Somewhere between Paul Simon and an unnamed Bethlehemian innkeeper stands award-winning Prince Edward Island songwriter Lennie Gallant. For the sake of Christmas, he welcomed Zimbabwean acapella and dance group Black Umfolosi into his home, gave them shelter, and lo, unto them a song was born. Never mind that all of this happened in mid-July, or at the request of mutual friend and booking agent Bob Jensen. That’s practically Christmas Eve for musicians. Continue reading Single: Lennie Gallant Collaborates with Zimbabwe’s Black Umfolosi for Holiday Magic on ‘Christmas Day on Planet Earth’
Category Archives: Music
Single: Christina Martin and the Challenges of Writing ‘This Christmas’
The holidays aren’t always the easiest time for everyone. While most are being joyous and mirthful and festive, for those who have trouble getting into the spirit of the season it can be a constant reminder that they’re not living up to expectations. For those who have had painful experiences associated with Christmas, it can be downright wretched. Christina Martin’s own experiences made it difficult for her to enjoy the holiday, let alone write a song about it. When she was asked to perform at the Halifax Tree Lighting Ceremony she stepped up, penning “This Christmas,” but writing the song had its challenges. Continue reading Single: Christina Martin and the Challenges of Writing ‘This Christmas’
New Music: The Easley Quartet’s Futuristic Jazz Sounds of ‘The Starting Point VS The Steep Decline’
In the category of enduring musicians, Tom Easley is getting up there. He’s been making a career of it for the last three decades; either teaching at NSCC’s music department, or touring with one of the East Coast’s longest running musical mainstays, Hot Toddy. Despite that longevity, Easley felt he needed to get out and prove something to himself: that he can still do it like it’s the first time, and under his own steam. Joined by Mark Adam on drums and Geordie Haley and Kevin Brunkhorst on guitar, The Easley Quartet takes the eternally modern sounds of 80s jazz and makes them new again with The Starting Point VS The Steep Decline. Continue reading New Music: The Easley Quartet’s Futuristic Jazz Sounds of ‘The Starting Point VS The Steep Decline’
New Music: The Lewinskies on Zen Accordion and ‘Yesterday We Had Everything’
There’s something magical about watching an accordion player in action. The rise and fall of the bellows seems to mimic the breathing of whoever’s holding it, working like one single entity. Perhaps this is why Kristen (Hatt) Lewis of The Lewinskies has experienced such personal growth when it came to learning to play the instrument. She hasn’t been playing the accordion for very long, but her connection to it stems back much further. Continue reading New Music: The Lewinskies on Zen Accordion and ‘Yesterday We Had Everything’
Single: Chris Ryan’s ‘Last Forever’ Is About “Not Being Satisfied With The Satisfactory”
As they say, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy. Though in this case we’re talking about taking Newfoundland Country-Americana artist Chris Ryan off the island and sending him to the big city. “Last Forever,” the first single from Ryan’s upcoming album, A New Hope, is about building something you can be proud of, even if it means leaving the place you love. Continue reading Single: Chris Ryan’s ‘Last Forever’ Is About “Not Being Satisfied With The Satisfactory”