Migrations is a musical exploration of why people leave their homes to pursue life in a new land, and the reverberating impact it has on future generations. It is an acoustic tribute to the complex but universal human act of migration, weaving lush, mosaic-like dreamscapes with poignant, heartrending lyrics.
A suite of music conceptualized by the JUNO award winning saxophonist and composer Allison Au (pronounced “ow”), Migrations draws emotion and depth from Au’s family history of immigration to Canada: from Southern China and Malaysia on her father’s side and war-torn Poland and Israel on her mother’s side. A biracial descendant of migrants, Au’s compositional process is also informed by her personal experience of reconciling displacement, cultural identity, family legacy and the notion of home.“Migrations is one of the most important pieces of music I have created because it is so personal. It speaks to my identity as a Canadian born to immigrant parents and delves into subject matter that I previously attempted to articulate, but never found the project through which to do so.”
Au’s most ambitious compositional work to date, the suite marks the first time Au has featured both vocals and string quartet in her writing. Migrations features the musicians of the Allison Au Quartet - Todd Pentney (piano), Jon Maharaj (bass) and Fabio Ragnelli (drums) - alongside an expanded instrumentation that includes Michael Davidson (vibraphone), Aline Homzy (violin), Jeremy Potts (violin), Catherine Gray (viola), Amahl Arulanandam (cello) and guest vocalist Laila Biali.
As a testament to the sentiments of traumas and upheaval shared by migrants of different backgrounds and circumstances, the lyrics of Migrations feature the words of poets including Emma LaRocque, Ruth Padel, Rae Marie Taylor, Duncan Mercredi, Chief Dan George, Langston Hughes and Wanda Coleman.
Released October 27, 2023. Nominated for the Jazz Album Of The Year Juno 2024.
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