Somewhere There June 2009 Newsleter

As I previewed last month, the highlight this month at Somewhere There is the AIMToronto Interface Series, 5-7 June, with fabulous Swiss-born, Paris-based saxophonist, Urs Leimgruber, a regular collaborators with such talents as Barre Phillips, Fritz Hauser, Joelle Léandre, and Marilyn Crispell. See the program here. It’s interesting timing that this event comes on the heels of the series with Evan Parker, one of the few European saxophonists with to whom Leimgruber can usefully be compared.

The new residency in June is the intriguing duo of Allison Cameron on small, amplified things and Nobuo Kubota, voice and microphone. Allison had her own residency last summer, and it was terrific to hear her in so many different contexts. The programming for the series with Nobuo is not yet fixed but, at a guess, it will reflect a similar diversity.

Somewhere There also wishes to extend thanks and express enthusiasm (and relief) that the Toronto Arts Council has stepped up to our request for support for the residency program. The modest grant that’s just been awarded will subsidize about 150 shows during the 2009-2010 season of residencies, starting with Allison and Nobuo's. This will go a long way toward making viable these residencies in particular and Somewhere There in general. Thank you for supporting informal music-making!

Lastly, I’ll mention that Somewhere There’s good friend, Jack Vorvis, had his bicycle stolen from outside the studio on 24 May. Jeremy Strachan has kindly agreed to program a fundraising concert, Sunday 14 June, featuring Jack with a bunch of friends – programming is to be announced.

Somewhere There March 2009 Newsletter

February was simply the busiest and best month Somewhere There has seen. Odradek completed their two-month residency with tremendously creative programming that culminated with their live soundtrack to the extraordinary 1920s animated classic, The Adventures of Prince Achmed. The Element Choir also completed its residency with massive turnouts and tremendous collective music-making, with momentum and spirit generated through their Barnyard Records recording project, mid-month – we look forward to the record (and to the record release party!) A related project heard a vocal ensemble comprised primarily of choir members working with visiting composer and conductor, Sarah Weaver. And, last but not least, the Evan Parker Interface Series, February 13-15, was a wonderful musical and social exchange, by all accounts. Rumour has it that an extensive review is in the works for Signal to Noise, so keep eyes open for that. Thanks to the AIMToronto Board of Directors for running to joint so smoothly during the Interface weekend.

This month’s residencies have more to do with jazz music in general than they have pretty much at any point in Somewhere There’s history. Thursdays in March will continue to feature Drumheller drawing on the wonderful material from their expansive book of tunes by all five members. Wednesdays host a new residency by Drumhellerite, Rob Clutton, primarily with his newish band, The Cluttertones (with Lina Allemano, Tim Posgate, Anthony Michelli, Brodie West, and Ryan Driver), though other weeks will feature guests like Marilyn Lerner and Paul Cram in small groups featuring Rob. The Sunday 6pm slot has been taken on by Jeremy Strachan, and features similarly newish bands, Canaille (with Mike Smith, Nick Buligan, and Colin Fisher, and Dan Gaucher) and a duet with Mike Smith on guitars and banjos. With a record twenty-nine shows booked in March, there’s still certainly no shortage of live music at Somewhere There. We hope to see you around!