North By East West

This is the weekly thing where I tell you what's coming up on Canada Live, or rather I pass it along. Every weeknight Canada Live on CBC Radio 2 brings you live concerts recorded all over Canada. Someone at Radio 2 passes the list on to me, and I pass it on to you.

Coming up this week: Justin Rutledge at the Calgary Folk Music Festival, Ron Sexmith at Massey Hall, a Martin Luther King tribute concert recorded in Halifax, Leif Vollebekk recorded live at the Black Sheep in and more. The full list goes...

Monday, February 8, 2010
concert 1: Justin Rutledge
recorded at the Calgary Folk Music Festival
Justin Rutledge charmed the crowd with his opening night set at the Calgary Folk Music Festival. The Toronto country-tinged singer performed songs from his 3 CDs with a top notch band including Bazil Donovan from Blue Rodeo on bass, Carroll Burke on pedal steel, Blake Manning on drums and David Baxter on guitar.
concert 2: Carrie Catherine
recorded at the Hayloft in Saskatoon
Carrie Catherine is one of Saskatchewan's most talented songwriters. In fact, last year Carrie was named a 2009 Kerrville New Folk winner. She also showcased at the International Folk Alliance in Memphis. This concert took place in a very unique venue. A few years back Carrie and her architect husband bought an old Safeway in a residential neighbourhood in Saskatoon. They've converted the store into a living and performance space they call 'The Hayloft', the perfect environment for this intimate house concert. Carrie was joined by four talented Saskatoon musicians: flute and mandolin player Sam Mitchell; Karrnell on fiddle; bass player Soren Nissen; and Juno award winning percussionist Hal Shrenk.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
concert 1: The Duhks
recorded at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg
After a huge American tour, The Duhks returned to their hometown to give a concert for their adoring fans. They played selections from their newest CD, "Fast Paced World", which was nominated for a Juno and a Western Canadian Music Award, plus some arrangements of some old favourites. The band's newest members are the brother-sister team of Sarah and Christian Dugas, and they add a special new sound to the mix.
concert 2: Zal Idrissa Sissokho
recorded at The Lion D'or in Montreal
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Zal Idrissa Sissokho descends from a long line of griots, musicians and storytellers who are the keepers of the oral tradition. When he was still a child he learned to play the kora (a traditional African 21 stringed harp), a skill passed down from generation to generation. As part of CBC Radio's Mundo Montreal series, Sissokho brings together Quebecois vocalists Carole Facal and Charles Dubé along with flautist Guy Pelletier, and percussionist Mohamed N'Diaye in a performance which blends Western melodies with African beats - all before a sell out crowd at The Lion D'or.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
concert 1: Ron Sexsmith
recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto
They say "the third time's a charm" and Ron Sexsmith proves this to be true. On his third career appearance headlining Massey Hall, Ron Sexsmith performs a great show. Gone are the first time jitters and the sophomore jinx. Ron is in control of the stage and in top form. He's backed by a stellar band that includes long time Ron Sexsmith band members - Don Kerr, Jason Mercer, Tim Bovaconti and Dave Matheson - who are backed in turn by a string and horn sextet that offers exciting new arrangements of some of Ron's favourites.

Thursday, February 11, 2010
concert 1: Martin Luther King Tribute Concert
recorded at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax
The Nova Scotia Mass Choir has been together since 1992. This multiracial/multicultural group performed at the 30th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington in Washington, D.C., and at the Southern Christian Leadership Convention in Dallas, Texas. So, who could be a better fit to lead a musical tribute to Dr. King's memory? The choir has been presenting a concert marking Dr. King's birthday for several years and this year CBC co-produced the show, which features some of the best gospel and R&B artists in Eastern Canada, as well as a fabulous band. The Nova Scotia Mass Choir have won two East Coast Music Awards and had two seasons on national television with the show 'Hallelujah'. Many of the guests on this show are award winners as well, and actress/vocalist Jackie Richardson is the host. Internationally acclaimed arranger, conductor, and pianist Woody Woods is the musical director for the show. So, join us for a sensational concert at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax and shout "Hallelujah!"

Friday, February 12, 2010 – part 2 of Next! – a ten-week series featuring Canada's up-and-coming musicians
concert 1: Trio Bembe, featuring Amber Epp
recorded at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg
Trio Bembe heats up the stage with Latin rhythms of Cuba, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Spain. As well they include a few originals penned by Amber Epp. Amber is one of the most exciting Latin/jazz vocalists in Winnipeg today. Only 22, she is a recent graduate of the University of Manitoba Jazz Program. But her talent belies her age. She's a seasoned perfomer with incredible vocal range and power. Joining her in Trio Bembe are Rodrigo Munoz on guitar and Scott Senior on percussion. As a trio, they make scintillating, graceful, danceable and infectious Latin magic. Amber is energetic, fearless, confident and takes the audience with her.
concert 2: Terra Hazelton
recorded at The Rex in Toronto
Toronto-based Terra Hazelton is truly an up-and-coming performer to watch. After years as the female singer in Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, she is now stepping out on her own with a great new CD called "Gimme Whatcha Got." It's a unique blend of old time pop tunes, jazz standards, Western swing and blues done up beautifully with Terra's trademark sound of sweet 1930s crooner mixed with raunchy blues belter. But on top of her great vocal talent she's also got the bubbly personality of a born entertainer. We hear all hear that plus her great band in this live set recorded at The Rex in Toronto as part of her CD release party. If Terra Hazelton doesn't become a star pretty soon, we'll eat our fedoras.

CBC Radio 1 broadcast, Fridays at 2:05 PM
Friday, February 12, 2010 on CBC Radio 1
concert 1: Martin Luther King Tribute Concert
recorded at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax
The Nova Scotia Mass Choir has been together since 1992. This multiracial/multicultural group performed at the 30th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington in Washington, D.C., and at the Southern Christian Leadership Convention in Dallas, Texas. So, who could be a better fit to lead a musical tribute to Dr. King's memory? The choir has been presenting a concert marking Dr. King's birthday for several years and this year CBC co-produced the show, which features some of the best gospel and R&B artists in Eastern Canada, as well as a fabulous band. The Nova Scotia Mass Choir have won two East Coast Music Awards and had two seasons on national television with the show 'Hallelujah'. Many of the guests on this show are award winners as well, and actress/vocalist Jackie Richardson is the host. Internationally acclaimed arranger, conductor, and pianist Woody Woods is the musical director for the show. So, join us for a sensational concert at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax and shout "Hallelujah!"

Canada Live podcast, released on Fridays
Friday, February 12, on the Canada Live podcast
Leif Vollebekk
recorded at The Black Sheep Inn (Le Mouton Noir), Wakefield, Quebec
Here's what Leif Vollebekk wrote when we asked what set-up he would have on the 29th: "At present, it is just me at the Black Sheep: electric guitar, violin, acoustic guitar and piano. I'm still most comfortable playing solo and I've almost always done so at the Sheep and the sound has been superb each time. So I think solo would be the best way to go anyhow...think Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall 1971. I think we can get it to sound that good." If it were someone else we would be saying, "Bwah!" but Leif's name is on everyone's lips around Ottawa. He's a charming talent with a voice like Patrick Watson, style like early Bob Dylan, and lyrics like Leonard Cohen. He re-released is debut full-length album, Inland (independent, 2009), on Nevado Records in January 2010.

Labels: Canada Live, CBC Radio 2, Justin Rutledge, Leif Vollebekk, Ron Sexsmith