Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 93

Wines of Italy - Vino d'Italia: Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri 2016

With material from a media release:

Wines of Italy - Vino d'Italia
Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri 2016

• Here's a guide to all the Tre Bicchieri winners

What could be more appetizing than a room full of Italian wines and foods to sample? Add the posh surroundings of the Liberty Grand complex at Exhibition Place, and the experience was nothing short of sublime.

3 Glasses is the top distinction awarded to some of Italy’s best wines by Gambero Rosso, an Italian journal that celebrates the hedonistic pursuit of food, wine & culture.

Every year in the Fall, Gambero Rosso announces their short-list of Tre Bicchieri winners (pronounced “tray bee-kee-AIR-ee”, which means “3 Glasses”). These are the wines that are judged as the best from a massive collection of 22,000 wine contenders from 2,400 Italian wineries. Taste testing 22,000 wines continues over a 6 month period.

This year just 421 wines earned the Tre Bicchieri distinction. That’s the top 2% of all wines taste-tested.

Luckily, I got to check out the Gambero Rosso road show when it hit Toronto this week. There was tiramisu, meat balls, polenta and osso bucco, cheeses, salads and did I mention tiramisu...? There was organic fair trade, single origin, richly aromatic coffee from  Caffè Paranà.

Vino d'ItaliaAnd the wines? I can only comment on a few that I sampled, very inexpertly - and in no way to besmirch the good name of the very many that I couldn't get to.

From La Guardiense, a winery in the Campania region in the south of Italy - the Sannio Aglianico Janare '14. This is a lovely, big, fruity dark red with a nice finish, not too tart and perfect for sipping.

Monte del Fra Bardolino 2015 is a light red wine made on the eastern shores of Lake Garda, in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. Monte del Fra Bardolino is made from 55 year old indigenous native vines from Custoza in the Verona region.

Just released in Vintages (the LCBO store) it's a perfect summer wine - fruity and fragrant. It would be lovely for sipping or with light summer dishes.
Cantina Nals Margreid - Pino Bianco Sirmian '14. Made in the Alto Adige or South Tyrol region of Italy, this white wine has a bright acidity that fills the nose, with light citrus notes from grapes grown 1200 meteres high on the slopes of the Tyrolean mountains. It's a nice sipping wine with fruit or cheese or perhaps accompanied by fish and seafood.

From Tuscany, I checked out a classic Chianti '13 from Badia A Coltibuono. The Badia A Coltibuono itself is a fascinating place centered around an 11th century monastery that has evolved into the burgeoning agritourist area. The Chianti '13 was fruity, with dark notes of cherry; it would go with any Italian dish I could conceive of.

From the Emilia Romagna region, I tasted the lovely Cleto Chiarli Tenue Agricole Rose Brut De Noir. It was nicely effervescent, with a light acidity. I could sip this wine with fruit and cheese for days on end.

Since I was on to bubblies, I finished with Bartolomiol - Voldobbiandene Brut Priot '14. It has a lovely and light taste with subtle peachy notes for a nice alternative to Champagne.
Bitters
I regret I didn't get to all of those lovely bitters and liqueurs, but at least I got to a few.

Fernet-Branca Amer/Bitters
If you like bitters - and I do! - you'll have to try Fernet-Branca Amer. It's the perfect digestif, wonderfully aromatic with a variety of spices and herbs, made in Milan, Italy by Frateli Branca Distilleries.

I found it light and flavourful, delicious on its own or over ice. It's made with 27 different herbs from 4 continents - including aloe ferox, gentian, chamomile, chincon, colombo root, Chinese rhubarb, myrrh, peppermint, saffron and ireos - and then aged in oak barrels for 12 months for a taste that's light, mot syrupy, with just the right bitter edge.

Amaro Lucano
Amaro Lucano is an Italian liqueur made by Amaro Lucano S.p.A., a family-owned company founded in 1894 and based in Pisticci, Basilicata. The liqueur is made using a secret recipe that uses wormwood, Roman wormwood, clary sage, musk yarrow, sweet orange and gentian, among others. Nice with ice or on its own, Amaro Lucano was made for mixing in cocktails too.


Lucano & Chinotto
45ml Amaro Lucano
Chinotto with soda

Amaro Lucano cocktail(Chinotto is an Italian soft drink made with the juice of the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree.)

Lucano 1894
2/5 Amaro Lucano
1/5 Red Vermouth
2/5 tonic water
Orange juice - just a splash
Orange slice

Pour everything into a tall glass and stir with a straw and add the splash of orange juice last. Garnish with an orange slice.

Lucano & Gazzosa
45ml Amaro Lucano
100ml Lemon soda

Art/Fashion/Celebrity: Tommy Hilfiger to sponsor & co-host the star-studded Serpentine Summer Party 2016

From a media release:

Art/Fashion/Celebrity
Tommy Hilfiger to sponsor & co-host the Serpentine Summer Party

The iconic American designer will co-host the Summer Party, a highlight of London’s annual social calendar, in support of the renowned Serpentine art galleries

Image of Tommy Hilfiger courtesty Tommy Hilfiger© 2009 AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – Tommy Hilfiger, which is owned by PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH], will sponsor the 2016 edition of the Serpentine Summer Party, taking place at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, London, on Thursday, July 6, 2016. The event will be co-hosted by Mr. Tommy Hilfiger alongside actress Salma Hayek, former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, entrepreneur Sir David Tang, architect David Adjaye, entrepreneur Matthew Freud, architect Bjarke Ingels, cricket administrator Lalit Modi, and Serpentine Director of Summer Programmes, Julia Peyton-Jones and Artistic Director Hans Ulrich Obrist.

“Art has been one of my greatest sources of inspiration since the beginning of my career,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “Co-hosting this year’s Serpentine Summer Party is a fantastic opportunity to support the artistic community, and celebrate some of art, design and architecture’s most incredible talent. From painting and photography to sculpture, architecture, music and performance, the Serpentine Galleries bring all forms of artistic expression together in an incredible setting.”

“The Summer Party is renowned for bringing together leading figures from a variety of different worlds and we are especially excited that Tommy Hilfiger is partnering with us this year,” said Julia Peyton-Jones, Director of Summer Programmes, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries. “As well as creating one of America’s most iconic brands, which is synonymous with summer, Tommy Hilfiger is a globally-renowned figure whose long-term commitment to art and education chimes with the Serpentine’s long-held maxim of ‘Art for All’.”
Serpentine Gallery Summner Pavillion by Bjarke IngelsDanish architect Bjarke Ingels has been commissioned to design this year’s annual Serpentine Pavilion, an ambitious program that began in 2000 and is now an established platform for architectural experimentation. Each year, the Serpentine Gallery invites an internationally-acclaimed architect or design team to create a temporary summer pavilion, and the unique landmark structure is exhibited on the gallery’s lawn for the public to explore during the summer months. For this year’s pavilion, Ingels has created a structure inspired by an “unzipped wall” which has been transformed from a straight line into a three-dimensional space.

“We have attempted to design a structure that embodies multiple aspects that are often perceived as opposites: a structure that is free-form yet rigorous; modular yet sculptural; both transparent and opaque; both solid box and blob,” said Ingels, founder and creative partner of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). "The pavilion will house a café by day and in the evenings will host the Serpentine’s Park Nights program of works by artists, writers and musicians."

BIG’s Pavilion is a dramatic space that by day houses a café and free family activities and by night becomes a venue for the Serpentine’s acclaimed Park Nights programme of performative works by artists, writers and musicians.
Serpentine Gallery Kengsington Gardens by Mark AhsmannThe Serpentine Galley is among London’s most popular art venues, recognized for championing new ideas in contemporary art since opening in 1970. For the past 46 years, the Serpentine has presented groundbreaking exhibitions, showcasing a diverse range of work from both emerging and internationally recognized artists, designers and architects. The gallery’s Summer Party is a highlight of London’s annual social calendar, and past guests have included celebrities, models and influencers such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Lara Stone, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Karlie Kloss and Pharrell Williams, and as well as distinguished names from the art and fashion worlds including Zandra Rhodes, Tracey Emin and David Bailey.

Jersey (New) Moves! Emerging Choreographers Friday June 17 2016

From a media release:

Jersey (New) Moves! Emerging Choreographers
Friday, June 17, 2016
Doors 7:30pm / Performance 8pm
Victoria Theater
Presented in Association with Dance New Jersey
Part of Jersey Moves! Festival of Dance

• Tickets

The second annual program showcasing New Jersey's best up-and-coming dancemakers! Accomplished mentors partner with four young choreographers from the Garden State to develop works that will be premiered at NJPAC.

This year's featured emerging choreographers are Ariel Grossman from Jersey City (mentored by Douglas Martin, Artistic Director of American Repertory Ballet); Kamille King from East Orange (mentored by Karen Love, Artistic Director of Umoja Dance Company); Kyle Marshall from Jersey City (mentored by Sylvia Waters, Artistic Director Emerita of Ailey II); and, Scott Willits of Jersey City (mentored by choreographer and tap dancer Maurice Chestnut).

PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH DANCE NEW JERSEY

#TravelAfrica - Zanzibar...So Much More Than The Beach

With material from a media release:

#TravelAfrica
Zanzibar...So Much More Than The Beach
Matemwe Beach Guesthouse - Unguja Island
Aiyana Resort - Pemba Island

Can you take the dream beach vacation of a lifetime AND have a positive impact on the destination and its people? Sounds almost too ideal, but you can have it both ways at the Matemwe Beach Guesthouse and The Aiyana Beach Resort in Zanzibar.

About Zanzibar
Zanzibar, birthplace of Freddy Mercury, is actually an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about 50km off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. It consists of two islands, Unguja, the capital - aka Zanzibar - and Pemba Island. A wonderful trip on its own, it's also an easy add-on to a trip to South Africa. Its population numbers just under 160,000 and the main island covers 2,461 km².

Hot Tip: The best time to travel is during the relatively cool spring - between June and September.

Zanzibar's past
It is believed that human civilization dates back about 20,000 years in the archipelago. It is mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman documents by around the 3rd century AD. The tides of time and human civilizations have washed across Zanzibar over the centuries, and its current day incarnation bears the influence of both Swahili and Islamic culture. Zanzibar has been ruled by the Portuguese, the Omanis and the British. It has been influenced by Swahili and Chinese traders. Zanzibar's history has been shaped by both the spice trade and the slave trade. It has seen wars - including the One Day War, the world's shortest war that happened without a single gunshot - colonization and political annexures.

Spirit lore
Local legends speak of the spirits who have protected Zanzibar through its trials over the ages - and those who still wander the islands angry for revenge. It's not hard to trace the link between Zanzibar's often turbulent history and the stories of troubled, even vengeful spirits.

Some of that dark history isn't all that far in the past. Zanzibar won its independence from the British after the revolution of 1964. Four weeks later, John Okello, a migrant labourer from Uganda, led a second revolution against the Zanzabari ruling class, who were largely Arab and Indian. Many people were killed and many also fled the country, including the sultan - Zanzibar's last - Jamshid bin Abdullah.

Many say the spirits of the slain still haunt the area. If you are interested in the spirit worlds, witch doctors are available for consultation throughout the area.

Unguja Island
Unguja features a preserved historic centre called Stone Town in the heart of the capital, a designated Unesco World Heritage site with perfectly preserved cobbled streets. In Zanzibar City, you'll wander through lanes that meander through the minarets and streets lined with heavy, beautifully carved wooden doorways, a unique feature of Zanzibar's native architecture. The House of Wonders, a 19th century sultan's palace, offers a glimpse into the relatively recent past.

Along with the expansive blue ocean, most Zanzibari beaches have super fine, white sand with a beautifully silky texture, along with palm trees and other greenery to provide shade if you need it. The north shore of Unguja is renowned for its glorious, pristine beaches and the diving opportunities offered in the turquoise waters. Watersport opportunities abound in the area, with just about anything you can dream up available, including scuba diving and snorkeling in world renowned coral reefs, deep sea fishing, kayaking, windsurfing and waterskiing. Mnemba Atoll is considered by many to offer the best opportunities to spot colourful fish, turtles and more. There are many hotels to choose from near the north coast villages of Nungwi and Kendwa.

Hot tip: Watch out for mischievous monkeys in areas near the forests - they like to steal hats, bags, sunglasses and other assorted items of tourists who are beguiled by the beach and not paying attention.

Other places of interest include the slave museum, which served as a real slave trading post centuries ago and the colourful, noisy night market at Forodhani Gardens, located in front of the Old Fort. It opens at about 7pm and it's a hotspot for enjoying local cuisine.

Local cuisine
Fresh prawns and shrimp are local delicacies. Other local specialties include seafood kebabs, sugar cane juice and Indian fare with a Zanzibari twist like chepatis filled with Nutella. Uroja soup is a thick and delicious mixture of ginger and pureed mango with various additions such as egg, meat, or potato boulettes. A Zanzibar pizza is actually something like a thin pancake or crêpe filled with meat, eggs and other fillings. Also called Zanzibar pancakes, the thin pancakes made with rice flour may also have a sweet filling.

Alternate accommodations - Matemwe Beach Guesthouse:
Nowadays you'll find major international hotel chains like the Park Hyatt in Zanzibar City and elsewhere, but there are alternatives that are much more budget friendly. The Matemwe Beach guesthouse offers an alternative to the hotel scene about 45 minutes from Stone Town. From their website:

Our aim is a simple one: to provide authentic, stylish and comfortable accommodation, in an atmosphere of relaxed hospitality and friendliness, while services are provided effectively and efficiently. We live in peaceful co-existence with the villagers who conduct their lives amongst us.

Not a hotel and not a resort and we regard this as a matter of pride!



Pemba Island
Pemba Island is located to the north and remains the world's largest producer of cloves - a savoury scent that carries on the ever present breeze. Life in the archipelago generally follows the slow and deliberate rhythms of the incessant waves that splash at the sandy shores. With water temperatures at a balmy average 26ºC and visibility of 30-40 meters, snorkeling is naturally one of the most popular activities on the Island. Even more inexperienced divers will find a world of wonders beneath the waves.

Pemba Island also includes Misali Island, surrounded by a coral reef. In the 17th century, this was once of the hideouts of the infamous Captain Kidd the pirate - and some still believe there's buried treasure to be found on the ocean floor. On the western side of Pemba Island, you'll find traces of Zanzibar's darker history in the Pango ya Watoro’ or ‘the cave of the fugitives' - those who hid from the slave traders.
The Aiyana Resort, Pemba Island (Zanzibar) Aiyana Resort
The Aiyana resort is blessed with a secluded location on the north shore of Pemba Island. It includes 30 white villas with an airy decor that features local and traditional artwork, including intricately carved woodwork. Villas were designed to integrate into the landscape without marring or harming the natural environment. The resort's owners used local resources and materials wherever possible such as mangrove and coconut woods, coral stones - even manpower from the local villagers, who helped to shape the final version of the design.

Inside and outside merge seamlessly, including the ocean-facing villas that open onto the fine sand of the beach and a serene garden on the grounds. Even the showers open up to the sky.

The resort is surrounded by a dense forest. It is part of the Ngezi Rainforest on the northernmost point of Pemba Island. The protected rainforest represents the last vestiges of the original native forests of Zanzibar.
Cool fact: The Ngezi Rainforest is home to the Pemba Flying Fox, a type of bat native to the island.Cool fact #2: The Rainforest is also home to the bright blue vervet monkey.The resort offers guests a variety of activities, including the opportunity to experience the waters in a dhow, the traditional watercraft of the island. Meals are private and set up wherever you decide to eat, from the formal dining room to the beach, in the garden or anywhere else you desire.

More than a resort...
The owners of the Aiyana resort are very committed to improving local conditions and they've set up projects in the local village to provide income, education and other essentials while respecting local traditions. Guests are encouraged to participate in a variety of projects fostered by the resort that contribute directly to the life of the villagers and preservation of the natural surroundings.

Gypsy Jazz for the 21st Century: Rhythm Future Quartet at the Rochester International Jazz Festival June 24 2016

From a media release:

The Rhythm Future Quartet Performs Friday, June 24, 2016 
At the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
Celebrating New Album Travels

Acclaimed Group Brings Gypsy Jazz into the 21st Century

• Buy the CD

The Rhythm Future Quartet brings its unique brand of 21st century Gypsy jazz to the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival on Friday, June 24 in celebration of its new CD Travels. The quartet features chief soloists Jason Anick on violin and Olli Soikkeli on guitar, along with second guitarist Max O’Rourke and bassist Greg Loughman.

• Shows take place at 6 and 10 p.m. at Montage Music Hall. 
• For more information on the Rochester International Jazz Festival line-up click on the link
Image by Andy CambriaComprised of forward thinking and prodigiously gifted players, the Rhythm Future Quartet continues its deeply felt mission to situate Gypsy jazz firmly in the here and now. On Travels, scintillating original compositions, dazzling improvisation and one-mind ensemble playing convert the swinging string driven sounds of the past into a viable and vital style that speaks directly to jazz lovers of the present.   The album was released February 26, 2016 on Magic Fiddle Music.

As DownBeat publisher Frank Alkyer writes: “The future of Gypsy jazz is in good hands with the Rhythm Future Quartet.... Anick is a fluid violinist and Soikkeli flat-out blisters on guitar... The musicianship throughout this 13-song set is breathtaking.... Rhythm Future, indeed.  I look forward to listening to this group for a long, long time.”

Rhythm Future Quartet (named after the Django Reinhardt composition “Rhythm Futur”) has itself evolved since its self-titled 2014 debut recording. Where that critically acclaimed release drew on standards as its core repertoire, Travels is largely devoted to group originals, compositions that touch on the tenants of the Gypsy jazz style yet thoroughly reflect the contemporary mindset of the makers. These ten new pieces are interwoven with shrewd reinterpretations of Bireli Lagrene’s “Made In France,” Paul Durand’s “Je Sui Seul Ce Soir” and, in a slinky arrangement that signals the band’s willingness to expand the scope of the Gypsy jazz idiom, Lennon and McCartney’s “Come Together.” Each of these thirteen performances display the awing virtuosity and sublime lyricism of the featured instrumentalists as well as the enviable cohesion of a musical unit that breathes as a collective entity.


As its title infers, Travels reflects the nomadic nature of the band and its individual members. “Over the past two and a half years, the group has done extensive traveling all over the world,” Anick says, “We used this time to work together to compose and co-arrange all the material that culminated into this new record.” With over 50 different countries between the four members throughout their careers, traveling has certainly been a big part of both their group and individual development, expanding their musical and cultural horizons and ultimately inspiring new compositions that tie all of these experiences together. Besides the literal sense of the word, Anick states, “This album also travels in the musical sense, traversing various musical landscapes from around the world, which opened up new rhythmic and melodic possibilities and allowed the group to take its Gypsy jazz influenced music into the future.” The international influences are easily heard in such Anick pieces as “Vesella” which incorporates Balkan music rhythms within the mix, and “Amsterdam” and “The Keeper” which are inflected with Latin rhythms and textures.

If rousing performances including “Bushwick Stomp” (which celebrates Finnish guitarist Soikkeli’s move to his present Brooklyn home) and “Don’t Tell Me” and “Made In France” are within the traditional Gypsy jazz vein, such pieces as “Travels,” “Still Winter” and “Round Hill” speak of RF’s new musical expression, a vision that makes effective use of more atmospheric textures and reflective moods. “We want to bring it all to the table,” Anick says, “Variety is valuable for our listeners and for us as players.”

Clearly this is not the Gypsy jazz for purists. “Instead of putting our own stamp on beloved material we are trying to bring new material to the forefront,” Anick states. “We’re trying to bridge a gap. We aim to draw in listeners that respond to the best of the tradition–the energy, the rhythm, the exciting virtuosity, the deep emotion­–and then take a leap of faith and open their ears up to new soundscapes. We as a group are trying to prove that a music normally associated with older players can now provide personal expression for younger players of today.”

One of the youngest instructors at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Jason Anick, now 30, is rapidly making a name for himself in the world of jazz violin and mandolin. In addition to leading his own contemporary jazz ensemble and performing with the Rhythm Future Quartet, Anick has been touring and recording with Grammy award-winning Nashville guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson since 2008 when he was recruited while still a senior at Hartt Conservatory. In addition to his work with the Rhythm Future Quartet, Anick has released two highly acclaimed albums as a leader, Tipping Point (2014) and Sleepless (2010). A versatile and sought after side-man, Anick has also shared the stage with an array of artists like Stevie Wonder, John Sebastian, The Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Tommy Emmanuel, and Delta Rae.


Olli Soikkeli was born in 1991 in Nurmes, Finland. He started playing guitar at the age of 12 and, once he heard the music of Django Reinhardt, he was hooked.  He’s been performing Gypsy jazz ever since and has performed in jazz clubs and festivals in Finland and beyond. He currently lives in NYC and has performed with Bucky Pizzarelli, Cyrille Aimee, Tommy Emmanuel, Anat Cohen and many more, garnering him the title, ‘the Finish Boy Wonder’.  He’s released two albums under his own name in addition to albums with Rhythm Future Quartet.  The Wall Street Journal heralded him as “a riveting Finnish guitarist who combines astonishing dexterity and speed with pure soul.”

Vermont native Max O’Rourke is quickly earning a reputation as one of the top young Gypsy jazz guitarists of his day.  The 19-year-old was the winner of the 2015 Saga Award from DjangoFest Northwest and is currently a student at Berklee College of Music.  In addition to performing with the Rhythm Future Quartet, he has shared the stage with the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet and the Grammy winning John Jorgenson Quartet.

Greg Loughman is an “emphatically lyrical” (JazzTimes), versatile and sensitive bassist who’s performed with numerous jazz greats including George Garzone, Curtis Fuller, Jerry Bergonzi, Joanne Brackeen, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan and many others. He currently leads his own indie rock group Lowman and performs with the John Funkhouser Trio, Klezwoods, and many others.

Fashion photographer Hamza Mejri launches design collection BRONZE June 10 2016 in Montreal

From a media release:

Fashion photographer Hamza Mejri launches his first design collection
BRONZE
Friday, June 10, 2016

Abstract Fashion cocktail and photo exhibit- 7pm followed by
BRONZE Fashion Show - 8pm

• Tickets

MONTREAL May, 2016 – The prestigious fashion show for the luxurious new Canadian clothing brand BRONZE, from photographer and fashion designer Hamza Mejri (The Dress and Men’s Fashion Festival), will be held on June 10, at the beautiful Salle Polyvalente. Mejris’ latest photo exhibit, Abstract Fashion, will precede the show. The launch, featuring 40 models, promises to attract many celebrity guests including Yan England, Camille DG, Les Ballets de Jazz de Montréal dancers and many others.
Hamza Mejri
A high-end collection
For his first ready-to-wear collection, Hamza Mejri has selected quality materials to illustrate the different cultural and temporal origins and elements that inspired him for his successful limited edition photo exhibit, The Dress. His brand builds on the universal elegance of materials by perfectly blending classic and modern designs with carefully selected fabrics. “I love creating high-quality day and evening clothing, elegant and adapted to the everyday lives of women and men who want to feel good about themselves,” states Mejri.

Each piece of this alluring collection is unique, and its character is reflected in every detail of the creation. From the sewing to the buttons, every detail and every piece of cloth is thought through to make special and harmonious apparel.

Dazzling BRONZE
Bronze is a universal material. Known for its nobility, it is found in all civilizations and cultures. The fashion line BRONZE strives for elegance and refinement through the inspirations of different countries and various eras while adapting to a contemporary milieu.

To create BRONZE, fashion designer and photographer Hamza Mejri was inspired by renowned designer Karl Lagerfeld’s collections and photography. Mejri continued with his passion for photography while creating his own fashion collection. “The birth of an outfit starts with my love of raw materials. When I see and touch a piece of fabric, I already imagine the clothing that comes out of it. Lace, leather and silk often play leading roles, imposing their beauty while capturing reflections of light, resulting in a beautiful symbiosis of the elements", declares Mr. Mejri.

To celebrate this synergy of textures and art, the BRONZE fashion show will be preceded by an exhibit of Mejri’s stunning photography and designs, Abstract Fashion, featuring many Quebec celebrities such as Camille DG, Yan England and Les Ballets de Jazz de Montréal dancers.


Our motto: Be seen without causing a scene - dazzle without shocking
Discover Mejri’s approach to fashion during this striking fashion show. On the agenda: 40 models with 40 outfits and several Quebec celebrities.


Launch of the new fashion line, BRONZE, by Hamza Mejri

Abstract Fashion cocktail and photo exhibit
Friday, June 10, 7pm followed by
BRONZE Fashion Show - Friday, June 10, 8pm

Salle Polyvalente (UQAM)
200 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

* Tickets: $25 online

*For information: info@bronzefashion.com  www.bronzefashion.com

Hamza Mejri’s The Dress is in New York this summer: www.bronzefashion.com/thedress

Art Party Extraordinaire: Less Than One Week Till Power Ball XVIII: Pleasure Principle June 2 2016 in Toronto

From a media release:

Art Party:
Less Than One Week Left to Purchase Tickets
for Power Ball XVIII: Pleasure Principle
presented by Max Mara

Don’t miss Power Ball XVIII, Toronto’s famed art party in support of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, happening next Thursday, June 2, 2016

• Buy Tickets

TORONTO - Presented by Max Mara for the second consecutive year, this year’s event theme, Pleasure Principle, calls on guests to explore their desires within the gallery’s art-filled spaces, each featuring a different artist project and a different party atmosphere.


VIP ticket holders start the evening at 7 p.m. with modernist cocktails prepared by BarChef, and a special production by New York-based artist Ryan McNamara. Remaining spaces open at 9 p.m., showcasing work by several Canadian artists including an opium den installation by Karen Tam and an exploration of (over)stimulation and sensuality by Laura Kikauka, among many other works.

Chicago house music pioneer DJ Mark Farina and two of Toronto’s most talked about DJs, Teo Nio and CRSB, will provide musical entertainment throughout the evening. Max Mara will also have an on-site presence throughout the event with visual installations that represent the brand’s heritage, as well as performances by contemporary ballet dancer and choreographer Javon Jones, winner of the Max Mara Young Visionary Award for the National Young Arts Foundation.


Funds raised through Power Ball are vital in supporting The Power Plant, Toronto’s leading public gallery dedicated exclusively to contemporary visual art.

Thursday, June 2, 2016
VIP Party: 7 – 9 p.m. 
Main Event: 9 p.m. – late 

The Power Plant
231 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON. M5J 2G8

Website: ThePowerPlant.org
Twitter: @ThePowerPlantTO
Facebook: ThePowerPlantTO
Instagram: @ThePowerPlantTO
Hashtag: #PowerBallTO

Every year, Power Ball is unique, but to give you a taste, here's a look at the 2012 version:

Recently Released: ZMEI3 'Rough Romanian Soul' (Six Degrees Records - April 22 2016)

From a media release:

SIX DEGREES RECORDS ANNOUNCES THE DEBUT ALBUM FROM ZMEI3
ROUGH ROMANIAN SOUL
PRODUCED BY GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNER IAN BRENNAN
(SIX DEGREES RECORDS - APRIL 22 2016)

• Buy the CD

Zmei3 (pronounced zmay-tray) is made up of Romanian immigrants whose beautiful and heartfelt music rises from the harsh realities and struggles of a post-Communist rule.  Their debut album Rough Romanian Soul (out now on Six Degrees Records) is produced by GRAMMY® award-winner, Ian Brennan, best known for his work with Tinariwen, Zomba Prison Project, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and the Malawi Mouse Boys.  Zmei3 being huge fans of Brennan’s work, successfully raised funds via Kickstarter to cover recording costs, travel, and more.  They flew Brennan to Romania and began recording the album in August 2015 live without overdubs in the Transylvanian mountains, just a stone’s throw away from Dracula’s Castle.


The band is fueled by powerhouse vocalist, Paula Turcas, a trained, soprano opera singer who gave up classical music in the pursuit of a more truthful artistry grounded in the struggles of everyday life.  When she was three years old – the daughter of the village priest – began to sing the traditional Romanian folk songs. She would sing with such despair that when people passed by, her father would lift her up on the table and people would stop and listen with tears in their eyes.  Her voice remains so visceral that Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel newspaper stated, “When Zmei3 are playing, it’s not rare that tears are falling in the audience.” Their sound is made all the more unique by featuring vibraphone virtuoso, Oli Bott, for their lead instrument.Mihai Victor Iliescu leads the talented group on guitars and lyrics, with Arnulf Ballhorn on double bass.  The band’s name is inspired by an ancient Romanian anti-hero, misfit dragon – a rebellious figure, who rarely prevails, but remains committed to his ideals.

The name of the album, Rough Romanian Soul is an ode to Romanian music entrenched with a deep history of regional blues and soul, as well as the inherent spirituality of their work.  Turcas adds, “The land is rough and the people strong, and our legacy is one of survival.”  Music from Transylvania is not commonly associated with aggressive styles mashing up blues and soul with influences of jazz, avant-garde, and folk with such introspective topics and emotive soundscapes.  But that is exactly what Zmei3 succeeds in doing on their fifteen-track debut.  Bott explains, “We had more than three albums worth of material and many of our most famous songs live were left off the album, in exchange for newer and more challenging material.”


Across the fifteen songs, Zmei3 cover topics of resistance, immigration, oppression, love, death, pride, loneliness, and strength.  “2 Mai” / 2nd of May is story of 2 Mai, a village at the Black Sea, close to the border with Bulgaria, which was a haven for hippies who wanted to escape the constraints of the communist regime.  “Poveste Din Tara Mea” / Story From My Country is about the feelings of an immigrant who left behind everything that he loved. A father is telling his little girl that she should never forget that there’s a country, a lost paradise, and that one day they will seek revenge on those who destroyed it.  “Shhh!!! … Tot Ce Nu Se Spunea Atunci” / Shhh!!! … All The Forbidden Speech is an improvised song, created around all the things, ideas and thoughts that were forbidden during the 45-year repressive regime in Romania.

“Marie, Marie” / Mary, Mary is an essential love ballad from southern Romania. A kind of southern blues.  “Pana Cand Nu Te Lubeam” / Since I’ve Been Loving You according to the band says, “It’s a strange coincidence that there is a Led Zeppelin song with the same title – but maybe it’s no coincidence since it’s exactly about the same feelings. ‘I’m about to lose…my worried mind’ – only that this song is urban folklore from Bucharest, dating from around 1850.”  “Intr-o Zi” / One day is the band’s slow blues song which was inspired by Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country Fair.”  Other standouts include “Imn” / Hymn composed without lyrics and dedicated to the human experience, while “Vis” / Dream is dedicated to the memory of the Resistance fighters from the 50’s – and to those very few who always choose to fight and resist, even when it’s clear they have no chance.


Much of the songwriting was done via “instant composition,” where the producer Ian Brennan pushed the band to create songs and record simultaneously.  All while being inspired by the environment of the Transylvania mountains that were in view.  Brennan expresses, “music should breath, music should live, and come from inside a person. Equipment is secondary. Simply a means to an end.  The ability to be high amidst the mountains, to see them, and be there together, lends a sacredness to this project.”  Brennan is known for capturing the environment in which he records.  For example Brennan’s latest release on Six Degrees Records, Zomba Prison Project was recorded in Malawi, and documented the music of prisoners at the maximum security prison in Zomba.  The album was nominated for a “World Music” GRAMMY® which garnered critical praise on the cover of the New York Times, as well as features in CNN, Newsweek, Al Jazeera, NPR, Associated Press, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and more.

Brennan concludes, “Eastern Europe in general has been neglected by the rest of the world in terms of interest and exploration of music and culture. It has literally and deliberately been treated as a bloc. There is a great ignorance amongst many as to what Eastern Europe even is after World War II, so to have vibrant and modern music from Romania is a very valuable thing.”

Social Media:
http://www.zmeitrei.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ZmeiTrei
https://twitter.com/ZmeiTrei
https://soundcloud.com/zmeitrei

Images by Marilena Delli

Toronto's Turbo Street Funk - New Album 'Momentum' (July 6 2016) & CD Release Party

From a media release:

TURBO STREET FUNK
MOMENTUM
NEW ALBUM COMES OUT JULY 6, 2016

• Buy their CDs

CD Release Party with opening act Kunlé
The Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St W, Toronto, ON | (416)-598-4226
Wednesday, July 6 - Doors @ 8:30 pm / Opening act: 9-9:45 pm / Turbo – 10-11:15 pm
TICKETS: $10 – Purchase advance tickets here 

TORONTO – Toronto’s own high-energy, horn-band sensation TURBO STREET FUNK accelerate their forward motion with their new, sophomore album, MOMENTUM. Known for their explosive, infectious live performances, that have consistently drawn huge crowds – from their beginnings busking on the streets of The Six, to intimate club dates, and massive festival stages – the band will bring their hyper-engaging live show to The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern as they release the new album on Wednesday, July 6th.

• The doors open at 8:30 pm, opening act Kunlé starts at 9:00 pm, and Turbo Street Funk hits the stage at 10:00 pm. 



Momentum is a very apt name for the new Turbo Street Funk album: most of the self-penned songs encourage forward motion through our lives, and the recording captures the epic thrust and drive of their live show. Most of the players in the band are music school graduates and they’re all skillful, talented musicians, but it never gets in the way of their musical fun – or ours. If this album doesn’t make you want to smile, laugh, or dance, you might wanna check your vital signs. This is lease-breaking music at its best.

The title track "Momentum,” with its climactic chorus and stadium-friendly refrain, is an inspirational, feel-good anthem that lives up to the band’s turbo-charged name.

“If I Think Twice” finds ska and klezmer mixing it up in the alley with gypsy rock, with a surprisingly funky tuba, fun backing vocals and a crazy-ass guitar solo.

Although one of the songs is called “Never Been To New Orleans,” judging by the performance on this song, it sure sounds like they have. It showcases double-time tempo for the featured bluesy harmonica and sax solos, as well as the party finish, replete with growling horns and cheering crowd.

"Seven" – an instrumental mashup of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)," and Grieg's "In The Hall of the Mountain King" – employs a ska rhythm to get to the funky soul of these classic, and classic-rock gems. It takes great verve and imagination to pull this inventive medley off, but Turbo Street Funk does.

Their cover of the Ghostbusters’ theme – perfectly timed to coincide with the blockbuster reboot movie of the summer of 2016 – rides an ultra-rhythmic beat and a wailing sax solo to end the album on a high.

All of the songs on Momentum were produced by Chris Birkett and engineered by James Finnerty at Revolution Recording in Toronto, except track four “Whoever You Are,” which was produced and engineered by Ross Hayes Citrullo at Media One Creative in Toronto.



Musicians on the Album:
Casey Van: Vocals, Guitar & Harmonica / Juan Manuel Arce: Alto Saxophone / Joel Eric Szabo: French Horn / Camilo Gallon: Drums / Ian Feenstra: Sousaphone

Upcoming Tour Dates
May 27 – Mississauga, ON – Failte Irish Pub
June 3 – Orangeville, ON – Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival
June 4 – Toronto, ON – Riverside Eats & Beats Festival
June 4 – Streetsville, ON – Streetsville Bread & Honey Festival
June 11 – Midland, ON – Butter Tart Festival
June 18 – Burlington, ON – Sound of Music Festival
June 19 – Toronto, ON – Princess Margaret Journey to Conquer Cancer
June 24 – Ajax, ON – Pickering Village JAMFest
June 25 – Ajax, ON – Pickering Village JAMFest
June 26 – Toronto, ON – Royal Conservatory of Music’s Wide Open House
July 1 – Toronto, ON – Canada Day At Mel Lastman Square
July 2 – Gravenhurst, ON – FunkFest
July 6 – Toronto, ON – CD RELEASE at Horseshoe Tavern
July 8 – Kincardine, ON – Lighthouse Blues Festival
July 13 & 14 – Mont Tremblant, QC – Tremblant International Blues Festival
July 16 – Sackets Harbor, NY, USA – CAN AM International Festival
July 23 – Orillia, ON – Downtown Orillia’s Summer Block Party
July 29 - 31 – Clarendon, ON – Blue Skies Music Festival
Aug 6 – Ottawa, ON – Upper Ottawa River Race and Paddle Festival
Aug 13 – Owen Sound, ON – Avalon Jazz Lounge
Aug 14 – Owen Sound, ON – Harbour Nights

Get Social: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TurboStreetFunkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/turbostreetfunk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/turbostreetfunk
TURBO STREET FUNK perform "TO THE STREET" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Beaches Jazz Festival "Street Fest" on July 23, 2015.

Travel the Eastern Townships, Quebec L'Été des chefs Balnea / Balnea Summer of Chefs July 3 to September 11 2016

With material from a media release:

Travel the Eastern Townships, Quebec
L'Été des chefs Balnea / Balnea Summer of Chefs 

July 3 to September 11, 2016
at Balnea Spa
319 chemin du Lac Gale
Bromont, Quebec J2L2S5
450-534-0604 / 1-866-734-2110

• Check out hotel options and deals that combine Balnea Spa packages with accommodations and more nearby

BROMONT, QC - 10 chefs. 10 plats. 1 destination. Un concours gastronomique rassemblant 10 des plus grands chefs du Québec. Des plats originaux et inspirés de la réserve thermale, servis à tous les dimanches au Club de plage et tout l’été dans les restaurants des chefs participants (Soubois, Bottega Pizzeria, Monsieur & Miss Prêt à Manger, Meson, Jatoba, L’impérial, H4C, Thursday’s, O’Chevreuil, Orange rouge) pendant la saison estivale.


10 chefs. 10 dishes. 1 destination. A gourmet food competition that brings together 10 of Quebec’s best chefs. Original dishes inspired by the thermal reserve, served every Sunday at the spa’s Beach Club and in the 10 participating restaurants - Soubois, Bottega Pizzeria, Monsieur & Miss Prêt à Manger, Meson, Jatoba, L’impérial, H4C, Thursday’s, O’Chevreuil, Orange rouge - all summer long starting July 3rd.

When you dine, be sure to enter the contest to see if you can win a luxury trip. Last year's prize was an all expense paid trip to an exclusive Mexico resort worth $5,600.
BalneaEastern Townships
The Eastern Townships region of Quebec is known for its upscale skiing resorts in the winter. In the summer, the hills and forests are green and the emphasis is on the outdoors with a very human touch.

As a tourist region, expect the bar to be set high for cuisine. Chefs emphasize local ingredients and agricultural food products, which are abundant in the still largely agricultural region.

Balnea is housed in a stunning contemporary building within a 400-acre private nature reserve with a thermal spa and offers a variety of experiences, including - of course! - dining.


Here's the list:
Panoramic Finnish saunas, Turkish bath, outdoor hot tubs with salt water, heated terraces, cold chute, lake with endless dock, sweat-lodge, 22km of hiking trails, a forest basin, thermal waterfall, solarium offering splendid views of the Appalachians, rest areas with huge fireplaces, coffee, Slow Food, cinema-lounge and beach club.

Spa Treatments
Traditional or classic massages, exceptional beauty treatments, mythical rituals, cures, couples massages, personalized treatments.

3 Dining Options
At the LUMAMI restaurant, on the Terrace or at the Bar Orange, discover an ever changing, refined seasonal cuisine.

Last year's event