The Furious Ones
To say that Toronto Baroque ensemble I Furiosi is edgy is like saying the North Pole is chilly. In concert, the quartet — usually augmented by various guest musicians — delights in pushing its queer-positive, leather-bound sensibility. The provocative stance has helped the ensemble to do what most classical music organizations are desperate to accomplish — reach a younger, hipper audience.
For I Furiosi – above from left, violinist Julia Wedman, cellist/gambist Felix Deak, soprano Gabrielle McLaughlin and violinist Aisslinn Nosky — the stance is much more than a pose or marketing tactic, it’s simply who they are are. When the group was getting established 12 years ago, the members rifled through their respective closets for clothes that would give them a cohesive look and the one common element was leather. Their roots in Toronto’s lesbian, gay and transgendered community are deep and in fact the Gay and Lesbian Community Appeal was the purveyor of the group’s first grant. READ MORE
Swinging Concert Series
The Humber Contemporary Jazz Ensemble lit a lunch hour fire at the Four Seasons Centre today as part of the COC’s popular Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre (presented by National Bank Financial Group). As usual, the tiered seating was nearly full by 11:45 am and the audience was treated to a swinging set that included standards like “Desafinado” and “All or Nothing At All” and a couple of original selections by ensemble director, the great Don Thompson.
Tomorrow (January 12) at 5:30 pm local jazz luminaries Michael Occhipinti and Mike Murley duke it out in Duologue and on Thursday at noon Classical Meets Klezmer with Jacques Israelievitch (violin), Shauna Ralston (cello) and Michael Israelievitch (percussion). Stay abreast of this exciting free concert series by signing up for the COC’s e-news blast.
Pictured above are trumpeter Robert Stewart, left, and P.J. Anderson on trombone.
Photos by Karen Reeves courtesy of the Canadian Opera Company
Shen Yun’s Toronto Connection
When Shen Yun Performing Arts, the Chinese classical dance and music extravaganza, pulls into the Sony Centre this week for a five-show run (January 13 – 16), it will be a kind of homecoming for principal dancers Cindy Liu, above left, and Lily Wang, right, both of whom were born in China but spent their formative years in Toronto.
Given the demands of a gruelling touring schedule, neither dancer was available for an interview but the Shen Yun production company, New York-based NDTV, provided translations of interviews with both performers.
Born in Beijing and raised in Toronto, Cindy Liu is a former leading dancer of Canadian Lotus Arts. She has been touring with Shen Yun since 2006.
In 2007 Lily Wang was admitted to Fei Tian Academy of the Arts in the US and within a year, she received an honourable mention for her performance during the second NTDTV International Chinese Classical Dance Competition, exposure that led to her joining Shen Yun the following year. READ MORE
Sights and Sounds of Mexico
Toronto-based artist and musician Alec Dempster, left, was born in Mexico so he comes by his cultural attachments honestly. Dempster has built a deep and meaningful artistic practice honouring a tradition of Mexican printmaking called El Taller de Grafica Popular (The People’s Printmaking Workshop). His musical focus is similarly specific, based on a very old folk style known as son jarocho, which is music from the south of Veracruz.
The geographic distinction is important: “In Mexico, the idea of heritage is complicated,” acknowledges Dempster. “In Veracruz, if you’re not from there, if you’re from Mexico City or Oaxaca, for instance, you’re considered a foreigner, it’s almost the same as being from Italy or Toronto.”
Dempster gets a chance to show-off both of his talents this week with the opening of a three-person show at Open Studio Gallery on Thursday and a musical performance Friday at Lula Lounge. READ MORE
Mark McLean’s Christmas Homecoming
This weekend’s three-night stand at the The Rex brings accomplished jazz drummer Mark McLean full circle, back to where he wrote and workshopped the material for his first solo album almost exactly one year ago.
McLean, who grew up in Don Mills and studied music at the Royal Conservatory and University of Toronto, has been based in New York City since 2003. But he comes “home” every Christmas to visit his family and to lead a regular Holiday Soul Party at the Rex.
Last year the drummer/pianist set up a mini studio in his parent’s basement where he wrote the majority of his new CD, Playground, which he then honed with the band that would later come in and lay down the tracks.
Knowing he had a 2010 Toronto Jazz Festival gig booked for July 1, McLean called in his crew — Kelly Jefferson (saxs), Kevin Breit (guitars), David Braid (keys), Marc rogers (bass), Pat Kilbride (acoustic bass) and Robi Botos (piano) – for two quick sessions, one May 28, the other June 4. The mastering and artwork deadline was June 14 and the pressed discs arrived two days ahead of the big show. Phew!
