Saturday Concert of Music Inspired by Shakespeare

For children who attended Palmerston P.S. during recent years gone by, one of the beloved traditions was appearing in Shakespeare plays directed by area resident Judith Thompson.
For each play, original music was written by parents and performed by the child actors. I was involved with two of the productions and I can tell you that the music still resonates with me and I have some of it on my iPod. It's magnificent.
Some of the musicians involved in those school productions have organized a concert. Here's the scoop:
"Shakespeare in the City: Music from Palmerston PS's Shakespeare Productions!!!!
(King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, MacBeth, The Tempest)
Saturday, March 26 7:30 pm
Composer-saxophonist Daniel Rubinoff joins composer-theorist Benjamin Stein, singers of Metropolitan United Church and guest singers and instrumentalists for a cross-cultural jam session on the lyrics of Shakespeare, with music ranging from Restoration London to 21st-century Toronto.
Singers: Charles Davidson, Kirsten Fielding, Ariel Harwood-Jones, Robert Kinar, Benjamin Stein, Christina Stelmacovich, Richard Whittall, David Winegarden
Instrumentalists: Sara-Anne Churchill, spinet, portative organ; Daniel Rubinoff, saxophone; Benjamin Stein, theorbo, lute
Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E (Church and Queen Sts.), (416)363-0331 ext. 51
Admission $20"
Enjoy!
Vanessa

Music

I've had a wee bit of time to breathe lately and I've been surfing iTunes and YouTube for new songs for my iPod.

Remember the days of going to Sam's and pawing through vinyl? Still enjoy the CD equivalent at Sonic Boom once in awhile. It's like online book ordering vs. going to Book City... one is convenient but the other is much more sensual and immersive.

But I digress!

I have stumbled across some bands new to me that I really enjoy and I thought that I'd share some of them with you: The Decemberists, The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons and Mose Allison, just in case our tastes jibe.

I really like the fact that I don't have to rely on the radio to find out about these artists anymore. Puts the power in the proper hands.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Something Inspiring...

... for a chilly evening.
Enjoy!
Vanessa
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

GumboFunk'n Griot

This rolled into my inbox from an Annex resident:
"Don't Miss Out! Annex-based, TorontoJazzBuzz presents: GumboFunk ‘n Griot* MARDI GRAS comes to TORONTO – in a concert featuring traditional New Orleans music / & musicians, Grammy winners (from the Harry CONNICK Jr Orchestra - who have performed on the David
Letterman Show), a 2008 CBC Canada Reads nominee, a TORONTO STAR “Critics Choice”
event produce, & “Transcendent moments of soulfully swinging bacchanal” that will have YOU
dancing in YOUR seats!
Sign up to the TorontoJazzBuzz Facebook page, and receive FREE TJB concert downloads, and vastly reduced advance ticket discounts once the date & Annex venue have been chosen.
This event depends on word-of-mouth. Please tell your friends!
*Griot; n. custodian of the oral tradition and history of a people www.TorontoJazzBuzz.com brings YOU an upSwing to trump the economic downturn!"
So, if it interests you, join the Facebook page.
Cheers,
Vanessa