular contribution from New York City Ballet Resident Choreographer Justin Peck; a world premiere commissioned by FFDN from Anne Plamondon and Emma Portner; and an endless array of evocative, engaging, and exquisite artistic surprises.”
Soweto Skeleton Movers (by Owen Ling)This year's highlights include:Anne Plamondon + Emma Portner | Counter Cantor, an FFDN commissioned world premiere will see these two women meld their unique voices to create a duet of a rare complexity through a thrilling collaboration.Obeah Opera 2019, steeped in Black music, sung entirely a cappella by a powerful all-female cast, Obeah Opera is a retelling of the legendary Salem witch trials from the fascinating perspective of Caribbean slave women. Red Sky Performance performing with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, an incredible piece that explores Indigenous connections to ancestral origins all with an incredible score by Canadian composer Eliot Britton and live orchestral accompaniment! Recent Tony-award winner Justin Peck's exciting work Paz de la Jolla performed by The National Ballet of CanadaMAMBO by Alysa Pires, an exciting, zany creation from Ballet Kelowna featuring a great soundtrack including Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como and so much more.
#TravelMorocco: Heure Bleue Palais - Essaouira, Morocco - A gracious riad at the edge of the Medina
From a media release:
#TravelMorocco
Heure Bleue Palais - Essaouira, Morocco
A gracious riad at the edge of the Medina
• Book/Find Out More
Heure Bleue Palais, Essaouira, Morocco“Essaouira, long known, as Mogador, is Morocco’s most distinctive city. Perhaps I’m biased, because it’s where my great-grandfather grew up…but there’s no doubt that Relais & Châteaux’s L’Heure Bleue Palais is the outstanding jewel in Essaouira’s crown.” - Geoffrey Weill, President
L’Heure Bleue Palais sits at the edge of the Medina of Essaouira. Known as Mogador well into the 1950s, Essaouira is a port and Atlantic beach resort two hours west of Marrakech. Essaouira’s white and blue houses are protected by the terracotta battlements built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Long a crossroads of trade connecting Africa, the Arab world and Europe, the town’s romantic souks, alleys and houses are reminiscent of the charming and intimate Marrakech of decades ago.
Once the palace-riad of the Pasha of Mogador, L’Heure Bleue Palais was built with a floor for each of his four wives. Long abandoned, the building was transformed a decade ago into an elegant, tasteful, lavish, antique- and art-filled boutique hotel. Its 33 guest rooms and suites are in four different styles: African, Moorish, Portuguese and British. The riad surrounds a palm-filled courtyard where drinks, breakfast and afternoon tea are served. The elegant restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine. And the rooftop sundeck and pool are ideal for a day’s sunning, lunch and lazing.
The Spa:
Journey to the heart of Argan oilA 3-day journey with Heure Bleue and ArganHere at Heure Bleue Palais we are justly proud of coastal Essaouira’s colourful heritage and its intrinsic links with hinterland and region. Bringing it all together we have created a unique Argan oil journey – a very personalised 3 day journey including a trip to a working cooperative, an Argan based Hammam ritual in our Petit Spa and as ‘pièce de résistance’, a dedicated menu and cooking class with our Head Chef Ahmed Handour, celebrating Argan oil as a terrific taste enhancer, discovering why it has a firm place in traditional and modern Essaouiran cooking, plus the introduction to his signature dish: Royal chocolate & crispy ‘Amlou’.
• Price: 149 euros per night & per person.
• Contact us at +212 (0) 524 78 34 34 or info@heure-bleue.com for more information.
Heure Bleue Palais - rooftop pool & lounge
#TravelMorocco
Heure Bleue Palais - Essaouira, Morocco
A gracious riad at the edge of the Medina
• Book/Find Out More
Heure Bleue Palais, Essaouira, Morocco“Essaouira, long known, as Mogador, is Morocco’s most distinctive city. Perhaps I’m biased, because it’s where my great-grandfather grew up…but there’s no doubt that Relais & Châteaux’s L’Heure Bleue Palais is the outstanding jewel in Essaouira’s crown.” - Geoffrey Weill, PresidentL’Heure Bleue Palais sits at the edge of the Medina of Essaouira. Known as Mogador well into the 1950s, Essaouira is a port and Atlantic beach resort two hours west of Marrakech. Essaouira’s white and blue houses are protected by the terracotta battlements built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Long a crossroads of trade connecting Africa, the Arab world and Europe, the town’s romantic souks, alleys and houses are reminiscent of the charming and intimate Marrakech of decades ago.
Once the palace-riad of the Pasha of Mogador, L’Heure Bleue Palais was built with a floor for each of his four wives. Long abandoned, the building was transformed a decade ago into an elegant, tasteful, lavish, antique- and art-filled boutique hotel. Its 33 guest rooms and suites are in four different styles: African, Moorish, Portuguese and British. The riad surrounds a palm-filled courtyard where drinks, breakfast and afternoon tea are served. The elegant restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine. And the rooftop sundeck and pool are ideal for a day’s sunning, lunch and lazing.
The Spa:
Journey to the heart of Argan oilA 3-day journey with Heure Bleue and ArganHere at Heure Bleue Palais we are justly proud of coastal Essaouira’s colourful heritage and its intrinsic links with hinterland and region. Bringing it all together we have created a unique Argan oil journey – a very personalised 3 day journey including a trip to a working cooperative, an Argan based Hammam ritual in our Petit Spa and as ‘pièce de résistance’, a dedicated menu and cooking class with our Head Chef Ahmed Handour, celebrating Argan oil as a terrific taste enhancer, discovering why it has a firm place in traditional and modern Essaouiran cooking, plus the introduction to his signature dish: Royal chocolate & crispy ‘Amlou’.• Price: 149 euros per night & per person.
• Contact us at +212 (0) 524 78 34 34 or info@heure-bleue.com for more information.
Heure Bleue Palais - rooftop pool & lounge
Art & Culture Maven
Where I blog about art and culture, not surprisingly.
- Anya M. Wassenberg's profile
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