Bengal's Corner

Hello, cats!

Welcome to my latest interview...
I am a not so innocent victim, fallen prey to the seductive lure of traditional (and not so much) Irish music, thanks to the multitask man, Marc Gunn. Hyperactive, Marc can't stay still. His mind boils with hundreds of new ideas every week, and we are lucky because he actually pursues part of them and shares the great results with us! Marc is a musician with passion for his Irish origins and the Scottish and Celtic influences. Thus, expect great humor, mystery and romance in his compositions, exploring his creativity with any topic in mind.

Besides composing, playing and singing, Marc also writes about his adventures traveling and playing in many different corners of this planet. His easy reading style of writing is addictive... Alas, I am now completely hooked on his blogs. As if it isn't enough, Marc still finds time to run many Podcasts on Irish (and related) music.


Bengal: Hi, Marc, thanks for finding the time in your crazy agenda to talk to us.

Marc Gunn: I'm always happy to find time!

Bengal: Marc, can you tell us a bit about your heritage?

Gunn: I am an American of Scots-Irish heritage. My Gunn family arrived [to the US] in the early-mid-1800s from a place unknown at present. But I really wasn't raised with the musical tradition. My dad was big into folk music growing up, and he took me to a few Highland Games, but for the most part, I didn't discover the music until I started the Brobdingnagian Bards in 1999.

Bengal: So, how did this involvement with Music start?

Gunn: My entire family is musical to some degree. My mom plays the piano. My dad plays every folk instrument under the sun, it seems, especially the banjo. My brother plays a bit o'guitar. My sister, flute.

My desire to be a full-time musician began in 1992. I had become an Amway distributor. They asked what my dream was. I said, "music". My Amway life didn't last long, but it solidified my desire to be a musician.

I fumbled around among a few different bands. Then while practicing at the University of Texas at Austin, someone invited me to perform at a Ren Faire. Having long been a D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] geek, I said, "Woohoo!" Asked Andrew McKee to join me and we started the Brobdingnagian Bards. The next couple years were spent in total immersion in Irish folk songs.

Bengal: Which instruments do you play?

Gunn: I play the autoharp almost exclusively. I used to play the guitar and have dabbled with some of the folk instruments I've swiped from my dad, like the banjo, hammered and mountain dulcimers, and now I'm playing the bodhran a little bit. But the autoharp is still my main instrument.

I love it too. The autoharp is simple to play and great for singing. But you can do a LOT with it once you know the basics.

Bengal: When composing, where does the inspiration come from? Do you have a method you use to prepare yourself?

Gunn: Inspiration is random for me. I should sit down and write daily. As I said, I have a problem staying on top of all the projects I do. But really, that's okay. That's sort of the life of an artist. You do lots of different things.

However, when I do write, I like writing with the autoharp in hand. It helps me create the mood and melody and then I can fine tune the story and lyrics apart from the autoharp. It helps me to get started usually.

Bengal: You play with your band, the Brobdingnagian Bards. Which places outside US have you guys been playing lately? Which are the most interesting and strangest places you have ever been to?

Gunn: The band is at the present moment touring exclusively in US. I occasionally tour Europe solo because I have family in Italy and love the fact that I can pay for my trip by playing music. That's Awesome!

However, that is changing some. Last summer, we [Brobdingnagian Bards] led a fan tour to Ireland and played in a couple o'places. Though I think the most shocking thing to happen was in Blarney this summer when some guy sat down in the park we were playing. He listened to a couple o'songs then asked, "Are you Marc Gunn?" All our fans busted up laughing and it turns out he was a fan of my Ren Fest Podcast.

As for most interesting gig, that would either be DragonCon, where we have our biggest audiences packing rooms, or the hostel I played in Italy last summer in this ancient Italian villa. Brilliant!

Bengal: You compose, you write, you photograph, you publish, you educate, you promote, you have a band, you have blogs, web pages and podcasts, did I leave anything out? How do you find time to administrate all of this and still go out with your band on tours? By the way, how many podcasts do you have at the moment?

Gunn: It's my AMAZING time management skills. [with a sarcastic expression]

Good question! Fact is I don't publish things daily. I have a hell of a time keeping up with everything. I'm a bit ADD so I bounce around to a LOT of projects. But none are done on a solid regular basis. I just can't keep up with things that way. So I just accept that things happen when they happen. I work a lot and write and hope for the best. And it works out. Ultimately, it's a lot because I've been doing it for YEARS! And it just adds up. :)

But I admit I have trouble keeping up with them.

I have six podcasts – the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Renaissance Festival Podcast, Pub Songs Podcast, Cat Lovers Podcast, MarcSongs Podcast, A Brobdingnagian Minute.

Bengal: Marc, with all this experience you have, what would be your advice to someone that just started in the business and is realizing that it's not that simple to 'make it'?

Gunn: "Making it" is all a relative term. I believe it is not too difficult to make a living as a musician IF you are willing to work for it. Great music is only a portion of what you need to succeed. You also need to learn how to market and promote yourself and be persistent in doing it.

More than likely, you will NOT get a great record contract. So don't expect it. Instead, make it on your own and when the labels come knocking the contract will better all around for you and anyone IF you even want it.

As for me, I have little desire for a contract. I already have a busy label, Mage Records, which takes up a LOT of time and energy. And passing it on to someone else isn't that great an idea.

Bengal: Why cats?

Gunn: Cats. Well, that was an interesting story. I was raised with pet Pekingeses actually. But as I started touring more, my then fiancée LOVED cats. She wanted one while I was away. So we went to the pound and adopted Jasper. It wasn't long before I fell in love with cats too. They are intelligent, sweet and loving... and independent too. I love everything about them.

After performing at DragonCon in 2002, I believe, I was talking with a friend on the phone and my cat Tiziano climbed in my lap. I grew up parodying songs thanks to my dad's influence, so I started singing "Wild Rover" and meowing in the chorus. Next thing I knew I had my first cat song and an -- idea that should seemed to purrfect Irish drinking songs for Cat Lovers. Turns out I wasn't alone either. A LOT of people LOVE the CD!

Bengal: And the question everyone wants to know: in the Irish drinking songs for cat lovers, which one influenced the most - the drinking or the cats?

Gunn: [laughing] It was the cats that influenced it the most. The CD is mostly about cats. In fact a lot of the lyrics aren't even about alcohol. That's just the general theme.

Bengal: Any other information you want to spread out there?

Gunn: Help people. One of the best lessons of marketing I learned was to help other people. And do it selflessly. It's the law of the universe that the more you help others, the more it'll come back to you. Don't EXPECT it to come back, but it will. You just have to have faith. Tough, but believe.

Oh! And I do plan to release "More Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers" in 2008.

Bengal: Marc, thanks for your time. It’s been great to talk to you. Have a great Valentine’s Day and success in your next album. I can’t wait!

If you enjoyed this chat with Marc, you don't have to be in love to enjoy his latest CD, "A Tribute to Love", when he releases the album on Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Lunchtime Concert and CD Release Party
February 14, 2008
Things Celtic @ noon
1806 W. 35th Street
Austin, TX 78703

Marc Gunn, and news about his band, his shows and projects, can be found regularly at the following links:

Marc Gunn
Brobdingnagian Bards
Marc Gunn Podcasts (list)
Album Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers

Bards Crier Music Marketing and Promotion Ezine
Celtic MP3s Music Magazine

Hello, everyone!

Let's start the New Year with a so expected interview. Many readers asked and here it is: Benoit Bourque.

Bourque is the person that introduced me to the Quebecois Traditional Music and Dance. Before that, I had no idea of Québec and its rich culture. Then, I discovered the talents of so many artists such as Genticorum, Bernard Simard, Le Rêve du Diable, and many more. In this sense, I have much to thank him.

I first met Benoit Bourque in Texas (2005) and his stage presence, charisma, contagious energy and dance steps instantly thrilled me. He charmed the entire audience! Bourque has loyal followers since the beginning of his career while playing with many bands such as Advielle Que Pourra, Matapat and Le Vent du Nord. I could meet many of his fans through these years while learning more about Québec history and arts.

Bourque co-hosted the Canadian Folk Music Awards last December, and today we talk about his present and future. Without further ado, here is our interview:

Bengal: Hi, Benoit! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

Benoit Bourque: Merci, it’s always a pleasure.

Bengal: Benoit, can you tell us a bit about your artistic background, how you started in music and dance?

Benoit: I come from a musical family: my dad played trumpet, my brothers (4) and sisters (3): saxophone, trombone, guitar, keyboard, recorders, ukulele. We all sang different kind of songs (traditional, pop, etc...) I start playing the guitar at first and very little keyboard to switch to clarinet when I was about 8 years old. Later, at the age of 13, I started to dance to meet girls. [laughs] At first I learned International traditional dances to finally focus on Québec dances and step dancing.

Bengal: An early talent! Is there anyone else from your family playing, dancing or singing professionally?

Benoit: Nobody in my family made a living with arts: for my parents, music was a hobby so my mom said [to me] for years: ''Did you find a REAL job?'' [laughs]

Bengal: And your family now, the children? Are they following the steps [pun intended] of the father?

Benoit: They all touched music: Mathilde (27) piano, Vincent (25) has played electric bass, guitar and DJ, Jasmine (22) has done very little violin but always love to sing, Antoine (17) is the only one who really study music (in college): he plays piano, tuba and piano-accordion.

Bengal: Why Quebecois Traditional music and not another style?

Benoit: I always loved to sing the traditional songs from Québec: this has been my start from my family. When I started the dance at 13, it became a natural thing to do trad.

Bengal: Why step dance and not other type?

Benoit: I do step dancing what we call in Québec: gigue. The first time I have seen it was with a big guy who was doing simple steps but he really looked so light!! [laughs]

Bengal: Surely you can do the same! Coming from a big family that could play all sorts of musical instruments, you might have learned many. Which instruments do you play, Benoit?

Benoit: I play bones, spoons, button accordions, guitar and some mandolin, recorder, bohdran and piano.

Bengal: How do you see the Quebecois Traditional Music expanding frontiers?

Benoit: I think that Québec trad is becoming slowly but surely one of the new fashion in the folk milieu in North America. It's comparable to Cajun music 25 years ago.

Bengal: You have a vast knowledge of the musical history behind Quebecois Trad and you have been part of this environment for a while, developing many different types of projects, and surely meeting many of the artists in this milieu...

Benoit: I surely don't know all of them but I know many, many of them. It's hard to know all of them especially that we have now more and more young musicians who do it.

Bengal: One of your talents, present in many projects, is composition. When did you start to compose? Do you have a method for that, what inspires you?

Benoit: I started when I was a teen with my friends... a few compositions on guitar... most of those songs were funny songs. In 1982, I wrote La Valse Matique while I was on an asthma attack (I was feeling romantic). [Benoit is the only artist I know that would compose under an asthma attack!!] I don't have a real method but I often start the composition on one instrument to switch to another one to keep going.

Bengal: Recently I had the opportunity to meet Marc Benoit, former Eritage, that told me about many of the shows, the TV experience and the recognition in Québec. How was your experience with Eritage?

Benoit: Marc Benoit was the standup bass and guitar player in the band. I enormously enjoyed my 6 years with them and I quit because of the family... Carole, my wife, was pregnant of our 3rd child. I started to discover the Canadian folk milieu with this group, and the USA one with Advielle Que Pourra and Matapat.

Bengal: Recently you announced your MySpace page where everybody can have access to your future shows and activities. Can you tell us a little about these future plans?

Benoit: In fact, I have so many projects that I cannot talk about it now. Some of the gigs are solo, some duo, some trio but I have bigger projects to come. For the first time in my life, I started to put on my solo show and I have a 50 minutes ready by now. At the moment, I’m also working on music therapy with the elderly.

Bengal: Benoit, last December you co-hosted the CFMA. How was that experience? You are one of the previous CFMA winners yourself, how does it feel?

Benoit: I have been many time a Master of Ceremony for different festivals but it is first time for an award ceremony. I felt like a fish in water: the folk milieu is mine for so long and I love this milieu. One of the tension that I had with Matapat and Le Vent du Nord was their huge ambitions!! They both wanted to be the best. This is not the folk approach but the pop approach. I prefer much more the folk approach.

Bengal: Which artists you admire the most?

Benoit: All of them who are committed to social changes: we need much more peoples who are left wing thinkers.

Bengal: Which was the most gratifying moment of your career so far?

Benoit: In 1988, when I was in Moscow: peoples were extremely friendly and intense: it was almost a dream.

Bengal: And can you tell us the funniest thing that ever happened on stage?

Benoit: One of my friend who is a good fiddler but speaks slowly: once he felt down his chair (one of the legs found a hole in the stage floor) but very slowly.

Bengal: Benoit, thanks for your time and all the entertainment!

Benoit: Merci! The pleasure was mine!


If you are interested in more information about Benoit Bourque, you are welcome to visit his official MySpace where you can also listen to some of his compositions.

Bengal.

Photo by Baptiste Grison


Hello, everyone!

Recently I visited Quebec and enjoyed the Quebecois Traditional Music - QueTrad - live! One of the artists I had the opportunity to see on stage more than once is Bernard Simard. I can't resist a talented artist playing acoustic guitar with a silky voice behind it, and that's how I discovered Simard's works. For more than 20 years now, Bernard Simard has been cultivating a loyal following from Quebec till Europe. His talents in QueTrad could appeal to just about any music fan. Simard has been recording since 1983 when he was a member of La Bottine Souriante. He lived for 9 years in France, mixing styles and expanding his influences, and now he is back home with his new album Spectacle Solo. Find out more about Bernard Simard in the interview below...

Bengal: Salut, Bernard! First of all, thanks for taking the time for this interview, we all appreciate. How are you?

Bernard: Salut, Bengal! I also appreciate and I'm fine, thanks. I'm interested in Folk music so I understand the same interest in others.

Bengal: Bernard, can you tell us a bit about how your involvement with music started? Is it an influence that came from your family?

Bernard: I have two brothers and one sister. One of my brothers plays the guitar and sings. He released three albums featuring his own compositions. My sister also sings and plays the guitar while my other brother works at Radio-Canada. My father used to play when he was alive… There were guitars everywhere in the house when I was young so... I started playing when I was twelve years old. Between twelve and seventeen I was working on the guitar and learning songs by Beau Dommage, Harmonium, Claude Dubois, Robert Charlebois, Diane Dufresne, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Bécaud, Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd. In fact I was listening to a lot of progressive rock between fifteen and eighteen. My family has no background on Quebecois traditional music but enjoyed the most popular tunes, like everybody else did. My father’s style was more like Tino Rossi and Luis Mariano.

Bengal: That sounds a nice mix of influences. Did you always play QueTrad or did you play any other style before?

Bernard: In the beginning, I started playing chansonnier - french and english. I played for the first time in a bar when I was seventeen. I just began playing the Quebecois traditional music about the age of twenty-two.

Bengal: Do you play other instruments? Apparently it's very common to see musicians playing more than one instrument in QueTrad what is not that common in other styles.

Bernard:: I play a bit of piano and I really need to practice one of these days… I'm not a tap dancer but I do the podorythmie [seated foot percussion], although not in this new solo show. I have enough to do with the words and the guitar…

Bengal: For sure. I understand that, in QueTrad, usually the musician has the traditional lyrics, poems, stories from the past and then composes on top of this material. Sometimes, one has the tunes from the past and then composes additions or just new arrangements for the instruments playing it. How is this process in your case, do you have a method? Does the inspiration come from the lyrics in front of you, or are there external factors that contribute?

Bernard: I always work with the words and the music. Usually the tune comes from a friend or from a tape from the archives of the Universitè Laval. I usually imagine how I can make a personal interpretation of the song. If it sounds good in my mind, I can imagine how I’m gonna work it and usually that works well. Sometimes I don't really find the way to arrange the tune but it stays in my head, and six months later I find a new path. The music needs to be nice and rare, and the words need to be interesting historically, or maybe it's a nice love story or something that makes one laugh. There are stupid songs in trad music and it's not an obligation to sing a song just because it's traditional. I just go by what's calling me. I had a grant in 2005 from the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec to do a research on new songs at the Université Laval. The project was for six months. That was part of the work for the album [Spectacle Solo].

Bengal: I understand you lived in France for quite sometime. Why did you leave Canada to move to… where in France?

Bernard: I was in Brittany. The reason of the move: love!

Bengal: Of course… Love is the biggest inspiration! Well, tell me about your bands there - how Gwazigan and Cabestan started?

Bernard: An Irish Pub opened its doors one day and decided to have jams every Tuesday. The owners of the place, Chris and Rosie Short and Anthony McCartan, are three musicians and had a band called The Churchfitters [the band still continues but with different members]. I used to go there and, one day, Chris proposed to me (or I proposed to him, I don't really remember) to create a duo. I chose the name [Gwazigan], we tooked pictures, practiced a lot and found gigs. Later Raphael Chevalier joined us with his fiddle and we were three. Rosie joined us to replace Raphael who was working hard with another band. Finally, Rosie and Chris had to quit because The Churchfitters was working a lot too. So I've decided to recreate the band, bigger and with others musicians that I meet in others jam sessions in Britanny. We were five and we taped the second CD of the band in Quebec at the Studio du Chemin 4. We were also starting to work a lot but it was time for me to come back to Quebec. Reason of my return: love! With Cabestan we had the same way of work. It was a friend of mine, Christian Desnos, who proposed to the band to take me in with them. I called one day to invite him to a party at home and he said: Hey! It’s so funny that you are calling me today. We were just discussing that we need a new singer and guitarist in the band. I will call the guys and I’ll call you later. He called me in the evening and I was in the band. I had a lot of fun with these guys!

Bengal: I really enjoy your work with Constantinople. How this idea started?

Bernard: At the beginning, it was supposed to be just a show with three members of Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer. In the end, they were not free for the day programmed for the show and they proposed me to Constantinople. We prepared the show together, it's Contantinople who was preparing most of the arrangements, and we did one performance. The year before, Constantinople won a price and they were using Radio-Canada's studios to record a CD. [Winners of the Discovery of the Year Award from Opus Gala in 2003, Constantinople have been the Ensemble in residence at Radio-Canada for the 2004-2005 season.] They decided then to make an album of the show we performed. So the idea came from them.

Bengal: You are a very experienced musician, with works in more than 40 albums. What made you decide for the solo album at this point?

Bernard: After I left Le Vent du Nord and after Trio à Quatre died, I had the choice between starting a new band, again, or doing something by myself. It was imperative to make a quick decision anyway. My feeling was to have a break of bands, especially of creating one. Anyway, the budget for an album was less in [Spectacle] Solo than with a band.

Bengal: Do you miss working with the bands? If so, what do you miss the most?

Bernard: I miss playing music with soloists but occasionally I'm playing with friends, in shows or for dance-related events.

Bengal: Do you think the QueTrad music is crossing the boards of PQ into the rest of Canada and international lands more than it used to do in the past or not?

Bernard: I think that in the United States people are interested in our music since a long time. I'm playing Quebecois traditional music for 25 years and I used to play this style in the States with most of theses bands during these 25 years. I also know that older bands - before I arrived in the world - used to record and play in the States. There are always waves on the sea but the water is always on the same move.

Bengal: Any plans for a new album coming soon?

Bernard: Nothing decided yet. But [there will be] another one for sure, in studio - solo or with my band I don't know.

Bengal: Thanks, Bernard, for taking the time for the interview. It was really a pleasure! Any last words for our readers?

Bernard: Yes! If you like my music tell to your friends please. If you don't like tell to your enemies!


For more, check the following links:
Bernard Simard Official Homepage
Bernard Simard's MySpace
Gwazigan
Cabestan
The Churchfitters
Constantinople
Tino Rossi
Luis Mariano
Les Charbonniers de L'Enfer
Le Vent du Nord

If you are interested in some videos of Bernard's shows, check You Tube.

Hello, cats!

This is another local (California) event that can't be missed! For the jazz lovers and anyone else that appreciates good music, Charmaine Clamor will be joined by the finest Filipino jazz artists from all over the world. Dec 7-9 at Catalina Bar & Grill. This is a great way to start the holidays!

For tickets and info: JazzPhil or 323.512.5543

Bengal.

Link

Depois de um ano bastante internacional e já com uma digressão prevista para Alemanha e Suíça e outra para Itália em 2008, os Dazkarieh fecham 2007 com um concerto no dia 24 de Novembro no Festival Musidanças, a decorrer no Instituto Franco-Portugais em Lisboa. A 1ª parte fica a cargo do brasileiro Fernando Terra e os bilhetes são a 10 Euros. O início do concerto está previsto para as 22h.

MySpace
Musidancas


Dazkarieh will close 2007 with a concert in Lisbon, in Musidanças Festival in Instituto Franco-Portugais. To be announced is a tour in Germany / Switzerland in april an in Italy in August.

Local:
Instituto Franco-Portugais
Avenida Luis Bivar, 91
1050-143 Lisboa
Tel : 21 311 14 00

Toronto's Flying Cloud Folk Club
292 Brunswick Avenue
www.flyingcloudfolk.ca

Sunday, November 4
Concert 7:30 - 10:30, doors open @ 7:00 pm
Tickets $20, members $18
416.410.FOLK (3655)

Born in Québec City, fiddler-singer-mandolinist-guitarist Claude Méthé has been a part of the traditional music world in Québec for more than twenty years. A self-taught fiddler, his style reflects his influences and the eighteen years he lived in the region of Lotbinière, Québec, on the south side of the St-Lawrence river not far from Québec City. Claude is a former founding member of the nearly legendary Le Rêve du Diable, winner of a Felix for best traditional album in 1983, and a group often credited with singlehandedly reviving public interest in traditional Québécois music. The group’s original recordings have recently been rereleased and it is interesting to note that today, a whole new generation is once again making this “discovery”—in the form of old albums (33s) by Le Rève du Diable! In addition, Claude is a former member of Joséphine (with Danielle Martineau), Québec group Manigance and Vermont group Jeter le Pont. He has played all over Canada, in Europe and the U.S. and appears on at least twelve recordings, including the soundtrack of Oscar-winning film “CRAC” by Frédéric Back. Claude’s impressive repertoire of traditional songs contains gems from Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and the maritimes, sung in a voice both textured and sentimental. Tonight, Claude (fiddle, guitar, tunes and songs), will be accompanied by Dana Whittle (Jeter le Pont, Dent-de-lion, on guitar, feet and vocals) and Denise Levac (flute, vocals & feet).

Hello, everyone!

I hope everybody enjoy a wicked day!
Happy Halloween!!

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

I hope you enjoy the band Dazkarieh. They are simply great in their fusion style that includes Irish, Celtic, Arabic, of course Portuguese (from Portugal), etc. I think this song below is very interesting - the music is delicious!

Bengal.



Vasco Ribeiro Casais, Baltazar Molina, Luís Peixoto and Joana Negrão

Por ter visto o mar
Num olhar de quem nunca o viu
Por ter ido atrás de uns olhos de maré
Sou capaz de andar sobre um mar que nunca existiu
Mas não sou capaz de ir mantendo a fé

Vão nascer manhãs
Por trás daquelas canções
Que herdei das ondas do mar
Quero-as irmãs
Ao ver os seus corações
Com medo de naufragar

Pedras e vulcões vão lançar o seu coração
Pra dentro do céu que fiz nascer em mim
Os seus corações é que me escolhem por vulcão
E pra não ser eu melhor é ser assim

Ventos e marés vão fazer o sol naufragar
Na palma da mão que o mar não soube ler
E se tu não és esse sol que me quer queimar
Não verás então o mar que tento ser

Daniel Roy, Yann Falquet and Pascal Gemme (from Genticorum), and Nicolas Boulerice and Olivier Demers (from Le Vent du Nord) together at Frontenac

Hello, everyone!!

Thanks for all the messages on the Still Breathing post I added here sometime ago. I really enjoy that album and it was nice to discover more materials on the subject. Besides that, thanks for the kind messages related to the situation of the wildfires in California. Things are getting better now although there is still fire and some regions are still under alert and risk. I hope everyone is safe and that relief comes soon.

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

And here more info on the ALASDAIR FRASER'S FIDDLE TRAIN - Vancouver to Toronto - November 3-7, 2007 (with Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas and Genticorum)!



THE SCHEDULE

Sat. November 3
Gather at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for check-in, followed by a kickoff concert at Capilano College in North Vancouver.

Sun. November 4
The day is free for sightseeing; gather mid-afternoon at Via Rail depot. Depart Vancouver 5:30 pm. Dinner on board as we enter the awesome Fraser River Canyon. 8:30 pm - Midnight: Evening Concert on board.

Mon. November 5
Wake up to some of the most magnificent scenery in the world! We'll pass Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, wend our way through Yellowhead (Tete Jaune) Pass and descend into the mountain town of Jasper at 11am (MT). We depart at 12:20, allowing for plenty of mountain air and leg- stretching. Workshops through the afternoon. In late afternoon we arrive in Edmonton, with a chance to stretch our legs, then we're off again. Starting at 8:30pm as we roll across the prairies, through small towns like Biggar and Viking, we'll be rocking and reeling till midnight in the performance car.

Tue. November 6
Across the prairies and Into Winnipeg at 11:20am (CT), where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet at "The Forks;" depart 12:25pm. The afternoon is filled with workshops, and, as evening falls, we enter the land of 1,000 lakes and the Canadian shield - some of the oldest rock and landscape on earth - over a thousand miles of nearly uninhabited terrain. This night on board features a full compliment of music and song!

Wed. November 7
Morning through the Shield, then into the small railroad town of Capreol for a leg-stretching just after noon. Our final afternoon on board brings us a last round of workshops and shows. We'll have an early dinner as we near Toronto, then, at 8:00pm, we pull into Union Station and cross the street to check in to the magnificent Fairmont Royal York, recently voted Canada's best deluxe hotel.

Thurs. November 8
Time to head home, or (optionally) stay another night for a possible Alasdair Fraser concert in Toronto (details tba). Special ticket price and additional hotel nights available.

For more information, click here.

There are few spaces left.... Enjoy the ride!

Bengal.

PS: I can't speak for any of the hotels, so if you want to check them out (get their links), just follow the link for more info.

Hello, everyone!

If you are in Toronto or in the area, Genticorum will be playing at Hugh's Room on November 8th. This is the final concert of Alasdair Fraser's Fiddle Train, which is travelling from Vancouver to Toronto during the first week of November. The concert at Hugh's Room is the final of the train experience -[which included five days of concerts and workshops]. Genticorum headlines the first half of the show, followed by Alasdair Fraser with Natalie Haas.

It's a pity I won't be there for this concert but I can tell you all that is so worth it! Last September, Alasdair and Natalie were here in Costa Mesa (CA), performing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and both concerts were great!

Enjoy it!
And thanks, Elizabeth, for the tip!

Bengal.

[FRENCH] Intensif de tango argentin profil performance.
Lundi, du 12 novembre au 10 décembre 2007. De 19 h à 21 h.
Présentation finale devant public.
Contenu: Technique, improvisation, musicalité, chorégraphie, création.
Requis: niveau intermédiaire
Prix : 15 $/cours/étudiants, 20 $/cours/adultes.
Places limitées, faites-vite!
Date limite d'inscription: 5 novembre 2007. Dépôt de 50 $ requis pour confirmer votre inscription (payable à l'avance).
Où: Studio Fleur d'asphalte - 6847 St-Hubert. Au plaisir de créer ensemble.

[ENGLISH] Intensive argentinean tango performance profile.
Monday, from November 12th to December 10th 2007. From 19 h to 21 h.
Ends with public presentation.
Content: Technic, improvisation, musicalité, chorégraphie, creation.
Skills required: intermdiate level.
Prices: 15 $/class/students, 20 $/class/adults.
Limited vacancies, don't wait!
Registration deadline: November 5th 2007.
A deposit of $50 is necessary.
Where: Fleur d'asphalte - 6847 St-Hubert.

Marjolayne Auger @ 514 804-8272 (marjolayne39 at hotmail.com)
TANGO

Hello, everyone!

I'm very curious about my readers that have an interest on the movie Still Breathing. One review once said: "the notion of Still Breathing is sweet and lovely, and possesses moments of breathtaking beauty -- Fletcher turning a projector on Roz, using her skin as a sensuous, reflective screen; a miniature cairn constructed in the palm of a hand; Ida playing an easy, affectionate Chopin on her tuba. Adding to the charm is a marvelous and evocative soundtrack that completes rather than overwhelms the images. The picture has the power to enchant, but...", and here I leave to you all. This is one of my favorite movies and it's not perfect, but very entertaining. And, of course, I simply love the soundtrack that is great but not easily available at this point in time.

This isn't a well-known movie, even in US. Indeed, I know few people that saw it and have an idea of what I'm talking about but I know many of you out there has an interest on it. So, please, tell me what is it about this movie that you like? Is it about the soundtrack? Do you have it? Some of you stopped by my blog because of the lyrics I added of one of the songs of the movie, and I appreciate the emails. Now, I want everybody else to express their comments, ideas, interest and questions on the subject. Use the comments space here or send me an email.

In my case, one of the stories in the movie that I love the most is the local legend about La Ventana de Rosa (the Rose Window), at the Mission San José in San Antonio. If you go to San Antonio, I really recommend it.

Have a nice Friday!

Bengal,
still breathing....

Hello, everyone!

This is a quick note to Bourque's fans that have been writing me lots lately (and also for everyone that appreciates Quebecois Traditional Music)... If you want more information on Benoit Bourque, musician and dancer from Quebec, check out his recently launched MySpace. There, you can have access to what's coming up soon on his agenda. I'll try to keep announcing some of these events here too.

Cheers,

Bengal.

October 20, 2007
151 Fountain Street
Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Doors open at 6h30 P.M. – Sandwhich Buffet at 7h00 P.M. followed by live orchestral music by Fleur de Lis. Quadrille dancing and instructions by caller George Ménard, Chansons à Répondre by members of Les Gais Chanteurs and the cammaraderie of members from various French organizations will make for a memorable evening! What else can we do to bring back a sense of fellowship at Le Foyer?

Come along, lead a song, tell a story, dance the night away! We will be raffling off some home made goodies (catsup rouge, sweet cucumber relish and French Canadian piccalily) made by some of our members including some jars of Eva Poirier's home made 'Boo Boo Salve' - Door prizes and split the pot as well! Invite your friends and relatives for an evening to enjoy and have fun.

Tickets are $14 / person or $25/ couple. Reserve a table of 8.
Limited seating – reservations are strongly encouraged by replying to this email or calling 401-728-8328. Reservations should be made by October 10.

Roger Bonin
President, Le Foyer
2 Foxx Dr
Lincoln, RI 02865
401-728-8328

Hello, everyone!

This entry is about Le Vent du Nord and the release of their new album tomorrow. Although, the promo I got here isn't accepting readjustments of its size, so you have to click on top of it to see it bigger... Sorry about that.

Bengal.

Hello, everyone!

This is a quick note to inform about the Grand Isle Lake House concert, sponsored by Island Arts, that will happen this coming Wednesday, September 26, 2007: Michèle Choinière, Sabin Jacques, Rachel Aucoin, and Benoît Bourque - Contra and quadrille dances called by Benoît will follow the concert.

For more information, check the following:

www.michelechoiniere.com
www.grandislelakehouse.com

Bengal.