Kathy Kallick and her exciting band are making a stop in Vancouver to share the music from their new album, Between the Hollow & the High-Rise, which is currently riding high on both US national bluegrass charts. Bluegrass, old time, and folk music fans alike will enjoy their compelling original songs and distinctive treatments of classics, in a memorable showcase filled with soulful singing, sizzling playing, and an engaging presentation.
Kathy Kallick has been leading bluegrass bands (including the semi-legendary Good Ol’ Persons) since 1975. She continues to evolve as one of the music’s extraordinary composers and vocalists, releasing 15 albums, which include over 100 of her original songs, and garnering international recognition.
Along the way, she has … won a Grammy and two IBMA Awards for her part on True Life Blues: The Songs Of Bill Monroe … had three title tracks and albums (Call Me A Taxi, Walkin’ In My Shoes, and Warmer Kind Of Blue) each spend close to a year in the upper echelon of the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey (“the charts”) … performed and recorded with the Frank Wakefield Band … appeared on three high-profile Rounder collections of bluegrass songs by women … written and recorded award-winning music for children and families … toured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan … received a “Lifetime Membership Award” from the California Bluegrass Association … and … collaborated with some of the country’s top acoustic musicians – including her fabulous current band.
A profound songwriter and expressive singer, San Franciscan Kathy Kallick is a mountain gal at heart. Her singing has always been earthy and passionate. As a songwriter, she knows how to pen beautiful impressionistic pieces with memorable contemporary messages. A troubadour and exquisite storyteller, (her) arrangements are tightly crafted, with each song given its own non-formulaic treatment. —Joe Ross, BLUEGRASS NOW
Praise for Between the Hollow & the High-Rise:
A selection of material that should leave most any fan of traditional bluegrass yearning for more, with a great mix of well written, heartfelt originals, and arrangements with some subtle twists and turns that are sure to please a mindful ear. The Kathy Kallick Band plays hard-drivin’ traditional bluegrass that harkens back to the dirt-floor rural up bringing of those who laid the music’s foundation long ago. And make no mistake they do a great job of it. – Travis Tackett, BLUEGRASS JOURNAL
Presenting The Point of It All, a new recording from the rich creative collaboration between Talking Pictures, singer-pianist Robin Holcomb, and keyboardist Wayne Horvitz. Together they create a musical tapestry weaving free improvisation with lyrical compositions.
In a post-modern world of sometimes gaudy mix-and-match stylistics, yet another record that confounds easy categorization may not seem unusual. But The Point of It All is unusual. For one thing it takes its time to get where it’s going, and this slow build has a cumulative effect. And, as the title suggests, there’s a lesson of sorts being expounded. There’s certainly something archaic about it, almost as if these songs had already existed as prototypes in another time and place, a lost America of long ago (of course one of them, Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier, actually dates from the American War of Independence). You can hear this in Robin’s voice, which seems to lament even as it celebrates, and you can hear it in the sometimes circus-like and gospel-like tones and timbres of the instruments. Yet this music is very much about now, a symbolic distillation of the present. It does not mince words, and its catharsis is hard-earned, not nostalgic. It is also, at times, joyful and exuberant, even raucous. It seems to light up from the inside.
Robin Holcomb’s last release on Songlines was Solos (2004) on which she and her husband Wayne Horvitz shared a program of their solo piano compositions and improvisations. Meanwhile Vancouver guitarist Ron Samworth’s quartet Talking Pictures (which released Humming on Songlines in 2000) had been performing some of Robin’s music and had concertized with Wayne (documented on the CD Intersection Poems); in 2006 Ron invited Robin and Wayne to collaborate with them in creating a collectively arranged concert of Robin’s work in Vancouver. Peggy Lee was already part of Wayne’s Gravitas Quartet, and after the concert everyone felt that this new initiative shouldn’t just be a one-off. Peggy and Robin started performing occasionally as a duo, and in 2009 a second Vancouver concert and a recording session were organized. Ron and Peggy each composed a new song for the occasion to complement 9 pieces of Robin’s (only one of which had been recorded before) and her arrangement of After the Gold Rush.
The results throw a different light on the music of one of America’s most distinctive yet ultimately elusive musicians and lyricists.
As Robin puts it, “Talking Pictures share an intimacy and intuition that is staggering and which they apply with joyful abandon in not only our mutual improvisations but also in their interpretation of my compositions. It was a wonderful experience for me, one of those rare situations wherein I can not only improvise and do whatever arises in the moment, but can also bring to the table any music I want to – the end result doesn’t have to be only an improvised project, or a chamber music project, or a songs project or a jazz project. There is great logic in their coloration and sense of balance, no matter how seemingly chaotic or contrary….Wayne and I have been playing each other’s music for more than thirty years. Talking Pictures have played together for over fifteen years. There are a lot of historical strands at work.”
Ron adds, “Robin’s music is the perfect vehicle for a band like Talking Pictures. There is such a wealth of information in any given phrase – melodic, harmonic and rhythmic, not to mention the extraordinary richness of lyrical imagery in her songs. It’s an improviser’s dream. Our band greatly values ensemble playing where we create unified improvised pieces that explore a variety of textures and moods. Robin and Wayne seem to share that open, collective spirit.”
Tony Reif/Songlines Recordings
3036 W. 6th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6K 1X3, Canada
(604) 737-1632 • treif@songlines.com • www.songlines.com
Distributed in the US by Allegro, allegro-music.com, in Canada by Outside Music, outside-music.ca
Learn about taiko history, notation, and basic rhythms at this one-day, hands-on workshop. At the end of the workshop, participants will have learned a taiko piece. No previous experience is necessary.
Participants must be a minimum of 16 years of age. Applicants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis to a maximum of 15. To register, please call 604-683-8240 or email koralee@dkam.ca.
We’re pleased to announce that Birds of Paradox’s new self-titled cd has been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award in the category of Instrumental Recording of the Year.
The WCMA’s will be held in Kelowna, BC this year October 21-24. You can find more about the conference & awards show here.
There’s been a flutter of press about the new cd. Check out this article in the Georgia Straight (July 6,2010) and this review in The Province (July 5, 2010).
Birds of Paradox was formed in 2007 to explore the fusion of composition and improvisation, incorporating three very distinct voices and cultural backgrounds into a creative whole. The trio synthesizes elements of jazz and improvised music, traditional Chinese, Western and Indian music into a collective expression of life in post-millennial Vancouver. Their new cd was nominated for a 2010 Western Canadian Music Award in the category of Instrumental Recording of the Year.
“It’s so vivid, you can almost feel the heat and the surging press of bustling humanity. “Asian Market: Chapter 1 China”, from the Vancouver trio Birds of Paradox’s new, selftitled CD, mixes discordant cries, half-heard conversations, the rattle and clatter of traffic, and the whirring and clanking of mysterious machinery into a startling, abstract portrait of a Beijing streetscape. Even if you’ve never been to the Chinese capital, it’ll put you there…” – Alexander Varty, The Georgia Straight, July 6, 2010
“Both gorgeous and adventurous at the same time, the dozen tracks on this disc provide a wealth of unique entry points into where classical, modern and improvisational styles meet.” -Stuart Derdeyn, The Province, July 5, 2010
Being born and raised in Vancouver has given me a unique and interesting perspective on music. Having extensive training in two different musical styles [jazz and classical Indian], and being from one of the most multi-cultural places on the planet, I don’t see barriers that others might. It’s all just sound, expressions of emotion and it is all valid. Music doesn’t have a nationality; it comes from the human experience, which is tied together at all corners of the world. No matter where we come from, it is our humanity that leads us to create, explore and discover, humanity that surrounds us and which is within us at all times. Neelamjit Dhillontabla, alto saxophone, flute, bansuri
Ron Samworth
The music on this CD is a conversation between three artists who are a product of Vancouver, Canada in the early 21th century. Needless to say, there is an intercultural aspect to it, but like the city itself, diversity is a given. Musicians, in general, have a particular quality of discovering natural affinities among themselves. Strong melodies, interesting grooves, cool sonic textures are our common currency. Playing together, bringing whatever you have in your musical arsenal into play, is what it’s all about. The personal narratives that constitute any community, musical or otherwise, are what give the world of human relationships its nuance and fullness. Being open and engaged is all that’s required to get on board.
Nightface is a composition of mine originally written as an instrumental then adapted, with lyrics by Elizabeth Fischer, into a beautiful haunting song that was performed and recorded by the band DarkBlueWorld. It is in 7/8 time, a 3-2-2 pattern with one bar of 6/8 at the end of the verses just to keep you on your toes. The verses are in G minor – the bridge in E major.
It’s a great pleasure playing with Lan and Neel – two gifted and wonderfully expressive musicians. Listen and enjoy! Ron Samworthguitar, effects
Lan Tung
After moving from Taiwan to Canada in 1994, I have been surrounded by great music of different genres – from western contemporary music to various ethnic styles – which feed my ever-growing musical appetite. I am inspired by the western violin’s ability to transform itself in Indian, Gypsy and Middle Eastern music, jazz and even Cantonese opera. This, as well as travels and studies in the “exotic” lands of India, Egypt, Amsterdam and Berlin, has led me to look outside Chinese traditions to develop new vocabularies on the erhu and to countless interesting collaborations at home and abroad. In both composition and improvisation, I experiment with contradictions by taking culturally specific music outside its context and fusing it with other genres. Ba Ban Variations, inspired by traditional Chinese music, embodies the paradox of many opposite characters: chromatic vs pentatonic, composed vs improvised, contemporary vs traditional, with sudden shifts between a mysterious quality and an exciting 3+2+3 rhythmic cycle. Asian Market begins by using the basic four tones/inflections in Mandarin to develop vocal patterns to depict a vibrant market scene. Colourful Clouds Eating the Moon is an incarnation of Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon from China, with an Indonesian twist. Temple Bells colours Cantonese melody with blues chords. Xia He (Flowing River) gives occasional hints to its Chinese roots. By incorporating improvisation with Asian traditions, I see a whole new territory in which to discover fresh sounds. Lan Tungerhu (Chinese violin), vocals
Track Listing
1. Nightface – Samworth, E.Fischer 6:34
2. Ba Ban Variations – Tung 5:41
3. Colourful Clouds Eating the Moon – Tung 5:16
4. Improvisation I – Samworth, Tung, Dhillon 4:18
5. Travellin’ Travis – Dhillon 5:07
6. Improvisation II – Tung, Dhillon, Samworth 2:33
7. Xiao He – Tung, Samworth, Dhillon 5:45
8. Asian Market: Chapter 1 China – Tung 5:34
9. Temple Bells – arr. Tung, Samworth, Dhillon 5:06
10. D’Arcy Island – Dhillon 6:34
11. Improvisation III – Dhillon, Samworth, Tung 2:24
12. Charukeshi – Dhillon 6:41
Total Time: 61:33
Nightface – excerpt - from Birds of Paradox
Ba Ban Variations – excerpt - from Birds of Paradox
Charukeshi – excerpt - from Birds of Paradox
Colourful Clouds Eating the Moon – excerpt - from Birds of Paradox
Improvisation I – excerpt - from Birds of Paradox
Xiao He – excerpt - from Birds of Paradox
Recording Credits
Recorded by Sheldon Zaharko at The Factory Studios, Vancouver, BC Canada on August 6 and 7, 2009
Mixing and mastering: Dylan van der Schyff
Design and Layout: John Endo Greenaway
Cover Art: Aleksandra Dulic and Kenneth Newby
Photography: Nenad Stevanovic
Birds of Paradox was co-produced by Ron Samworth, Lan Tung and Neelamjit Dhillon.
We would like to thank Ken Pickering and Diane Kadota who have supported this project since its inception.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts through the Specialized Music Sound Recording Program and the Department of Canadian Heritage Canadian Music Fund through the Canadian Musical Diversity Program of the Canada Music Fund.
Mark February 11th on your calendar! Come out and dance! The Drum & Light Festival is an evening of high-energy sonic and visual extravagance featuring percussion, improvised and jazz music, electronica, dance and visual projections by some of Vancouver’s best and brightest artists.In 2008 and 2009, Vancouver’s Hard Rubber Orchestra introduced the Drum & Light Festival, a series of sold-out multimedia dance events featuring a 14-piece groove orchestra and eye-popping visuals. The dance party continues in 2010.
The Drum & Light Festival combines the most cutting-edge music, movement and visuals into one breathtaking evening. This high-energy dance event features a 14-piece groove big band, five drummers, electronic music, intense visual projections and innovative choreography. Music by an all-star collection of Vancouver artists —Ray Garroway(K-OS), Randall Stoll(Soulstream), Alvin Cornista(Sekoya), DJ Timothy Wisdom and keyboardist Chris Gestrin (to name just a few)— is fused with incredible visuals by Brian Johnsonand Jason Whyteand movement choreographed and performed by theTomorrow Collective.
Hard Rubber New Music has presented concerts of original music by some of Canada’s most exciting composers, performed by some of Vancouver’s finest musicians. Under the artistic direction of composer, conductor, musician John Korsrud, previous large-scale works include Alcan Award-winning Enter/Exit,a multi-media extravaganza featuring the premiere of compositions by Giorgio Magnanensi, Brad Turner and John Korsrud as well as visual projections by jamie griffiths, Brian Johnson, Rena del Pieve Gobbi, Riel Roussopoulos and HoneyBee Visuals. Other projects include The Ice Age: The World’s First New Music Ice Show, performed at Kerrisdale Arena and featuring the talents of hockey players, curlers and figure skaters; White Hot Core, a collaboration with Kokoro Dance; and The Elvis Cantata, which took an irreverent look at pop icons. The all-star Hard Rubber Orchestra features the finest of Vancouver’s jazz community and performs music that is influenced by jazz, pop, world, contemporary classical and improvised music. Since its debut in 1990 the Orchestra has toured to Europe and across Canada including concerts in Amsterdam and at FIMAV in Quebec.
“HARD RUBBER IS, NO QUESTION, CONSISTENTLY THE BEST VANCOUVER BAND EVENT YOU CAN SEE” (Discorder Magazine)
Drum and Light 2009
Drum and Light 2009 – 3-minute documentary for Vancouver’s Knowledge Network
Standing Wave at the Quadra Island Community Centre on Saturday, January 23rd at 8 PM
To catch this wave, get your advance tickets for $17 at the Music Plant in Campbell River and at Quadra Crafts or Hummingbird Office and Art Supply on Quadra Island. Students 16 and under are welcomed free with an adult. For more information, call 250-285-2580 or visit the group’s website at www.standingwave.ca
“…fresh sounds that twist and surprise… Standing Wave is a vital contemporary voice with drop-dead ingenious musicians.” Vancouver Sun
Brad Turner, trumpet; Jon Bentley, tenor saxophone; Jeremy Berkman, trombone; Peggy Lee, cello; Tony Wilson, guitar; Ron Samworth, guitar; Andre Lachance, electric bass; Dylan van der Schyff, drums
“…unbelievable ensemble moments, and Peggy’s tunes are unique and unpredictable.” – Now Magazine
Recital Hall, UBC Music Building
6361 Memorial Road
concerts@interchange.ubc.ca or 604-822-5574 for more information.
