BROOKTONDALE NY - Raz de Marée, or Tidal Wave will bring their high energy and passion for traditional music and entertaining to the Canaan Institute in Brooktondale NY on Wednesday September 26th 2012 beginning at 7:00 pm for a house concert followed by a jam session. Donation for the band $20- Limited seating at this private venue: RESERVATIONS & RSVP: please email Mike Ludgate to reserve your seats and for directions mike@cinst.org .

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/376210869118015/
Directions to the concert http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html
Band website http://www.tidalwavemusic.com/index_eng.html

Raz de Marée - Tidal Wave - The Band

Raz de Marée (aka Tidal Wave) is a unique traditional music ensemble on the Quebecois folk music scene. Composed of very accomplished musicians, recognized by their peers as the very best, the ensemble has evolved since 2004 primarily as a dance band, infusing them with the original essence of traditional instrumental music: to make people dance. The members of this band come from Quebec (Sabin Jacques on accordion and violin Eric Favreau), Acadie (Rachel Aucoin on piano and vocals) and New England (Stuart Kenney on bass and banjo). Together, they share a passion for traditional music and dance. They reveal their deeply rooted musical roots, authentic and heartfelt. Relying primarily on a traditional repertoire, their music is contagiously energetic and sensitive. They propel dancers and audiences into a world of liveliness. Their latest CD, MARCHE DU ST-LAURENT, nominated for best instrumental album at the 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards, features inspired melodies, both bound to be danced to and listened to with pure enjoyment. Served by flawless execution and backed by a deliciously imaginative accompaniment, the album shows maturity and a rare blend of excellent musicianship.

The musicians of Tidal Wave: SEE BELOW

Rachel Aucoin

After a frankly classical training including two Masters degrees (performance - UM 2001 and piano pedagogy - UL, 2003), two first prizes at the Canadian Music Competition (1997 and 1998) and a solo performance of Beethoven’s second with the Orchestre Symphonique de la Montérégie (1997), Rachel Aucoin specialises today in folk music accompaniment, since her first appearance at the Carrefour Mondial de l’Accordéon in 1999.

Her first years with power-trio Domino gave her a solid experience as a dance back-up musician. Followed collaborations with recording artists such as Laura Risk, Michèle Choinière, Claude Méthé, Francine Desjardins, Réjean Simard, Jean Duval and Frank Sears. Most recently, we heard her creative colors on both Tidal Wave / Raz-de-marée’s projets : self-titled (2007) and Marche du St-Laurent (2010). Evolving as a piano teacher since 1993, Rachel meets her greatest interest and passion through pedagogy. Now living in Beaumont, near Quebec city, Rachel directs the Maréemusique project, which includes a learning program. www.mareemusique.org

Sabin Jacques

Since Sabin Jacques began playing the accordion at age 14, his reputation grew non-stop: his multiple and diverse musical engagements made him a versatile and accomplished artist. Deeply influenced by such musicians as Simard, Bruneau, Labbé, Messervier and Montmarquette, he sought his originality in his unusual technique which gives him, as a left-handed player, a recognizable signature.

Originally from the beautiful Gaspé peninsula, Sabin lived in Montreal between 1992-2009. This cosmopolite musical community allowed him to make significant acquaintances with musicians in the popular and commercial music domain. His work with Acadian icon signer Edith Butler remains the most prolific, between 1993 and 2001. He was also heard alongside celebrated Hugues Aufray, Jean-Pierre Ferland, and Gregory Charles. Eventually, Sabin’s multiple collaborations offered him opportunities to travel worldwide. Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, France, England, Spain and Madagascar, winning the bronze at Les jeux de la Francophonie (1997).

Sabin remains profoundly attached to his traditional roots and regularly takes part in pedagogical projects, teatching at camps such as the Leahy – Natalie MacMaster camp (ONT) and Ashokan (NY), to name a few. Since distance is not an obstacle for learning, Sabin teaches accordion at home through internet or weekly at the Maréemusique School of Traditional Music. His teaching is said to be uplifting and always inspiring. His most recent recordings (2007 and 2010) present traditional tunes from Quebec played through remarquable arrangements, with his fellow musicians from band Tidal Wave / Raz-de-marée, putting a highlight on his stunning technique and musicianship while confirming his status as one of Quebec’s leading master accordionists.

Stuart Kenney

One of the most in demand upright bass, and five-string banjo players on the US contradance circuit, Stuart Kenney’s regional musical interests sweep from Southwest Louisiana to Acadia. Stuart began playing 5-string banjo at age 12, and upright bass at age 18.

He has a long career in many traditional music genres. Stuart cut his Cajun teeth with the legendary, late Dewey Balfa, and played with him for many of his northeast appearances. His interest in Quebecois music formed through the fiddling of Lisa Ornstein, and performances by La Bottine Souriante. The inclusion of French Canadian music into the living tradition of New England contradance music caught his attention early on. In 1999, Stuart’s path crossed with Sabin Jacques and Rachel Aucoin at Augusta Heritage Traditional Dance and Music week. At that point, Stuart invited them to play for contradances in Greenfield, MA and they’ve been playing together ever since. A tight musical bond was formed. Later, these three formed this group, Tidal Wave.

Stuart is a founding member of many great bands including AIRDANCE, Greenfield Dance Band, The Sevens, Tidal Wave, and Undertoe. He spent 14 years touring with the legendary contradance band Wild Asparagus. He has played on National Public Radio’ All Things Considered (The Sevens), and NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion (Airdance). Stuart has appeared at American Folk Festival, ME (National Council for Tradiational Arts), Ashokan (NY) Fiddle and Dance workshops with Jay Unger and Molly Mason, Augusta (WV), Alaska Traditional Folk Dance Society, City Stages (AL), Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (NY), Fiddle Tunes (WA), Hawaii and St. Croix Dance Vacations, Philadelphia Folk Festival (PA), Sidmouth Folk Festival (UK), and countless others. Stuart is a much-in-demand studio musician as well with over fifty recordings to his credit.

Stuart’s most recent project, Undertoe, is a musical collaboration with accordionist Karen Tweed (Yorkshire, England), John Dipper (London), and Marko Packard (US). He has composed many original pieces of music featured in their first recording Walking Down Angell Road. Although Stuart’s music has brought him coast to coast and beyond, his musical home is at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, MA, where he plays for and hosts the TopHill Music and Dance Series.

Éric Favreau

Éric Favreau comes from a family of traditional musicians and has spent a great deal of time playing with other fiddlers, learning their repertoire and studying their varied styles. Éric has explored and exploited various sources including archives and personally made field recordings and has accumulated a rich and fascinating repertoire. Over the years, he has garnered a profound understanding and vast knowledge of Québécois traditional music.

As an individual, and in various groups including Entourloupe, Éric has vast experience in the Canadian, United State and European music scenes. Éric has recorded two solo albums, two with his current group Entourloupe, and has appeared on at least a dozen others. He is a consumate entertainer/educator in Introduction to traditional music workshop in the public school system in program under the auspices of the Minister of Education. He also teaches traditional fiddle, and the history of traditional music at the Cégèp(Junior college music) in Joliette, Québec.

Éric’s playing is marked by delicacy, nuance and liveliness that will leave no foot untapped!

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FULL STORY news article http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=4968#4968
Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/376210869118015/
DIRECTIONS to the concert http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html
Band website http://www.tidalwavemusic.com/index_eng.html

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BROOKTONDALE NY - Sheesham & Lotus & Son for a house concert followed by a music jam at The Canaan Institute (Mike and Raylene’s workshop) on Thursday Sept 13 2012 starting at 7:00 pm. Donation for the band $15- RESERVATIONS & RSVP: please email Mike Ludgate to reserve your seats and for directions mike@cinst.org

Facebook event for this concert https://www.facebook.com/events/421565647880173/

More events at Canaan Institute: Concerts, Workshops, Jams http://canaaninstitute.org/mn/mus_jamcann.html

An important moment of reckoning between Lotus Wight and Sheesham Crow was when they realized that they had the common experience as children brushing their teeth to the fiddle tune “Turkey in the Straw”, using the shape of their mouths to manipulate the melody of the tune. It was this kind of idle,yet innate musicality which followed them as youngsters.

High-steppers Sheesham and Lotus and Son bring you an audacious mix of Old-Time, Ragtime, fiddle and banjo sung through their patented sepia-phonic Monophone! They play homemade bass harmonicas and Jaw-harps too, making them an asset to the workshop and clinic stages. Flatfoot Buck-dance & Hambone!!

Sheesham and Lotus came together in 1998 as Teilhard Frost and Sam Allison, playing as the rhythm section in a fiddle band called Flapjack. Together for the next seven years they were on the road throughout Canada and the United states playing dances-camps, concerts and workshops. It was during this time that both Frost and Allison took a keen interest in the folk traditions of North America, particularly the American south. Both became enthusiastic historians of old-time fiddle and banjo music, learning from the old masters across the regions south of the Mason-Dixon line. Through personal instruction, perseverance and osmosis they learned harmonica, jaw-harp, flatfoot and song.

“…Sheesham and Lotus are the Kings of Old-time!” -Carrie Ough, The Good Lovelies

Sheesham Crow - Harmonica, Singing, fiddles, jawharp.
Son Sanderson - Trumpet, Sousaphone, Cornet.
Lotus Wight - Singing, Banjos, jawharp, contrabass harmoniphoneum

Discography: “Sheesham & Lotus Old Time Fiddle & Banjo” 2006, “EVERYTIME” 2008 - Sepiaphone Records, “Five Miles from Town” 2011 - Sepiaphone Records

Web Page http://sheeshamandlotus.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheesham-and-Lotus/115654218477913

Crow and Wight play fiddle and banjo respectively, with an additional array of home-made curiosities of noise-makery. Sheesham is a maker of gourd banjos and fiddles, and Lotus plays an invention called the contra-bass harmoniphoneum, which is a self-contained bass-harmonica and euphonium horn which can be used while plucking a banjo. Indeed it is a well documented fact that Sheesham and Lotus use horns for singing, harmonicas, jaw-harps and more.

The music of Sheesham and Lotus could be described as American roots music. They love to play fiddle tunes, hokum blues songs and ragtime string music. “The sounds of the south are near and dear to our hearts,” says Lotus, “from the old fiddlers on the Lomax collections to the Memphis jug-bands and the Mississippi Sheiks and Narmour and Smith…there is so much to hear and learn.”

“…They’re the best thing that Canada has in American old time music performance right now- maybe ever! ” -Arnie Naiman

“Sheesham and Lotus play music that knocks my hat in the creek! Their fiddle and banjo intertwine seamlessly to show listeners the way home” -Joe Newberry

Though Sheesham and Lotus have worked primarily as a duo they are joined by third member Sonny Sanderson on sousaphone for festival and theatre dates this upcoming season. Sanderson joins Sheesham and Lotus from Peterborough’s the Silver Hearts, with whom Lotus played upright bass for a number of years.

“Come highstepping with Sheesham and Lotus!. Old-time rhythms that will blow the mind and hypnotize! ” -Chris Coole

Sheesham and Lotus are inspired by an array of different music from all over the world but one could say that within the spectrum of their repertoire lies special attention to American folk music. If one were to try to further interpret this criminally broad categorization they would find these two incomparable musicians engaging in something which can be described as the living, breathing tradition of Old-time, ragtime banjo-and-fiddle-centric, good-time sound.

Sheesham and Lotus take love of the pre-jazz sounds of the Memphis jug band era, and music of the Appalachian Mountains, blue strains from the Mississippi flatlands and through music and dance transform the casual observer into a devoted participant. The facility and mastery with which they manipulate banjo, fiddle, jaw-harp, harmonica, and song is undeniable, unbelievable! HAMBONE! Take an earful and travel down the flinty spine of Old-time Music with Sheesham and Lotus as soon as you can, and you may never be the same. After hearing one note, you will see that this music can be loved by everyone. Sheesham and Lotus for EVERYONE, EVERYTIME! -Dr. Felix Van Nostrand, Den Hague, Netherlands

Originally brought together as the rhythm section for Canadian folk and fiddle outfit Flapjack in 1998, Sheesham and Lotus immersed themselves in the traditional music scenes wherever their travels took them, from West Virginia to Kasheshewan and California to Nova Scotia. They traded tunes and studied with old masters throughout the American south while becoming top-demand clinicians in old-time dance and music. Sheesham and Lotus’ self-produced debut CD, “Old-time Fiddle and Banjo” was met with critical acclaim from Canadian folk music publication, ‘Penguin Eggs’. They accepted invitations to play folk festivals around Canada including Winnipeg, Ottawa, Lunenberg and Sudbury, receiving high recommendations for mesmerizing performances and keen work-shop skills. Sheesham and Lotus appear as if they are from the very old days themselves. Dressed sharply in the old style, they play jaw harps, ham-bone percussion and home-made bass harmonicas in the ragtime and mountain style. They delight with fiddle tunes and blues songs and always have an instrument on hand and a tune to play.

In 2008 fans were treated to a special release of Sheesham and Lotus’ EVERYTIME, a record that was recorded exclusively through their patented Sepiaphonic Monophone Horn Amplifiers, offering a very ‘old-time’ listening experience that Matt Large, concert promoter and old-time scholar in Montreal, Quebec called-’the best folk record of 2008′ . Now Sheesham and Lotus tour as a trio with Sousaphone player Son Sanderson. Son and Lotus used to share the stage together as rhythm section members of the legendary ‘Silver Hearts’ from Peterborough, Ontario. The 2010 season saw the trio hosting and playing mainstage engagements at Sudbury’s Northern Lights Festival, The Peterborough Folk Festival and the Shelter Valley Folk Festival, as well as their first time headlining stateside at Vermont’s Champlain Valley Folk Festival. During August of 2010, Sheesham and Lotus played dates in Paris and Bordeaux, France.

Sheesham Crow - Harmonica, Singing, fiddles, jawharp.
Son Sanderson - Trumpet, Sousaphone, Cornet.
Lotus Wight - Singing, Banjos, jawharp, contrabass harmoniphoneum

Discography: “Sheesham & Lotus Old Time Fiddle & Banjo” 2006, “EVERYTIME” 2008 - Sepiaphone Records, “Five Miles from Town” 2011 - Sepiaphone Records

Web Page http://sheeshamandlotus.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheesham-and-Lotus/115654218477913

Mark you calendars! We have just booked Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike for a house concert at Canaan Road Thursday June 18. Concert 7:00 to 9:00 pm followed by a bluegrass jam. Valerie and her band are world class bluegrass musicians. We expect this one to sell out. Concert $15- She will be traveling with award winning fiddler Becky Buller http://www.beckybuller.com/ there is an option of private lessons or an intimate workshop late afternoon before the concert: any interest in that? Let us know! Lesson or workshop fee will be additional … DETAILS forthcoming! FORUM THREAD HERE http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=2607#2607

RSVP’s expected email Mike for directions and to reserve a seat  michael@canaaninstitute.org?subject=rsvp_house_concert_June18

Website http://www.valeriesmithonline.com/
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/valeriesmithamplibertypike
Videos http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Valerie+Smith+and+Liberty+Pike
Becky Buller http://www.beckybuller.com/

Thanks,

Mike and Raylene

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About Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike

As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. And when that tree is anchored in the fertile hills and dales of west Missouri, you can bet it will be strong enough to withstand a sudden prairie storm, yet beautiful enough to take away your breath when silhouetted by a vivid sunset.

This metaphor aptly describes the music of Valerie Smith as it has seasoned, firmly rooted in the musical soil of her Missouri childhood. One listen to the conviction of Valerie’s voice as she delivers a tune lets you know that she is no hot-house flower, but was raised in a real world of both hardships and joys. Valerie’s delivery can range from the force of a prairie twister to the gentle softness of a spring rain.

Music has always been there for Valerie. It’s the lifeblood that flows through her veins and is part of her earliest memories. No stranger to hard work, her family raised tobacco, potatoes and corn, while her father worked in an auto assembly plant. The child of musical parents, Valerie showed talent at an early age, and soon began singing rousing Baptist hymns in church, and later began to accompany her parents to play her fiddle and sing with local country and bluegrass musicians in her hometown of Holt and the surrounding area. Not only did Valerie learn to sing in front of an audience, but she learned to be an entertainer as well, a skill which has endeared her to thousands of fans across the world.

Missouri is the musical crossroads of the nation, and Valerie heard western music drifting in from the high plains, jazz wafting along the Big Muddy from Kansas City, and the clarion call of bluegrass from the east. A strong desire to learn more and to teach others prompted Valerie to attend the University of Missouri Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, where she received her B.A. in vocal music education and further broadened her musical horizons. While attending school, Valerie was to meet her future husband, Kraig Smith; and as fate would have it, a chance opportunity led Kraig to a job in Nashville shortly after they were married. By then, Valerie had been teaching school in her hometown for two years, and even though she knew she would miss teaching, she felt fate was pulling her toward Tennessee. In 1992 they arrived and settled into their new life.

It didn’t take Valerie long to get into the Nashville music scene, even while holding down a job with an advertising agency, and then teaching middle school music. She formed the acoustic country group “Fresh Cactus” and played extensively in Nashville while honing her songwriting and performance skills. Valerie’s love for bluegrass music never waned, and while attending a festival in Franklin, she met old time musicians Junior and Betty Parker. The Parkers quickly adopted Valerie, and invited her to play with them in the tiny Tennessee hamlet of Bell Buckle. It was here that Valerie met local entrepreneur J. Gregory Heinike, owner of the Bell Buckle Café. Valerie, J. Gregory, and Kraig Smith founded Bell Buckle Records and Valerie recorded her first highly acclaimed CD, “Patchwork Heart” and formed her band, Liberty Pike.

Since then, Valerie’s music has taken her from coast to coast and around the world. She has become an ambassador of bluegrass music and has entertained music lovers in New York, London, Berlin, Dublin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and hundreds of other venues throughout the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. She has been the recipient of IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) awards and has been nominated for a Grammy Award as part of the Ralph Stanley “Clinch Mountain Sweethearts” project, and she has appeared on the famous Grand Ol’ Opry as guest of hall of famer Charlie Louvin.

Valerie, her husband Kraig and daughter, Josie now reside in their adopted hometown of Bell Buckle, Tennessee.