Philippe Lauzier. A Pond in my Living Room. Exploring the sophisticated capacities of overdubbing, Montreal-based bass clarinettist Philippe Lauzier has created a multilayered program, which emphasizes not only the reedy tones but also the consolidated air currents emanating from his instrument. Like an action painter who works in[...] Read more

Recordings Ken Waxman Issue 128

Eyvind Kang / Jessika Kenney. Reverse Tree. Singer Jessika Kenney and viola player Eyvind Kang have released albums of a decidedly austere beauty. Their music has tinges of early medieval ritualistic song and of classical repertoire from the Middle East. Its calm pace turns its gaze inward, hovering over a dusky stillness, over[...] Read more

Recordings René van Peer Issue 128

Harris Eisenstadt Canada Day. On Parade in Parede; Harris Eisenstadt. Recent Developments. Having reached a comfortable maturity in his playing and composing, Toronto-born, Brooklyn-based percussionist Harris Eisenstadt isn’t averse to showcasing his talents in varied settings. With On Parade in Parede, the drummer has created a spirited post-bop session with his Canada Day[...] Read more

Recordings Ken Waxman Issue 128

Paul Dolden. Histoires d’histoires. Paul Dolden is a maximalist’s maximalist, combining literally hundreds of simultaneous acoustic tracks of standard orchestral instruments, augmented with rock drums and guitars and spiced with exotic instruments. So great is the attention paid to the minutest detail of each track that[...] Read more

Recordings Lawrence Joseph Issue 128

Dario Calderone. James Tenney Bass Works. In 1983, composer James Tenney posed the question: Why is a compound tone consisting of many harmonic partials perceived as a single tone? He apparently didn’t find a satisfactory answer, and surmised that the solution must reside in the listeners themselves. That is where the music is[...] Read more

Recordings René van Peer Issue 128

Suoni per il Popolo Festival: 17th Edition. With over 100 events across diverse musical categories, the Suoni per il Popolo Festival encompasses several thriving thematic series. While it is theoretically possible for fans of free improvisation, contemporary classical, noise, or alt-rock to attend a concert almost every evening and[...] Read more

Concerts and Events Lawrence Joseph

OBEY Convention X. “In New York, there would be twelve people here,” venerable Halifax percussionist and mentor Jerry Granelli declares. “Here we are in Halifax, and tons of people are coming out to hear weird music!”   OBEY is weird. Its programming is marked by an[...] Read more

Concerts and Events Daniel Glassman Issue 128

Festival de International Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, 33rd Edition. Festival de International Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV) has defined itself by diversity, crossing genres to present fresh, unexpected music, whether intimate or epic, and maintaining a tradition that touches on classical, pop, and jazz. The festival is a major event, mounting[...] Read more

Concerts and Events Stuart Broomer Issue 128

Leblanc / Vincente / Antunes / Ferreira Lopes. A Square Meal Portugal has a vibrant free-jazz scene with prolific record labels like Clean Feed, prominent festivals like Jazz Em Agosto, and a plethora of world-class performers. This CD brings together two such musicians from Lisbon, trumpeter Luís Vicente and double bassist Hugo Antunes, with[...] Read more

Recordings Lawrence Joseph

Lisa Cay Miller. 682/681 Recorded in one day-long session, this CD has Vancouver composer and pianist Lisa Cay Miller matching tones and techniques with ten Amsterdam-based improvisers in duo or trio configurations. Although the twenty-two [!] meetings confirm her ability and adaptability, the few extended tracks[...] Read more

Recordings Ken Waxman

Ensemble Paramirabo / Thin Edge New Music Collective. Raging Against the Machine. Toronto’s Thin Edge New Music Collective joins forces with Montreal’s Ensemble Paramirabo for this double-sextet album that mixes two modern classics with three new Canadian works inspired by them.   The more famous composers bookend the album. First up is Steve[...] Read more

Recordings Daniel Glassman