CBC Radio Orchestra and conductor Alain Trudel mark the end of 70 years of broadcasts in this farewell performance.
Although little-known in English speaking countries, Léo Ferré is a monument of French chanson. Along with Georges Brassens and Jacques Brel he is considered one of the greatest composers and writers of French song. Now 15 years after his death, Italian vocalist Gianmaria Testa and pianist Roberto Cipelli have put together an evening dedicated to his memory. Tonight's concert from the Festival International de Montreal features jazz interpretations of Ferré's best loved tunes. Accompanying them are Attilio Zanchi on bass; drummer Philippe Garcia; and virtuoso trumpetter Paolo Fresu.
Bassist Michel Donato has been a fixture on the Montreal jazz scene for 50 years. This year, the Festival International de Montreal honoured Donato by presenting him in two concerts. Tonight's performance was entitled ' 50 Years of Double Bass' and brought together a number of outstanding Quebec musicians he's been associated with over the years starting with vocalist Karen Young; and included pianists James Gelfand, François Bourassa; and sax players Yannick Rieu and André Leroux. It was recorded at the acoustically perfect Gésu in downtown Montreal.
Join in a wild evening of traditional Quebec folk music with this extraordinary trio and their guests.
Try to imagine the freedom, spirit and wild abandon of Klezmer and Eastern European folk music, contained within the framework of highly-polished, nuanced, almost Classical chamber music-style arrangements. That's the sound of Beyond The Pale, a remarkable 5-man musical outfit that manages to combine technical precision and pure joy in their original music. Canada Live recorded them at the 2008 Ashkenaz - Toronto's bi-annual festival of Jewish culture. Beyond The Pale played to a full house in Harbourfront's Enwave Theatre. The audience was not disappointed - and you won't be either!
Michael Ondaatje, Justin Rutledge and others join Art of Time Ensemble for an evening of literature inspired by music and music inspired by literature.
Some of the country's most innovative musicians have assembled to create a beautiful odd-sorts stew of sweet frailing banjos, guitars, piano, a string section, warm harmonies, and great, great songs.
From the opening night of the 2008 Jazz en rafale Festival at Montreal's chic and shining Espace Dell'Arte, pianist and composer Yves Léveillé shares the stage with American multi-instrumentist Paul McCandless and an all-star team of experienced sidesmen: saxophonists Frank Lozano and Roberto Murray, trumpeter Aron Doyle, doublebassist Marc Lalonde and percussionist Ugo Di Vito. Who else by Paul McCandless plays oboe, english horn, soprano sax, sopranino sax and bass clarinet all in one night? Add that to the profound compositional talent of Yves Léveillé and voila: an extraordinary synergy that's pure pleasure.
Toronto-born, Montreal-trained, and Vancouver-based vocalist/pianist/composer Denzal Sinclaire is one of Canada's most popular jazz stylists. Lauded for his exquisite delivery, sensitivity to melody and a lyrical imagination, Denzal has performed at numerous high-profile jazz festivals and with various symphony orchestras. For this concert created especially for the 2008 Festi Jazz International de Rimouski in August, he is joined by the St-Germain String Quartet; Fraser Hollins, bass; Joel Miller, saxophone; Richard Irwin, drums; and Marjjolaine Goulet, french horn. From Genesis to Gershwin, this remarkably unique concert features music from his new CD - My One And Only Love.
Jireh Gospel Choir is going places. Led by their inspiring conductor, Carol Bernard, this Montreal choir has performed with Cirque du Soleil and has 3 CDs to its credit. Canada Live caught up with them on the eve of their November 2008 tour of France, and the results are electrifying. This is Gospel at its best - committed, upfront and joyful.
Folk-jazz singer Lullaby Baxter and the Lily String Quartet in an eccentric portrait of Kansas City matrimony.
CBC Radio Orchestra and conductor Alain Trudel mark the end of 70 years of broadcasts in this farewell performance.
Jazz pianist and composer, Bill Brennan, brings a circle of musical friends together at the Petro Canada Hall in St. John's to launch his second piano CD called Solo Piano II. Those friends are Sandy Morris, Heather Kao and Mark Peddle - joined for a special guest appearance by Bill's dad, Frank Brennan.
Canada Live marked a first, as it takes the show inside the walls of Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, with two local singer/songwriters: Craig Young - a boy from Burgeo, Newfoundland, who brings the worlds of Nashville and Newfoundland together within the confines of his country songs and finger-picking wizardry, and Anne Devine - one of St. John's most versatile musicians, who's recruited frequently by the pastoral care programme at the Penitentiary to play for inmates and staff within the prison walls.
This summer at the Writers at Woody Point Festival, the Newfoundland seminal trad/rock band, Figgy Duff, was celebrated. Led by founding member Pamela Morgan, this legendary group reunited for a 25th anniversary concert at the Woody Point Heritage Theatre in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland - the former Orange Lodge - where the building itself celebrated its 100th anniversary. Band alumni Kelly Russell, Dave Panting, Phil Dinn, Frank Maher and George Morgan were joined by an all star guest list, including Daniel Payne, Sylvia Tyson, Ron Hynes and Ellen Power.
Folk-jazz singer Lullaby Baxter and the Lily String Quartet in an eccentric portrait of Kansas City matrimony.
Cameron Latimer studied Jazz at Malaspina College in Nanaimo and has played the guitar for 16 years. Shortly after his studies, he began playing in bands on the island and in Vancouver. Long the side man - Latimer's now stepping up to the centre mic and leading the show. This concert was recorded at the same time as he was releasing his debut album, "Fallen Apart". The style is alternative country pop music - coming to you from the heart of East Vancouver.
Eneida Marta's songs take their inspiration from the everyday life of Guineau Bissau. Singing in Portuguese and Kriol, in a style that is somewhat reminiscent of Cesaria Evora, Marta sings of the strength of the women in her country and the courage of living in the moment. Her band is percussion rich and utilizes such unusual instruments as the "tina" - a large gourd that is thumped while semi-immersed in a wine barrel.
Folk-jazz singer Lullaby Baxter and the Lily String Quartet in an eccentric portrait of Kansas City matrimony.
A bilingual Christmas gospel celebration featuring: Garland Headley (gospel and hip-hop), Jessica Robinson (country gospel), Rachel St-Phard (French/Caribbean gospel), and Annette Campagne (formerly of Hart Rouge).
This concert is the result of a cross-cultural collaboration between CBC and Radio-Canada.
Singer-songwriter Royal Wood - featured in Radio 2's Next! series - steps into the spotlight for this show at the Mod Club.
Superstars in their native Japan, young Tsugaru-shamisen virtuosos Ryoichiro and Kenichi Yoshida -The Yoshida Brothers- have taken the ancient three-stringed instrument and gave it the fiery passion of a rock and roll guitar.They coax vivid sounds out of their timeless instruments, reinvigorating Tsugaru-shamisen for a new generation, as well as incorporating elements of jazz, American folk, pop, Latin music, blues and more into their unique musical tapestry. Canada Live recorded this performance at the Enwave Theatre in Toronto.
2009 Juno Songwriter of the Year, Dallas Green performs songs from City & Colour's Bring Me Your Love.
Led by the brotherly harmonies of Dallas and Travis Good - the Sadies' tunes are a mixture of dazzling guitar instrumentals and songs filled with lyrics of lesssons learned the hard way. The Sadies are back after 3 years, with a new CD. Canada Live was there at Hillside 2008 to capture the new songs live.
The New Forms Festival takes place in Vancouver in early September. This year they brought together two local bands who love to chart new musical territory, Fond of Tigers and Secret Mommy.
Flory Jagoda keeps the tradition of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) music from Bosnia alive.
The brilliant young Janaki String Trio - featured on CBC Radio 2's Next! series - perform music by Schubert and Mozart.
John Mann is probably best known for fronting the popular Vancouver band, Spirit of the West. His energetic stage presence and distinctive voice have steadily gained him fans over the past 25 years.
John Mann has released two solo records "December Looms" and "Acoustic Kitty". This concert samples music from both releases as well as some SOTW favorites.
Jon Middleton & Roy Vizer have a popular band in Victoria that is a fresh take on folk music.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony with guest conductor Joana Carneiro in a rhythmic, pulsating programme of music by Copland, Bernstein and Hatzis.
Souljazz Orchestra performs at Barrymore's Music Hall in celebration of their latest release, "Manifesto".
The VSO welcomes two young Québecois as headliners (conducter Jean-Marie Zeitouni and soprano Marianne Fiset) in a salute to the music of Vienna.
Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh has led the influential Downchild Blues Band for almost 40 years. The inspiration for Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's Blues Brothers came from Downchild gigs in Toronto in the 70's. The ease with which these guys play hard tight blues was immediately evident on stage at the Edmonton Blues Festival.
Wherever she goes - that's where the party is. And a New Orleans boogie-woogie piano party it will be complete with peace, love and bar-b-que. Marcia Ball has been on the Texas and Louisiana scenes since she was a teenager. At the Edmonton Blues festival she blew the roof of the open air stage.
A spoken word artist, writer and throatsinger of Inuit and Scottish heritage, Taqralik Partridge collaborates in this special concert with a violinist, double bassist and DJ.