Canadian Divas

Coming together as "Canadian Divas," a bunch of talented Canadian women singers cover top female vocalists from the golden age of radio and early TV -- very fun concept. You can hear this show Thursday night on Canada Live (8 p.m.), or as a Concert On Demand -- Canadian Divas.

Here's some of what the singers take on:
Kellylee Evans covers Phyllis Marshall...National Arts Centre violinist Jessica Linnebach interprets vocalist/violinist Gisele Mackenzie...Alanna Stuart and turntablist DJ L'Oqenz interpret Deanna Durbin's tunes...Cabaret accordionist Marie-Josee Houle performs the work of accordionist/vocalist Joan Fairfax...Ottawa rocker Amanda Rheaume does Norma Locke...and special guest Kathleen Edwards closes the show with a version of Sheila Graham's When The World Was Young.

You could consider the second concert on Can. Live a concert of covers too. If, that is, you look at "covering" the great classical composers in this light. In which case the headline would read something like "Ottawa born double bassist and viola da gambist Pierre-Yves Martel does Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev."

Last month, at an album launch at Freiman Hall in Ottawa, Martel showcased his personal, jazz-influenced interpretation of works by Prokofiev, and CBC recorded the show for tonight's broadcast. The concert is also available as a Concert On Demand, Quartetski Does Prokofiev.