World Viewby Karen AgesBefore launching into my usual"what's coming up in world musicthis month", I'd like to take amoment to mention some of theartists who might be familiar toreaders of this column who are finalistsfor the Toronto Arts CouncilFoundation Awards.While the actual winners won'tbe announced till October 5th atthe Mayor's Arts Awards Lunch,making the shortlist is an achievementworthy of congratulations.The nominees for the MurielSherrin Award for InternationalAchievement in Music and Danceare dancer/choreographer/composerPeter Chin, (artistic director ofTribal Crackling Wind), dancer/choreographer Denise Fujiwara,artistic director of the CanAsianDance Festival, and Rina Singha,a solo Kathak dancer.And among the nominees for theWilliam Kilbourn Award for theCelebration of Toronto's CulturalLife is world renowned percussionistand Indian music scholarTrichy Sankaran. Congratulationsto you all!Whether by coincidence or by design,there is an unusual abundanceof music of the Spanish/Portuguese/Brazilian/Cuban variety thismonth, in both larger and smallervenues. A performer who helpedput bossa nova on the map in the60's, keyboardists/composer/arrangerSergio Mendes and hisband Brasil 2006 come to MasseyHall on October 7. "Blending theurban musical cultures of Braziland America, the concert featuresselections from Timeless, Mendes'first new release in eight years."October 13 at the Lula Lounge,female Brazilian guitarist Badi Assadperforms, followed by percussionensemble Maracatu NuncaAntes. Also at Lula, "Salsa Saturdays"on October 14 featuresBra::ilian guitarist Badi Assadperforms solo at the Lula LoungeOctober 13. She is followed byMaracatu Nunca Antes, a Torontobased 20-piece Aji-o-Bra::ilianpercussion ensemble.Mapale with traditional dance ofColumbia (dance lesson included)and October 28 features OrquestaFantasia, including a salsa lessonwith Ana Machado. Lula's"Cuban Fridays" the night beforeis with salsa band Cafe Cubanoand also includes a dance class.October 14 at Cervejaria Downtown(842 College at Ossington)Portuguese twelve-string guitarspecialist Nuno Cristo and othermusicians present Voices of Fado,with singers Tony Camara andTony Gouveia. Known for its highlyemotional quality, Facto has itsroots in urban Portugal and isthought to also have been influencedby African slave music. Ina similar vein, multi instrumentalistsLouis Simao, David Frenchand other musicians present Faia,"an evening of music from theLusophone Diaspora" on October19 at the Gladstone Hotel. Theirmusic is a combination of Braziliansamba, Portuguese Facto, Cubanrhumba and the improvisationalelements of jazz.Did qo11 k1tow ...Long & McQuade Sells Acoustic Pianost~,,.....~'4iilll--~• new & refurbished instruments• Prarnberger uprigh' & grand pianos nowavailable - great value for any level of playing• 36 month financing available (OAC) on all pianosGalitcha launches its new CD, Ble d' lnde, October 26 at the Lula Lounge.L-R: Chris Maclean (vocals, harmonium, guitm; dulcim e1; gopichand),Linsey Wellman (flutes and saxes), Ku/jit Sodhi (lead vocals, tunbi (seen inphoto), tabla, dholki), Shawn Mativetsky (tabla, dhol, percussion).Geo~Jff ·1'~ ~~ sI0'1me&RmVmlm.
SOME THING Newby Jason van EykOctober sees Toronto's newmusic season ramp up to full speed.Almost every night there is a concertto fill your ears with intriguingmusical explorations. While it'simpossible to highlight all of thismonth's truly enticing offers, thereis a thread that connects severalevents. It's a simple connection.For, while last October featured astring of concerts that celebratedindividual creators and their pastand present work, this Octoberyields an overwhelming fall harvestof brand new music from awide range of musical voices.Music Toronto launches its2006-07 Ensembles in Residenceseries this month with a concertby the Gryphon T rio. With some30 commissions to their credit, theGryphons are no strangers to bringingtop-level performances to newmusic. On October 10th at the JaneMallett T heatre, they will add onemore world premiere to their rosterwith Kelly Marie Murphy's latestpiano trio, Memory, Distance,and No Time for Dances. For thiswork, Dr. Murphy was commissionedby Peter Leighton in memoryof hi s late wife, MarilynnLeighton, as a celebration of herlife and spirit.When discussing the work, Dr.Murphy said "In writing the music,I referred heavily to the wonderfulbiographical notes that Mr.Leighton gave me. The first movementaddresses the fiery side ofMarilynn's personality: her drive,intensity, and passion for life. Thesecond movement is a dignifiedfarewell."Kelly Marie M urphy is amongCanada's top early career composers,having already received awealth of international commissions,performances, broadcastsand awards. Her works for pianoand strings especially demonstrateher talents, making this premierecertainly one to catch. For moredetails v1s1t www.musictoronto.com.For tickets visitwww.stlc.com or call 416-366-7723.Morris ?alterT hree days later, percussionistMorris Palter asks us to switchgears for his "Play What YouMean! " concert. Canadian-born,Dutch and USA trained, ex-rockdrummer Palter returns to the MusicGallery on October 13th for thissolo show, which promises to explorethe ideas of sound and gesturethrough chailenging contemporaryworks. On the programmeare fresh pieces from TorontobasedMark Duggan and Australiancomposer Chris Tonkin, complementedby seminal solo workslike Brian Ferneyhough ' s BoneAlphabet. Palter is a fearless proponentof demanding new music,as he proved in his 2004 Galleryshow. As always, he will balanceout the evening with a selection ofnovelty xylophone ragtime tunes,WORLDS OF MUSIC TORONTO ' ~.II(WOMT) announces 2006-07 Season for World MusicCONTINUESNEXT PAGESHARING WORLD MUSICGLOBAL VOICES &. RHYTHMSWhere traditional & contemporary music-making meetsin your worldwww.worldsofmusic.coToronto's portal to worlds of music makingt ~ r MusicGalleryToronlo's Centre for Creative Musicsat sept 30 model for a public space (speaker)FEMURING THE 'NOODCHOl'PERS 1\ SSOCIMIOCI, 5'\·11\SH & TEENY. ~llNDBEN·DER. JOE SORBllR.'\/:,IJCHllELl\NGELO l1\FF1\LDANO/JIM Bl\ILEY. DEBSl,\IH,\/BEI" BIWSSklJ\N, JOHN Fi\flNl, .\IORE . '12 HOUl
