Friday, April 25, 2025

Recording: LordAUK/A L M A/Jessica Deutsch

Artist: LordAUK/A L M A/Jessica Deutsch

Songs: Jack and the Beanstalk [excerpt] + What a Wonderful World [Louis Armstrong cover]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst's Sun Room (Ambient soundscapes for babies to adults), April 6, 2025.

LordAUK/A L M A/Jessica Deutsch - Jack and the Beanstalk [excerpt]

LordAUK-A L M A-Jessica Deutsch - What a Wonderful World

Who are concerts for? How are they organized to suit different audiences? Limitations of "concert infrastructure", probably more than limitations of imagination mean these questions aren't too often poked at — but this trio has been putting their minds to how to present music for the younger set, filling the floor with blankets and making a cozy zone for young ones and parents to soak in some Sunday afternoon sounds.

This experiment lead to some important observations — the youngest bebbers do well with the ambient sounds, and can float along with an unrushed drift, while the older toddlers, eager to move and grab the world, are more engaged by something exciting and interactive. There were gestures in both those directions here, with a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk having a few dramatic flourishes as well as some spacious unfurling between episodes. More shows to follow, I'm told, expanding on the lessons learned here, so keep an eye out.

Given the relaxed atmosphere at this show, these clips have a field recording quality to them with some foreground murmurings co-existing with the music, but that's okay too — I hear babies cry, I watch them grow / They'll learn much more / Than I'll ever know.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Recording: %%30%30

Artist: %%30%30

Song: 4th piece [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #103), April 1, 2025.

%%30%30 - 4th piece [excerpt]

This time out, I was happy to invite Ministry of Phonic Services to program the sets — all the better to lean back and relax a bit on the tenth anniversary of TCB's first show. A cheerful collaborator and collector of shared experiences, this solo turn was a last-minute pivot, but gave %%30%30 (a.k.a. MPS co-founder Colin C.) a chance to present some compositions (or "improvised scenarios") for his collection of percussive bricabrac. This crowd-pleasing set-closer was a demonstration of Bernoulli's principle, allowing various metal implements to buzz, rattle and scream on contact with dry ice.

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

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona on Tuesday, May 6th, with sets from Allison Cameron, Hex-A-Decimal, and Allemano/Driver/Klager.]

Recording: Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky

Artist: Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #103), April 1, 2025.

Maebh Clark & Lucas Dvorsky - [excerpt]

This time out, I was happy to invite Ministry of Phonic Services to program the sets — all the better to lean back and relax a bit on the tenth anniversary of TCB's first show. This set brought together Maebh Clark (a.k.a. Dame Cook) and Lucas Dvorsky (a.k.a. Woolworm, Ontario), a pair of laptopists performing together for the first time. There was the looming petential of noise freakouts exploding at any instant, but the pair explored a lot of different textures, building up from some mellower zones into contrasting digital debriscapes.

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

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona on Tuesday, May 6th, with sets from Allison Cameron, Hex-A-Decimal, and Allemano/Driver/Klager.]

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Contest: Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez

Labyrinth Ensemble with Âriâ Mohâfez

Saturday, May 3, 2025 @ Aga Khan Museum

Busy times continue for Labyrinth Ontario (and the Labyrinth Ensemble), with their ongoing small-scale gigs (including their regular Tranzac residency nights) leading once more to a large scale spectacular at the Aga Khan.

This spring, Labyrinth is bringing Âriâ Mohâfez to Toronto for his Canadian debut. "Mohâfez is an internationally renowned santur player passionate about preserving and performing traditional and contemporary Iranian dastgāh music. An expert performer, composer, ensemble leader, and teacher, Mohâfez will lead the 13 member Labyrinth Ensemble through two weeks of intense training. This meeting of sonic traditions and cultural backgrounds will produce unlimited possibilities for creation and collaboration."

Here's some beautiful, stripped-down sounds from Mohâfez — it's exciting to imagine what this could sound like with the full group on stage. (And if you follow their social media, you'll catch some realtime updates over the next couple weeks as things take shape.)

TICKETS + MORE INFO

Tickets are $40 ($36 for Friends of the museum, $30 for students and seniors) and are available through the museum's website. As of this writing, they are already at "limited availability" — like last time, this show will almost certainly sell out!

CONTEST

Thanks to Labyrinth, I have a pair of tickets to give away for this show! To enter, shoot me an email to mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com, with "contest" in the title and your full name in the body. I'll randomly draw a winner at noon on Tuesday, April 29th.

Monday, April 21, 2025

Monday Roundup #223

Community notes:

  • The Tranzac is offering rehearsal time in The Southern Cross Lounge and Living Room for $25/hour (11am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday). To inquire about availability, fill out the room rental request form or email rentals@tranzac.org.
  • From Venus Fest: "The Venus Fest Mentorship Program 2025 is here — and we couldn’t be more excited to kick off another season of connection, growth, and community.
    This program is all about supporting early-career artists and music workers who’ve faced barriers in the industry, with one-on-one mentorship, workshops, peer support and more!
    If you’ve been waiting for a sign to level up your music journey... this is it.
    Spots are limited, so check out all the details and apply now: venusfest.net"

Concert announcements:

laika berdey and the repeat offenders (Public Library / slack!) / Bampot 2025-05-02 (Friday – late, doors @ 10 p.m.). $15/PWYC, all-ages. [more info]

Project Nowhere x Departure (feat. Mother Tongues / Motherhood / Jane Inc.) / The Garrison 2025-05-08 (Thursday). $20 adv / $25 at the door, 19+. [FB event]

Above Top Secret [Record Release Show] (Sydanie) / The Cameron House (Back Room) 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $15, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Sub-Sessions #10 (feat. Pick A Piper / Essie Watts / Erik Masson / Blush) / BSMT 254 2025-05-15 (Thursday). $pwyc, $15 recommended. [FB event]

Forty on Friday [works by Martin Arnold, Jason Doell (world premiere), Tyshawn Sorey, and Joanna Bailie] (feat. Continuum Contemporary Music) / Hugh’s Room Live 2025-05-30 (Friday). $22.63/$19.44 senior/student/arts worker. [more info]

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


Shows this week:

Reduce / Reuse / Recycle ["the orchestra will use excerpts from iconic works in the classical canon as the inspiration for free-improvised pieces, this time accompanied by live improvised art from Tristan Crocker"] (feat. The New Toronto Symphony Orchestra [Zack Goldstein/Jared Berge/Ben Rositsan/Ilinca Stafie/Annie Elgie/Josh Sparks/Crescenzo DiCecco/Connor Crone/Danielle Sum]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-21 (Monday) [more info]

LAKE (Marker Starling / Bernice) / The Garrison 2025-04-22 (Tuesday). $24.11, 19+. [FB event]

No Octopus Dancing [Germaine Liu & Mark Zurawinski / Allison Cameron & Stephen Parkinson / Liu/Zurawinski/Cameron/Parkinson] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-22 (Tuesday) [more info]

Sarah Greene with Paul Kolinski & Michael Herring (Shawn Durkin) / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-23 (Wednesday). $20 minimum donation. [FB event]

Nick Storring [Mirante LP release celebration] (Khôra & Mas Aya) / Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory 2025-04-24 (Thursday). $22.63. [more info/tickets]

Karen Ng presents (feat. BLOOP! / Cole Schmidt’s Lettr Opnr) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-24 (Thursday) [more info]

All-Set! presents: Remembered in Exile - Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia album release (feat.Mole Mountain [Isla Craig/Pete Johnston/Mike Smith/Jake Oelrichs/Elise Boeur/Andrew Killawee]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-25 (Friday – early). [more info]

Exit Points #59 (feat. Doug Tielli/Lina Allemano/Victoria Miller/Matthew Ryals/Mehdi Rostami / Champagne James Robertson/Tia Alandra/Naomi Sky/Nick Flanagan/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-04-25 (Friday). $15 early bird / $20 adv / $25 door. [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Quintet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-25 (Friday). $pwyw. [FB event]

Change of Heart [In The Wreckage record release!] (Bonnie Trash / Andrew Dickson)/ The Sound Garage 2025-04-25&26 (Friday & Saturday). $35.42, 19+. [FB event]

Dan Pitt Trio [Dan Pitt/Alex Fournie/Nick Fraser] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-26 (Saturday – early). $15/pwyc. [m ore info]

Gloin (Ancient Greece / Dog Whistle) / The Dance Cave 2024-04-26 (Saturday). $28.19, 19+. [FB event]

Casper Skulls [Kit-Cat album release!] (Twist / Kurt Marble) / The Garrison 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $25.38, 19+. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Zach Rowden / Shadow Pattern / Kristina Guison) / Agenda Cafe + Bar 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

catl. / The Belle and the Beacon 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

Diar (دْيَار ) feat. iIIarra Ryad / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [FB event]

Pet Sounds Band [instrumental re-imagining of Pet Sounds, played in its entirety] [Christine Bougie/Dafydd Hughes/Andrew Downing/Julia Hambleton] / Hope United Church 2025-04-27 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20. [tickets/more info]

Sympathetic String Band Residency (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Isla Craig / Carl Didur) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-27 (Sunday – early) [FB event]

Eliza Niemi [Progress Bakery album release] (Advance Base) / The Garrison 2025-04-27 (Sunday). $25.38, 19+. [FB event]

Sound & Images Improvisations (feat. Nilan Perera & Mike Filipov) / PIX FILM Gallery 2025-04-27 (Sunday). $free or pwyc, $5 suggested, 19+. [more info]


Video hits:

  • Always a treat when there's something new from Shotgun Jimmie:

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Recording: Turntable Trio

Artist: Turntable Trio

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (The Music Gallery presents), March 31, 2025.

Turntable Trio - [excerpt]

This joint tour brought together Maria Chavez, Evicshen (aka Victoria Shen), and Mariam Rezaei — three noted figures in the realm of avant-turntablism. Don't try and situate this in the realm of hip-hop chicka-chicka-womp, this hewed toward advanced/abstract electroacoustic collage. Each of the artists brought their own style and signifiers, but on this night Shen was the most visceral crowd-pleaser, bringing some chaotic noise show vibes to the proceedings, including some accidental punkrock property damage with a bullwhip routine gone awry.

Recording: Kristina Guison

Artist: Kristina Guison

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Main Hall (The Music Gallery presents), March 31, 2025.

Kristina Guison - [2nd piece]

Kristina Guison's sculptural works often have conceptual or "installation-y" elements to them — and this staged performance definitely had those vibes, but with more of a straight-ahead musicality as well. Exploring a trio of applications for sheet metal, this set encompassed metronomic clonks and bow-sawing wails.

[Kristina Guison will be making some further explorations as part of Ministry of Phonic Services' show at Agenda Cafe + Bar on Saturday (April 26th).]

Friday, April 18, 2025

Recording: Nick Fraser's Special Topics

Artist: Nick Fraser's Special Topics

Song: Sketch #62

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Nick Fraser presents), March 25, 2025.

Nick Fraser's Special Topics - Sketch #62

This new-ish unit under the guidance of drummer Nick Fraser (presumably not brought together to disparage the regular topics of his other bands) sees him joined by frequent collaborator Josh Cole on double bass as well as a pair of younger horn players in Kae Murphy and Max Stover. Starting (as heard here) from the newest entry in his musical sketchbook and working through some other recent entries, there was lots of room for the performers to jab at the loose structures from different angles.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Recording: Labikova/Turcotte/Tielli/Clutton/Zurawinski

Artist: Bea Labikova/Kevin Turcotte/Doug Tielli/Rob Clutton/Mark Zurawinski

Song: The Four Seasons: Autumn [composer: Mira Martin-Gray]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Clue Note presents), March 25, 2025.

Bea Labikova/Kevin Turcotte/Doug Tielli/Rob Clutton/Mark Zurawinski - The Four Seasons: Autumn

This ensemble was originally constructed to essay Mira Martin-Gray's "Four Seasons", a suite with four movements introduced by haiku. In Martin-Gray's absence, the group presented the piece — and with the evening's trivia portion postponed, ended up performing for two sets, improvising a bit and trying out a few pieces by members Clutton and Tielli.

You can check out the full Four Seasons and some more from this night over on youtube:

Monday, April 14, 2025

Monday Roundup #222

Community notes:

  • This came through from the City's Music Office:

Are you an artist looking for space to work on your craft or an upcoming project? Apply to TO Live’s Making Space program!

Making Space is a TO Live program that offers the artistic community of Toronto affordable spaces for rehearsals, creative residencies, workshops, meetings/convenings, and research.

We know how important it is for artists to have access to spaces for creating, rehearsing, and even just dreaming. As stewards of three key civic theatres—St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Meridian Arts Centre, and Meridian Hall—TO Live is Making Space for artists in our venues.

Applications are being accepted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Space will be allocated based on requirements and availability. Submit your application at https://tolive.com/Making-Space.


Concert announcements:

Nick Storring [Mirante LP release celebration] (Khôra & Mas Aya) / Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory 2025-04-24 (Thursday). $22.63. [FB event]

Exit Points #59 (feat. Doug Tielli/Lina Allemano/Victoria Miller/Matthew Ryals/Mehdi Rostami / Champagne James Robertson/Tia Alandra/Naomi Sky/Nick Flanagan/Michael Palumbo / Switchemups) / Array Space 2025-04-25 (Friday). $15 early bird / $20 adv / $25 door. [FB event]

Ministry of Phonic Services presents (feat. Zach Rowden / Shadow Pattern / Kristina Guison) / Agenda Cafe + Bar 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

catl. / The Belle and the Beacon 2025-04-26 (Saturday). $pwyc. [more info]

Pet Sounds Band [instrumental re-imagining of Pet Sounds, played in its entirety] [Christine Bougie/Dafydd Hughes/Andrew Downing/Julia Hambleton] / Hope United Church 2025-04-27 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20. [tickets/more info]

Sympathetic String Band Residency (feat. Sympathetic String Band / Isla Craig / Carl Didur) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-27 (Sunday – early) [FB event]

CMC Presents (feat. The Cluttertones [Lina Allemano/Rob Clutton/Ryan Driver/Tim Posgate]) / Canadian Music Centre 2025-05-02 (Friday). $15 Advance / $20 at the door (CMC Members and Arts Workers: $12 Advance / $15 at the door; Students: $10 anytime). [more info]

Track Could Bend #104 (feat. Allison Cameron / Allemano/Driver/Klager / Hex-A-Decimal) / Wenona Lodge 2025-05-06 (Tuesday). $pwyc. [FB event]

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


Shows this week:

Music Hosted by Karen Ng (feat. Ben Rositsan / Caleb Klager/Karen Ng/Chris Pruden) / Wenona Lodge 2025-04-15 (Tuesday)

Cassiar Records presents (feat. John Oswald/Josh Cole/Rob Clutton/Nick Fraser) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-15 (Tuesday). $15/pwyc. [FB event]

Elastic Recordings presents (feat. Bryn Roberts Trio [Bryn Roberts/Dan Fortin/Fabio Ragnelli with special guests: Allison Au (April 17)/Kelly Jefferson (April 18)/Michael Davidson (April 19)]) / The Rex 2025-04-16–19 (Wednesday–Saturday). $16 & up. [FB event]

Makam Nights (feat. Rihab Azar & Jawad Azar) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $pwyc. [FB event]

More Noise Please! Presents: The Ecstasy Of Noise (feat. Ritual Purification / Fussing / Eric Baylies / Brian Ruryk & %%30%30 / Auto Feeder) / The No No Room at the Dock Ellis 2025-04-17 (Thursday) [FB event]

Avalon Tassonyi (Westelaken / Jo Passed) / The Baby G 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $24.11, 19+. [FB event]

Lunchmeat [album release show!] (Gold Watch / Pit Scum / Nour Hadidi) / Monarch Tavern 2025-04-17 (Thursday). $17.50, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Trés Bien Ensemble (Doc Pickles) / The Mezz 2025-04-18 (Friday) [FB event]

Ants in Pants [Brian Abbott & Germaine Liu] (Rob Clutton & Tania Gill) / Array Space 2025-04-18 (Friday) [more info]

Blunt Object [Brodie West/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Heather Saumer/Robin Jessome/Josh Bird/Tania Gill/Victor Bateman/Nico Dann] / The Rex 2025-04-19 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Elisa Thorn & Laura Swankey / Sellers and Newel 2025-04-19 (Saturday). $20 minimum donation. [more info]


It happened this week...

  • ...on April 14, 2017 at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge).

IC/JC/VC - [edited excerpt]

  • ...on April 16, 2017 at Array Space (Music Gallery's Departures Series).

Peter Evans Ensemble - unknown

[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.]

Friday, April 11, 2025

Recording: Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII

Artist: Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII

Song: Helium [excerpt]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), March 23, 2025.

Cosmic Homeostasis XXVII - Helium [excerpt]

Returning to the Southern Cross for teh first residency appearance of 2025, Cosmic Homeostasis was shifted from its traditional fifth-Sunday-of-the-month but still had a robust turnout to generate some drifting space-drones.

You can listen to the full session over on Bandcamp:

The ensemble for this performance consisted of:

  • Dan Friedman - Sonicware Liven XFM, Korg NTS-1, Hmong mouth organ, namer-of-things
  • Philip Hamilton - oscillators
  • %%30%30 - percussion
  • Jim Davis - bass sans fret, vox
  • Jonny Luke - cornet
  • Eric Cinnesealach - clarinet, recorders, whistles
  • Eliza Cinnesealach - clarinet, recorders, whistles
  • Rob Cruickshank - electronics
  • Sarah Peebles - shō
  • Del Stephen - radios, tapes, synthesizer, whistles
  • Scott M2 - Roland S-1
  • Paul Newman - tenor saxophone
  • Ian McPhedran - kalimba, pedals
  • Sterling McPhedran - kalimba, pedals
  • Elliott Chapin - flute
  • Patrick O'Reilly - piano (set 2 only)
  • Heraclitus Akimbo - Roland S-1, effects

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Recording: Nolan Hildebrand

Artist: Nolan Hildebrand

Song: portals II

Recorded at University of Toronto – Walter Hall (Nolan Hildebrand’s DMA Recital), March 11, 2015.

Nolan Hildebrand - portals II

You know it's not business as usual when you arrive for a DMA recital at the music school and greet your candidate as he's setting out a big jar of earplugs for the audience. Coordinating the proceedings in a Meshuggaht-shirt, Nolan Hildebrand's afternoon of music presumably had the requisite rigour required by his professors, but kept things wrapped in noise show aesthetics.

With an eight-channel speaker array set up around the auditorium, many of the pieces used spacialization effects quite nicely, moving from the interstitial audio collages to the performaces on stage. There was an inneresting variety to those as well, ranging from Hildebrand's own solo improvisations for modular synth (with some cool sound-triggered visualizations) to pieces for violin and MAX patch, to a percussion ensemble, to the all-star group (Colin Fisher, Patrick O'Reilly, Louis Pino) joining Hildebrand on this piece.

Monday, April 7, 2025

Monday Roundup #221

Concert announcements:

Ants in Pants [Brian Abbott & Germaine Liu] (Rob Clutton & Tania Gill) / Array Space 2025-04-18 (Friday) [more info]

Blunt Object [Brodie West/Ben Dietschi/Gordon Hyland/Jesse Malone/Teppei Kamei/Heather Saumer/Robin Jessome/Josh Bird/Tania Gill/Victor Bateman/Nico Dann] / The Rex 2025-04-19 (Saturday – 2 p.m.). $10/$15. [FB event]

Rachmaninoff – The All-Night Vigil (feat. The Tallis Choir) / St. Patrick's Church 2025-05-03 (Saturday). $30 General, $25 Seniors, $10 Students. [FB event]

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


Shows this week:

Chris Banks presents (feat. Chris Banks MRP Band [Chris Banks/Brodie West/Tom Richards/Michael Davidson/Nick Fraser]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-07 (Monday) [more info]

A Failed Entertainment (feat. Mack Longpré/Brodie West/Chris Pruden/Keon Narinesingh) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-08 (Tuesday) [more info]

Brodie West's Double Basses Quintet [Patrick O'Reilly/Rob Clutton/Josh Cole/Nick Fraser/Brodie West] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-09 (Wednesday – early)

Never Was [Brandon Davis/Bea Labikova/Racha Moukalled/Patrick O'Reilly/Adrian Russouw/Joe Sorbara] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-09 (Wednesday)

Tranzac Fundraiser IV (feat. Dorothea Paas Band / Raf Reza / C'est La Fête) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-10 (Thursday). $28.27, 19+. [more info/tickets]

Newman Guitars (feat. Kurt Newman / Harris Newman) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-10 (Thursday) [more info]

Audiopollination (feat. Zack Goldstein/Dave Nelson/Janel Jones / Jamie Eriksen/Mike Filippov/Saba Saneinejad / Bill Gilliam/Jonnie Bakan/Zoë Alexis-Abrams / Turtle Pleasure) / Array Space 2025-04-11 (Friday). $10 cash or card, livestream available. [FB event]

Musica Universalis (feat. Barnyard Drama [Christine Duncan/Jean Martin] with Colin Fisher) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2024-04-11 (Friday). $pwyc/suggested $20.

B.A. Johnston (Sons of Butcher / Thunderkok) / The Baby G 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $21.53, 19+. [FB event]

FACS (Noble Rot / Natural Light) / The Dance Cave 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $28.19, 19+. [FB event]

SaltChunkJerry [album release show/40th b-day party] (Man Made Hill / Greydini / Shaaane) / The Tranzac (Main Hall) 2025-04-12 (Saturday). $pwyc

Cool New Instruments Night #4 (feat. Alex Raja Ven / Jordanne Chan / Sara Constant / Astrolope / Cookie Brunel / Alejandro Franco Briones / Colby Richardson / Michael Palumbo) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2025-04-12 (Saturday) [more info]

Stranger Still [Pete Johnston/Mim Adams/Randi Helmers/Rob Clutton] / 918 Bathurst (Sun Room) 2025-04-13 (Sunday – 3 p.m.). $20 or PWYC

Art of Improv (feat. Christine Duncan & Eugene Martynec / Christine Duncan/Bill Gilliam/Eugene Martynec / Christine Duncan & The Element Choir) / Annette Studios 2025-04-13 (Sunday). $20/pwyc. [more info]


It happened this week...

  • ...on April 8, 2012 at The Garrison (Crosswires #7).

A. David MacKinnon - Looking for Ambrose Small

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

HVYWTR - Dirty Tricks

[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.]

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Recording: Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio

Artist: Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio

Songs: [two excerpts]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst (Women From Space Festival 2025 – Night 3), March 8, 2025.

Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio - [excerpt 1]

Myra Melford's Fire and Water Trio - [excerpt 2]

Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled up the, er, space at 918 Bathurst with joyous, colourful art and an enthusiastic community vibe. After big band blasts and movement in the round, the third and final night brought some top-tier sounds to the stage.

The festival closed with this trio (a distillation of the larger quintet of the same name), seeing pianist Myra Melford joined by Ingrid Laubrock (sax) and Lesley Mok (percussion). True to the group's moniker, there were some energetic, burning passages here was well as slower, deep-flowing conversations.

Recording: Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky

Artist: Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky

Song: Hockets for Two Flutes, arranged for voice [composer: Meara O’Reilley]

Recorded at 918 Bathurst (Women From Space Festival 2025 – Night 3), March 8, 2025.

Mingjia Chen + Linnea Sablosky - Hockets for Two Flutes, arranged for voice

Once more, the Women From Space Festival filled up the, er, space at 918 Bathurst with joyous, colourful art and an enthusiastic community vibe. After big band blasts and movement in the round, the third and final night brought some top-tier sounds to the stage.

Leading off the night with some nible vocal interactions, this was a homecoming show of sorts for Mingjia Chen, who was joined by Linnea Sablosky in essaying two suites of hockets by Meara O’Reilley — one was explicitly for two voices, while they opened with a series that abstracted the vocalization process to an extra remove by re-arranging flute duos. Very precise and technically deep stuff that still sounded fun and spontaneous throughout.