He first made a name for himself as an actor on the small screen, notably in the crime series CSI: Miami and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but also in the music series Mash. In 2014, he released his self-produced debut album. Two years later, he signed a contract with S-Curve Records, and went on to become a serious hit, placing his next album at the top of the Billboard jazz charts. Since then, things have been going well for Mr. Odom, who comes to L’Astral with songs from his most recent recording simply entitled Mr.
Under this aquatic title, three musicians – Kimihiro Yasaka, piano, Louis-Philippe Bonin, saxophone, and David Therrien Brongo, percussion – explore as many themes of the Japanese cultural imagination: the mystical aspect of nature, temporality, and the notion of movement. The music will of course take on the colours of Asia and will include works from the repertoire as well as a piece created especially for the occasion by Montreal-based composer of Japanese descent, Keiko Devaux.
Under this aquatic title, three musicians – Kimihiro Yasaka, piano, Louis-Philippe Bonin, saxophone, and David Therrien Brongo, percussion – explore as many themes of the Japanese cultural imagination: the mystical aspect of nature, temporality, and the notion of movement. The music will of course take on the colours of Asia and will include works from the repertoire as well as a piece created especially for the occasion by Montreal-based composer of Japanese descent, Keiko Devaux.
(CANCELLED) Uniform & The Body • Dreamdecay • Sandworm • Big Brave
by Michel Rondeau
Busy night at La Vitrola. Five bands, two of which have been teaming up for a few years: Uniform, a noise/industrial trio from New York City, and The Body, a heavyweight duo based in Portland, Oregon. They will be preceded by the Montreal trio Big Brave, the Providence black metal duo Sandworm and the Seattle quartet Dreamdecay. Enough to keep your ears clean.
Presented on the occasion of the traditional New Year’s Day of the Persian calendar, In the Shadow of Mount Damascus (the highest semi-active volcanic peak in Iran) is inspired by the Shânâmeh, or Book of Kings, an epic poem retracing the history of Iran, from the creation of the world to the arrival of Islam, by the Iranian poet Ferdowsi. The concert will be accompanied by the projection on a large screen of an animated film directed by Aristofanis Soulikias.
Ensemble Âstân Bashir Faramarzi, santur, vocals and art direction Omar Abou Afach, viola Christophe Papadimitriou, double bass Joseph Khoury, percussion
Opera McGill • McGill Baroque Orchestra • Cappella Antica
by Alain Brunet
To conclude its season, Opera McGill joins the McGill Baroque Orchestra and Cappella Antica to perform Georg Friedrich Handel’s baroque opera Acis and Galatea. “Often described as the pinnacle of pastoral opera in England, the work tells the story of the love of shepherd Acis for the Nymph Galatea, and of the cyclops Polyphemus’ jealousy-driven opposition to their love. Featuring poignant drama, but also a good amount of wit and self-parody, Acis and Galatea is sure to please!” So says the website of the Schulich School of Music. The work is conducted by early music professor and harpsichordist Hank Knox, and directed by his colleague Patrick Hanson, who teaches voice and opera conducting at McGill.
PROGRAM Opera McGill Hank Knox, conductor Patrick Hansen, stage director McGill Baroque Orchestra and Cappella Antica Georg Friedrich Haendel: Acis and Galatea
Montrealers by adoption, as they are both jazz teachers at the Schulich School, French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and American trumpet player Kevin Dean founded a quartet together, along with double bassist Martin Helsop and drummer Louis-Vincent Hamel. A profusion of improvisation is on the program, but also strong grounding in modern jazz… if Dean’s relatively conservative resume is any indication. One can certainly expect jazz of the highest level.
Kevin Dean: trumpet JMP: piano Martin Heslop: double bass Louis-Vincent Hamel: drums
Montreal-born Canadian baritone Gerald Finley has had the opportunity, over the course of his 35-year career, to sing at some of the world’s greatest opera houses, and to lend his voice to a raft of critically acclaimed recordings, including works by Maurice Ravel, whose Histoires naturelles he will perform at the Maison symphonique. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet is not to be outdone. A native of Lyon, this specialist in the Romantic repertoire and French impressionist composers has enjoyed a brilliant concert career. He has also distinguished himself by performing arias with opera singers, most notably with Cecilia Bartoli.
PROGRAM Gerald Finley, baritone Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano Schumann,Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love), Op. 48 Ravel,Histoires naturelles Fauré, Mélodies Other works to be confirmed
A collection of songs about depression, regaining one’s identity and overcoming adversity, The Ballad of the Runaway Girl is by far the best album from Inuit singer Elisapie. On stage, it’s the same: her best concert ever. Surrounded by excellent musicians, the singer, songwriter and composer began this cycle on stage in the fall of 2018. A year and a half later, her fans who haven’t yet experienced this more than edifying experience have another opportunity to give her a warm round of applause.
A Goules show is never trivial and always very entertaining. But in spite of the band’s antics, there are still the songs. Keith Kouna and his troupe touch on punk and chanson with a very personal sensibility and approach, instead of falling into caricature and the many clichés inherent in both genres.
The Agora Orchestra embodies the next generation of classical music in Montreal. Under the direction of its founder, Nicolas Ellis, this group brings together excellent performers in their twenties. With a maestro of their age, they explore different classical repertoires from all eras and often try to unearth works by great composers that are not part of the obvious repertoire.
PROGRAM Orchestre de l’Agora Nicolas Ellis, Conductor Tchaikovsky: Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 48 Grieg : Holberg Suite, Op. 40 Bartók: Divertimento for String Orchestra Stravinsky: Concerto In D
