Page 6
www.celtic-connection.com
FEBRUARY 2009
Folk Blues Legend Martyn (60) Dies
DUBLIN - John Martyn, the folk blues singer whose extraordinary voice and virtuoso musicianship beguiled a generation by speaking directly from the dark pit of his soul, died on January 29 at the age of 60.
A message on his website read simply, "With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss, we must announce that John died this morning." The cause of death is not known.
Regarded as a musical innovator and famed for fusing folk and jazz styles, English-born Martyn had lived in County Kilkenny for the last number of years. Best known for his 1973 masterpiece Solid Air, the title track of which was written for his friend, the late Nick Drake, Martyn's songs spoke of loneliness and love, always wrapped up in the most beautiful of musical accompaniments.
Alongside his incredible guitar playing, Martyn's voice oozed naked emotion and his work was always highly autobiographical.
Able to command the services of the
world's top musicians, and having played alongside Richard Thompson, Dave Gilmour and Eric Clapton, Martyn counted Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix as friends.
Among those to pay tribute were former Genesis drummer Phil Collins, who said Martyn was a truly original songwriter and performer. "He was uncompromising, which made him infuriating to some people, but he was unique and we'll never see the likes of him again," said Collins.
Martyn, a heavy drinker in his younger days, suffered from diabetes and, in 2003, had a leg amputated below the knee as the result of a burst cyst. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Returning to the stage after the operation, he said, "I promised them I wouldn't get legless before the gig-"
Despite the sensitivity of his songs, he was regarded as difficult and prickly. In a recent interview, he said, "If I could control myself more, I think the music would be much less interesting. I'd probably be a great deal richer but I'd have had far less fun."
He was a regular performer at Dublin's Vicar Street and more recently performed at the venue in November last year.
GLASGOW-BORN John Martyn was a folk blues singer known for his extraordinary voice and virtuoso musicianship.
St. Andrew-Caledonian Society of Calgary
CALGARY - The St. Andrew-Caledonian Society of Calgary served its sixth annual Burns Dinner for the Homeless on Januaryl8 at the Calgary Drop-In and Rehabilitation Centre.
The event began with a full Burns Show complete with Highland dancing, piping, singing and Burns poetry, all from Society members. The show ended with the "Address to the Haggis" and then the performers lined up at the kitchen window to start serving those who had come.
The meal consisted of roast beef, bashed neeps, chappit tatties, peas, gravy and haggis. Later, the performers repeated the show for those who missed the first one due to space restrictions.
In all, the Society served 910 meals making it one of the largest Burns Dinners in Canada. The dinner had been highly anticipated by those who come to the Centre with
inquiries starting in early December as to when the haggis would be coming - and even inquiries after as to when it could return.
The St. Andrew-Caledonian Society was initially formed as the St. Andrew's Society of Calgary in November 1884 and their president was George Murdoch, a saddler and member of the civic committee who became the first mayor of the Town of Calgary.
Initially, the sole purpose of the Society was to plan for the St. Andrew's night until quarterly meetings were suggested in 1891.
Care of distressed Scots was added in 1892 when the Society took on a more benevolent aspect. The Society was incorporated as a nonprofit society in Alberta in November 1923 and was officially amalgamated with the Caledonian Club of Calgary in 1952 with whom there had been a long standing association.
LA BOTTINE SOURIANTE is renowned for bringing Quebecois music to the international stage.
DELHI 2 DUBLIN: AN ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC CELTIC PUNJABI FUSION SOUND
COQUITLAM - Festival du Bois has always been known as the place to go to hear the jigs and reels of French Canada - and for fans of Celtic music, it's a chance to experience the rich musical connections between Acadian and Quebecois music and the music of Ireland and Scotland.
But the festival also offers up music from other traditions along with very contemporary sounds from the world. This year, the roster includes a local group making international waves with a new sound that crosses cultures and borders.
Delhi 2 Dublin plays a high-energy blend of the traditional sounds of North India and Ireland, blended with cutting-edge dance rhythms and D J aesthetics that fits right into the eclectic Festival du Bois vibe.
The group is a collaboration between five established world fusion artists who came together in a sort of spontaneous combustion that started in 2006.
Karun Nayar, a classically-trained tabla player, D J and producer who worked with a group called Beats Without Borders, got a call to play a St. Patrick's Day party.
Looking to cook up some appropriate and original material for the event, he called a fellow DJ, a fiddler and a vocalist to rehearse a 15-minute set that combined his Indian music background with Celtic music and electronica.
The reaction to their impromptu coming-together was a sensation. "When we played it at the party people went bonkers," says Nayar. "And we thought, 'hey we're onto something here.'"
Their unique melding of sounds they describe as "electro-acoustic Celtic Punjabi Fusion with touches of reggae, break-beat, hip hop, drum and bass" has struck a chord with fans both young and old.
Their music is fresh and original and just plain fun. And with a membership that includes a melting pot of cultures and influences, they speak to a future of making new connections out of past differences.
Delhi 2 Dublin is part of Festival du Bois' 20* anniversary celebration. Also performing: De Temps Antan, BardeFou, Zal Idrissa Sissokho and Jou Tou.
In the Children's Tent, kids can enjoy the Famille Leger and Ted Longbottom among others. There are fascinating workshops, on-site activities for the whole family and great food.
And on Saturday night in the Big Tent, there's a can't-miss concert featuring the North Shore and
Coquitlam Celtic Ensemble and internationally-renowned La Bottine Souriante.
Festival du Bois runs March 7 and 8 at Mackin Park, 1046 Brunette Avenue in Maillardville/Coquitlam. For more information, go to www.festivaldubois.ca. For Saturday night tickets, call (604) 936-0039.
THE COQUITLAM CELTIC ENSEMBLE
Coquitlam Celtic Ensemble to Open for La Bottine Souriante
COQUITLAM, BC, - The dynamic Coquitlam Celtic Ensemble (CCE), along with their musical partner The North Shore Celtic Ensemble (NSCE), will get toes tapping with their kitchen party repertoire when they open for the internationally acclaimed Quebecois band, La Bottine Souriante at Festival du Bois on March 7 in Coquitlam. The Ensembles will also perform the following day, on March 8.
La Bottine Souriante is renowned for bringing traditional Quebecois music to the international stage. Playing with them is a dream come true for the CCE and NSCE as La Bottine Souriante has been the model and inspiration for both ensembles.
The kitchen party repertoire is a combination of French Canadian reels and jigs as well as original Celtic-inspired compositions written by members of the group. This repertoire was developed for the ensembles' tour to Quebec as part
of the 400th anniversary celebrations there last summer.
Claude Giguere, the founder and leader of the CCE and NSCE, started the ensembles as a way to keep teens enthusiastic about playing music. The young musicians often join for the social aspect - getting to meet and play music with other teens - but they benefit in copious other ways as well.
The CCE is currently accepting new members, especially fiddlers and a flute player. Being in these ensembles helps young players develop professional skills through regular performance and touring and recording opportunities. The groups released their fifth CD Where the Owl Nests in spring 2008.
The minimum technical requirements for the CCE are RCM Grade 4 or higher. Call Place des Arts' music program coordinator, Melanie Burner, at (604) 664-1636. For more information about the CCE visit www.placedesarts. ca