Category Archives: Event notes

Notes, photos, videos, comments about music events just past

Doc Pomus documentary

  May 10, 2012 - 11:04 pm | , ,
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UPDATE (May 13) Just came back from the first-ever screening of the documentary, A.K.A. Doc Pomus at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema as part of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. What a great film. It did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Doc’s life (as well as the music and the stories.  I found it really did prove a quote by Doc’s biographer, Alex Halberstadt that Doc “was literally the most beloved person I’d ever come across”. Very moving, and highly recommended. Not sure when or where you’ll be able to catch it. See www.akadocpomus.com. My older article … Continue reading →

Wazimbo at the Lula Lounge, March 8, 2012

  March 15, 2012 - 12:13 pm | , ,
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A terrific show and performance by Wazimbo, the great Mozambique Marrabenta singer last week. A tremendous voice, and energetic performer, he kept the dance floor going, and also brought out the Mozambique community to celebrate his first Canadian tour. He will be back in the area this summer, hitting some of the festivals. Watch for him… He was backed by some excellent Toronto musicians: Tich Maredza (rhythm guitar) Larry Lewis (lead guitar) Sam Petit (bass) Gordin Mapika (drums) Ruben Esguerra (congas) Thanks to Batuki Music Society for this rare to chance to hear a great artist from Mozambique. Two video … Continue reading →

A night of Zimbabwean rhythms: March 3, 2012

  March 8, 2012 - 5:17 pm | ,
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Last Saturday night, two excellent Toronto-based Zimbabwean bands played at Placebo Place on Bloor St. (A small, funky artist loft, located above an auto mechanic garage). Nhapitapi Mbira opened, followed by the Tich Maredza Band. For the final set, all 9 musicians played together. The audience had long since given up the cushions on the floor, and everyone was moving to the music. Band members: Nhapitapi Mbira: Mutamba (Moyo) Rainos: vocals, mbira, percussion & dance Memory Makuri: vocals, dance & percussion Evelyn Mukwedeya: mbira & percussion Pasi Gunguwo: vocals, mbira, percussion The Tich Maredza Band: Tichaona Maredza: vocals, guitar Larry … Continue reading →

Billy Joe Shaver: videos from Buffalo show, Dec 1

  December 9, 2011 - 4:37 am | ,
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I took a drive down the QEW last week to catch one of my favourite performers, the great singer and songrwriter from Waco, Texas, Billy Joe Shaver at Sportsman’s Tavern Billy’s music has always been about his life, and he has led a more than remarkable life. (www.to-music.ca/bjs.htm). A couple of videos from the night: His story about how he came up with one song: And a mix of some of the songs from the night:

Newport Folk & WOMAD festival: audio, video, photos online

  August 5, 2011 - 4:34 pm | ,
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Two major music festivals were held last weekend: The Newport Folk Festival and in England, WOMAD.  Some info, audio, video and photos from those events: NEWPORT Most concerts are archived online on the NPR website. Last night, I enjoyed Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s performance (with Pete Seeger guesting). One of a kind, and a true treasure. Ramblin’ Jack will be at Hugh’s Room on Sep. 24. A quote from Seeger at the Festival: “When kids get older, they realize that a lullaby is a propaganda song” WOMAD From The Guardian: a review and some photos (Featuring a couple of my favourites: … Continue reading →

Musical notes from here & there

  July 28, 2011 - 5:39 pm | , , ,
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A few random musical notes Khaira Arby: The singer from Mali made her first North American tour last fall. Here in Toronto, she sang at the Ashkenaz Festival over Labour Day weekend as a guest with the New York group Sway Machine (and also earlier that day live on air at CIUT FM).  I was impressed enough with her that I went to Montreal later that month to see her with her own band at the Club Balletou. A great performer (live and on her CD, Timbuktu Tarab), she’s now on her third trip to North America, but sadly, nobody … Continue reading →

High Def concert videos posted: videos.to-music.ca

  July 25, 2011 - 12:02 pm | ,
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I’ve created a new site to post some recent (and not so recent) HD concert videos I’ve taken. See www.videos.to-music.ca  Posted so far: Bombino @ Lula Lounge, Jul. 12 Thomas Mapfumo @ Lula Lounge, Jul. 11 Kabakuwo @ Lula Lounge, Jun. 30 Yemen Blues @ Luminato, Jun. 12 Freddie Gwala, Platform One & Tich Maredza, Great Hall, Apr. 16 (below) More to come. (Older, non-HD videos at www.youtube.to-music.ca)

Notes: Mapfumo, Bombino, Ragovoy, Congotronics &…

  July 21, 2011 - 3:42 pm | , , , ,
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Shows at the Lula last week As noted in another post, Thomas Mapfumo closed out Afrofest, but because some of his band members didn’t get visas for Canada, filled in with some local musicians (including guitarist Larry Lewis & Tich Maredza on bass).  Mapfumo wasn’t happy with the struggles to get the tightness he wanted, but those who were at both shows agreed that the whole band was much better with another day under their belts on the Monday night at the Lula, and the dance floor was busy. The next night, Bombino (Omara Moctar), the Tuareg guitarist/singer and his … Continue reading →

Afrofest replay: audio & video

  July 20, 2011 - 1:35 pm | ,
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A strange bout of flu made me miss my first Afrofest in years, but whether you were there or not, you can catch some of its performances. CIUT FM, as always, broadcast most of the two day festival, and has archived all the performances it broadcast. Listen here I talked to many people who were at Afrofest, and the one performance everybody raved about was the Canadian debut of South African Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo.  While I listened to their concert on CIUT, I missed out on the visual impact of their show, something everyone commented on. Fortunately, Peter Mykusz … Continue reading →