Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 94

South African Grooves Recently Released: Lorraine Klaasen - Nouvelle Journée (Justin Time Records - Mar 11 2016)

From a media release:

Recently Released:
Lorraine Klaasen - Nouvelle Journée
(℗ 2016 Justin Time Records - Mar 11, 2016)

• Available now on iTunes 
• For more information please visit www.lorraineklaasen.com / www.justin-time.com

TORONTO – Canada’s South African queen and JUNO award-winning artist Lorraine Klaasen has a new album out called Nouvelle Journée, or New Day, (Justin Time Records). It’s a stunning collection of songs sung in Tsonga, Sotho, IsiZulu and Xhosa, as well as English and French, that have a slight political tone, infused with hip-shaking, toe-tapping rhythms.

On seeing singer Lorraine Klaasen coming at him with open arms, radiant in her multi-coloured stage outfit, Nelson Mandela, (then on an official visit to Canada), hugged her warmly and said, with a broad smile, “You really are the spitting image of your mother! But can you sing like her?”



Based in Montreal for more than 35 years, Klaasen still has the bearing of a queen. Through her mother, the legendary South African singing star Thandie Klaasen, she decoded the authentic grooves of her country’s Townships. After raising a family in Montreal, she embarked on a brilliant solo career, during which she has delighted music lovers with her irresistible mix of South African sounds, strongly spiced with West Indian flavors.

The award-winning Klaasen has already garnered a JUNO for World Music Album of the Year in 2013, for her Tribute to Miriam Makeba, and the Hagood Hardy SOCAN Award as chosen by her peers, the following year.

Now upon her return to the concert stage, Klaasen presents Nouvelle Journée which translates as “New Day,” and which represents a new beginning!

Nouvelle Journée is an optimistic, danceable record but also a lucid, sincere and engaging work. Not holding back, Lorraine sings in Tsonga, Sotho, IsiZulu and Xhosa – tribal languages of her home country – as well as in English, and all with her charming Soweto accent. The title track even features her singing in French for the first time!

Lorraine Klaasen pays tribute to her mother by covering “Izani Nonke,” a song that stridently criticizes those elected to govern us. “Never trust a politician,” she sings, and goes on to deplore the lack of ethics displayed by these untouchable, high-placed figures, described as “dishonest puppets” who profess to love the people but instead abuse them.


“Where to Now?,” is a poignant, soul-charged ballad that Klaasen wrote nearly 30 years ago, imploring people to have compassion and to condemn greed. “There are a lot of homeless and destitute people and my heart is heavy,” she admits, evoking the migrant crisis currently affecting European countries. She adds, “We can’t ignore what’s been happening in the world today.”


Produced by Washington DC-based Mongezi Ntaka – the incomparable guitarist and producer, with whom Klaasen had already worked in the past, on the album Africa Calling (2008) – the album boasts some top notch musicians. Others on board for the project are the brilliant Congolese drummer Noel Mpiaza and Haitian musician Medad Ernest, who contributes his jazz and gospel groove on the accordion and keyboards. Local musicians completing the roster are Assane Seck, the most in-demand Senegalese artist in town, brothers André and Ross Whitman (of the famed West Indian Soca band Jab Jab), as well as Quebec’s double-bassist extraordinaire Cédric Dind-Lavoie, who has become a fixture on the local world music scene.

And just to add a little extra dynamite to the mix, an irrepressible trio of young backing vocalists (Anne Metellus, Melissa Gresseau, Cynthia Binette), enhance Klaasen’s eclectic repertoire.

Lorraine Klaasen, a born stage performer if there ever was one, is definitely back on the scene and we can look forward to getting our groove on, starting with songs like “Township Memories,” “Polokwane” or “Babalazi,” which brings to mind the South African mega hit Pata Pata.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lorraine.klaasen
Twitter: @JustinTimeRec

A Weekend in Paris...Ontario at the historic Arlington Hotel

With material fron a release:

#DiscoverON
A Weekend in Paris...Ontario
at the historic Arlington Hotel

106 Grand River St N, Paris, ON N3L 2M5, Canada
Phone:+1 226-227-1767

Tucked on the banks of the Grand River in southwestern Ontario, Paris offers an escape from the ordinary. The Arlington Hotel was established in 1851 in the chateau style of architecture that evokes the grandeur of European capitals of the time.
Arlington Hotel by Misty De Meo (http://ourbrant.wikia.com/wiki/User:M...)
Paris, Ontario is a pretty town west Hamilton and near Brantford. It began its life as a milltown in 1929 and was officially established in 1856. Nowadays it forms part of the surrounding Brant County.
Bridge over Grand River by Perry Quan from Oakville, Canada
The town actually gets its name from the gypsum deposits that are mined and make plaster of paris - not for the French capital.

Paris sits on the green banks of the Grand River with a downtown that has kept a lot of its ornate Victorian charm along with the addition of many newer residential areas. The Arlington Hotel is part of that iconic streetscape, a landmark that sits directly across from the River.

Paris public library (1902) by Misty De Meo
There are 23 rooms, each with unique design and decorating details. The Arlington gets rave reviews on Tripadvisor and Expedia. While the hotel is historic, the rooms are fully outfitted with the usual amenities, including free WiFi and upscale furnishings.

Paris, Ontario may not boast a nightlife scene to rival its French counterpart, but all the ingredients are present for a relaxing escape from the everyday, including a spa and other amenities.

Dining
Executive Chef Matt Kershaw features imaginative menus and there is an emphasis on craft cocktails with flair, using local wine and spirits.


There are three options that include elegant fine dining at Woolf & Wilde, featuring a farm to table menu and a lovely vine-covered terrace. The casual yet stylish vibe of the Library Bar offers an innovative bar menu and delicious small plates for nibbling. The 1851 Public House features a speakeasy theme. It's located in the cellar and features wood framing and exposed rock formations.
1851 Public House
What's Close By
• Treks in the Wild - an outdoor adventure service for canoe and kayak rentals and more a few minutes' walk away
• The Paris Grand Golf & Country Club - about 2.5 km away

A wedding in Paris

CD Release: Chris Wirsig - The 13 Crystal Skulls (no:carrier music - May 13 2016)

CD Release: 
Chris Wirsig - The 13 Crystal Skulls
(no:carrier music - May 13, 2016)

• Get it from the album page

The 13 Crystal Skulls is a concept album that works, an evocative take on a legend and the brainchild of composer Chris Wirsig.

Los Angeles based these days, Chris is a classsically trained musician on the piano and saxophone, having studied audio engineering in Munich. He brings 15 years' experience in music production and recording to this latest project that takes its inspiration from the legend that drove Indiana Jones into the jungle - the magical 13 crystal skulls.

According to the legend, the skulls date from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and were crafted by the Aztecs from clear quartz. The 13 carved skulls were said to have paranormal powers and are supposedly scattered around the world.



Chris has used the various elements of the electronic music palette with a view to the music and the overall effect - this is electronica in service of a musical purpose. It often sounds like some of the best of prog rock, using a variety of sounds both electronic and orchestral to create layers of texture that build and mesmerize. Each track offers something different.

The release begins with a spooky and atmoshpheric Overture that is still grounded in melody. Wordless voices add a bright layer to Crystal Skull 2 - the Ghosts of the Aztecs. It's a track a grandeur of vision that reads like a soundtrack. Crystal Skull (CS) 4 - Ceremony in Tenochtitlan - appropriately enough - has a techno feel with an Asian inspired melody and harmonic structure.

Some tracks, like Crystal Skull 5 - Carved Legend - mystery, like Trent Reznor/NIN and CS 10 - Excavation veer farther away from melody and harnonic structure, wallowing in spacey machine sounds.



CS 6 - Watching Eyes takes the spacey sound and adds a throbbing beat and a spooky piano line for a sort of  dysfunctional galactic dance music. CS 8 - Refraction and 9 - On The Hills continue the same kind of weirdly danceable beat.

It's an interesting and very listenable meditation on a legend that continues to fascinate through the ages.

Other recent news: His soundtrack for "20 Matches" is now playing in film festivals around the country while the iPad Top Ten game "Alien Tribe 2" also features a soundtrack by Chris.

Retail Therapy & Fine Art: Simon's and Brendan Tang's Raincity Robot

Retail Therapy & Fine Art
Simon's and Brendan Tang's Raincity Robot
at Square One, Mississauga

Simons is a fashion retailer with an incredible 175-year history. Based in Quebec City, the venerable business opened its first story in Ontario - its 12th store and third outside Quebec - in Mississauga at Square One earlier this year.

Raincity Robot by Brendan Lee Satish TangBut this isn't a story about fashion - it's about art, something the Quebecois retailer believes in supporting. In particular, the company makes a point of supporting Canadian talent.

As such, they commissioned ceramic artist Brendan Lee Satish Tang for a piece to display in the new store. Raincity Robot is the result, a 10 1/2 foot tall fibreglass sculpture that sits at the top of the escalator.

Brendan is quoted in Canadian Interiors describing his piece.

"My artistic practice embodies the influencers, tensions and contradictions that define the postmodern world. I hope that my piece will not only be a source of pride and engagement for Simons’ customers and employees, but will add a new voice to the public art dialogue of Mississauga."

From a company statement:

Juggling futuristic and traditional ideas, Raincity Robot brings to light the tensions and contradictions that characterize contemporary culture. The Chinese vase recalls the four sisters smokestacks of the old Lakeview Generating Station, while robotic limbs inspired by barnacles make up the base, a nod to Mississauga’s high-tech industry and the city’s lakeside location.

Brendan LS Tang is a Canadian artist born in Dublin to Trinidadian parents. His reconfiguration of traditional art and use of mixed media explore the notions of tradition, cultural appropriation, and hybridity. Internationally recognized, Tang's work is found in the permanent collections of many top museums.

Raincity Robot is the latest in Brendan's Manga Ormolu series, that combines elements of the traditional 17th century ormulo, or gilded vessel, and modern Japanese manga.

Toronto Travel Tips: What's New at Pearson? The UP Train is Awesome and the Doctor is In

Toronto Travel Tips
What's New at Pearson?

If you're traveling in and out of Pearson this summer, there's been some changes you'll want to check out.

UP Train
@UPExpress
Getting to and from the airport isn't usually on anyone's list of fun things to do. It's an ordeal rather than one of the things you look forward to when you're taking a trip.

The people at UP are looking to change your mind with a sleek, stylish train and upscale amenities that can will set your trip off on a high note. It's clean, ultra modern and efficient; there are lots of reasons to love UP.

The trains run every 15 minutes between Uniotn Station and Pearson from 5:30am to 1:00am every dayThe trip only takes 25 minutesThe one-way fare is only $9 with Presto, $12 without, $6 for seniors and free for kids 12 and under
Hot Tip
While you're waiting, check out the CIBC lounge - just follow the signs and arrows to the upper level lounge, an oasis of casual yet stylish dining and imbibing. It's a chic and relaxing way to begin your trip.



Pharmacy & Doctor In The House
Skyhealth at Pearson
Medical clinic hours: 8am-10pm daily
Pharmacy hours: 6am-10pm daily

Nobody likes to think about getting ill while you're on vacation or on the road, but anything can happen and it usually does.

Skyhealth is located at Pearson Terminal 1, open 7 days a week to offer medical clinic and pharmacy services to travelers and frequent flyers, including prescription transfers and refills.
You'll find a state of the art clinic with high tech amenities and a European style full service pharmacy. You can get travel vaccinations and see a doctor without an appointment.



In addition, Skyhealth kiosks are located throughout the airport terminals to offer basic pharmacy products like aspirin and bandaids.

I can remember taking a trip with the fam in the late 1990s in old Terminal 1... hotter than hell with no air conditioning and it felt like a rabbit warren. We've come a long way, baby.

Toronto Masque Theatre Presents: The Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell 27-29 May 2016

From a media release:

Toronto Masque Theatre Presents:
The Fairy Queen
by Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Come, let us leave the Town
And in some lonely place,
Where Crowds and Noise were never known,
Resolve to spend our days.

27-29 May 2016, 8:00 pm
Special pre-show chat at 7:15 each night

The Arts & Letters Club, 14 Elm Street, Toronto
Steps from the Dundas St. subway station

• Tickets


TORONTO - The Great Hall of the Arts & Letters Club is the magnificent location for Toronto Masque Theatre’s new interpretation of Henry Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. A popular entertainment in its day, this 17th-century masterpiece is re-imagined by director and choreographer Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière who casts the themes of the work into a contemporary setting, creating a new scenario that follows the fate of a number of lost souls in search of love, happiness and meaning. Lacoursière uses the precision of baroque dance to explore the passion that informs and drives Purcell’s stunning music.
The Fairy Queen by Edward LandseerThe production will feature an all-star baroque ensemble, led from the violin by Artistic Director Larry Beckwith, a company of some of our finest singers and, from the Montreal-based Les Jardins Chorégraphiques, dancers Stéphanie Brochard and Lacoursière.

Based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Purcell wrote the music for The Fairy Queen in 1692. Although we don’t know for sure who the librettist is, it has often been speculated that it was the actor and impresario, Thomas Betterton.

Soprano Juliet BeckwithOur new production features a seamless scenario that focuses on the brilliant musical numbers, allowing us to present the compositions Purcell created for the original and that rank among his very best, including some of his most familiar solo songs such as:
If love’s a sweet passion;Hark, the echoing air;Night;Ye gentle spirits of the air,Now the night is chas’d away; andOne charming night.As well as fantastic ensemble numbers:
Come, let us leave the town;the dialogue of Corydon and Mopsa; andthe brilliant final trio.The first performances of The Fairy Queen were so successful that the production was brought back in 1693. After those shows, and following Purcell’s untimely death two years later, the full score was for a long time considered lost. Although efforts were made to locate the score – including, apparently, several ads in London papers in the early 1700s offering rewards for its safe return – it wasn’t until 1900 that the score was fully recovered.

After this discovery, the score was included in the Purcell Society’s editions of his complete works and, throughout the 20thcentury, it emerged as one of Purcell’s most beloved pieces. With the advent of the early music revival in the 1960s and 70s the quality of the products improved immensely and there have been many fine recordings of The Fairy Queen by leading early music companies.


Any production of The Fairy Queen has to grapple with what to do with the spoken text.  Despite coming almost a century after the original, the text featured in The Fairy Queen is somewhat more convoluted and antiquated-sounding than Shakespeare’s original.  In addition, a full production, using all the spoken text, would last as long as six hours.

With this production, Artistic Director Larry Beckwith and Artistic Associate Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière have decided to focus on the music and the splendid dances that they believe form the emotional heart of the work.

Here's a taste of the music:

Jazz at SummerStage 2016: McCoy Tyner Quartet / Ron Carter / Roy Haynes June 4 - FREE

From a media release:

The Legends Honor McCoy:
McCoy Tyner Quartet / Ron Carter / Roy Haynes
In Association with Blue Note Jazz Festival

Saturday, June 4, 2016
Doors 5pm / Show 6pm
SummerStage @ Central Park, New York City
Free Show

• Get a free Spotify playlist of Summerstage 2016 artists 

The SummerStage season kicks off with a bang and a free concert from jazz luminaries to set the summer off in style. On June 4, you'll be able to take in one of the foremost names in the jazz world in sunny Central Park.

McCoy Tyner Quartet
McCoy Tyner's blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. His harmonic contributions and dramatic rhythmic devices form the vocabulary of a majority of jazz pianists. At 17 he began a career-changing relationship with Miles Davis' sideman saxophonist John Coltrane. Tyner joined Coltrane for the classic album My Favorite Things (1960), and remained at the core of what became one of the most seminal groups in jazz history, The John Coltrane Quartet. Tyner's name was propelled to international renown, as he developed a new vocabulary that transcended the piano styles of the time, providing a unique harmonic underpinning and rhythmic charge essential to the group's sound. After over five years with Coltrane's quartet, Tyner left the group to explore his destiny as a composer and bandleader. His 1972 Grammy-award nominated album Sahara, broke new ground by the sounds and rhythms of Africa. He has since released nearly 80 albums, been awarded Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Arts, and has earned four Grammys.


Ron Carter
Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. After touring in the early 1960s, he became a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. Currently, after 18 years on the faculty of the Music Department of The City College of New York, he is now a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. In addition to teaching, arranging music, lecturing, conducting, and writing two books, Carter remains as active as ever as a performer. Carter is a two-time Grammy winner and has been named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News, Jazz Bassist of the Year by DownBeat, and Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Other distinctions include two honorary doctorates from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, France's Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters medallion and title, and he was named the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Hutchison Award from the Eastman School at the University of Rochester.



Roy Haynes
Roy Haynes is the pulse of legendary jazz. For over 50 years Roy Haynes has influenced and innovated, shaping some of the greatest recordings in jazz while his joyous drumming with the legends of the genre altered the very fabric and direction of jazz improvisation. Louis Armstrong. Lester Young. Charlie Parker. Thelonious Monk. Sarah Vaughan. Miles Davis. John Coltrane. Dizzy Gillespie. Bud Powell. Ella Fitzgerald. Stan Getz. Chick Corea. Pat Metheny. The list goes on and on as does Roy's unflagging energy and marvelous invention. With his latest group of 20-something cohorts, Roy sends his "Hard Swing" to a timeless place. Haynes elevates the performances of his FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH BAND matching fire stroke for fire stroke, thrill for thrill, a tremendous give and take between the generations fueled by masterful musicianship and youthful abandon.

Free SummerStageJune Shows at Central Park Featuring:
McCoy Tyner Quartet  -  Ron Carter  -  Cymande  -  KING Yiddish Soul: A Concert of Cantorial and Chassidic Superstars Kamasi Washington  -  CharlElie Couture  -  Yael Naim The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series Butler, Bernstein & the Hot 9  -  The Hot Sardines Bria Skonberg and the New York Hot Jazz Festival All-Stars The Daily Show with Trevor Noah  Stand-Up in the Park  -  Indigo Girls
A Ballerina's Tale  -  Jeremy McQueen's The Black Iris Project

Hallyu North K-POP (Korean Pop Culture) Festival May 6 & 7 2016 in Toronto

From a media release

Hallyu North, a 2-day K-POP (Korean Pop Culture) Festival
Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7, 2016
Enercare Center (100 Princes' Blvd at Exhibition Place) - Toronto

• Buy Tickets/Passes
• More Info

TORONTO - Hallyu North invites you to celebrate all things K-POP this weekend, including the North American premiere of SHINee, cosplay, the Asian Food Fest 2016, film screenings and much more. Here are some of the highlights.

K-POP STAGE
FRIDAY, 7:00 PM
Special Guest: SHINee
SHINee is coming to Canada for the first time ever for a special guest performance on Friday May 6, 2016! SHINee is a South Korean contemporary boy group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2008. The group consists of Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, and Taemin. They have over 6 million Facebook followers and a strong international following.

Asia Food Fest 2016
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, All Day
Fanta7’s Asia Food Fest returns another year, this time with EXCLUSIVE programming at #HANO16! Taste delicious Korean food samples, attend cooking workshops, and get amazing deals at nearby restaurants. Not to mention, there will be plenty of food to purchase on-site!


K-DRAMA Screening Madness!
FRIDAY 6:30 PM, 10:00 PM
SATURDAY 1:00 PM, 7:00 PM
K-drama lovers are in for your ABSOLUTE dream come true. Non-stop screenings of EXCLUSIVE, popular, old classics, and never-seen-before dramas for 2 days.  Brought to you exclusively by DramaFever.com!

idolSALON by THEFACESHOP Canada
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, All day
Located in Heritage Hall all expo long! Ever wanted to look like your favourite K-idol? CHOOSE an idol’s look and get a free makeover at THEFACESHOP Canada‘s mini-salon both days at Hallyu North, then get your picture taken as a memento!
Participants also have a chance to win THEFACESHOP products on-site! ‪#‎HANO16

Hallyuwood Stage
SATURDAY, 7:00PM
Saturday performances from your favorite Youtube stars as well as a special guest performance!  There are also smaller local dance groups and singers that will also be joining in on the fun. Don’t miss your chance to see them live!  Are you interested in performing?  We will be having a competition in which winners will be able to win some prizes.
Roster: Dabit, Hayana, Eden, Melo, Aaron, Gemini, Mike, Natsumiii, IRIDESCENCE, R.P.M. Dance Crew, Jellybeannose, Fresh Baon, East2West
Hallyu North Star contestants: B-Ware, Annabelle, Hexakill Dance Crew, Limelight Dance Crew, KB, Kyomica27



Seoul Searching: Movie Screening
SATURDAY 4:00PM
Do not miss your chance to see this AMAZING movie!  A movie released only in 2015 winning several awards is something you do not want to miss.  It has everything a movie needs, romance, drama, comedy ALL-IN-ONE with actors such as Justin Chon, Jessika Van & In-Pyo Cha just to name a few.
The movie is English with some Korean dialogue subtitled.

Shopping Mania
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, All Day
Over 30,000 square footage of shopping space for all of your Hallyu, retail, anime, fashion, art, and geek needs. Includes ARTIST’S ALLEY, so you can get your bias commissioned!

Celebrated chefs Chuck Hughes and Anthony Rose added to stellar line-up for Taste of Toronto, June 23 – 26 2016

From a media release:

Celebrated chefs Chuck Hughes
and Anthony Rose added to stellar line-up
for Taste of Toronto, June 23 – 26, 2016

• Buy Tickets

TORONTO, ON – Taste of Toronto today announced celebrity chef Chuck Hughes and Toronto restaurateur Anthony Rose are set to participate in the city’s hottest food festival, taking place in Garrison Common at Fort York, June 23 to 26.
Taste of Toronto 2015Known for his television shows, cook books and Montreal restaurants Garde Manger and Le Bremner, Hughes joins the festivities on opening night, Thursday, June 23. Throughout the evening, festival-goers will have the opportunity to learn from the accomplished chef. Hughes will host a live demonstration on the Taste Theatre stage, sharing his best cooking tips and secrets with the audience, and leading an interactive Metro Master Class, where eager foodies will work their own cooking stations to master one of his flavourful dishes. Hughes will also help to choose the Best in Taste 2016 winner, sampling dishes from each participating restaurant and meeting with each chef on-site to learn more about the dish.
Chuck Hughes, photo credit: Dominique LafondJoining the line-up of some of Toronto’s best restaurants for four delicious days, comfort food king Rose will showcase Middle Eastern and European Jewish eatery Fat Pasha, famous for its whole-roasted cauliflower, house-made pickles and signature hummus. Rose owns several acclaimed restaurants in Toronto, including Rose & Sons Queen West, Big Crow, Schmaltz Appetizing and, the most recently opened, Bar Begonia.
Anthony Rose, photo credit: Ryan Thompson
Hughes and Rose join some of Toronto’s food leaders at Taste of Toronto, which includes Barque, Little Sister, Kinka Izakaya, Kinton Ramen, Kintori Yakitori, Piano Piano, Carver and Daily Special restaurants, The Bar at Alo, Antler Kitchen & Bar and Kanpai Snack Bar. The premier food festival will once again keep food lovers busy with hands-on master classes, live demonstrations, a marketplace, and of course, the finest flavours and cuisine that Toronto has to offer.

Tickets for Taste of Toronto are now on sale, with early bird tickets available at $14 while quantities last. General tickets start at $19, youth under 12 are free and youth 12 to 17 are $10. VIP and AMEX ticket packages are also available. With an exciting festival ahead, more talented chefs and restaurants, plus new and exciting programming, will be announced soon.

Taste of Toronto is made possible by the following sponsors: American Express, Metro, Etihad Airways, All-Clad, Nespresso, Pilsner Urquell, and True North Salmon.


Website: tasteoftoronto.com, tastefestivals.com
Facebook: TasteofToronto
Twitter: @TasteofToronto
Instagram: @TasteofToronto
Hashtag: #TasteofToronto

Billie Holiday, Vocal Sampling and more; Hungarian Noir A Tribute to the Gloomy Sunday (Piranha Records - May 13 2016)

From a media release:

Billie Holiday, Vocal Sampling and more; 
Hungarian Noir A Tribute to the Gloomy Sunday
(Piranha Records - May 13, 2016)

• Pre-order/Download or Play

1 Song : 12 Artists
It is the world’s deadliest song, a musical composition so lethal that merely to hear it hummed may induce suicidal tendencies. It is “Gloomy Sunday”, public menace of such potentially epidemic proportions the BBC was compelled to ban it for decades. Indeed, if contemporary news reports and eyewitness accounts are to be believed, no other song comes close to it for sheer morbidity.

“Helter Skelter”? The Manson murders were horrific, to be sure, but the role of the Beatles’ song in those tragic deaths was incidental at best, and in the end, seven lives were claimed; the number of fragile souls, meanwhile, to have succumbed to the unrelenting lugubriousness of “Gloomy Sunday” may number in the hundreds if not the thousands.

“Better By You, Better Than Me”? When played backwards, a US lawsuit alleged, this 1990 Judas Priest song prompts listeners to “do it” and commit suicide. But how deadly can a song be which must be listened to backwards? “Gloomy Sunday’s” impact is direct and instantaneous. One need only recall the story of the Roman shop boy who, hearing a beggar hum it, handed the man his money and jumped from the nearest bridge. Hungarian pianist and composer Reszo Seress wrote the original music and lyrics for Szomorú Vasárnap – Gloomy Sunday – in 1933, while heartbroken over the break-up of a romance. Though local publishers initially rejected the song as too despairing, a new version with less forlorn lyrics by poet Laszlo Javor became an instant hit – and began claiming innocent lives almost immediately.

KakanaThe song’s first victim, it is said, was the woman for whom it was penned. In the wake of its initial success, Seress’ ex-lover poisoned herself, leaving a suicide note of just two words: “Gloomy Sunday.” Hers was but the beginning of a wave of “Gloomy Sunday” suicides that ravaged Budapest in the 1930s. According to a US newspaper report from the time, “Budapest police have branded the song ‘Gloomy Sunday’ public menace No. 1 and have asked all musicians and orchestras to cooperate in suppressing it, dispatches said Today.”

No one was immune, the article claimed. “Men, women and children are among the victims. Two people shot themselves while gypsies played the melancholy notes on violins. Some killed themselves while listening to it on gramophone records in their homes. Two housemaids cut their employers’ linens and paintings and then killed themselves after hearing the song drifting up into the servant‘s hall from dinner parties.”

Seress was never prosecuted for the havoc his song unleashed (though fate may have caught up with him in 1968, when he leapt to his own death), but he and Javor alone can hardly be held responsible for “Gloomy Sunday’s” death toll. Like a plague, the song has spread, passed along by some of the most reckless and reprobate “artists” of our times.

Chango SpasiukPaul Robeson introduced the English version in 1935. Billie Holiday immortalized it in 1941. Björk, Ray Charles, Marianne Faithfull, Serge Gainsbourg, Diamanda Galas, Pyotr Leshchenko, Kronos Quartett – this list of infamy goes on and on. And now we can add to it the ultimate act of music industry callousness and irresponsibility – the release by Piranha Records of a collection of 10 new versions of “Gloomy Sunday” from around the world, plus the Billie Holiday masterpiece and the very Hungarian original for your digitally remastered listening pleasure.

Go ahead, listen to it if you must. But don’t say you weren’t warned. And should you be one of the fortunate ones to survive this ordeal, have the decency and good sense not to recommend it to others. Piranha Records must not be rewarded for their cynicism and betrayal of the public trust. Above all else, they must be discouraged from releasing “Gloomy Sunday vol. II”, which our sources say is already in the works.