Recording: Colin Fisher & Mike Gennaro

Artist: Colin Fisher & Mike Gennaro

Song: [3rd piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Musica Universalis), September 9, 2022.

Colin Fisher & Mike Gennaro - [3rd piece]

Having been a fair few years since seeing this pair celebrating a mutual album release, it was a treat to see them jam out in celebration of the new Tactile Stories. As always, Genenaro brought energetic volume on the drumkit, which Fisher complemented on sax and guitar. The night closed with "a little light jazz" in quartet formation with gusts Andrew Furlong and Patrick Smith, who had opened up the evening.

You can also watch some footage from this set over on youtube:

Recording: Patrick Smith & Andrew Furlong

Artist: Patrick Smith & Andrew Furlong

Song: [end of 1st piece]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Musica Universalis), September 9, 2022.

Patrick Smith & Andrew Furlong - [end of 1st piece]

Mark Hundevad was originally supposed to open this album release celebration for Colin Fisher and Mike Gennaro, but when he couldn't make it, a couple of his bandmates were drafted in his stead. That also meant they were in the right headspace to join in for a closing quartet in Fisher and Gennaro's set — but on their own they were plenty interesting, with Smith offering tasty lines on flute and sax while Furlong provided some structure.

Recording: Janet MacPherson & Co.

Artist: Janet MacPherson & Co.

Song: Jock O'Hazeldean [traditional]

Recorded atThe Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Cosmic Country for Communists), September 8, 2022.

Janet MacPherson & Co. - Jock O'Hazeldean

While logistics make it difficult for Kurt Newman to pull together a Mermaids gig, he could certainly create the conditions for some Mermaids-adjacent music by pulling in vocalist Janet MacPherson (a truly under-appreciated gem) and her book of traditional British Isles tunes. Channeling some nimble-fingered folk-rock guitarists, Newman was joined by Chris Adriaanse on bass and Blacke Howard on percussion, with the group using the form of the songs as raw material to gently ramble through ad hoc arrangements.

Recording: Tania Gill & Victor Bateman

Artist: Tania Gill & Victor Bateman

Song: [end of 1st piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #71), September 6, 2022.

Tania Gill & Victor Bateman - [end of 1st piece]

Pianist Tania Gill and bassist Victor Bateman collaborate domestically but don't often play together in public, which made this duo set a special treat. Their long partnership was evident in the subliminal communication that saw them bouncing ideas off each other, moving from strimming, thumping abstractions and easing sideways towards songcraft as "I Can't Get Started" found its way into their conversation.

You can see some more of this set over in the TCB playlist on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona next week (Tuesday, October 4th) with a special appearance from Denmark's Jonas Olesen as well as awesome locals Kayla Milmine & Mike Gennaro and Stranger Still.]

Recording: Jelly Ear

Artist: Jelly Ear

Song: O Strength of Wisdom [composer: Hildegard von Bingen]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #71), September 6, 2022.

Jelly Ear - O Strength of Wisdom

Taking up the rebec as a pandemic downtime project, cellist Cory Harper-Latkovich has pressed it into action in this new medieval ensemble. Performing works by Machaut and others and performed with on-the-fly arrangements for a flexible lineup, this isn't overly beholden to "period" purity — and as the lilting minimal drones of this piece indicate, some of it sounds downright contemporary.

You can see some more of this set over in the TCB playlist on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back at Wenona next week (Tuesday, October 4th) with a special appearance from Denmark's Jonas Olesen as well as awesome locals Kayla Milmine & Mike Gennaro and Stranger Still.]

Monday Roundup #89

Contest reminder:

• There's still time to enter my FutureStops festival contest and win a pair of tickets to Friday night's show with Raven Chacon, Amina Claudine Myers, Sarah Svendsen and Rashaan Allwood at Roy Thomson Hall! The draw is tomorrow (Tuesday, September 27th) at noon. Click here for more details on the contest + info on the festival!

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Concert announcements:

Track Could Bend #72 (feat. Kayla Milmine/Mike Gennaro / Stranger Still [Mim Adams/Randi Helmers/Rob Clutton/Pete Johnston] / Jonas Olesen) / Wenona Lodge 2022-10-04 (Tuesday). $PWYC. [FB event]

Audiopollination (feat. Jessica Houghton/Kathryn Merriam / Patrick O’Reilly/Curtis Whittaker/Saba Saneinejad / Ryan Kinney/Mira Riselli / Bill Gilliam/Eugene Martynec/Bill McBirnie) / Array Space 2022-10-07 (Friday). $10 (cash or card) or PWYC. [FB event]

SynCirSundays (feat. Mike Hansen & Gary Barwin [where the angels once were: live sessions album release!] / Rob Clutton & Nilan Perera) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-10-09 (Sunday – early!) [FB event]

Imarhan / Revival 2022-10-15 (Saturday). $25. [FB event]

The Chills [Soft Bomb 30th Anniversary Tour] (Unwed Sailor) / Horseshoe Tavern 2022-10-18 (Tuesday). $ 41.34, 19+. [FB event]

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Shows this week:

Nick Fraser Presents (feat. Rob Clutton Trio) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-27 (Tuesday)

Erin Corbett (Animal Party / Output 1:1:1) / The Piston 2022-09-28 (Wednesday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]

Patrick Smith Presents: Brotzmann's Machine Gun (feat. Patrick Smith/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Colin Fisher/Mark Hundevad/Mike Gennaro/Harry Vetro/Mike DeiCont/Andrew Furlong) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

FutureStops Festival (feat. Kali Malone / Thomas Mellan / Kara-Lis Coverdale) / Cathedral of St James 2021-09-29 (Thursday). $32.84 – $145.29. [more info]

Scott Hardware (Koza) / The Baby G 2022-09-29 (Thursday). $13.85, 19+. [FB event]

FutureStops Festival (feat. Raven Chacon / Sarah Svendsen / Rashaan Allwood / Amina Claudine Myers) / Roy Thomson Hall 2021-09-30 (Friday). $50.25. [more info]

Aurochs [Pete Johnston/Mike Smith/Robin Buckley/Kayla Milmine/Chris Pruden] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-30 (Friday – early!)

Kellarissa (Laura Barrett) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2022-09-30 (Friday) [FB event]

The Ryan Driver Sextet / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-30 (Friday) [FB event]

FutureStops Festival (feat. Fuji|||||||||ta / Sandra Boss) / Roy Thomson Hall (lobby) 2021-10-01 (Saturday – 1 p.m.). $36.75. [more info]

FutureStops Festival (feat. Charlemagne Palestine / Matthew Larkin / Sarah Davachi) / Metropolitan United Church 2021-10-01 (Saturday). $32.84. [more info]

Heaven For Real [LP release!] (Sook-Yin Lee / Poolblood) / Monarch Tavern 2022-10-01 (Saturday). $15 advance, 19+. [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on September 28, 2016 at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Piano Party).

Doug Tielli and Tania Gill - La flûte de Pan

• ...on September 28, 2016 at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Wolf's Nacho Wednesdays).

Determinist? - [last section]

[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.]

Preview/Contest: FutureStops Festival

Thursday September 29 — Saturday, October 1, 2022

An unexpected blending of traditional instrumentation and contemporary composition, the FutureStops Festival is bringing some avant approaches to the pipe organ to town next week. With five concerts as well as several spin-off interviews and ancillary events, it's a chance to see some legends (like Amina Claudine Myers) plus musicians who have been covered in these pages (including Raven Chacon, Charlemagne Palestine, and Sarah Davachi) performing — quite literally! — on some bigger stages. It's also a chance to hear music in some impressive spaces, including at the Cathedral of St. James and Metropolitan United Church.

Here's what's gonna be happening at the festival:

• Kali Malone, Thomas Mellan, Kara-Lis Coverdale @ Cathedral of St James, Thursday September 29th, 7:30 p.m. Entitled "Dark Matter", thai night features works from three emerging and vital composers.
• Raven Chacon, Amina Claudine Myers, Sarah Svendsen, Rashaan Allwood @ Roy Thomson Hall, Friday, September 30th, 7:30 p.m. The centrepiece presentation of the festival, this ambitious and large-scale program features the Canadian premieres of Chacon's "Voiceless Mass" and Myers' "Improvisational Suite".
• FUJI||||||||||TA, Sandra Boss @ Roy Thomson Hall Lobby, Saturday, October 1st, 1:00 p.m. This Saturday matinée (concert and talk) has the intriguing title of "Hacking the Organ", with "two performers who built their own instruments to offer a unique sonic interpretation of the organ which can be activated in any space."
• Charlemagne Palestine, Matthew Larkin, Sarah Davachi @ Metropolitan United Church, Saturday, October 1st, 7:30 p.m. "Forces of Nature" is dedicated to exploring "new directions and possibilities for the organ" from a trio of eclectic and unique artists.

TICKETS + MORE INFO

You can find everything you'd want to know about the festival on their website, and ticket info is right here. (there's also a "virtual pass" for those who'd like to experience nearly all of the festival in the comfort of their own space.)

CONTEST

Thanks to the festival organizers, I have a pair of tickets to give away to the big Friday night show (that is, of course, the one with Raven Chacon, Amina Claudine Myers, Sarah Svendsen, Rashaan Allwood at Roy Thomson Hall).

To enter, shoot me an email to mechanicalforestsound@gmail.com, with "contest" in the title and your name in the body. (The winner will need to provide me with their first & last name, phone number and address.) I'll randomly draw a winner at noon on Tuesday, September 27th.

Recording: Labyrinth Ensemble

Artist: Labyrinth Ensemble

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

Labyrinth Ensemble - unknown

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

Closing out the night, the Labyrinth Ensemble's eight members stretched out impressively across the stage, even if that signified a slightly stripped-down version of their group. Playing some Arabic classical music, there was no poet or vocalist on hand this time 'round, leaving space for various members of the group to spotlight their instruments in solos. Rousing stuff to close out a full day in the square.

[Labyrinth will be one of the instigators of the "Big Family House Party" at this year's X Avant Festival, taking place on Saturday, October 15th.]

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

Recording: Joseph Shabason

Artist: Joseph Shabason

Song: 13-15

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

Joseph Shabason - 13-15

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

This was my first chance to catch Joseph Shabason (and a stageful of his excellent frequent collaborators) since the release of last year's The Fellowship. This piece from the album was expanded onstage into a nice, long Hassellriffic groove (and the centrepiece of the too-short set) with tasty spotlights for Thim Gill (guitar) and Hugh Marsh (violin).

Recording: BPD Trio

Artist: BPD Trio

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

BPD Trio - unknown

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

I wasn't familiar with Buffalo-based baritone saxophonist/improviser Steve Baczkowski, but I'd heard good things from folks in the know. This set saw him joined by Ravi Padmanabha (percussion) and Brian DeJesus (double bass) for some spiritual jazz explorations, moving from lowdown scrape'n'skronk to joyously Aylerish honk'n'groove.

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

Recording: Joyfultalk

Artist: Joyfultalk

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

Joyfultalk - unknown

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

My previous experiences with Jay Crocker's Joyfultalk involved two or three players sitting behind tables of electronics; when I heard rumors that this set would include appearances by Phil Melanson (drums), Josh Cole (double bass) and Karen Ng (alto sax), I suspected I would not be getting more of the same. And indeed Crocker (now playing guitar, albeit with a pedalboard of synthy and other expansionist sounds) seems to have made a lurch in the direction of Bitches Brew-styled jazzy exploration. A pleasing surprise, though it might not've been if I'd caught up with this year's Familiar Science, which openly confesses its inspiration from M-Base and harmelodic funk.

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

Recording: Marc Edwards & Colin Fisher

Artist: Marc Edwards & Colin Fisher

Song: [excerpt]

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

Marc Edwards & Colin Fisher - [excerpt]

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

Colin Fisher seems to be a fixture at these YDS shows, both with regular groups, as a sideman, and bringing out-of-town guests along to play. This set fell into the latter category, with Fisher being joined by legendary NYC free-jazz drummer Marc Edwards. "We're gonna rip for you," Fisher commented before the pair launched into it and 'nuff said.

Recording: The Nihilist Spasm Band

Artist: The Nihilist Spasm Band

Song: What About Me

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

The Nihilist Spasm Band - What About Me

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

Short a couple members from these London legends, a quartet of John Clement (baritone guitar), Aya Onishi (drums), Art Pratten (pratt-a-various), and John Boyle (kazoo, thumb piano) still managed to generate some clatter. Bill Exley's stentorian tones were most definitely missed, though John Boyle was game to declaim some of the classic texts.

Recording: The Dead Are Those Who Have Died

Artist: The Dead Are Those Who Have Died

Song: [last section]

Recorded at Yonge-Dundas Square (Intersection Festival – Day 3), September 3, 2022.

The Dead Are Those Who Have Died - [last section]

Returning after a couple pandemic hiatus years, the Intersection Festival made its way back to the concrete expanse of Yonge-Dundas Square, bringing abrasive and strange sounds to the wider public. Keeping to the main stage (except for Kristina Guison's circular sander art installation), this was a bit more of a stripped-down affair than years past, but the organizational caution meant things went off without a hitch. Even on a Labour Day weekend afternoon, downtown feels a little less hectic than it used to be, but it was nice to be outside and run into some familiar faces for the first time in so long.

The Festival often uses its mid-afternoon opening slots as a statement of intent, letting passers-by know that it may not be business-as-usual. In that vein, Ryan Clark's harsh noise solo project ground out some metal machine musics — although the vast, open spaces of the square may have rendered the music a bit less brain-rattling than hearing it bouncing off the walls of a small club.

Monday Roundup #88

Community notes:

• It's that time of year again! Submissions for Musicworks' Electronic Music Composition Contest are now open. "Compose and submit an experimental piece in any electronic-music genre—acousmatic, electroacoustic, glitch, soundscape, intelligent dance music (IDM), turntable art, or video music. The contest is open to entries from anywhere in the world and from artists at any stage of their careers. Pieces must be previously unpublished, i.e. not released on a commercially available recording at the time of submission." It costs $25 to enter, but that also gets you a one-year print subscription to Musicworks, so it's actually a bargain. Deadline is November 30, 2022, so start lining up your bleeps and bloops now. All the details can be found here.

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Concert announcements:

Patrick Smith Presents: Brotzmann's Machine Gun (feat. Patrick Smith/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Colin Fisher/Mark Hundevad/Mike Gennaro/Harry Vetro/Mike DeiCont/Andrew Furlong) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-28 (Wednesday) [FB event]

Erin Corbett (Animal Party / Output 1:1:1) / The Piston 2022-09-28 (Wednesday). $10 or PWYC. [FB event]

Kellarissa (Laura Barrett) / The Tranzac (Living Room) 2022-09-30 (Friday) [FB event]

X Avant XVII: Rebetika (feat. Andy Moor/Yannis Kyriakides / Quatuor Bozzini / M.I. Blue) / The Music Gallery 2022-10-12 (Wednesday). $17.03 [students, music gallery members, arts workers] / $22.20, all ages. [FB event]

X Avant XVII: namamahay (to dwell) [curated by kat estacio] (feat. installations, art and music by April Aliermo / Patrick Cruz / Kristina Guison / Victoria Fard-Young / Krēme Inakuchi / Megan Arnold / Standpartners) / The Music Gallery 2022-10-13 (Thursday). $11.35 [students, music gallery members, arts workers] / $17.03, all ages. [FB event]

X Avant XVII: Bijuriya (feat. Gabriel Dharmoo) / The Music Gallery 2022-10-14 (Friday). $11.35 [students, music gallery members, arts workers] / $17.03, all ages. [FB event]

X Avant XVII: Big Family House Party ["a family house party with multiple levels and rooms, free food, music at every corner, and art installations"] (feat. JER / NPNP Trio / Labyrinth Ontario / Rick Sacks) / The Music Gallery 2022-10-15 (Saturday). $11.35 [students, music gallery members, arts workers] / $17.03, all ages. [FB event]

catl. (Ichi-Bons) / Monarch Tavern 2022-11-19 (Saturday). $16.00, 19+. [FB event]

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Shows this week:

Karen Ng's Wenona Series (feat. Rob Clutton [solo] / Mark Ballyk/Colin Fisher/Karen Ng) / Wenona Lodge 2022-09-20 (Tuesday) [FB event]

Ornate Presents (feat. Public Library w/ Andrew Furlong / Josh Cole/Allison Cameron) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-20 (Tuesday)

Allison Cameron presents (feat. Jelly Ear [Cory Harper-Latkovich / Naomi McCaroll-Butler / Sara Constant]) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-21 (Wednesday – early!) [FB event]

Josh Cole presents (feat. Dun-Dun Band) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-21 (Wednesday). $PWYC. [FB event]

Paulapalooza (feat. Biblical / Mother Tongues / Rockford) / Monarch Tavern 2022-09-22 (Thursday). $17 advance, 19+. [FB event]

Karen Ng Presents (feat. LCON / Isla Craig) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-22 (Thursday)

Glass Orchestra and Friends [Eric Cadesky/Paul Hodge/Bill Parsons/Rick Sacks with Bevis Ng and Joyce To] / Array Space 2022-09-23 (Friday). $free/pwyc.

Zine Dream 13 Launch Party (feat. Masahiro Takahashi / Phèdre / Man Made Hill ) / MOCA Toronto 2022-09-23 (Friday). $15 for ticket / $20 w/ a drink. [FB event]

Brian Abbott's Tone Cathedral [live debut! Brian Abbott/Paul Newman/Naomi McCarroll-Butler/Manuel Morales/Andrew Furlong] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-23 (Friday) [FB event]

The Burning Hell (Jose Contreras) / The Baby G 2022-09-24 (Saturday). $20.05, 19+. [FB event]

Marker Starling (Dorothea Paas) / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-24 (Saturday) [FB event]

In Basements on Sundays #139 (feat. Sarah Greene / Paul Kolinski / Tania Gill) / Wenona Lodge 2022-09-25 (Sunday). $PWYC. [FB event]

Ancient Egypt [Holger Schoorl/Scott Thomson/Pete Johnston] / The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge) 2022-09-25 (Sunday) [FB event]

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It happened this week...

• ...on September 21, 2014 at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival).

Shotgun Jimmie - Too Many Flowers

• ...on September 25, 2014 at The Great Hall.

Jennifer Castle - Sparta

[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.]