Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show Of 15 March

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

( Brought to you by Daytime Highs, Small Craft Warmings & Up-To-Diminish Headlines )

5-7 p.m. Fridays online http://www.radioregent.com/ and at tunein.com .  

Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

5:00 No Mandates 

* Kevin Breit ~ Dr. Lee Van Cleef ~ Johnny Goldtooth  & The Chevy Casanovas Juno Nominee 

* Alessia Cara feat.Curtis Smith ~ Growing Pains ( Locals Only Sound Remix ) ~ The Pains Of Growing Juno Nominee 

* Joe Jencks ~ Why Are The Guns Still Firing ? ~ The Forgotten (Recovered Treasures From The Pen Of Si Kahn) NEW DISK

* Ben Rogers ~ Wildfire ~ Wildfire NEW DISK

5:20 Emotional Origami

* Joe Bel ~ Dreams ~ Dreams NEW DISK

Brandi Carlile ~ Most Of All ~ By The Way, I Forgive You

* Vishten ~ Les Sirènes a Roméo ~ Horizons Juno Nominee 

* Pharis & Jason Romero ~ Salt & Powder ~ Sweet Old Religion Juno Nominee 
 Ellen McIlwaine 

* Oh Pep! ~ Only Everyone ~ Stadium Cake ~ @ The Baby G Tuesday 

5:40 Articulated Particulars

Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) ~ feat. NAS ~ The Game Of Love

* 13GO ~ Pointe Claire ~ Domestic Tranquility NEW DISK

* Adrian Miller ~ Elijah ~ Mother Earth 

* Karin Plato ~ Heart & Soul ~ This Could Be The One NEW DISK

Quincy Jones  (born March 14, 1933) ~ Take Five ~ Abstractions

6:00 Touch Luck

Rory Block ~ Jesus Is A Mighty Good Leader ~ Hard Luck Child @ Hugh's Room Live Sunday

* Ellen McIlwaine ~ He The Richmond ~ The Real Ellen McIlwaine Maple Blues BLUES WITH A FEELING Award Winner 2019

* Charlotte Day Wilson ~ Nothing New ~ Stone Woman Juno Nominee

Bruce Hornsby ~ What A Time ~ Harbor Lights 

6:20 Riveting Revelries

* Rant Maggie Rant ~ Paper Boats ~ Latitude ~ @ Hugh's Room Live Saturday 

Alison Krauss feat. The Cox Family ~ You Oughta Be Here With Me / I've Been A Long Time Leaving ~ King Of The Road A Tribute To Roger Miller 

* Chris Ronald ~ Dad Glad ~ Fragments ~ @ Sellers & Newel Saturday

* Rosie & The Riveters ~ Dancing Cause Of My Joy ~ Good Clean Fun ~ @ Hugh's Room Live Tuesday 19 March

James Taylor ~ Handy Man ~ Live ~ James Taylor Tribute: Sweet Baby James @ Hugh's Room tonight



6:40 Twists Of  Fade

* Kevin Breit ~ Crime Holler ~ Dr. Goldtooth & The Chevy Casanovas Juno Nominee / Toronto Music Listings 

* The Deep Dark Woods ~ The Winter Has Passed ~ Yarrow Juno Nominee

* Outside I'm A Giant ~ Love In A Cup ~ Undoubting Belief In The Good NEW DISK

* Fortunate Ones ~ Before You ~ Hold Fast 

FAI: Tanya Tagaq's Keynote Address and Twin Flames' Video Premiere of "Humans"

Tanya Tagaq. Photo by Paul Corby.

The cultural media is focusing attention this year on the arrival of what Jeremy Dutcher called the “Indigenous Renaissance” during his acceptance speech at the Polaris Music Prize, a polar vortex of critical and creative affirmation from the maligned hearts of Canada’s original proprietors. A recent convergence of art awards and think pieces has forced our nation of landlord-tenants to make direct ear and eye contact with a record harvest of native expression in literature, art, film and music. It draws power from the inspirational wellsprings of nature’s divine integrity, the importance of language retrieval and hyper-aware concerns for the tenuous tenacity of Reconciliation. Still hobbled by damages from the residential school tradition and current environmental policies, native artistry continues to erupt more and more noticeably, stubbornly, and with vital spontaneity, nationwide.

Last month, Folk Alliance International’s annual conference at Montréal’s Fairmont Hotel was ground zero for a gusher of advocacy attuned to acknowledging and developing First Nations consciousness in the creative arts. To effect a basis for unified thought, the inception of an Indigenous Music Summit included the presence of performers from worldwide Indigenous societies, a separate re-examination on Friday to organize and affirm learnings from the Summit, and a culminating symposium of real talk Saturday afternoon at a packed gathering in the spacious Joni Mitchell Room.

FAI artists in residence Twin Flames opened the meeting with the premiere screening of their commissioned video “Human,” a poetic black and white vision of fellowship created in partnership with UNESCO and in confluence with the United Nations’ designation of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. When the drums kicked in and the duo sang, “I am Human. I am People,” just about everyone’s soul went all a-flutter. To waves of applause that took a long time to subside, Jaaji and Chelsey June took to the stage after the screening to speak of our shared responsibility, to the youth especially, for reconnecting compassion and pride to a common human culture.

Their awake and aware tone prepared the audience for the electric presence of Tanya Tagaq, this year’s keynote speaker, who, despite a problematic cold, roused herself to read from her recent mythobiography, Split Tooth. Stopping to chant, growl, and squeal wordless indicators of the powers beyond language that her work channels, she created a turbulent and immediate bond with every ear in the room.

“This country exists,” she began, “through slavery and through genocide, and it’s up to all of us to take responsibility for that.”

Her theme was the value of authenticity – that each tradition respects common sources but also affirms the volition and choices of the artist, guaranteeing the freedom to express possible futures. Expropriation, accomplished by “media breaches and ownership breaches,” violates the authentic meanings of language, and “because you can put anything you think they’re saying on it,” truth becomes ambivalent when pseudo artists attempt to channel inspiration from beyond the limits of their natural talents just to try to “fill a void inside themselves.”

Tanya Tagaq. Photo by Leonard Poole.

“We will harvest the truth / We will collect the rent / This tapestry is being rewoven,” she read. Simultaneously sobering and intoxicating, the sensuality of her language bubbled and soared out of her, often convulsing her in her chair as it escaped.

“Something is lurking,” she murmured playfully as she read the verses, “It makes me want to hide in blankets and make bad choices.”

Among the possible futures that she envisions are an age of post-colonialism (“We’re not there yet”) and her dream of getting the Canadian government to reverse the residential schools’ effects by “putting an equal and opposite effort” into restoring lost traditions, educating youth in the ancient ways and teaching them back the languages they have lost. An intense standing ovation came rising up in waves.

To describe the immediate reaction to this address, “Wow” would be an understatement. Everyone there felt new horizons awakening as they walked away revived, conspiring and amazed.

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Women From Space Festival

Poster by Bea Labikova
​Four days of performances by the visionary Women of ​Toronto’s Creative Music, Improvisation and Jazz scenes.

---

March 9th, 2019

10pm @ ​Tranzac

10pm     Tova Kardonne, Kat Estacio and Kristian Podlacha

10.30pm   Diane Roblin & Heather Saumer

11pm  Zoë Alexis-Abrams, Neal Retke & William Davison

​ 11.30 Ashley Urquhart's Colour and Noise 

March 10, 2019
​
8pm at Arraymusic
​ co-presented with Somewhere There
​

8pm   Mira Martin-Gray, Heidi Chan & Kayla Milmine: OVERLEAF

8.30pm   Bea Labikova, Raphael Roter & Chris Adriaanse

9pm Dawne Carleton & Rob Clutton
​
9.30   Tania Gill & Rebecca Hennessy 

March 11, 2019

9pm @ Burdock

9pm   Allison Cameron & Joe Strutt: HAPPY APPLE

9.30pm  Laura Swankey

10pm   Prices Easy & New Chance
​
​ 10.30pm Christine Duncan, Laura Swankey & Patrick O'Reilly: THE PLASTIC BABIES

Playlist For Show Of 8 March with Allison Au and Chris Ronald

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

( Brought to you by Inter-Womanly Nations Day, Signal To Boys Radio and Femininfinity )

5-7 p.m. Fridays online http://www.radioregent.com/ and at tunein.com .  

Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

Guests: Allison Au and Chris Ronald

5:00 Quèbec Wise

* Annette ~ Don't Give Up / The Fifth Dimension ~ I Am  NEW DISK

* Moon Fruits ~ Francouer / Roustabout ~ Ste-Quequepart  NEW DISK

* Cynthia Tauro ~ Why ~ Moments NEW DISK

5:20 The Flying Trippies

Osunlade feat. Nadirah Shakoor ~ The Tree Of Life ~ The Yoruba Soul Mixes ~  @ Rebel Saturday

* Deborah Cox ~ Absolutely Not (Chanel Mix) ~ Female Anthems 


Steely Dan ~ Things I Miss The Most ~ Everything Must Go ~ Pretzel Logic @ The Linsmore tonight

Massive Attack ~ Mezzanine ~ Mezzanine ~ XXl Anniversary @ Sony Center Tuesday 12 March

5:40 Ladyo Radio

* Farnaz Ohadi & Mashregh Ensemble ~ Bird Dance ~ Bird Dance ~ @ Toronto Center For The Arts Saturday & Sunday for Tirgan Nouruz Festival.

* OKAN! ~ Quick Stop ~ Laberinto

* Heavyweights Brass Band ~ Single Ladies ~ Don't Bring Me Down ~@ Alchemy Food & Drink tonight

Huey Piano Smith & Gerri Hall ~ I Think You're Jivin' Me ~ Just Clownin' (More Of The Best) Ace Records 

6:00 Au Aboard!

* Allison Au ~ Looking Up / Interview / Red Herring ~ Wander Wonder NEW DISK ~ Juno Nominee / Jazz Album of the Year / Juno Awards Saturday March 17

Bjork ~ Come To Me (Black Dog Mix) ~ Debut: The Best Mixes ~ Bjork Party @ The Baby G Saturday 

6:20 Fragments Of The Imagination

* Chris Ronald ~ Rain City Blues / Mosquito / Interview ~ Fragments ~ On Tour In Ontario Schedule


6:40 When You're A Hammer Everything Looks Like A Nail

Miranda Lambert ~ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ~ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

* David McEathron ~ Luck ~ Abandoned Companions & The Abandoned Companions' Companion Piece ~ @ Burdock Saturday

Koenig / Hall / Idzerda  ~ First Taste Of Jack ~ Three Way Conversations / Toronto Music Listings

* Clela Errington ~ Angels On The Radio ~ More Love & Happiness ~ @ Tranzac Sunday 5:00

Joe Henry ~ Flesh And Blood ~ Tiny Voices

Folk Alliance International 2019 In Montreal ~ Part 1

Photo of John Kay and Buffy Ste.-Marie by Leonard Poole for Roots Music Canada
Click on pictures to enlarge

A freedom fire was rekindled in mid-Montreal two weeks ago with the arrival of the three thousand participants involved in the Folk Alliance International conference at the 2019 host venue, Montreal’s famous Fairmont Hotel. As Haiti exercised its right to riot and R. Kelly’s and Ryan Adam’s ears caught fire in a blaze of sexual scandal, the folk guard refreshed the law of musical morality, and renewed and realigned their allegiance to the “revolution of hope” that folk music originally set out to establish in the 1930’s.

For 30 years, Folk Alliance International has provided a chain to connect the widespread practitioners of folk and roots, music and dance. Every year, this community of performers, presenters, and exponents of traditionally-based songcraft recharges its solidarity with a meeting of minds, bodies and spirits. Corby was there with the Roots Music Canada crew (right) and the presiding hoofed ruminant mammal of the conference, Gordy the Moose.

In aid of regulating over-energetic tendencies this year, official showcases were presented in amplified meeting rooms from 4:30-8:30 p.m., a full two hours earlier than usual. Private showcases (i.e., in hotel rooms) began at 10:30 p.m., allowing for two hours downtime and detox.

 Official showcases had a tentative kick-off Wednesday night, 401 white-outs and grounded flights be damned. With a few absent friends, and a simultaneous, sequestered Indigenous Summit happening, there was still evidently no frost on those festive folks who had made it in.

Big draws like Catherine MacLellan (left) and Reuben and the Dark (right) were playing mostly to friends and peers at the outset, but by set’s end, sizeable numbers began to turn up. Reuben’s cover of “Bobcaygeon” met with a roaring ovation, and Shari Ulrich (below, with daughter Julia Graff) ended her set in top form before a packed house.

“We told them to leave the door open,” confided keyboardist Cindy Fairbank.

For the second round, The McDades (right below) flexed their compound roots with a frantically tickled penny whistle riding atop killer beats.

Official showcases ended with a summit -shaking performance by Dione Taylor and the Backsliderz (below). With soul power and gospel grace and a roaring bass from Jordan O’Connor at the foundation of the heftiest band in the hotel backing her all the way, Dione opened up her pipes on some formidable inspirational social justice testimony.

During the break before the beginning of the private showcases, areas around the bar and quiche stands became densely populated.

Then a flood of fans and fun seekers packed the elevators and headed to the higher floors to the poster-papered walls, seeking intimate contact with folk stars, Stellas and free poutine. This continued on, with memorably arresting performances by The Wanted, April Verch (right) , Cecile Doo-Kingue and hundreds of others until the lost hours in well-lit studios and abrupt single occupancy spaces – until memory waned and the pillows finally prevailed.  

Thursday’s roster of  roots rebels was helmed by a vibrant captain, John Kay of Toronto, whose band Steppenwolf initiated advances in the very fabric of sixties rock, arguably the most effective force for social change in the history of music until being overtaken by reggae and hip hop. His new music is pure unrestrained activism. Refusing to “let the heart turn away from this shameless age,” he followed his set of original blues with a 45-minute impromptu account of his preservation and education efforts on behalf of elephants and their failing ecosystems. The dozen fans in attendance included fellow disturber and Wednesday’s "Choice of The People" honoree, Buffy Sainte-Marie, whom he befriended fifty-odd years ago at The Purple Onion coffeehouse in Yorkville, during the glory years of rad folk.

Evidence that the vitality of that movement has remained potent was heard everywhere in the Fairmont. Audiences ranging from groups of three to hundreds were learning to sing along with the choruses of songs about over-fishing, Indigenous rights, and secular faith. Dave Gunning, (above) in a showcase as tightly packed as one of the hotel elevators, got the first standing ovation we’ve witnessed so far with his song “Sing it Louder,” urging, “Let’s all join hands and beat the drum.”

Addressing another aspect of music’s effectiveness at unification, two seminars engaged large groups of musicologists on the meaning and influence of international music, often pigeonholed by the industry with the execrable term World Music. Ranging in scope from field recordings to experimental cultural fusion adventures, the term is considered to be abusive to progressive global empathy because of its lack of specificity and the control of its access by marketing gatekeepers in the global north.

Advocacy and showcases by the Smithsonian Folkways label and a broad slate of presenters at the conference are attempting to set a new template for perception and appreciation of the unique traditional identities at work in music creation.

  I was personally overcome by an incomprehensible but powerful force emanating from three Maori women performing dance with looped percussion and vocals as Mama Mihirangi and the Mareikura (right).  Their mesmerizing but fractal flow and otherworldly theatrics invoked a rapturous level of being that only the purest music is able to conjure.

As one astute panelist remarked, “Why are we spending so much effort trying to define world music and folk music?  All the terms suck.  We can’t even define music!”

The revolution will not be translated.

Further reportage to come.The conference continued on through Sunday. Its ideas will continue through generations.
A Leverage For Mountains: Hallway Jam

Originally published at Roots Music Canada

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Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show Of 1 March

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

( Brought to you by Violin Islands, Cello Locations and Aerial Re-contrabasse )

5-7 p.m. Fridays online http://www.radioregent.com/ and at tunein.com .  

Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

5:00 Brief Flotations

* The Barr Brothers ~ Give The Devil Back His Heart ~ The Barr Brothers ~ @ Mod Club tonight and Saturday

Trad Attack! ~ Shimmer Gold ~ Kullakarva NEW DISK

* Logan McKillop ~ Days Of My Demise ~ Anchorless

Aurora ~ Queendom ~ Infections Of A Different Kind ~ @ Danforth Music Hall Saturday

5:20 Trans Planetary Flight Plan

STAV ~ I'm Good At What I Know ~ Horizon Lines 

Habib Koité & Bamada ~ Bitile ~ Ma Ya ~ @ Toronto Center For The Arts Tuesday 5 March

Kronos Quartet ~ Mai Nozipo ~ Released / Unreleased ~ @ Maison Symphonique, Montréal 16 March

5:45 Show Far Show Good

* LAL ~ 2 Feel Love ~ Corners ~ @ Burdock Sunday

* Wax Mannequin ~ People Can Change ~ Have A New Name ~ @ Burdock Sunday

* Rae Spoon ~ It's Not In My Body ~ bodiesofwater ~ @ Burdock Sunday

* Kristi Lane Sinclair ~ Blue Of Noon ~ Dark Matter ~ @ Burdock Sunday

* Joni Mitchell ~ Amelia Orchestral Version ~ Dreamland ~ Tribute To Joni Mitchell @ Hugh's Room Live Saturday

6:10 Escaped Convictions

* The Tiki Collective feat. Heather Luckheart & The Willows ~ Hypnotized ~ MUSE ~ @ Hugh's Room Live Tuesday 5 March

Roy Orbison ~ Dream Baby ~ Greatest Hits vol i & ii

* Rob Lutes ~ I Am The Blues ~ Walk In The Dark NEW DISK

* Maria Muldaur ~ That Same Old Obsession ~ Beautiful: A Tribute To Gordon Lightfoot (Borealis 2003)

* Simone Morris ~ Java Man ~ Setting Up ~ @ Alchemy Food & Drink Thursday 7 March NEW DISK

6:30 Newer Maneuvers

Taarka ~ Don't Go ~ Fading Mystery NEW DISK

* Andy Hillhouse ~ Summer Dusk ~ Passages NEW DISK

* Dave Gunning ~ Wish I Was Wrong ~ Up Against The Sky ~ @ Hugh's Room Live 31 March NEW DISK

Changui Majadero ~ El Vamos Pa'l Guaso / Guantanamera Changuisera / Nengon ~ Changui Majadero NEW DISK

* Tomato Tomato ~ The Best We'll Ever Know ~I Go Where You Go NEW DISK