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.]

Recording: Yang Chen & co.

Artist: Yang Chen & co.

Song: [excerpt]

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

Yang Chen & 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.

I've seen percussionist Yang Chen in a variety of settings and I knew they could provide some musical secret sauce in an adventure like this. Setting up shop in the upper part of the permanent collection (dedicated to giving a "Glimpse into Artefact Storage") they were at a crossroads for audience members and other wandering performers, generating a variety of close-mic'ed textures and subtle feedback (feet-back?) hums — plus, you can hear some sonic bleed from Why Be Normal on the lower level and some passing horns here.

You can check out some other zones from this set's conclusion 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: Why Be Normal

Artist: Why Be Normal

Song: [excerpt]

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

Why Be Normal - [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.

This pairing of found percussionists Colin C. (who performs as %%30%30) and James Bailey (who also brought his trombone along on this occasion) came together at TCB some months back and their joyful junk spectacle called out for a bigger canvas. Taking over one end of the lower level of the museum's permanent collection, this was indeed a widescreen adventure, with all sorts of bricabrac spread around.

You can check out the pair interacting with tap dancer Tegan Dietsch (and 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.]

Recording: Lina Allemano & Tom Richards

Artist: Lina Allemano & Tom Richards

Song: [excerpt]

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

Lina Allemano & Tom Richards - [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.

The phrase "shoe horns" was one of the first things on the idea board when brainstorming for this show began, and I had this vivid mental image of a horn player using a shoe as a mute. No surprise then that the first person I thought of in that scenario was trumpeter Lina Allemano, who tends to bring a variety of ad hoc resonators to use as mutes. Trombonist Tom Richards is equally imaginative in expanding the possibilities of his instrument, and the pair had a tremendous time riffing off each other in the "Obsessed" exhibit — plus, of course, using their mobility to find chances to interact with the other performers.

You can check them out in their "home" gallery and visiting some others 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.]

Monday Roundup #149

Community notes:

• I admit I've been paying less attention to the Toronto Music Advisory Committee than I was a few years back, but for those with an interest in how the music industry, music community, and local government interface with each other, TMAC is gearing back into action on Wednesday (November 22nd) at City Hall (and viewable online). You can check out the agenda (and other information) here.
• The sign-up sheet for the Winter/Spring season of Audiopollination's self-curated shows has gone live — plunk down your name in a blank spot and go make some sounds/friends! You can find the spreadsheet here.

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Concert announcements:

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]

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

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

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

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

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

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]

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 / guests) / Wenona Lodge 2023-12-19 (Tuesday)

Video Age (Sean Nicholas Savage) / The Garrison 2024-03-13 (Wednesday). $31.24, 19+. [FB event]

Freesound presents Vortex Temporum [works by Gérard Grisey and Wesley Shen] (feat. Freesound Ensemble) / Array Space 2024-06-20&21 (Thursday & Friday) [FB event]

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

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Shows this week:

This Can Be Our Living Room ["grand but casual fundraiser for Sistering"] (feat. Tara Kanangara / ZINNIA / Omhouse / Lydia Persaud and Christine Bougie / Elise Bouer and Adam Iredale / Kat McLevey / Bara Zmekova / Chris Pruden and Julie Arsenault) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-20 (Monday) [more info]

Ugly Beauties [Merilyn Lerner/Matt Brubeck/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-21 (Tuesday) [more info]

Geordie Gordon [Tambourine! album release celebration!] (Gentleman Reg) / Burdock Music Hall 2023-11-22 (Wednesday). $16.95. [FB event]

Ronley Teper and the Lipliners / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-22 (Wednesday)

Witch Prophet (Dijah SB / Hanorah) / Adelaide Hall 2023-11-23 (Thursday). $31.42, 19+. [FB event] – CANCELLED

Karen Ng Presents (feat. Karen Ng/Ryan Driver/Aidan McConnell/Phil Melanson) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-23 (Thursday)

All-Set! Presents (feat. Molehill [Jake Oelrichs/Pete Johnston/Mike Smith wsg Jonathan Adjemian]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-24 (Friday – early). $pwyc

Exit Points 44 (feat. Yun Young Lee/Aaron Claudius/Donald Quan/Christine Duncan/None / Laura Chan/Pouya Hamidi/Emjay Wright/Margaret Maria/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2023-11-24 (Friday). $20. [FB event]

Breeze [Sour Grapes Hand Drawn Dracula album release] (Uh Huh / Edmund Stay) / Monarch Tavern 2023-11-24 (Friday). $17.50, 19+. [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet wsg Tania Gill / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-24 (Friday) [FB event]

JS Presents! Ep.43 (feat. Laura Barrett / JESSA/Jessica Stuart) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-25 (Saturday – 5 p.m.). $pwyc. [FB event]

25 Years of LAL (feat. LAL) / The Music Gallery 2023-11-25 (Saturday). $17.03, all ages. [FB event]

Liquid Architecture (feat. Nirvana Sagar / Liz Lima / Bea Labikova / Now Yr Taken) / Mischief Makers 2023-11-25 (Saturday). $10 advance/$12 at the door. [FB event]

Occasional Exit: Music by Ignacio Baca Lobera ["the Canadian premieres of Baca Lobera’s acoustic and electroacoustic chamber music"] (feat. Array Ensemble [Rob MacDonald/Benjamin Storm/Justin Massey/Amahl Arulanandam/Stephen Tam/Michael Murphy/David Schotzko) / Array Space 2023-11-25 (Saturday). $pwyw

Verdant Crooked Path ["revered poetry meets celebrated Canadian jazz artists in concert" original works using texts by noted poets Emma LaRocque, Alden Nowlan, Marjorie Pickthall, and Al Purdy] (feat. Allison Au, Pete Johnston, Amanda Tosoff, and Felicity Williams with an all-star 12-piece ensemble including Laura Swankey/Alex Samaras/Ted Crosby/Madeleine Ertel/Heather Saumer/Patrick O'Reilly/Michael Davidson/Ethan Ardelli) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-11-26 (Sunday). $10 or pwyc. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on November 21, 2009 at Centre of Gravity (Bite Your Tongue #2).

Corpusse - Nourishing Meat

• ...on November 26, 2009 at The Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar.

Michelle McAdorey - The Instance

[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: The Nilan Perera Trio

Artist: The Nilan Perera Trio

Song: [set 2, 2nd piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), October 8, 2023.

The Nilan Perera Trio - [set 2, 2nd piece]

Another evening of conversations from this grouping, with guitarist Nilan Perera getting some structures from Alex Fournier (double bass) and Rick Saks (drumkit). Nice textures and interplay throughout, sizzling even when not playing at a breakneck pace.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Monday Roundup #148

Concert announcements:

Geordie Gordon [Tambourine! album release celebration!] (Gentleman Reg) / Burdock Music Hall 2023-11-22 (Wednesday). $16.95. [FB event]

Breeze [Sour Grapes Hand Drawn Dracula album release] (Uh Huh / Edmund Stay) / Monarch Tavern 2023-11-24 (Friday). $17.50, 19+. [FB event]

Verdant Crooked Path ["revered poetry meets celebrated Canadian jazz artists in concert" original works using texts by noted poets Emma LaRocque, Alden Nowlan, Marjorie Pickthall, and Al Purdy] (feat. Allison Au, Pete Johnston, Amanda Tosoff, and Felicity Williams with an all-star 12-piece ensemble including Laura Swankey/Alex Samaras/Ted Crosby/Madeleine Ertel/Heather Saumer/Patrick O'Reilly/Michael Davidson/Ethan Ardelli) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-11-26 (Sunday). $10 or pwyc. [FB event]

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

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

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]

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

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Shows this week:

Dun-Dun Land, Night 13 (feat. Dun-Dun Man) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-14 (Tuesday – early). $pwyc. [more info]

New Tendencies (Adam Basanta's “small movements” / Trash Panda QC) / Bar Orwell 2023-11-14 (Tuesday)

Josh Cole & Nick Fraser present (feat. Yves Charuest/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-14 (Tuesday). $10/pwyc. [FB event]

Ted Crosby Presents: Solos (feat. Alan Mackie / Justin Orok / Ted Crosby) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-16 (Thursday) [FB event]

Your Grandad [record release!] (Uncola / Miserable Weekend) / Monarch Tavern 2023-11-17 (Friday). $17.31, 19+. [FB event]

Audiopollination: 11th Anniversary celebration (feat. Dave Nelson/jenna geen/James Lowrie / Jonathan Luke/Bill Gilliam/kieran maraj / Jamie Eriksen/Del Stephen/Elizabeth Lima / Raphael Roter & Bea Labikova) / Array Space 2023-11-17 (Friday). $10. [FB event]

Fundraiser for Ukraine (feat. Kosa Choir [debut performance!] / Waleed Abdulhamid / Ori Shalva) / Shevchenko Museum 2023-11-17 (Friday). $25. [FB event]

Stefan Hegerat/Kayla Milmine/Patrick O'Reilly / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-18 (Saturday) [more info]

Portage [George Koller/Bruce Cassidy/Diane Roblin] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-19 (Sunday) [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ... on November 19, 2019 at Wenona Lodge (Music Hosted by Karen Ng).

Felicity Williams and Friends - Arabesque

[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: Clutton/Ng/Heraclitus Akimbo

Artist: Rob Clutton/Karen Ng/Heraclitus Akimbo

Song: [set 1 excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), October 8, 2023.

Rob Clutton/Karen Ng/Heraclitus Akimbo - [set 1 excerpt]

A last-minute illness left a hole in this trio set planned by Rob Clutton (double bass) and Karen Ng (alto sax, clarinet), so a last-minute fill-in was secured, bringing some tapes and pedals and pushing things into some patches of blippery, jibbery abstactness.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Monday Roundup #147

Community notes:

• The AMBiENT PiNG's DRONE:KLUB returns to the Long & McQuade Clinic Hall on Thursday (November 9th). "Droners, Friends and Audience are all welcome for this free indoor event, where we explore community sound-weaving." More info at the facebook event.

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Concert announcements:

Josh Cole & Nick Fraser present (feat. Yves Charuest/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-14 (Tuesday). $10/pwyc. [FB event]

Ted Crosby Presents: Solos (feat. Alan Mackie / Justin Orok / Ted Crosby) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-16 (Thursday) [FB event]

Portage [George Koller/Bruce Cassidy/Diane Roblin] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-19 (Sunday) [FB event]

Exit Points 44 (feat. Yun Young Lee/Aaron Claudius/Donald Quan/Christine Duncan/None / Laura Chan/Pouya Hamidi/Emjay Wright/Margaret Maria/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups!) / Array Space 2023-11-24 (Friday). $20. [FB event]

Okavango African Orchestra [Migration album release celebration!] / The Redwood Theatre 2023-12-02 (Saturday). $20. [more info + tickets]

Amrita [Kayla Milmine & Anita Katakkar] / Tibet Street Records 2023-12-08 (Friday). $20. [FB event]

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

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Shows this week:

Track Could Bend #85 (feat. Ben Grossman / Ozone) / Wenona Lodge 2023-11-07 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Madeleine Ertel/Patrick O'Reilly/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-08 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Night in the Garden [autophysiopsychic interpretation of a special banner painted by Shezad Dawood, using the banner as a visual score] (feat. Adam Rudolph/Ralph Miles Jones/Alexis Marcelo) / Aga Khan Museum 2023-11-10 (Friday). $40 (regular), $36 (friends of Aga Khan Museum), $30 (students and seniors). Tickets include same-day Museum admission. A limited number of $20 rush tickets will be available on the day of the event. [more info]

Musica Universalis (feat. Mark Hundevad/Mike Gennaro/Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-10 (Friday). $10/pwyc.

Future Proof [Bea Labikova & Raphael Roter] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-11 (Saturday – early). $pwyc. [more info]

Off World [Sandro Perri/Andrew Zukerman/Nicole Rampersaud/Martin Arnold/Josh Cole] [album release!] (Nicole Rampersaud [album release!] / Playdate [Matthew Bailey & Carl Schilde]) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2023-11-11 (Saturday). $22.89. [FB event]

Eve Egoyan & Mauricio Pauly [Hopeful Monster album release!] / The Music Gallery 2023-11-11 (Saturday). $17.03. [FB event]

Jiants [LP release!] (Beams / Fjord Mustang) / Monarch Tavern 2023-11-11 (Saturday). $16, 19+. [FB event]

Toronto Improvisers Orchestra / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-12 (Sunday – noon)

Ayal Senior & Friends (feat. Ayal Senior/Kurt Newman / Michelle Breslin / Skyservant [Kevin Crump] / Nick Flanagan) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2023-11-12 (Sunday – 5 p.m. [later than usual start time!]) [FB event]

The music of Paul Motian (feat. Patrick Smith/Lowell Whitty/Dan Pitt) / Sellers and Newel 2023-11-12 (Sunday). $12 minimum donation. [more info]

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It happened this week...

• ...on November 8, 2017 at 918 Bathurst (OPEN: an evening of sound interactions).

Sandy Ewen with Brandon Valdivia - [last section]

• ...on November 9, 2017 at Monarch Tavern (Fundraiser Show for Mexico & Puerto Rico).

Rapport - My Goodbyes

[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: Carlie Howell

Artist: Carlie Howell

Song: Best Laid Plans

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), October 8, 2023.

Carlie Howell - Best Laid Plans

In an act of spontaneous generosity, Randi Helmers and Rob Clutton offered the remaining time at the end of their Sweet Session afternoon gig to double bassist Carlie Howell (who just happened to be in town and hanging out at The Tranzac) who closed out the afternoon with a three-song mini-set. A couple originals (including this first offering, recorded as a duo with guitarist Harley Card) was rounded out by a stirring Beverly Glenn-Copeland cover, which you can hear over on youtube:

Recording: Sweet Session

Artist: Sweet Session

Song: She Moved Through the Fair [traditional] + A Dog Barking at Night [from a poem by Alden Nowlan, arranged by Pete Johnston]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), October 8, 2023.

Sweet Session - She Moved Through the Fair

Sweet Session - A Dog Barking at Night

Originally slated as the debut of John Millard's new Hope Street trio, illness instead shifted things so that this set was performed by Rob Clutton and Randi Helmers' duo project. Having time to stretch out over two sets gave the pair time to reach past the musical settings of Shakespeare's sonnets that have been their main focus (although several were tackled here) to explore through some other jazzy and folky realms. A couple songs (including the first one presented here) reached back to the pair's 2004 duo album, while others glanced off Clutton's association with Drumheller and the pair's membership in Pete Johnston's Stanger Still project.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

Recording: destroya

Artist: destroya

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #84), October 3, 2023.

destroya - [excerpt]

This set from Roya Biazar involved some sonic experiments in real time — the joy, and goofiness, and vulnerability of asking "what happens if I do this?" and then finding out. Showing off nimble guitar skills (channelled through some trippy delay effects), there was also some subtle support from Notabandmate Marilyn Yogarajah on percussion.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday (November 7th) with sets from Ben Grossman and Ozone.]

Recording: Tomasz Krakowiak & Michelangelo Iaffaldano

Artist: Tomasz Krakowiak & Michelangelo Iaffaldano

Song: [5th piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #84), October 3, 2023.

Tomasz Krakowiak & Michelangelo Iaffaldano - [5th piece]

This duo pairing moved through some ethnomusicological mystery zones, exploring real folk forms from fake places. Krakowiak, known for his extra-quiet percussion work, was on cello here, while Iaffaldano alternated between accordion and guitar.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend is back at Wenona on Tuesday (November 7th) with sets from Ben Grossman and Ozone.]

Recording: Johanna Monk & Vanita Monk (and friends)

Artist: Johanna Monk & Vanita Monk / Vanita Monk/Del Stephen/Nilan Perera / Johanna Monk/Michelangelo Iaffaldano/Laura Gillis/Heraclitus Akimbo / Johanna Monk/Liz Lima/Christine Duncan/Michael Lynn/Vanita Monk

Songs: [excerpts from improvisations]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Living Room), September 30, 2023.

Johanna Monk & Vanita Monk - [excerpt]

Vanita Monk/Del Stephen/Nilan Perera - [excerpt]

Johanna Monk/Michelangelo Iaffaldano/Laura Gillis/Heraclitus Akimbo - [excerpt]

Johanna Monk/Liz Lima/Christine Duncan/Michael Lynn/Vanita Monk - [excerpt]

This special evening was convened by Liz Lima as a gathering to connect Johanna & Vanita Monk (visiting from Rotterdam) with local improvisers. Vanita (voice) and Johanna (soprano sax, clarinet) started off in duo format, transcending language and showing a deep connection from decades of musical co-exploration. From there, each took turns with the local musicians, coming from different angles to respond to their sounds.

You can check out some more from the evening over on youtube: