Voices are raised both at home and abroad this week. Three Canadian performers took part in a recent concert by the Orchestre national de France, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. Contralto Marie Nicole Lemieux is heard in songs of Duparc, and pianist Alain Lefevre performs a Piano Concerto by André Mathieu, conducted by Jean-Philippe Tremblay.
Bill Stevenson, Mike Evin, Kellylee Evans, Ian Tamblyn, Ana Miura, Suzie Vinnick and a handful of other performers all get together on one stage for one evening to pay tribute to the songs and poetry of Ottawa folk legend, Bill Hawkins
This event was in celebration of Sheila's upcoming 80th birthday. As the last remaining female be-bop master, Sheila has worked with a long list of jazz greats (including Charlie Parker) and is known for her continually evolving, highly creative work and her indomitable spirit.
Every summer the Boxwood Festival in beautiful Lunenburg, Nova Scotia brings together kindred spirits from all over the world, to explore traditional music. This concert features Paul Halley - if you were a fan of the Paul Winter consort - you know Paul Halley, because he was Paul Winter's keyboard player for 18 years and with him, won five Grammy awards. Paul now lives in Nova Scotia and in this concert he is featured with flutist Chris Norman, along with his son and fellow keyboard player, Nick Halley.
KOJO is a quartet of lokembes or thumb pianos - a traditional African instrument made from resonate wooden boxes and metal tongues, ranging from the tiny soprano to the big bass box. KOJO's music is an all acoustic blend of rhythmic overlays with exotic vocals - the sound is mesmerizing! Alex Atiol and Paul Atayna formed KOJO in 1996 after escaping their war-torn country and emigrating to Canada. KOJO, in Didinga, means "re-birth" or "new crop" and reflects the refugee's search for renewal in an adopted country.
Cool, rich and exotic - these three musicians create a musical tapestry that is deeply colourful and inspiring. Dinuk Wijeratne is a composer, conductor, and improvising pianist who is internationally respected for his virtuosity and sensitivity as a musician. Living now in Halifax, Dinuk teamed up with tabla virtuoso, Mayookh Bhaumik, and Syrian clarinetist, Kinan Azmeh, to play a set to a packed house at the 2008 edition of the Atlantic Jazz Festival.
Tonight on The Signal, we're diving into the "Festival Suoni per il popolo" in Montreal. This festival is now a big event in the Montreal's musical life, and tonight we're going to hear one of the highlights of the festival: The Nels cline Singers. This band is a unique collaboration of the sonically creative and highly acclaimed guitarist Nels cline, drummer Scott Amendola and bassist Devin Hoff. Hear what they whip up in this dynamic but intimate concert, tonight on The Signal with Laurie Brown.