Recording: Paul Newman

Artist: Paul Newman feat. Naomi McCarroll-Butler

Song: Copernicus [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Living Room), December 21, 2023.

Paul Newman feat. Naomi McCarroll-Butler - Copernicus [excerpt]

Paul Newman marked the shortest day with the debut of "Copernicus", a "very large new piece" composed to be played on the winter solstice and lasting from sunrise 'til sunset. A table filled with computer equipment was used for a hitherto-unrevealed electroacoustic side to Newman's work, adding minimal synthscapes and a reoccurring narration, reading Copernicus' observations ushering in the heliocentric consensus. Throughout the length of the day, Newman was joined by several musicians (including Brian Abbott, Sara Constant, and Jamie Thompson) in extended duets; during the afternoon time I spent with the piece, Naomi McCarroll-Butler joined for this beautiful interlude, with the pair sliding in and out of sync on a minimal melodic line.

Recording: Queen Mab

Artist: Queen Mab

Song: [1st set, 1st piece, excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac' Southern Cross Lounge (Marilyn Lerner Special Appearances Residency), December 19, 2023.

Queen Mab - [1st set, 1st piece, excerpt]

What is the sound of a quarter-century of collaboration? What is the sound of a quarter-century of friendship? Closing out her "special appearances" residency series, Marilyn Lerner, alongside longtime collaborator (and friend) Lori Freedman, investigated these queries. Attuned to each's other's pulses from the get-go, the pair offered two sets of deep interactions and lively conversations — eyes sparkling, as if to say, O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.

This was a too-rare appearance from this duo, so for posterity's sake, the whole evening's music is over on youtube:

Recording: Many People

Artist: Many People

Song: [set 1 excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 15, 2023.

Many People - [set 1 excerpt]

Many People is another of Karen Ng's occasional concepts-not-bands, and while I've associated this one with a room-full-of-horns soundbath, the concept is plainly more malleable than that. That said, there was a formidable (fourmidable?) wind quartet up front, with Ng joined by Nic Dourado (a.k.a. bUDi), Nirvana Sagar, and Ted Crosby. But this time there was an equal presence of non-horn players, including Kieran Maraj (bass), fuZzy (guitar), %%30%30 (found percussion) and Jaz Tsui (percussion and melodica). Especially with the latter pair, that meant the means of propulsion was less magic capret ride and more clattering wagon, as the ebb and flow of the horns was bumped along by the other elements.

Recording: kat estacio

Artist: kat estacio

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #86), December 5, 2023.

kat estacio - [excerpt]

In a nod to portability, perhaps, this set from kat estacio only featured one small gong, but her digital drumpad was loaded with additional gong sounds. It was also used as a samper of sorts, with field recordings being triggered and then manipulated by its onboard effects — some bit-reduced seagulls were one particularly effective example. They were part of a seaside montage in this radiophonic sound-journey that featured — courtesy of Queering the Map — stories and memories of LGBT residents of Gaza.

You can check out the full set over on the TCB playlist on youtube:

[Start your new year off right next Tuesday (January 2nd) when TCB returns with new sounds/concepts from Sara Constant's SOUP and Phil Hamilton's battle milk.]

Recording: Alma

Artist: Alma

Song: [excerpt from first section]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #86), December 5, 2023.

Alma - [excerpt from first section]

One of the joys of Track Could Bend is playing the long game, getting a chance to observe musicians over time and checking in with their continuities and creative disruptions. By chance, Allie Blumas had last played TCB eight Decembers ago as part of Doomsquad. They'd brought a more chilled-out sound than their usual rippling avant-dancefloor grooves to that set, and that was a zone that Blumas was returning to in this gently-drifting set of spa music featuring live-looped keyb, voice, flute and bass recorder.

You can check out the full set over on the TCB playlist on youtube:

[Start your new year off right next Tuesday (January 2nd) when TCB returns with new sounds/concepts from Sara Constant's SOUP and Phil Hamilton's battle milk.]

Monday Roundup #154

Concert announcements:

Audiopollination (feat. Kayla Milmine/Daria Morgacheva/Zoma / Max Donaldson/Nate Robertson/TBA / Zack Goldstein/Danny Alexander/Kalina Nedelcheva / The Memory of a Goldfish [Rod Campbell/ Mickle32/%%30%30]) / Array Space 2024-01-12 (Friday). $10 recommended. [FB event]

Lina Allemano Standards Quartet [Lina Allemano/Michael Davidson/Andrew Downing/Nick Fraser] / The Rex 2024-01-24–27 (Wednesday–Saturday). $16 and up. [FB event]

Kamancello / Canadian Music Centre 2024-01-26 (Friday). $22.63 advance/$30 door. [FB event]

Liquid Architecture ["live solo scores for strange and bizarre silent films"] (feat. Rod Campbell/Colin James Gibson/Ryan Kinney/Ambrose Pottie) / Mischief Makers 2024-01-27 (Saturday)

Nick Fraser presents (feat. BLOOP / Titanium Riot) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-01-30 (Tuesday – early) [FB event]

Lina Allemano Four / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-02-03 (Saturday – early) [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

VISITATIONS: piano meditations for life and death (feat. Del Stephen) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2023-12-28 (Thursday). $10. [FB event]

All-Set! presents (feat. Molehill [Jake Oelrichs/Pete Johnston/Mike Smith]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-29 (Friday – early). $pwyc.

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-29 (Friday). $pwyw. [FB event]

Cosmic Homeostasis XXII & Audiopollination: Pre-NYE gathering + celebration (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis plus Heraclitus Akimbo/Scott M2/kat estacio / Jamie Eriksen/Puccio Pucci/TBA / Eric Kinsella/Matt Collins/Marilyn Yogarajah / Jeff LaRochelle/Rashaan Allwood) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-30 (Friday – early + late slots!). $pwyc. [FB event]

Tranzac NYE (The Silt / Pursuit Grooves / The Burning Hell / New Chance / Shotgun Jimmie) / The Tranzac 2023-12-31 (Sunday). $28.27 advance, $30 door. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on December 26, 2014 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

A Ryan Driver Quintet - I Never Knew

• ...on December 29, 2014 at Double Double Land.

Zacht Automaat - [tracks 9 + 10]

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Monday Roundup #153

Concert announcements:

DAS RAD (Crying High Troglos / 60 Bux) / BSMT 254 2024-01-20 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Swanherds [rebecca bruton solo] (Kurt Newman) / 918 Bathurst – The Sun Room 2024-01-23 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Ichi-Bons (Daddy Long Legs / catl.) / Lee's Palace 2024-02-09 (Friday). $23.75, 19+. [FB event]

Cluttertones / Array Space 2024-02-16 (Friday) [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Colin Fisher Trio [Colin Fisher/Josh Cole/Jeff Luciani] / The Emmet Ray 2023-12-18 (Monday – 6:30). $10-$15

A Benefit for Toronto Palestine Solidarity Community Defence Fund (feat. LAL / Holofernes Head / Oxalis / Scooter Jay) / Horseshoe Tavern 2023-12-18 (Monday). $pwyc, 19+. [more info]

Tim Posgate Trio [Tim Posgate/Rob Clutton/Aidan McConnell] / The Rex 2023-12-19 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Samuel Hall / Parmela Attariwala / Ben Boye) / Wenona Lodge 2023-12-19 (Tuesday)

Marilyn Lerner Special Appearances Residency (feat. Queen Mab [Lori Freedman/Marilyn Lerner]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-19 (Tuesday)

Sarah Greene presents (feat. Sarah Greene [band set] / Fortunato Durutti Marinetti [solo]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-20 (Wednesday – early) [FB event]

Henri Fabergé quashes Creskins ["an evening of punk comedy rock opera festivities"] (feat. Henri Fabergé & co.) / Monarch Tavern 2023-12-20 (Wednesday). $22.63. [tickets + more info]

Copernicus ["Copernicus is a new composition by Paul Newman. It combines elements of performance and sound installation and lasts from sunrise to sunset on the Winter solstice. Copernicus is quiet, contemplative and minimalist in nature."] (feat. Brian Abbott/Sara Constant/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Paul Newman/Jamie Thompson) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2023-12-21 (Thursday – 7:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m.) [more info]

Thin Edge New Music Collective presents: Dark Flower Album Release Party + Fundraiser [compositions by Linda Catlin Smith] (feat. Thin Edge New Music Collective) / Array Space 2023-12-21 (Thursday). $17.31 for entrance, $27.96 for entrance and physical album [FB event]

Winter Solstice Tour (feat. Jennifer Castle) / The Great Hall 2023-12-21 (Thursday). $40.18, 19+. [FB event]

Arthur Bull/Lori Freedman/Scott Thomson/Jean Martin/John Oswald / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-22 (Friday). $pwyw

the science of what? holiday spectacular (feat. the science of what? [Mingjia Chen & Justin Orok] with Maggie Keogh/Carolina Lopez/Micaela Rae/Ania Zarzycki/Patrick Dilkie/Kohen Hammond/Racha Moukalled/Devin Patten/Audrey Vandendriesschen) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-23 (Saturday) [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on December 21, 2013 at The Imperial Pub's back room.

Aldcroft-Fisher-Gennaro - [excerpt from first piece]

• ...on December 23, 2013 at Handlebar.

Kappa Chow - I Want Out

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: DAS RAD

Artist: DAS RAD

Songs: Radar + In Situ^*

Recorded at Houndstooth, November 30, 2023.

DAS RAD - Radar

DAS RAD - In Situ

I was rather pleased when I spotted that DAS RAD (who'd played their final show back in 2016) were back in action earlier this year — in their time, they were a tremendously fun live act, accelerating their sludge-punk from the crypt to the stratosphere. This reformulation comes with some adjustments — Ian McPhedran has taken over on bass (and even sang a couple new songs), but I was heartened to see founding bassist Allyn Norris taking the stage to sing a couple songs (including the band's transcendant hit "Tooth Fairy") to close out the set. There was less climbing the furniture than you might have seen back in the day, but all that energy was still coiled up, spurred on by a crowd that felt like a reunion of the old Teen Tits scene.

[DAS RAD will be back in action on Saturday, January 20th at BSMT 254 alongside Crying High, Troglos, and 60 Bux]

^* Thanks to the peeps for passing along the titles to these!

Recording: Flake

Artist: Flake

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Houndstooth, November 30, 2023.

Flake - unknown

I don't have much information for this new-ish combo — playing, I believe, only their second gig. Neil Rankin (bass) and Jude (guitar) were familiar faces to me, both musicians I was once used to seeing up front as the focus of attention in their own bands, Here, they were flanking the stage and, by all appearances, haveing a ball in more of a supporting role. The drummer and vocalist/guitarist (Erika and Hannah, according to the band's instagram) pushed the sounds away from the directions the others' past bands might suggest. Things got a little groovy (and stretched out a couple times in most satisfying ways), and with some slide guitar early on there were even hints of a Bush Tetras-esque no wave thing going on. Keep an eye out for further developments.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: The Ryan Driver Sextet

Artist: The Ryan Driver Sextet

Song: She Was Too Good to Me [composers: Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), November 24, 2023.

The Ryan Driver Sextet - She Was Too Good to Me

This outing of the sextet saw keyboardist Tania Gill sitting in for absent guitarist Martin Arnold, and to some extent, she filled his frequent role of being a wibbly-wobbly disruption to the straight lines of the ballads the group was essaying. Her methods, however were more akin to her work (also alongside Ryan Driver) in The Titillators, where she'd occasionally pick a synth setting seemingly at random and lean into it with gusto — one track in this set received what sounded like a woozy pan pipe solo. It also allowed her to switch over to piano, allowing Driver to take the mic and go Full Crooner. "A mystifying experience," Gill was heard to comment to drummer Nick Fraser after the set — if listening to this band is such a singular thing, being in the middle of it all must be even moreso.

[The Ryan Driver Sextet, in one of its variations, will be back at The Tranzac on Friday, December 29th.]

Recording: Double Teams

Artist: Double Teams

Song: [set 2 excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), November 23, 2023.

Double Teams - [set 2 excerpt]

Rather than working bands, the recurring associations that Karen Ng presents are slightly more nebulous concepts, usually based around core personnel and musical ideas. Double Teams, for example, sees Ng wiggling and giggling on analog synth alongside Ryan Driver, and generally flanked by a pair of (mostly quiet) percussionists — here Phil Melanson and Aidan McConnell. In this stretch, the synth noodles were complemented by double flute doodles, alongside recorder whispers from the percussionists.

[Many People, another one of those concepts-but-not-quite-bands, will be playing at The Tranzac on Friday (December 15th) with Ng joined by Marilyn Yogarajah, Jaz Tsui, Kieran Miraj, Adrian Russouw, fuZzy, Liz Lima, Nic Dourado, and Nirvana Sagar.]

Monday Roundup #152

Community notes:

• I haven't been yet, but I've been hearing good things about the Toronto Electronic Music Open Mic, which is based out of Handlebar. It's happening tonight (Monday, December 11th) with side-by-side staging — 15 minute sets going steadily with one performer playing while the next in the queue is setting up. Sign-ups and walk-ins are still available, last I heard. Starts at 8pm and goes late.
• Meanwhile, The AMBiENT PiNG's DRONE:KLUB returns Thursday (December 14th) with an invitation for all to participate in or experience a live community drone event at the Long & McQuade Clinic Hall. Details at the facebook event.

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Video hits:

• I was sad to have missed "Spore Wind", a jaw harp concerto for Darcy Spidle composed by Bekah Simms when it was performed earlier this year, so I'm glad to see that Continuum has shared the piece (including Daniel Tapper's visuals) on youtube:

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Concert announcements:

Arthur Bull/Lori Freedman/Scott Thomson/Jean Martin/John Oswald / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-22 (Friday). $pwyw

All-Set! presents (feat. Molehill [Jake Oelrichs/Pete Johnston/Mike Smith]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-29 (Friday – early). $pwyc.

Cosmic Homeostasis XXII & Audiopollination: Pre-NYE gathering + celebration (feat. Cosmic Homeostasis plus Heraclitus Akimbo/Scott M2/kat estacio / Jamie Eriksen/Puccio Pucci/TBA / Eric Kinsella/Matt Collins/Marilyn Yogarajah / Jeff LaRochelle/Rashaan Allwood) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-30 (Friday – early + late slots!). $pwyc. [FB event]

Track Could Bend #87 (feat. battle milk / SOUP) / Wenona Lodge 2024-01-02 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Biblical (USA out of Vietnam / Cigar Club) / Bovine Sex Club 2024-01-06 (Saturday). $16.95, 19+. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Tim Posgate Trio [Tim Posgate/Brandon Davis/Aidan McConnell] / Sellers & Newel 2023-12-12 (Tuesday). $20

Dun-Dun Land, Night 14 (feat. Dun-Dun Man / Spruce Needles) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-12 (Tuesday – early). $pwyw

Josh Cole Presents (feat. a Josh Cole trio + strings [Aline Homzy/Nick Storring/Josh Cole/John Oswald/Blake Howard]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-12 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Hit Play (feat. _53d8ZxP / Comm.Arts / Yores) / Dundas Video 2023-12-13 (Wednesday). $pwyc, all-ages. [more info]

Tenderness (Gift Idea [debut!] [Steven Lourenço/Patrick McKenna/Jonathan Pappo feat. Alex Hamlyn]) / Tibet Street Records 2023-12-14 (Thursday). $20. [FB event]

Piano Fest (feat. Michael Cloud Duguay / Max Donaldson) / Burdock Music Hall 2023-12-14 (Thursday). $15. [more info]

Piano Fest (feat. Mingjia Chen / Tara Kannangara/Chris Pruden/Matt Fong) / Burdock Music Hall 2023-12-15 (Friday). $15 advance, $20 door. [more info]

The John Denver Airport Conspiracy (Tijuana Taxi / Gag) / The Baby G 2023-12-15 (Friday). $22.70, 19+. [FB event]

Hand Drawn Dracula's 15th Anniversary (feat. Beliefs / Tallies / Bonnie Trash / Michael Peter Olsen) / The Garrison 2023-12-15 (Friday). $23.57, 19+. [FB event]

Karen Ng presents (feat. Many People) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-15 (Friday)

Kamancello / Annette Studios 2023-12-16 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]

coexisDance #100 ["a new season (the first proper one since the pandemic), a new dance friendlier space, gov’t support, new equity focused mandate and a whole lot of fresh and hopeful energy"] (feat. Donald Carr/Heidi Chan/Liz Limax/Jessica Houghton/Cody Berry Ottertail/Rob Piilonen/Andy Yue/Pursuit Grooves/Kousha Nakei/Tristan Mantasoul Martell/Norma Araiza) / Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre 2023-12-16 (Saturday). $15

Not Dead Yet presents: S.H.I.T.mas 10 Yr Anniversary (feat. S.H.I.T. / Iron Lung / Glue / Dark Thoughts / Delco MFs / K.O.S. / Puffer & Calamity) / The Velvet Underground 2023-12-16 (Saturday). $42.72, 19+. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services Presents: It Takes Two to Tango (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride [Owen Kurtz & %%30%30] / Faggot Obsequy [Emjay Wright & Kye] / annais & cnrkrtz [Annais Linares & Connor Kurtz]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-16 (Saturday) [more info]

Ancient Egypt [live recording] [Pete Johnston/Scott Thomson/Holger Schoorl] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-17 (Sunday) [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on December 12, 2012 at Double Double Land.

Matt "Doc" Dunn - [excerpt]

Jennifer Castle - Paper Woman

• ...on December 16, 2012 at The Music Gallery.

Kith & Kin - Take The Long Way Around The Sea

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Ozone

Artist: Ozone

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #85), November 7, 2023.

Ozone - [excerpt]

As Derek McKeon's longstanding (now going for nearly a decade!) project ZONES continues to evole in a group-based, groovy direction, this project fork gives a chance to dig deeper into some the solo/ambient, er, zones that were there from the outset. Taking the time to drift along and examine the possibilities of each sonic warp, this set floated in place in a most pleasing way.

You can check out some the full set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona in the New Year (Tuesday, January 2nd) with sets from SOUP and battle milk.]

Recording: Ben Grossman

Artist: Ben Grossman

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #85), November 7, 2023.

Ben Grossman - [excerpt]

It's sometimes comforting to think that there's nothing new under the sun, and that so many sounds that one might think of — glitchy skips, heavy drones, and (as heard in this extract) Glass-ian repetition — as the product of modern technologies or compositional techniques are there to be found in an instrument that's several hundred years old. Often seen in these parts playing music from the pre-Baroque period in the Toronto Consort, in Ben Grossman's hands the hurdy-gurdy often sounds like a whole ensemble on its own, dipping in and out of the timestream.

You can check out this complete — and fantastic — set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona in the New Year (Tuesday, January 2nd) with sets from SOUP and battle milk.]

Monday Roundup #151

Community notes:

• The Music Gallery just announced a series of free workshops coming up in February, most hosted by some familiar faces from these blogpages, including: Nilan Perera (Improvising music 101), Anne Bourne (Deep Listening in the Dark) and Labyrinth Ontario (Music as Play). Keep an eye out here for more info (and RSVP if they fit into your calendar!).

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Concert announcements:

Josh Cole Presents (feat. a Josh Cole trio + strings [Aline Homzy/Nick Storring/Josh Cole/John Oswald/Blake Howard]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-12 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Tenderness (Gift Idea [debut!] [Steven Lourenço/Patrick McKenna/Jonathan Pappo feat. Alex Hamlyn]) / Tibet Street Records 2023-12-14 (Thursday). $20. [FB event]

Kamancello / Annette Studios 2023-12-16 (Saturday). $22.63. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services Presents: It Takes Two to Tango (feat. Wilderness Adventure Ride [Owen Kurtz & %%30%30] / Faggot Obsequy [Emjay Wright & Kye] / anais & cnrkrtz [Annais Linares & Connor Kurtz]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-16 (Saturday) [more info]

Ancient Egypt [live recording] [Pete Johnston/Scott Thomson/Holger Schoorl] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-17 (Sunday) [FDB event]

A Benefit for Toronto Palestine Solidarity Community Defence Fund (feat. LAL / Holofernes Head / Oxalis / Scooter Jay) / Horseshoe Tavern 2023-12-18 (Monday). $pwyc, 19+. [more info]

Marilyn Lerner Special Appearances Residency (feat. Queen Mab [Lori Freedman/Marilyn Lerner]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-19 (Tuesday)

Henri Fabergé quashes Creskins ["an evening of punk comedy rock opera festivities"] (feat. Henri Fabergé & co.) / Monarch Tavern 2023-12-20 (Wednesday). $22.63. [tickets + more info]

Welcome To Hell – live! (feat. Joseph Shabason with Felicity Williams/Robin Dann/Kieran Adams/Phil Melanson/Hugh Marsh/Josh Cole/Thom Gill/Vince Spilchuk / Still Boys) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2024-01-18 (Thursday). $27.96. [FB event]

DIG presents (feat. Hot Garbage [Precious Dream record release] / Mother Tongues / Luge) / Lee's Palace 2022-02-17 (Saturday). $22.12, 19+. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Tim Posgate Trio [Tim Posgate/Brandon Davis/Aidan McConnell] / The Rex 2023-12-05 (Tuesday – 5:30 p.m.). $10. [more info]

Colin Fisher/Mark Hundevad/Diane Roblin / The Emmet Ray 2023-12-05 (Tuesday – 6 p.m.). $10 in advance; $15 at the door. [FB event]

Track Could Bend #86 (feat. kat estacio / Alma) / Wenona Lodge 2023-12-05 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Holy Oak Family Singers [presenting Holiday Songs (local and canon)] (feat. Luka Kuplowsky/Ada Dahli/Robin Dann/Thom Gill/Josh Cole/Madelyn Kirby/Ten Moon/Ben Gunning/Felicity Williams/Philippe Melanson/Caitlin Woelfe O'Brien/Ivy Mairi + more) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-06 (Wednesday – early) [more info]

Ghostlight / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-06 (Wednesday) [more info]

BÉING Festival – Night 1 ["A two-day festival celebrating the release of Badge Époque Ensemble's Air, Light & Harmony"] (feat. Badge Époque Ensemble / Park Details Band [Chris Cohen & Yasi Perera] / Marker Starling & Dorothea Paas [duo set]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-12-07 (Thursday). $29.19 ($46.04 2-day pass). [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Louis Pino/Michael Palumbo/Jaz Tsui / Hiromune Kubayashi/Olive Joy/J. Moone / Isaiah Farahbakhsh/Eye-Duh Kho/Mira Martin-Gray / Love children of the apocalypse) / Array Space 2023-12-08 (Friday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]

BÉING Festival – Night 2 ["A two-day festival celebrating the release of Badge Époque Ensemble's Air, Light & Harmony"] (feat. Badge Époque Ensemble / Yves Jarvis / Carl Didur) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-12-08 (Friday). $29.19 ($46.04 2-day pass). [FB event]

Musica Universalis (feat. Colin Fisher/Blake Howard/Brandon Valdivia) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-08 (Friday). $10 suggested donation

Aline's étoile magique with super special guest Felicity Williams / Annette Studios 2023-12-09 (Saturday). $20

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior / Sympathetic String Band / Under Heaven / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-10 (Sunday – 2:30 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

Isla Craig (Bad Baby [Alex Lukashevsky]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-10 (Sunday – early) [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on December 10, 2010 at Sonic Boom Records.

Action Makes - Let Them Go

• ...on December 10, 2010 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

$100 - Not For Me

The Pining - Back Again

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis XXI

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis XXI

Song: Low-pressure Supercollider Sounds [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), October 29, 2023.

Cosmic Homeostasis XXI - Low-pressure Supercollider Sounds [excerpt]

A special day for the Cosmic Homeostasis collective, celebrating the release of a pair of recordings as a new album. Both birthed in a period when gathering at The Tranzac was unfeasible, "Broken Telephone" was a lockdown-era initiative where members of the group built layer upon layer of sounds as the recording passed from one person to the next. "Christie's Transmission" emerged from a period of tentative returning to gathering — in this case, outside on a couple occasions in late summer of '21 in Christie Pits. The latter recordings were beautifully collaged together by Jeffrey Sinibaldi, who also released these sounds on a tape from Vacancy Recordings.

Meanwhile, it was business as usual for the musicians who gathered to make some sounds together, with electronic sounds mixing with horns, percussion and even some tap dancing percussion. As usual, the full session is available over on bandcamp:

The participants this time around were:

• Paul Newman - tenor saxophone
• Rob Cruickshank - electronics
• Michelangelo Iaffaldano - voice, guitar, software synthesis
• Eric Kinsella - bass clarinet + percussion
• Scott M2 - Animoog
• James Bailey - Roland SE-02 with radios
• Victor O - Casio
• Christina Muratore - harmonica
• Michael Lynn - tap + clarinet
• Maebh Clark/Dame Cook - hauntological experiments
• Shelodyn - improvidence
• Philip - clip mic + oscillator
• Ian + Sterling McPhedran - radio
• Patrick O'Reilly - circuit bent Casio SK-1
• Heraclitus Akimbo - Kaossilator + Zoia
• Jeffrey Sinibaldi - namer-of-things

[Cosmic Homeostasis will close out the year with a special non-afternoon, non-Sunday event, taking over the Southern Cross on Saturday, December 30th in an evening that will be shared with Audiopollination for a special pre-NYE celebration.]

Recording: Roblin/Fisher/Luciani

Artist: Diane Roblin/Colin Fisher/Jeff Luciani

Song: [2nd set excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), October 29, 2023.

Diane Roblin/Colin Fisher/Jeff Luciani - [2nd set, excerpt]

Always keeping a hand in with a variety of ensembles, pianist Diane Roblin presented a matinée with this occasional trio that saw her joined by Jeff Luciani (drumkit) and Colin Fisher (sax, guit). Adding some synth swells to the piano rolls, there was an appealing sonic range here and lots of joyful interplay — definitely suitable for watching the leaves tumbling down in the background.

Given how my camera was overwhelmed by the daylight streaming in behind the players, you won't see any of those leaves tumbling down (and rendering the foreground in a rather murky way), but you can check out some footage of this full set over on youtube:

Recording: Western Ghats

Artist: Western Ghats

Songs: [1st piece, excerpt] + [2nd piece]

Recorded at Bar Orwell, October 22, 2023.

Western Ghats - [1st piece, excerpt]

Western Ghats - [2nd piece, excerpt]

Percussionist Marshall Trammell, who was in the region for Guelph's improvisation festival, also managed to add this local show alongside Scarborough's Chandan Narayan, here playing veena. The pair have some jams online, but onstage had time to really unpack some ideas, taking a minimal set of inputs into some expansive spaces — one got the feeling they could have played off each other for hours.

Recording: Newman/Constant/Arulanandam

Artist: Kurt Newman/Sara Constant/Amahl Arulanandam

Songs: [excerpt, in two parts]

Recorded at Bar Orwell, October 22, 2023.

Kurt Newman/Sara Constant/Amahl Arulanandam - [excerpt, part 1]

Kurt Newman/Sara Constant/Amahl Arulanandam - [excerpt, part 2]

An intriguing improvising trio here, especially as two of its members (Sara Constant, flutes; Amahl Arulanandam, cello + effects) are more often heard performing in the strictly-notated realm. Alongside guitarist Kurt Newman (who travels down many highways, musically speaking) this set was all rustles and plinks — evoking quieter, ghostly spaces.

Monday Roundup #150

Concert announcements:

Track Could Bend #86 (feat. kat estacio / Alma) / Wenona Lodge 2023-12-05 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Louis Pino/Michael Palumbo/Jaz Tsui / Hiromune Kubayashi/Olive Joy/J. Moone / Isaiah Farahbakhsh/Eye-Duh Kho/Mira Martin-Gray / Love children of the apocalypse) / Array Space 2023-12-08 (Friday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]

Winter Solstice Tour (feat. Jennifer Castle) / The Great Hall 2023-12-21 (Thursday). $40.18, 19+. [FB event]

VISITATIONS: piano meditations for life and death (feat. Del Stephen) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2023-12-28 (Thursday). $10. [FB event]

Tranzac NYE (The Silt / Pursuit Grooves / The Burning Hell / New Chance / Shotgun Jimmie) / The Tranzac 2023-12-31 (Sunday). $28.27 advance, $30 door. [FB event]

Is your show missing from this list? Submit it via this form!

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Shows this week:

Metatron [works by Sandeep Bhagwati, Kaija Saariaho, and Eliot Britton] (feat. University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble) / Walter Hall 2023-11-27 (Monday). $free. [FB event]

Dan Pitt/Madeleine Ertel/Harry Vetro / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-27 (Monday) [more info]

Titus Abbott Collective [Titus Abbott/Marilyn Lerner/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-28 (Tuesday) [FB event]

No Octopus Dancing [Allison Cameron/Stephen Parkinson/Germaine Liu/ Mark Zurawinski] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-29 (Wednesday – early)

Tiger Balme / Hugh's Room Live 2023-11-29 (Wednesday). $30 (advance), $35 (door), $15 (students, arts workers & underpaid folx). [FB event]

bikebike [multimedia experience + live album recording [Daria Morgacheva/Corey Cosman/Josh Kestenberg] / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-11-29 (Wednesday). PWYC (recommended $15) tickets available at the door, $17.52 advance. [FB event]

DAS RAD (Flake) / Houndstooth 2023-11-30 (Thursday). $free

CCMC [Paul Dutton/John Kamevaar/Al Mattes/John Oswald/Casey Sokol with guest Cheryl Ockrant] / The Baby G 2023-11-30 (Thursday). $pwyw, livestream available.

Little Jim [Chris Pruden/Matt Fong/Julian Anderson Bowes/Tara Kannangara/Mack Longpre/Caleb Klager] (Adversarial Networks [Caleb Klager/Luan Phung/Chris Pruden]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-30 (Thursday) [more info]

Tania Gill Presents: The Music of Carla Bley (feat. Doug Tielli/Tania Gill/Michael Davidson/Rob Clutton) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-01 (Friday – early). $pwyc [more info]

Not Dead Yet presents (feat. Kontravoid / God's Mom / Tony Price) / Nineteen Seventy Eight 2023-12-01 (Friday). $25.26, 19+. [FB event]

Robert Dayton (The Canadian Romantic / Ms Lightbody) / Eyesore Cinema 2023-12-01 (Friday). $5. [FB event]

We Are Time Showcase – Night 1 (feat. Tough Age / New Chance / Body Breaks / MISZCZYK) / The Baby G 2023-12-01 (Friday). $22.70, 19+

Valley Voice [Harrison Argatoff/Michael Davidson/Dan Fortin/Ian Wright] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-12-02 (Saturday – early). $pwyc. [FB event]

Batuki Music Society presents: Migration album release celebration! (feat. Okavango African Orchestra) / The Redwood Theatre 2023-12-02 (Saturday). $20 advance / $25 at the door. [FB event]

Burn Down The Capital presents (feat. Not The Wind, Not The Flag / Khôra / Xicada) / Tibet Street Records 2023-12-02 (Saturday). $15, all ages. [FB event]

Marbyllia [Margaret Maria & Bill Gilliam] [double album release party!] / Annette Studios 2023-12-02 (Saturday). $30 (admission including 2 CDs), $20/PWYC (general admission). [FB event]

VISITATIONS: piano meditations for life and death (feat. Del Stephen) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2023-12-02 (Saturday). $10. [FB event]

We Are Time Showcase – Night 2 (feat. Motorists / Bile Sister / Empanadas Ilegales / CHANDRA) / The Baby G 2023-12-02 (Saturday). $22.70, 19+

Brian Ruryk (Lava Gland / Brian Fog / Density Creep) / Bar Orwell 2023-12-03 (Sunday). $pwyc

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Bandcamp corner:

• The last Bandcamp Friday of the year coming up this week — grab something for yourself and maybe some digital stocking stuffers as well. Here's a couple things on my list:

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It happened this week...

• ...on November 27, 2011 at The Great Hall.

Bassekou Koyate & Ngoni Ba - Saro

• ...on November 30, 2011 at The Garrison.

Devon Williams - Tower of Thought

[Do remember that you can click on the tags below to go back and find the original posts (and often, more stuff) from these artists.]

Recording: Vijay Iyer & Hafez Modirzadeh

Artist: Vijay Iyer & Hafez Modirzadeh

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at ImprovLab, University of Guelph (IF 2023 – Day 2), October 21, 2023.

Vijay Iyer & Hafez Modirzadeh - [excerpt]

A rare out-of-town day trip to hear some music out past the city limits gave a glimpse into goings-on out in Guelph, including the U of G's "brand new state-of-the-art" ImprovLab, which hosted some of the concerts in a full day's programming as part of the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation's conference. The conference's closing performance was originally slated to be a duo between pianist Vijay Iyer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, but the latter's illness meant some last-minute organizational improvisation that saw saxophonist Hafez Modirzadeh stepping in. The resulting set felt anything but thrown together, though, with striking coherence and excellent interplay between the pair, each finding space to dig into motifs and give the other room to stretch out.

Recording: Mali Obomsawin Quartet

Artist: Mali Obomsawin Quartet

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at ImprovLab, University of Guelph (IF 2023 – Day 2), October 21, 2023.

Mali Obomsawin Quartet - unknown

A rare out-of-town day trip to hear some music out past the city limits gave a glimpse into goings-on out in Guelph, including the U of G's "brand new state-of-the-art" ImprovLab, which hosted some of the concerts in a full day's programming as part of the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation's conference. Fabulous work here from bassist Mali Obomsawin, playing alongside Magdalena Abrego (electric guitar), Allison Burik (bass clarinet, alto sax), and Mili Hong (percussion). Exploring songcraft and other compositional forms, there was room here for a lot of interplay — and improvisation — often in the form of simmering grooves.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Damon & Naomi

Artist: Damon & Naomi

Songs: Season Without Time + Judah and the Maccabees

Recorded at Bar Orwell, October 16, 2023.

Damon & Naomi - Season Without Time

Damon & Naomi - Judah and the Maccabees

Returning to Toronto after a rather long absence, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang looked to be right at home in the "literary dive-bar" environs. In between dryly humourous banter-y snippets of the sort of gentle mocking endemic to long-running musical/life partners the pair highlighted 2021's A Sky Record at the start and end of the set — though in the middle Yang exchanged keyboard for bass and the pair spent some time digging through their back catalog. Cozy and intimate, this was just the right vibe to spend some time with these songs and some stories.

Recording: Picastro

Artist: Picastro

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Bar Orwell, October 16, 2023.

Picastro - unknown

Continuing a long-running tradition of constantly shape-shifting around frontperson Liz Hysen, Picastro showed up at this gig opening for Damon & Naomi in a totally different formation than I'd seen previously — while the last time I saw the group it was as a duo with double bassist Alex Fournier, here it was a trio with Tim Condon (guitar, SK-1) and Mike Mērnieks-Duffield (drums). The latter, unsurprisingly, added some quiet propulsion to things, but the core dirge-drift of the Picastro soundworld was definitely in evidence here. That said, this was a snappy set by Picastro standards, with several shorter songs and keeping things under a succinct half-hour.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Shoe Horn Ensemble

Artist: Shoe Horn Ensemble

Song: [first section]

Recorded at the Bata Shoe Museum (Track Could Bend @ X Avant XVIII – Neeeerrrrddddssss: shoe horn), October 12, 2023.

Shoe Horn Ensemble - [first section]

I'm still not entirely sure what I did to deserve such an honour, but somehow I ended up curating a night of this year's X Avant Festival. And not just any ol' night as we were invited to conspire a musical takeover of the Bata Shoe Museum. Thanks to the amazing powers and positive energy of Artistic Director Sanjeet Takhar, we were able to fill the building with creativity, bringing a grouping of nine musicians to first enfold some sounds in the museum's galleries, then gather them all together for a collaborative improvisation. Best of all, though it was on a grander scale than I'd usually allow myself to imagine, it really felt like it was all done in the spirit of Track Could Bend. And were there shoes? Oh yes, there were shoes.

After spreading the musicians out in the galleries, the conclusion gave everyone a chance to find ways to work together in a large ensemble. The featured performers here were electronic musicians Laura Dickens (a.k.a. Leucrocuta) & Hex-A-Deximal, who were processing incoming sounds from the mics and from Tegan Dietsch's tap board. Around that centre, horn players and percussionists had a chance to wander some more — one of the most delightful moments was when trumpeter Lina Allemano and trombonist Tom Richards headed up the stairs and out of sight, only to pop out of the elevator behind the audience a few minutes later! With everyone putting, ah, their best foot forward this was a satitisfying way to gather all the threads shoelaces together.

For the record, the full ensemble was:

• Tegan Dietsch (tap)
• Lina Allemano (trumpet)
• Tom Richards (trombone)
• Why Be Normal [%%30%30 & James Bailey] (found percussion)
• Annie Elgie (voice)
• Yang Chen (percussion/processing)
• LD & Hex-A-Deximal (electronics)

You can check out the full set over on youtube:

[The Bata's new exhibition Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980's is now open. Track Could Bend will be back in its regular first-Tuesday-of-the-month incarnation at Wenona Lodge on December 5th, with sets from kat estacio and Alma.]

Recording: Annie Elgie & co.

Artist: Annie Elgie & co.

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at the Bata Shoe Museum (Track Could Bend @ X Avant XVIII – Neeeerrrrddddssss: shoe horn), October 12, 2023.

Annie Elgie & co. - [excerpt]

I'm still not entirely sure what I did to deserve such an honour, but somehow I ended up curating a night of this year's X Avant Festival. And not just any ol' night as we were invited to conspire a musical takeover of the Bata Shoe Museum. Thanks to the amazing powers and positive energy of Artistic Director Sanjeet Takhar, we were able to fill the building with creativity, bringing a grouping of nine musicians to first enfold some sounds in the museum's galleries, then gather them all together for a collaborative improvisation. Best of all, though it was on a grander scale than I'd usually allow myself to imagine, it really felt like it was all done in the spirit of Track Could Bend. And were there shoes? Oh yes, there were shoes.

When I saw the "In Bloom" exhibit on the first site visit to the museum I made a mental note that it would be a perfect spot for vocalist Annie Elgie. And indeed, in between a couple benches at the far end of the room she settled right in between flowers and footwear to conjure up some spirits. This section, from the end of the event's first half up in the galleries, was one of my favourite parts of the whole night — you can hear horn players Lina Allemano and Tom Richards circling around like the sampled seagulls that are calling out.

You can check out another segment of this performance, with tap dancer Tegan Dietsch joining in (and much more!) over on youtube:

[The Bata's new exhibition Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980's is now open. Track Could Bend will be back in its regular first-Tuesday-of-the-month incarnation at Wenona Lodge on December 5th, with sets from kat estacio and Alma.]