Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show of 19 April Good Friday with Gino Vannelli

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

( Brought to you by Broken Hurts, Hopeless Habits and The Good Old Suffer Time  )

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

Guest: Gino Vannelli

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

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

5:00 Resuming The Zoom

Foals ~ Afterglow ~ Total Life Forever ~ @ Rebel Monday 22 April

Busi Mhlongo ~ Iznziswa ~ Only The Poor Man Feel It

* Charlotte Cornfield ~ Wheels ~ The Shape Of Your Name ~ NEW DISK @ The Great Hall Tuesday-Thursday April 23-25

5:20 Redeemer & Blues

Levon Helm & Amy Helm ~ Calvary ~ Dirt Farmer ~ Amy Helm @ Danforth Music Hall Friday 10 May 

Michael Bloomfield ~ At The Cross ~ Analine

* The High Bar Gang ~ Hand In Hand With Jesus / Sinners You Better Get Ready ~ Lost & Undone

* Same Latitude As Rome ~ Bad Habits ~ Stay The Course NEW DISK






5:45 A Very Vannelli Millenium

* Gino Vannelli ~ Yet Something Beautiful / Interview / Wild Horses ( live ) / Older 'n' Wizer / I Just Want To Stop (live) / The Woman Upstairs ~ Wilderness Road NEW DISK ~ @ Bluma Appel Theatre Wednesday 24 April 

6:10  Zion Test

Mad Scientist feat. Massive Attack ~ Eternal Feedback ~ No Protection ~ @ Palais Royale Sunday 28 April, 3:30 pm, for Sunday Afternoon Social 

Alborosie ~ One Chord ~ Reggae Vibes: The Payback Edit

* The Memberz ~ Work It Out ~ Reggae Vibes: The Payback Edit ~ Junction City Music Hall Saturday for 420 Legalized

Sizzla (born 17 April 1976) feat. Shadow Man ~ It's Not Over ~ Burning Up 

6:30 Higher Fire

John Tavener ~ The Lamb ~ Byzantia

Jan Garbarek ~ Ave Maris Stella ~ Officium

* Sarah MacDougall ~ Bleeding On The Dance Floor (Nyg Remix)

* Joe Bowden & The Timeless Quartet ~ Take Five / Stolen Moments ~ Straight Up Groovin' ~ @ The Rex 9:45 Saturday / With Toronto Music Listings

*Joe Hall ~ How Deep Can You Dive? ~ Dementia Revox ~ Memorial to Joe Hall @ Tranzac Friday 17 May

W.S. Merwin  (September 30, 1927 – March 15, 2019) ~ The Last One ~ W.S. Merwin Reads His Poetry

Gino Vannelli Returns Along The Wilderness Road

For his twentieth album Canadian rock and soul icon has committed a set of new songs to his musical autobiography. He will be up in the Orbit today at 6:00 when we'll investigate the impulses that motivate his song-writing these days and talk about his upcoming Canadian dates:

April 24th @ Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto

April 26th @ Place des Arts, Montreal

April 27th @ Place des Arts, Montreal

Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show Of 5 April

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

( Brought to you by Infra-lofty Wingburn, Migratory Light Paths and Flock and Flow Music)

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

Guest: Marc Jordan

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

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

5:00  Rocket Up

* Max Jefferson ~ The Window ~ Two Circles NEW DISK

Spiritualized ~ Do It All  Over Again ~ Let It Come Down ~ @ Danforth Music Hall tonight

The Byrds ~ You Won't Have To Cry (Alternate Version) ~ Mr. Tambourine Man ~ Byrds Byrds Byrds @ Hugh's Room Live next Thursday 18 April

* Lido Pimienta ~Para Quererte ~ La Pompessa ~ @ MOCA tonight for We Are In A Non-Relationship Relationship

The English Beat featuring Ranking Roger (21 February 1963 – 26 March 2019) ~ Jackpot ~ I Just Can't Stop It

5:20 When The Night Has Burned

* Michele Mele ~Tick Tock ~ Laugh ~ @ The Old Mill tonight

Lionel Hampton ~ Flamenco Soul / Chet Baker ~ Moon & Sand ~ Jazz Cafe: Latin (Blue Bird)

* Kalya Ramu feat. Jacob Gorzhaltsan ~ She Drinks Alone ~ Living In A Dream NEW DISK ~ CD release @ Jazz Bistro Monday, 13 May

* Wesli ~ Proverb Granmoun ~ Rapadou Kreyol NEW DISK

5:50 Inside Both Sides

* Marc Jordan ~ Walk On The Wild Side / Interview / This (live) / I Saw Your Smile ~ 
Both Sides ~ NEW DISK 

Marc Jordan's TOUR DATES:

May 2 @ Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe, Ottawa, ON

May 4 @ Grand Theatre, Kingston, ON

May 5 @ Gayety Theatre, Collingwood, ON

May 6 @ Roxy Theatre, Owen Sound, ON

May 8 @ Market Hall, Peterborough, ON

May 9 @ River Run Centre, Guelph, ON

May 10 @ Regent Theatre, Oshawa, ON

6:20 Champion Bandolero 

Pinchers aka Delroy Thompson Born: April 12, 1965 (age 54 years) ~ Genie / No Borrow No Gun ~ King Jammy's Selector's Choice vol. 4

6:30 Blue Joys

* Fraser & Girard ~ Don't Blame It On Me ~ Fraser & Girard ~ @ Tranzac Sunday 5-7 p.m.

* Jay Aymar ~ Us Wild Dogs ~ Your Perfect Matador

* Coig ~ The Capable Wife ~ Ashlar ~ @ Hugh's Room Live 27 April NEW DISK

Levon & Amy Helm ~ Feeling Good ~ Dirt Farmer ~ A Tribute To Levon Helm @ Hugh's Room Live Sunday

Rahsaan Roland Kirk ~ Portrait Of Those Beautiful Ladies ~ The Case Of The 3 Sided Dream In Audio Color / Toronto Music Listings

* Mike Field ~ Road Trip ~ True Stories ~ Independent Music Award Nominee

Grails ~ Black Tar Prophecy ~ Split

Monster Songster Marc Jordan All Up In The Orbit This Friday at 6

Long time facilitator of relaxation, romance and reflection, Marc Jordan has a brand new disk/stream ~ Both Sides. It is a blend  of original compositions, gems from the Great American Songbook and some deeply personal Deep Cuts, all swathed in a dreamy sound design and the orchestrations of Lou Pomanti. The record will experience an all-round Orbital immersion this Friday as Marc joins me on a true radio occasion at 6:00. Radio Regent and Corby's Orbit are now available at iHeart Radio - over here: 
https://www.iheart.com/live/radio-regent-8119/. 
Come enjoy all the perspectives on new Canadian music.

Spring Predictions of Musical Predilections

Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show Of 5 April

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

( Brought to you by Cerulean Serenity, Azure Leisure and Robins Egg Repose )

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 New Disk Colony

* Elizabeth Shepherd ~ C`est Le Temps / Ainsi ~ Montréal ~ @ The Great Hall Tuesday 9 April for Seven Deadly Sins

  * Marc Jordan ~ People Get Ready ~ Both Sides NEW DISK ~ @ Hugh's Room Live Thursday 11 April at A Night For Sweet Jane and on Corby's Orbit next Friday 12 April

* Laura Repo ~ Happy Nights ~ This Is My Room NEW DISK ~ @ Dakota Tavern for CD Launch tonight 

* Charlotte Cornfield ~ Wheels ~ The Shape Of Your Name NEW DISK ~ @ Great Hall 23 - 25 April

* T. Nile ~ Sweet Talker ~ Beachfires NEW DISK

5:20 Sky Hooks

* Lennie Gallant feat. Jenn Grant  ~ Nothing Makes Sense ~ Time Travel ~ @ Hugh's Room Live Wednesday 10 April ECMA Award Nominee

Hannah Saunders and Ben Savage ~ Santa Fe Trail ~ Awake ~ @ Small World Music Center 3 May

* Jordan Klassen ~ Glory B ~ Javelin ~ @ Burdock Monday 8 April

Gomez ~ Girl Shaped Love Drug ~ How We Operate 

5:40 Uprooted Parachutes

* Mike Garrick & The One Nation Rebelz ~ Island In The Sun ~ @ Mount Pleasant Rose Saturday

* Lemon Bucket Orchestra ~ Heroes ~ If I Had The Strength @ The Great Hall tonight

* Tony McManus w, Beppe Gambetta ~ Slightly Gone Blind ~ @ Hugh's Room Live tonight

*Suzie Vinnick ~ Find Some Freedom ~ Shake The Love Around ~ @ St. Paul's United Church Saturday with Rick Fines for Acoustic Harvest

6:00 Temperate Mentalities

* Abigail Lapell ~ Shape Of A Mountain ~ Getaway NEW DISK ~ @ Tranzac Saturday for Early Birds

* Sarah Harmer ~ Late Bloomer ~ Oh Little Fire 

* Meaghan Blanchard ~ Broken Pieces ~ The Great Escape NEW DISK ECMA Award Nominee

* Karin Plato ~ Insomnia ~ This Could Be The One NEW DISK

6:20 Cumulative Nimbuses

T.S. Monk feat. Christian McBride ~ Bright Mississippi ~ Monk On Monk ~ A Tribute To Thelonious Monk @ Tranzac Saturday 10 p.m.

* Nikki Yanovsky ~Airmail Special ~ We All Love Ella 

* Patrice Légou ~ I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today ~ If It Ain't Love NEW DISK

Nelson Rengell ~ Let It Be ~ I've Got No Kick Against Modern Jazz

6:45 Vapor Tales

* Jacob Gorzhaltsan ~ Home / Jolly Man In A Can ~ Fly Softly ~ @ Burdock Tuesday 9 April with Toronto Music Listings

* Chris Bottomley ~ A Better Day Will Come ~ Bright Eye Day

The “Titans of Toronto Reggae” Show

Click on pictures to enlarge

In the late sixties, thanks to the addition of a provision to the Immigration Act by our Mr. Trudeau (senior), Jamaican-born nurses and domestics who had already emigrated to Toronto were able to invite their families to join them in Canada. Consequently, T.O. became the third largest Jamaican city in the world, with a flourishing family-based community, at first in the Bathurst Street area, before drifting up to its current matrix at Eglinton and Oakwood. The talented newcomers from that land of sunshine and singing formed new coalitions and traditions, and established a distinctive Toronto style of reggae music.

  

The city, through an organization called Culchaworks, issued a mayoral proclamation naming March 2 as Titans of Reggae Day, culminating with a glorious concert at Toronto’s Opera House showcasing many of those key innovators. On an extra-frigid Saturday night, there was a radiant heat pulsing in the hall, where, after a brief introduction by Councillor Mike Colle (right), a 16 piece band, directed by the young, gifted and prolific Andrew Craig (left) erupted into rhythm, on time and on the beam, opening with a love duet by Roy & Yvonne.(Below left)

 In brief pre-taped interviews projected on the backstage wall, each performer shared recollections of Toronto’s early reggae scene before hitting the stage. After coming to visit, staying in Canada became an irresistible option for all of them. The artists confided a broad number of reasons: a job or a musical opportunity, family, self-interest, “I didn’t need to join the army”, attraction “it was like a vortex, it just held me” and romance “I just couldn’t leave that girl”.

Amongst the familiar and trusted sidemen, some, such as Eddie Bullen and Carl Harvey, are almost as famous as the stars. They provided a consistently solid rebar-and-concrete foundation to the parade of Titans who arrived, one by one, to be greeted by our humble but gregarious host Michael Williams (right, introducing Carol Brown, who invited the audience to "Come Love Me"), sparking applause, cheers and waving phones. With one song each to perform, every singer exhibited engaging audience rapport, a tight connection to the band, and, often, remarkable dance prowess (not to mention extraordinary shoes).

 

 Emotions ran high as many of the Titans arrived to such a cacophony of praise that they had to drag up, rewind and start over. As highlight upon highlight accelerated the excitement, bassman Charles Sinclair,  ONiel “Drummy” Fuller (left) and The Titan Horns (right) doubled down on every rhythm, bringing focus to the character of each performer and adjusting perfectly to the twists and turns of the program as it unfolded.  

The Sattalites` Fergus Hambleton (above) stepped away from his alto horn duties to present a new original, Never Givin`Up On Love, with smooth accompaniment from the backing trio of Lorraine Scott, Karen Jewels and Laurel Tubman. As The T -Threes (left, above). They also helped Tanya Mullings capture hearts clear to the back of the hall with the classic ceiling-raiser Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. 

She took time to pay reverent tribute to the legendary Bernie Pitters, who was led to his keyboard at center stage to add extra juice to her song and several others over the course of the evening.

Liberty Silver, in a cloud of chiffon and nuclear jewellery radiated warmth, talent and humility, bringing Andrew Craig in for a turn on the bass as she rode a disco reggae groove. Willi Williams (right) dug in deep on Armagideon Time, his roots classic which, he announced, was created in Malton Ontario with the late great drummer Raffa Dean.

The Mystics trio burst onto the stage with such force that the audience turned into a sea of waving arms. 

The second set launched with Jason Wilson's arrangement of Jackie Mittoo’s Drum Song (left, with Carl Harvey and Charles Sinclair). Ruling the arena most splendidly, 

Nana McLean broughtthe night to a fine froth by ditching her platform shoes and churning up everyone with her uplifting joviality and exuberant singing.  Modern-style crowd pleasers, the smooth Steele and Glen Washington, above,(who interrupted his phenomenal singing career as a vital drummer on the T.O. scene in the nineties) gave the ladies something to swing about as the evening ascended toward a climax. 


Stranger Cole (right) provided a cultural showcase of moves and merriment, letting off one of the few “Rastafari!’s” of the evening. And then the King of Toronto reggae,

Leroy Sibbles, founder of The Heptones, and the number one studio bassist at Jamaica’s temple of reggae, Studio One, strode onto the stage and saddled up on Modelling Queen and Rock And Come On, two jewels of his repertoire that he wrote during his twenty year residency in the city.

At the end of the night all personnel were summoned back on deck to join in on an original Toronto tune, Messengers, by Jay Douglas and Christopher Butcher. “We are the messengers of peace and love. We are the children of the Most High”. The crowd would not let it go, chanting the chorus after every stop.

Photo by Jason Wilson

Reggae music has always been meant to uphold unity, and it was stirring to see so many artists participating with respect to this goal, bringing the synthesis of two countries’ cultures into one focus, no longer strangers in a strange land. As Nana McLean said, “When you check it out, the music was our home.”