T.O. Music Pix Newsletter
#122: October 26, 2010 Click here for information on
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This newsletter is posted the morning after Election Night...
and fortunately -- despite appearances -- there are always things to
celebrate.
In this issue:
1. Celebrate José Ortega's Award tonight
at the Lula
2. Subway Musician night, Oct. 27
3. Afrocubism concerts coming up
4. Clap or cry: a video choice
And of course, check the
event listings for other upcoming
shows & events
1. Celebrate José
Ortega's Toronto Arts Foundation Award: Tuesday (Oct 26) at the Lula (where else??)
Now, here is truly something
to celebrate, while the city still honours those who contribute
to the arts. José is really one of those people who make
Toronto a great city.
As mentioned in the
previous newsletter,
José Ortega, owner (with José
Neives) of the Lula Lounge was recently honoured with the Roy
Thomson Award of Recognition from the Toronto Arts Foundation.
The award was created to recognize "creative, performing,
administrative, volunteer or philanthropic contributions to
Toronto’s musical life". Certainly José richly deserves the
recognition for the work he has done at and through the Lula
Lounge to promote music from around the world, and to bring
musicians from every corner of the world, Canada -- and Toronto
-- to a great music club. He also works to bring that music to a
wider community in Toronto. See
this page for more about José and his award, and this
Toronto Star article.
José plans to use the $10,000
prize José intends to use to make a documentary about the Lula
"and the artists who make up Toronto’s vibrant world and latin
music scenes."
The Lula is inviting its
friends and supporters to "toast José, the
extensive Lula community, the other nominees and award winners,
the Toronto Arts Foundation and of course the very generous
donors of the prize – Roy Thomson Hall.
Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Lula
Lounge, 6-8pm. Details
here.
José Ortega with his award (Photo from Lula website)
2. SUBWAY MUSICIANS NIGHT
Wednesday (Oct 27) at the Tranzac
Club
One of the things to celebrate
about Toronto's subway system is the great music we can hear in
the stations. If you have enjoyed some of the varied music
performed by the many subway buskers, you might want to check
out this evening of live music organized by Toronto's subway
musicians, welcoming past & present musicians for a night of
socializing and fun. Open to all. Hosted by African Guitar
Summit/Tikisa member -- and long-time subway busker
Adam Solomon. 7-9pm. 292
Brunswick at Bloor (between Bathurst & Spadina)
3. AFROCUBISM CONCERTS: Worth the trip
I've posted a few notes about this project and
its upcoming concerts over the last while, but having spoken to a
number of people recently, I've realized that a lot of people
don't know what a great performance opportunity is coming up
next month. Not in Toronto, unfortunately, but in Montreal. Fans
of West African/Malian music will surely realize it's worth the
trip...
This will be a concert featuring a band that
includes some of the greatest musicians from Mali: guitarist
Djelimady Tounkara (the one time I saw him live, 8 years ago with the
Super Rail Band, remains one of my most memorable live
performances), ngoni player Bassekou Kouyaté (if you saw
him this summer at Luminato, you know what a great performer &
musician he is!), kora master Toumani Diabaté, balafon plaer Lassan Dioubaté, plus
one of Mali's greatest singers, Kassé Mady Diabaté.... along
with Eliades Ochoa, the great guitarist from the Buena Vista
Social Club, and other Cuban musicians.
For those who haven't heard the story, the
account of this project does go back to the origins of the BVSC,
as that project's original intention was to record Ochoa & other
Cubans with Djelimady Tounkara & Bassekou Kouyaté. When the
Malians encountered passport problems and couldn't travel to
Cuba, what became the Buena Vista Social Club project was the
alternative.
Now the above mentioned musicians have
recorded a CD, AfroCubism
and are touring North America.
Here's a
video
about them (also linked in the last newsletter)
4. CLAP OR CRY: Your video choice
On the morning
after the election, Torontonians are doing one or the other.
If only to celebrate the Toronto Arts
Foundation Award, and the work of José and the Lula, "Clap
Your Hands" with
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band.
They're only a 3 person band, but indeed
make a big damn sound, and they'll be bringing it to the El
Mocambo on Nov. 19. (Likely without the dancers!). You can
hear the band live in the studio with host Lopa Kothari on
BBC Radio 3's
"World on 3" show, available via podcast until this
Saturday (Oct. 30).
