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Volume 16 Issue 5 - February 2011

  • Text
  • February
  • Toronto
  • Jazz
  • Symphony
  • Orchestra
  • Musical
  • Trio
  • Concerts
  • Arts
  • Theatre

PHOTO ROGER

PHOTO ROGER HUMBERTBalkan-Jazz-Funk-Fusion for the BraveKardonne’s music to be delectablyspicy, or as she puts it, “tipsy, sexymusic for the brave.” Indeed, thistalented vocalist/composer hasconcocted a daring recipe of jazz,balkan, funk and afro-cuban musicfusion for her eight-piece ensemble,The Thing Is. Nearly every pieceKardonne writes is composed in oddmeter, each arrangement augmentedwith dynamic twists and turns, dissonanceaplenty and lyrics poeticenough to recite a cappella.What is it that compels Kardonneto write such challenging music?only until they can sing it, which inevitably, everyone in the bandcan, whether they’re playing the melody, the bass line, or the mosthidden inner harmony. It’s all singable, groovin’, and highly intuitive.Once everyone’s playing it, it becomes hard to remember why itgood listens will likely warrant cravings for the band’s appealingcomplexity. The Rex Hotel.This Time the “Quote’s” on MeInstrumental jazz is consistently respected in the “Fridays at Five”series happening at Quotes Bar & Grill, located beneath BarootesRestaurant at 220 King Street West. That’s where the CanadianJazz Quartet (Gary Benson, guitar; Frank Wright, vibes; DuncanHopkins, bass; Don Vickery, drums) have been entertaining audiencesfor nearly 5 years now.Much like at the Old Mill’s Home Smith Bar, there’s a cleverpolicy of “No Reservations” which encourages music lovers to getthere early to snag the best seats. And they do, without fail! To keepthings interesting, each week the CJQ welcomes a special guest,usually a horn player of the highest order who gets to call the tunes.For instance, The WholeNote’s own Jim Galloway will be gracingthe bandstand there on February 11th.On February 18 th the quartet will be calling the tunes themselves,features famous musical works of art by Antonio Carlos JobimFlo”) plus pleasing originals by the quartet’s leader, Gary Benson(“Everytime I See You”, “Don’t Quote Me”). Trane StudioTranzacEvery Mon Every Fri TheFeb 1 Notes and Noodles. Feb 6,20 Monk’sMusic. Feb 12,26 Donné Roberts. Feb 13 LinaAllemano. Feb 15 Al Purdy Project. Feb 19Tova Kardonne.Michael Davidson. 22 Nathan Dell-Vandenberg’sMaybe Not. Feb 27 Steve Ward. Victory Cafe, TheEvery Wed Hot String Jazz Quartet Zemra Bar & LoungeEvery Wed Open Mic and JamEvery Fri Live Music FridaysWeinzweig: Essays on His Life and MusicEdited by John Beckwith and Brian CherneyAdult “VOCAL” WeekVocal classes and choral sessions for adult choral singers!Dr. Victoria Meredith, conductorIngemar Korjus & Aury Murray, cliniciansJuly 6 – 9, 2011Participants: 0 (0) Auditors: 0 (5)Registration Deadline: May 16 th , 2011Information & registrationChoirs Ontarioa-1422 Bayview Avenue, Toronto on m4g 3a7t: 416 923 1144f: 416 929 0415info@choirsontario.orgwww.choirsontario.org48 thewholenote.comFebruary 1 - March 7, 2011L A U N C H E D !John Weinzweig, “The Dean ofCanadian Composers” and stalwartchampion of the arts, died in 2006at the age of 93. Last year it was myprivilege to be part of a distinguishedteam working on the latest additionto the annals of Canadian musicology,“Weinzweig: Essays on His Lifeand Music” edited by John Beckwithand Brian Cherney (Wilfrid Lauriera full review in these pages in anupcoming issue, but I wanted to saya few words about the launch of thisimportant volume which took placeat a lavish event in the foyer of Koerner Hall on January 13.With both editors and most of the more than a dozen contributorspresent, and soprano Mary Lou Fallis presiding over the festivities,the event was charged with emotion. We heard testimonialsfrom Weinzweig’s sons Paul (who in a witty reminiscence modestlyclaimed his father’s infatuation with dissonance was a result ofan excruciating piano performance he gave in the presence of hisfather’s peers as a youngster) and Daniel, who has been a movingforce in keeping his father’s legacy in the public eye (including anew centenary initiative – contact weinzweig100@gmail.com fordetails).The highlight of the event was the audition of several Weinzweigcompositions: selections from the 1989 piano cycle performed by Cheryl Duvall, a 2010 graduate of the master’s programat the U of T Faculty of Music; and withHugo Lee, an outstanding young oboist from Unionville High Schoolfor the Arts ably accompanied by the school’s string ensemble underthe direction of editor Beckwith’s son Larry. The performances culminatedwith the mistress of ceremonies, Canada’s darling “Diva ona Moose” accompanied by Peter Tiefenbach, treating us to an updatedstaging of “Hello Rico” from .John Weinzweig was a vocal activist whose main concern wasmaking the music of our time and place available without compromise.It bodes well for the future that a new generation is beingexposed to, and embracing, this music of our recent past.—David OldsConnect ChorallyMake Life Sing!

ANNOUNCEMENTSCanada Sings!/Chantons Canada!Toronto-Riverdale. Neighbourhood Singalong.South SimcoeArts Council Annual Choral WorkshopArraymusic. Toronto Improvisers’Orchestra. WorldSongsVocal Camp. ArraymusicD. The ETCeterasPortait of director Tom Diamond by Anna Kvassetskaia-Tsyglan oneof many on display at Portrait Society of Canada opening March 3.Early Childhood Music Association.From Song and Rhyme to Storytime.Toronto Early Music Circle.Vocal Circle. Portrait Society of Canada ExhibitionOpening: The Art of Canadian Music.DaCapo Chamber Choir. New-Works Gala. Waterloo. LECTURES/SYMPOSIAUniversity of Toronto. MychaelDanna. No Strings Theatreannounces its summer 2011 productionStephen Sondheim’sSweeney Toddfor youth ages 13-21July 4-31, 2011Early Bird registration deadline: March 15, 2011Come and check out our open house workshop onSunday March 6th, 2-5pm,Act! Sing! Dance! Sondheim!at The First Unitarian Church, 175 St Clair Ave WIntroducing our summer Pit Orchestra program!Same dates! Same show! See website for detailsWWW.NOSTRINGSTHEATRE.COM February 1 - March 7, 2011 thewholenote.com 49

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