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.]

1000 Songs: John Leeson

1000 Songs: John Leeson

I have now posted one thousand songs from my live recordings to this blog. My introductory thoughts on that landmark can be found here, but long story short: I asked some folks to pick some of their favourites to help me celebrate.

Today's list is from John Leeson, who documents shows at T.O. Music Pix, which also includes his well-curated concert listings, keeping track of a lot of shows that you don't see elsewhere — essential stuff. (Twitter: @TOMusicPix)

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My main musical love is African music. I see Joe at most of the good African music shows, and pretty much all the great ones, so I've picked out a few African tunes from his recordings. Music from 5 countries - 3 of them, local bands.

Mali: Bassekou Koyate & Ngoni Ba - Saro

The West African ngoni is one of my favourite instruments, but one that's rarely seen here, even in African touring bands. But Bassekou — one of the great ngoni masters — leads a whole ngoni band! So it's no surprise, this is also one of my favourite acts. His wife, Ami Sacko, is also a terrific singer.

Niger: Bombino - Imuhar

The Touaregs (Saharan nomads) are now winning Grammys, and getting press coverage in The Star (for the growing rebellion in Mali). New guitar bands have been popping up in the wake of Tinariwen for a few years now, but this guitarist from Niger has his own sound — and a lot of energy. His Lula gig last year was one of the highlights of the year for me. He's back again April 12.

Ethiopia: The Ethiopia Perspective Collective [a.k.a. Abyssinian Roots] - Musicawi Silt

I'm a huge fan of classic Ethiopian sounds. I was torn between Joe's recording from this show, or songs from the great singer Mahmoud Ahmed, or the concert featuring sax legend Getachew Mekuria and The Ex. I picked this one because the concert encompassed a huge range of Ethiopian music, featuring a raft of great local Ethiopian music. Most of the show is available on CBC Concerts on Demand... but it may be remounted in June. Watch for it.

Zimbabwe: Masaisai - Masaisai

A local, mostly Zimbabwean group, built around the mbira, that sadly isn't around anymore; I thought that they could have become a nice club draw. They put on an enthusiastic, high-energy show ("bright", Joe called their music). But most of their members are still in town, playing in two different groups: Tich Maredza Band & Nhapitapi Mbira. I also picked them for the playlist because I saw both those bands at the same show a few days ago, and because I'll be in Zimbabwe this summer.

Ghana: Afrafranto - Juliana

A small band made up of the top Ghanaian musicians in Toronto (most are also part of the African Guitar Summit), they play some sweet Palm Wine sounds, led by Pa Joe's great and tasteful guitar licks. For this show, a benefit for a Ghana-based musicologist, they added a number of guests to fill out the sound. But, as Joe has written, they're always "sharp as a tack and relentlessly groovy."

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You can always click on the tags below to read more about the shows these songs came from. Have there been four or five songs posted here that made an impact on you? If you'd like to get in on the action and make a list, feel free to send me an email: mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com.

Recording: Bassekou Koyate & Ngoni Ba

Artist: Bassekou Koyate & Ngoni Ba

Song: Saro

Recorded at The Great Hall, November 27, 2011.

Bassekou Koyate & Ngoni Ba - Saro

Full review to follow. As expected, a jaw-dropping display of virtuoso musicality from Kouyate and his band. On the last night of a long North American tour, the band still had enough in the tank to delight the crowd.

Recording: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba

Artist: Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

Song: Ngoni Fola

Recorded at Luminato (Queen's Park), June 12, 2010.

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Ngoni Fola

My notes for this set can be found here.

Festival: An African Prom

An African Prom (feat. Béla Fleck and The Africa Project featuring Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba / Tony Allen)

Queen's Park (Luminato Festival). Saturday, June 12, 2010.

The time gap between the afternoon and evening programmes was theoretically shrunk by the rain-induced late starting time for the afternoon acts. Doing what they could to keep things on schedule, the organizers scotched an appearance by local afrobeat-funksters Mr. Something Something. There were still behind-the-scenes problems a-plenty, though, as the soundcheck for the later acts stretched out to marathon lengths. That delay, added to incomprehensibly cold unseasonable weather on an entirely grey evening, meant for a bit of a dead zone between things. Luckily, though, I was joined by H., who wanted to see something both dance-worthy and not-indie-rock-ish. So the company filled in the time nicely, the disheartening cold tempered by promises of the banjo yet to come.

Once we eventually made our way over to the stage, there was still a lot of distressed sound-checking and gear-wrangling going on as the crowd began to get a bit eager for things to get going. As with the afternoon, the weather presumably cut into what would have been a more robust turnout, but the net effect was a pleasantly full-but-uncrowded area in front of the stage with a little bit of elbow room intact. After a "support the arts" talking-to from a city councillor, the music finally got underway with a wah-wah guitar, that beat, a fanfare of horns and then a mess of rhythm guitars. Ah.

Tony Allen had an eight-piece band behind him. Or beside him, as the case would be — he was perched over stage right. Not up front like most "name" performers, but not stashed at the back like most drummers, either. Just like his drumming, the seventy-year-old Nigerian master (most famed for his pioneering work with Fela's Africa 70) was a presence, but an unforced one. Allen's expression was semi-inscrutable throughout — he looked mildly grumpy at the late start time and compressed set length, but never griped. Didn't say much, either, besides noting that with so little time, he wasn't going to spend much of it talking.

The set led off with "Elewon po", the closer from his recent Secret Agent album. With Fela-esque political lyrics ("Too many prisoners / Too many prisoners / Too many, far too many") this had the feel of classic afrobeat and a helluva funky groove. Allen sang some deadpan lead vocals, but ceded most of the singing to the rest of his ensemble. He was certainly something to watch, in a "how does he do it?" sense. His drumming style is so economical, relaxed and unhurried and his gestures completely unforced. So much so that you might not pick up on how good it is.

Despite the delays, the band was never happy with the sound on stage during the set. Fortunately, they were in top form regardless and it all sounded pretty good in the crowd, and it was, more or less, nonstop dancing fun. There was a delicate mix of a full pot not quite simmering over, where suddenly keyboards would bubble up to the forefront, then the horns, boosting the whole thing up but without upsetting the unified groove. I couldn't pick out too many of the songs, but that seems a bit besides the point. I did dig the punchy "Ijo", with lead vox by Orobiyi Adunni, who wrote the lyrics as well.

All told, with the stage manager signalling for the band to wrap things up we got just under fifty minutes of music, but there wasn't a second wasted. More would have been welcome, but it might also have been exhausting — suffice it to say after this set I was not feeling cold any more. This was apparently Allen's first time in T.O. as a leader and a return trip would certainly be welcomed.

Listen to a track from this set here.

There was a quicker turnover after that, but by now it was past ten, and I was feeling antsy as Béla Fleck took the stage, worried about that eleven o'clock curfew that tends to stop T.O. outdoor events dead in their tracks. Fleck, widely considered to be one of the world's most proficient banjo players and known for his work with his group The Flecktones, started off playing solo. Seated on a stool, he unspooled a simple tune that quickly got dexterously complicated.

Everything he played in his solo set was sheer virtuoso stuff, including one track that sped up to a dizzyingly unimaginable pace, like a clockwork toy amped up nearly to the point of breaking a spring, but knowing what was yet to come I must admit after the first couple songs I was looking at my watch and worrying about how everything was going to get fit in before the curfew. Perhaps most interesting was when Fleck blew past the inherent bluegrassiness of his métier to play a song that he learned on one of his trips to Africa, where he'd ventured to learn about the origins of his instrument, as documented in the film Throw Down Your Heart.

Listen to one of Fleck's solo selections here.

After four tunes, Fleck gave way to Malian master Bassekou Kouyate — as much of a virtuoso of the ngoni as Fleck is of the banjo — who took the stage playing solo, as if returning tribute to Fleck. Meanwhile the members of his band Ngoni Ba took the stage and quickly kicked into a full-fledged groove. There were some sound problems at the outset, and once again, the bandmembers weren't entirely happy with the monitors, but this was another fabulous set.

The band was powered by four ngonis (including a large ngoni bass) plus percussion and the vocals of his wife, Ami Sacko. The music was powered by the interweaving ngoni lines, with runs of notes whirling out at blinding speed. While introducing "Ngoni Fola", Kouyate — who radiated a sort of serene beneficence throughout — was delighted to learn he could get away with speaking to the crowd in French¹. The song turned out to be an eleven-minute tour de force, about the same length as the following barnburner, which included a chance for each of the players to step forward and solo as well as for some showy co-ordinated dance moves. And, in case it hadn't been mentioned, it was all as groovy as heck.

Béla Fleck then returned, adding one more set of strings to the interlocking lines weaving around each other on stage. The American banjo meshed well with its older cousins, Fleck watching the ngonis carefully and generally playing as another part of the ensemble until called upon to solo. Cue another storming number before the band brought it down for an ancient griot number, the mournful song giving everyone a chance to catch their breath. At first, the slower pace felt like a bit of a deflation after the previous cookers, but it turned out to be as engaging as the rest of the set with Sacko's showstopping vocals over the stately ngoni line. After introducing the band, the set then closed out with "Musow (For Our Women)", wrapping up at 11:30, well past curfew, but so very worth it. Rather a fabulous show, weather notwithstanding, so kudos to Luminato for putting a world-class concert like this for free.

Listen to a track from this set here.

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¹ Besides the large contingent of French speakers from Mali and neighbouring countries in attendance, Torontonians tend to play along with a sort of noblesse oblige when visitors act as if this is truly a bilingual country.