Coming up this month we have three great concert events:

1. Rasputin’s Next Stage on May 5th
2. The Sultans of String on May 12th, and
3. Chrysalis on May 26th

Rasputin’s Next Stage

Who: Mark Evenchick and Wayne Lyrette
Where: Le Michel-Ange Cafe, 35 Laurel Ave.
When: 7:30pm Saturday May 5th
Tickets: Free admission, pass-the-hat

Rasputin’s Next Stage moves to Le Michel-Ange Cafe this Saturday giving it more room to grow. Two popular regulars from our Open Stage are sure to please. We have all been enjoying Wayne Lyrette’s increasing poise and expanding repertoire on stage. His contributions at Song Along were a real treat. I’m looking forward to a full set of his great songs and humour in the second set. The opening set features Mark Evenchick with a selection of songs from his first CD as well as songs he is planning for his second CD. NOTE the start time is 7:30 not 8 as previously indicated on the website.

Rasputin’s Feature Concert

Who: The Sultans of String
Where: First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Ave.
When: 8pm Saturday May 12th
Tickets: $25 at the Ottawa Folklore Centre, and online (click here)
Accessible?: Yes! Wheelchair entrance and elevator at ground level.

We are very excited to be part of The Sultans of String CD release tour for “MOVE”, their 3rd CD. Since their formation only 5 years ago, they have been riding a wave of success, from their debut CD, “Luna”, and 2nd offering, “Yalla Yalla”, both hitting # 1 on world/international music charts in Canada, to their triple Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, winning Instrumental Group of the Year.

“Canada is a real meeting places of musical influences from around the world” says bandleader/violinst McKhool. “At the same time, as a band we try to tell uniquely Canadian stories, putting forth our vision of the world as one family.” Chris’ paternal Makhoul grandparents immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the early 1900s, and his Egyptian-born mother, an accomplished pianist, also has paternal Lebanese ancestry. “Growing up, I was taught the values of tolerance, respect for all peoples and celebration of culture.” McKhool’s unbridled passion for exploring the rhythms and melodies has led him to the far corners of the world, incorporating instruments and styles everywhere he went. More about The Sultans of String…

You do not want to miss this concert!! NOTE the location is not our usual concert venue. The First Unitarian Congregation is on Clerary Ave. off Richmond Road just east of Woodroffe. Here’s a map.

9th Annual Chrysalis

Who: Various artists (TBA) with host Missy Burgess
Where: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill
When: 8pm Saturday May 26th
Tickets: Free admission, pass-the-hat

The chrysalis symbolizes rebirth. This event celebrates Ottawa songwriters by asking the performers (all songrwriters) to sing the songs of another Ottawa songwriter. As Missy says, “I like to refer to the “rebirth” of a song (thus, the name Chrysalis) when someone other than the writer performs it.” For 9 years now many Ottawa singer/songwriters have been getting together once a year to perform each others’ works in and amidst the work of others from the Ottawa valley. Come and enjoy an evening of surprising twists to songs you have heard from local artists.

And of course, don’t forget our Open Stage continues every Monday upstairs at Whispers and the Folkalong Jam convenes every Tuesday at the Georgetown Pub.

Cheers,
Hollis Morgan
President, Spirit of Rasputin’s Arts Society

This is the first of a series we call “Cabaret Concerts” where the performers are members of Spirit of Rasputin’s. The series launch is at the Masonic Hall and then the series continues in June at Le Michel-Ange. More info on the “Series” will be in the next newsletter but here we present the inaugural event in this series.

Set 1: John Bowman and Friends

John divides his time betweeen Vancouver and Ottawa working in labour relations and performing in local clubs. He is a poetic composer with a thoughtful delivery and a beautiful finger-picking guitar style. Expect to hear quite a few songs from his CD “Beach on the Ocean” accompanied by the musicians from that project: Tobias Meis (bass), Mark St. Jean (harmonica), and Kristine St. Pierre (backup vocals). John donates the proceeds from sales of his CD to The Canadian Women’s Foundation – Shelter From the Storm. This is a man with a lot of class and a heart as big as Canada. (John’s website…)

Set 2: Vince Halfhide with Chris White

and special guest Mary Gick

Guitarist Vince Halfhide has performed and recorded with Sneezy Waters, Andrea and the Fun Guys, The Jivewires, Larry “the Bird” Mootham, Missy Burgess, The Mighty Popo, Chris White, The Toasted Westerns, Heaven’s Radio / Terry Gillespie and many others. He is at ease with a wide range of musical styles, including folk, country, blues, R&B, reggae, jazz and African music. More recently, another Vince has emerged: a singer-songwriter whose original songs are as entertaining, evocative and far-ranging as his guitar work.

Chris grew up in a musical family and has been writing and performing songs all his life. He plays guitar and ukulele, writes witty songs, teaches songwriting classes and directs Ottawa’s new Shout Brother choir. As a community event organizer, Chris has played key roles with the Ottawa Folk Festival, Writer’s Bloc and CKCU FM. His songs are at once humorous and touching, and provide lots of opportunities for audience involvement. His two CDs of original songs have generated great enthusiasm.

In performance together, Chris and Vince blend voices and instruments to create a unique and memorable experience. Joining them on several songs will be old-time banjo whiz Mary Gick.

Held each year on May 1st — May Day — Gil’s Hootenanny is an annual sing-along event that is organized by the Spirit of Rasputin’s Arts Society. The event was inspired by Gil Levine (1924-2009), the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and a great lover of folk music. Gil’s vision of a better world included bringing people together to celebrate the stories, struggles and victories of working people through the collective power of song.

Gil’s Hootenanny features an array of artists performing “songs of protest and songs of hope”. All attendees receive a souvenir songbook, and everyone is encouraged to join in and sing along.

This year’s line-up includes Eve Goldberg (www.evegoldberg.com), Ian Robb (www.ianrobb.com), Break Syndical (www.breaksyndical.org), song historian Stephen Richer and more special guests to be announced. Community radio station CKCU will be broadcasting live excerpts from the concert on 93.1 FM and online at www.ckcufm.com.

For more information about Gil’s Hootenanny contact Chris White — chris@ckcufm.com, 613-327-9621.

Gil’s Hootenanny is sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), CUPE Local 1979, Solidarity Against Austerity, the Levine Family, and CKCU FM 93.1 community radio.

1. A Cabaret Concert: John Bowman / Vince Halfhide with Chris White
2. May Day celebration: Gil’s Hootenanny
3. A Reeaally big showww! The Sultans of String

Ronnie Hawkins had a big hit with Chuck Berry’s song 30 days by changing it to 40 days. Sometimes you just have to try something new. So this “monthly missive” covers about 40 days of Spirit of Rasputin’s activities.

We all love the intimacy and acoustics of our concerts at the Westboro Masonic Hall, but this spring we will present two larger events at different venues so pay attention to the “where:” for Gil’s Hootenanny and The Sultans of String in the announcements below.

Who: John Bowman/ Vince Halfhide & Chris White
What: The first in the “Cabaret Concert Series”
When: 8pm Saturday April 21, 2012
Where: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill at Byron
Tickets: $20 [ Click here to buy online now!! ] or buy in person at the Ottawa Folklore Centre.

This is the first of a series we call “Cabaret Concerts” where the performers are members of Spirit of Rasputin’s. The series launch is at the Masonic Hall and then the series continues in June at Le Michel-Ange. More info on the “Series” will be in the next newsletter but here we present the inaugural event in this series.

Set 1: John Bowman and Friends
John divides his time betweeen Vancouver and Ottawa working in labour relations and performing in local clubs. He is a poetic composer with a thoughtful delivery and a beautiful finger-picking guitar style. Expect to hear quite a few songs from his CD “Beach on the Ocean” accompanied by the musicians from that project: Tobias Meis (bass), Mark St. Jean (harmonica), and Kristine St. Pierre (backup vocals). John donates the proceeds from sales of his CD to The Canadian Women’s Foundation – Shelter From the Storm. This is a man with a lot of class and a heart as big as Canada. (John’s website…)

Set 2: Vince Halfhide with Chris White (and special guest Mary Gick)
Guitarist Vince Halfhide has performed and recorded with Sneezy Waters, Andrea and the Fun Guys, The Jivewires, Larry “the Bird” Mootham, Missy Burgess, The Mighty Popo, Chris White, The Toasted Westerns, Heaven’s Radio / Terry Gillespie and many others.  He is at ease with a wide range of musical styles, including folk, country, blues, R&B, reggae, jazz and African music. More recently, another Vince has emerged: a singer-songwriter whose original songs are as entertaining, evocative and far-ranging as his guitar work.

Chris grew up in a musical family and has been writing and performing songs all his life.  He plays guitar and ukulele, writes witty songs, teaches songwriting classes and directs Ottawa’s new Shout Brother choir.  As a community event organizer, Chris has played key roles with the Ottawa Folk Festival, Writer’s Bloc and CKCU FM.  His songs are at once humorous and touching, and provide lots of opportunities for audience involvement.  His two CDs of original songs have generated great enthusiasm.

In performance together, Chris and Vince blend voices and instruments to create a unique and memorable experience.

What: May Day: Gil’s Hootenanny
Who: TBA a wide variety of labour activists and performers
When: 7:30pm Tuesday May 1, 2012
Where: NAC Fourth Stage
Tickets: $15 [ Click here to buy online now!! ] or buy in person at the NAC box office.

This event has simply outgrown the Masonic Hall! So join us for an evening celebrating working men and women in song and story. This good old fashioned hootenanny is always on May Day which is a Tuesday this year. Spirit of Rasputin’s thanks CUPE for their generous sponsorship of this event.

Watch the website for the official announcement of who is performing this year. Chris White is still busy lining everyone up as I write this.

Who: The Sultans of String
When: 8pm Saturday May 12
Where: First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Ave.
Tickets: $25 [ Click here to buy online now!! ] or buy in person at the Ottawa Folklore Centre.

Each year we bring you a world class instrumental extravaganza. On Sat May 12, raucous world-roots string wizards, 2x CFMA winners & JUNO nominees, Sultans of String, serve up their spicy stew of Gypsy jazz, Spanish flamenco, Global roots, and Cuban rhythms at The Spirit of Rasputin’s!

“Canada’s ambassadors of musical diversity” include 6-string violinist Chris McKhool (Pavlo), guitar wizard Kevin Laliberté (Jesse Cook, guested on tour with The Chieftains), bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk, Amanda Martinez), and the jaw dropping talent of Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba, Parachute Club)!

Seamlessly traversing diverse themes of heart, place and tradition, fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funk bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.

Since their formation only 5 years ago, Sultans of String have been riding a wave of success, from their debut CD, “Luna”, and 2nd offering, “Yalla Yalla”, both hitting # 1 on world/international music charts in Canada, to their triple Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, winning Instrumental Group of the Year.

In the 2 years alone, they’ve acquired a JUNO nomination, representation from acclaimed promoter David Wilkes (Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Melanie), and booking representation in the US, UK and Australia. They also took home 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries), placed as finalists for two 2011 International Independent Music Awards, garnered 2 awards from Festival & Events Ontario, and Ontario Contact’s Artist of The Year.

The band just released their new and 3rd CD, MOVE, a perfect hat-trick presenting, once again, an exhilarating celebration of world music styles.

“Canada is a real meeting places of musical influences from around the world” says bandleader/violinst McKhool. “At the same time, as a band we try to tell uniquely Canadian stories, putting forth our vision of the world as one family.” Chris’ paternal Makhoul grandparents immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the early 1900s, and his Egyptian-born mother, an accomplished pianist, also has paternal Lebanese ancestry. “Growing up, I was taught the values of tolerance, respect for all peoples and celebration of culture.” McKhool’s unbridled passion for exploring the rhythms and melodies has led him to the far corners of the world, incorporating instruments and styles everywhere he went. (Their website…)

Cheers,
Hollis Morgan
President, Spirit of Rasputin’s Arts Society

p.s. Don’t forget about the Monday Open Stage upstairs at Whispers, and the Tuesday Folkalong Jam in the back room of The Georgetown.

“Sultans of String’s latest album seems to be hoovering up Canadian awards and nominations like a Dyson on speed — a joyful melting pot of jazz, flamenco, folk and indeed anything else that takes their fancy.. energetic and exciting world music fest from a band with talent to burn. This is the sort of band and music that would rip up any festival in the country. Maverick Magazine

“An organic mix of rumba, Gypsy, jazz, Middle Eastern and Spanish flavours mixed together beautifully, and brilliantly executed.” Errol Nazareth, CBC Radio

“Chris McKhool and the boys are fantastic!” Bob Ezrin (Producer–Pink Floyd. Kiss)

“Sultans of String are one of Canada’s hottest new musical exports, dynamically embodying their homeland’s values of tolerance and respect for diverse cultures. Centred on the founding interplay between Chris McKhool – a six-string violinist of Lebanese/Egyptian descent – and Kevin Laliberté’s rumba-accented guitar, they weave a gorgeously-hued tapestry of Spanish, Arabic, Latin, French and gypsy strands.” Celtic Connections Festival, Scotland

Sultans of String

“Canada’s ambassadors of musical diversity” include 6-string violinist Chris McKhool (Pavlo), guitar wizard Kevin Laliberté (Jesse Cook, guested on tour with The Chieftains), bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk, Amanda Martinez), and the jaw dropping talent of Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba, Parachute Club)!

Seamlessly traversing diverse themes of heart, place and tradition, fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funk bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.

Since their formation only 5 years ago, Sultans of String have been riding a wave of success, from their debut CD, “Luna”, and 2nd offering, “Yalla Yalla”, both hitting # 1 on world/international music charts in Canada, to their triple Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, winning Instrumental Group of the Year.

In the 2 years alone, they’ve acquired a JUNO nomination, representation from acclaimed promoter David Wilkes (Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Melanie), and booking representation in the US, UK and Australia. They also took home 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries), placed as finalists for two 2011 International Independent Music Awards, garnered 2 awards from Festival & Events Ontario, and Ontario Contact’s Artist of The Year.

The band just released their new and 3rd CD, MOVE, a perfect hat-trick presenting, once again, an exhilarating celebration of world music styles.

“Canada is a real meeting places of musical influences from around the world” says bandleader/violinst McKhool. “At the same time, as a band we try to tell uniquely Canadian stories, putting forth our vision of the world as one family.” Chris’ paternal Makhoul grandparents immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the early 1900s, and his Egyptian-born mother, an accomplished pianist, also has paternal Lebanese ancestry. “Growing up, I was taught the values of tolerance, respect for all peoples and celebration of culture.” McKhool’s unbridled passion for exploring the rhythms and melodies has led him to the far corners of the world, incorporating instruments and styles everywhere he went.

The chrysalis symbolizes rebirth–often moving from an “ugly” state to rebirth in a beautiful form. (“ugly” would refer to the cocoon state)

I like to refer to the “rebirth” of a song (thus, the name Chrysalis) when someone other than the writer performs it. For 9 years now many Ottawa singer/songwriters have been getting together once a year to perform each others’ works in and amidst the work of others from the Ottawa valley.

There is no better way to promote talent from the Ottawa pool than to cover each others’ songs.

So, once again, you are asked to learn 2 songs from any musician from the Ottawa valley (alive or dead) and be prepared to perform them on Saturday, May 26th at The Masonic Hall in Westboro (430 Churchill Ave. at Byron Ave). The show begins at 8 p.m.

Please contact me at missyburgess.com to identify the song(s) you will be performing along with the author(s) by May 13th. It’s going to be another great night. Be sure and sign up as early as possible as the number of performers has a limit of 15 people.

Invite friends to come and enjoy an evening of surprising twists to songs you have heard from local artists. The show is free and I will be passing the hat to raise money for future musical events, workshops etc.

It will be a most enjoyable evening.

Looking forward to seeing you.

As always
Missy Burgess

The members concluded the AGM by re-establishing the board of directors at five members following the expiry of three one-year terms. By acclamation, Pat Moore was welcomed back for a second term along with new board members Carol Noel and Alrick Huebener. They join continuing board members Hollis Morgan and Mark Evenchick who are mid-way through their two-year terms.