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Tony Latimer
Salt over my shoulder

NEW RELEASE

On May 18 at the Coast Harbourside Hotel, one of Victoria's posh oceanside palaces, Tony Latimer launched his debut disc, which I predict will make a very big splash! (Pardon the pun.) Salt Over My Shoulder (Ringtail Records) is a work that has been long in the making for Tony, who has been writing and playing his music since 1967.

Born in Australia, Tony sang in church choirs and school operettas as a boy, then discovered the ocean, sailing and the music that accompanies such a life -- sea shanties and "forebitters." He is a professional sailor and boat builder, as well as a top-notch musician and composer. As a result, Tony's songwriting has been influenced by the places he has visited, including the island music he heard while delivering ships between Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Some of these island flavours and rhythms are really distinctive in his songs.

The throng awaiting him at the Coast Harbourside that night -- between 100 and 150 people packed into a conference room -- was already kindly disposed and happy for Tony's new success. Tony has made Vancouver Island his home base since 1977, and I hope that he will continue to do so for a number of reasons. He has been instrumental in reviving a number of folk music clubs around the Pacific Northwest, including one on the island here.

Joining him for this performance were Dave Klassen (bass), Rick Van Krugel (mandolin), Pat Thompson (concertina, backing vocals), Sue Klassen (shaker, backing vocals) and Alan Law (dobro). The ladies were referred to as "The Reality Chicks," and their performance was great! They even had a few dance steps figured out for Tony, which added to the whole effect. Sue's vocals had their usual effect on me -- I got goosebumps all over. This woman has a voice that is heaven personified!

Tony performed the tracks from his disc, in a very different order and with a wee bit of a tale about each one, to the delight of the amassed friends, family, and of course, media. His anthem song, "We are Kings of the Western Ocean," was one of the last he performed; it is a well-written piece and had the audience singing and clapping along. It's a delightful shanty, filled with power which explodes out with Tony's resonant vocals. This piece borrows a traditional Australian melody but uses original lyrics: "We are Kings of the Western Ocean / It's plain to see we are / We've left our mark on many a bark / We stink of pitch and tar / All hands cries the mate / And up aloft we fly / The devil take the laggard, Jack / It's do your best or die...." This song encompasses so much of who and what Tony is, it is only fitting it be his anthem number.

"Wish and Watch the Steamers Sail By" is a study in oddness. Although featuring a very Hawaiian melody and lyrics, it was written by a Canadian and an Australian. However, you'd never know that it wasn't a traditional song unless someone told you! Rick had a lot of fun with his mandolin on this piece, taking off for a spotlight solo. This was followed by Alan, the song's co-writer, embellishing on his dobro. And the Reality Chicks were giving a good show and providing absolutely divine backup vocals as Tony sang about "the scent of frangipanis in the air." It was a warm trade wind blowing through the room after that number, with all thoughts turned to the exotic and not so distant Hawaiian islands.

It was a great performance, very warm and inviting. Tony's stage presence is that of someone who is comfortable with himself and his music, and he obviously enjoys sharing it with those around him. It makes for a pleasant evening! There were a few familiar faces in the crowd as well, including Colleen from the Ecclestons and Ian from Rig-a-Jig, as well as a number of members of the Folk Society. Of course, many of Tony's songs are well-known to those of us in the area, so the audience participation was quite strong and added to the feelings of tranquility and inevitability. This disc had to come along sooner or later -- it is music that demands to be heard and shared.

My companion for the evening found Tony to be a bit of a cross between Jimmy Buffet and Roy Rogers, while his black garb reminded me more of Johnny Cash. I certainly agree with artistic director Mitch Podolak, who said that despite Tony's Australian roots, his music embodies the Canadian experience. Tony Latimer is one of the best things to come out of Canada in a great long time, and I hope there will be a great many more discs to capture his wonderful songwriting talents.

As I made my departure into the cold night air of the Victoria waterfront, the strains of the music were still haunting my senses. And Tony's new CD, with all of its original gems, will make the experience last even longer.

by Naomi de Bruyn

Treecrusher
yes i don't

 recorded over the August long weekend in a SEA OF SHIT by the one and only Scott Henderson.

Tumbara
Spiral Spirit

Keith Baker

Tumbara Bio

 

Tumbara is music for the soul. Tonally rich earthy grooves mix authentic world drums and percussion with didjeridoo and ethereal flutes. Instruments from Africa, Australia, Tibet, the Middle East, Native and South American unite through tracks that organically blend hypnotic tribal rhythms and meditative, textural sounds into a rich listening experience. Tumbara’s music, alive and infectious, is also humble and healing, great for yoga meditation and movement. Renowned Vinyasa flow yoga instructor, Shiva Rea, includes several selections on her compilation CD Shakti Rhythms and subsequent DVD release called Yoga Shakti. This West Coast inspired music transcends our cultural diversity by celebrating the spiraling one spirit within us all.

 

Tumbara’s debut album, Spiral Spirit, features Keith Baker on drums and percussion who also takes the creative lead with writing, production and mixing. The album also introduces Sky on flutes, Laurie Keating on didjeridoo and Bob Brown adding more drums and percussion. The sound is open and explorative, a uniting of rhythm and melody inspiring one to surrender to the moment. Its energy is organic and flowing, offering trance tracks like ‘River Zen’ and ‘Sombrio Spirit’, tribal grooves of ‘Duality’ and the spacious tranquility of ‘Om Peace’. Serious enjoyment. 

 

Hazart Inayat Khan wrote “music is the language of the soul, and for people of different cultures to unite there is no better way than music. For music not only unites people to each other, but people to the one spirit”.  Tumbara’s music aims to inspire our cultural unity through openhearted musical expression, bringing together players and instruments as one spirit….celebrating the diversity.

Uberjazz Quartet

Label:God Records, Victoria
all songs written by Mako, Julian Gosper, Richer, Thiel
Produced by Scott Henderson

Viva Choirs
Viva Viva!

released December 5, 1998

Only 1 used cd available in (near new) condition

"Viva VIVA!" is the apt title of the VIVA Choir's first compact disk, released December 5, 1998. Artistic Director Connie Foss More has selected the best examples from the choir's first 10 years, making the CD a "hit parade" of this treble choir's favourite international folk music and art music recordings. Venues range from Victoria's St. Andrew's Cathedral to London's Church of St-Martin-in-the-Fields and include some international competition performances.

Wyckham Porteous
sexandrinking

While Porteous' previous recordings were about searching, sexanddrinking is about what he found. A travelogue, the album reflects what he has discovered during the journey, including what is good, what is bad and what is indifferent. Almost a throwback to the 60s, sexanddrinking is a concept album with threads that crisscross and intertwine, creating storylines with complex texture and vivid imagery.

In 1989 a critic described Wyckham as "mercurial and enigmatic" suggesting that his career path would be on the eccentric side of the spectrum in what was a remarkable prophetic observation. Since then Wyckham has performed at festivals all over the world but has yet to do a major tour.

Like fellow songwriters Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams, the time is right for people to discover an artist and talent that has been hidden for too long.

Yellowbelly
naked...

Yellowbelly's musical tapestry has evolved since 1993 from the original 6 piece that fused world music with powerful combinations of pop, jazz, and fun(k). After having great success with 4 years of touring and sharing stages with the likes of of Papa Wenba, Bootsy Collins, Bare Naked Ladies, and many others, Yellowbelly went on hiatus. The dormancy has been broken and Yellowbelly was rekindled taking on a sound that has gained even more energy, maturity and focus.

Zappnin Black

Black History

The history of Zappnin Black spanz back to High School for two of it's memberz.

Of different agez, but sharing the common thread of muzic, Donnie and Tommy began playin' various Ozzy and Motley Crue songz together in their latter yearz of high school. Az the music world got heavier, so did their playing styles. Metallica's '...And Justice for All' became quite an influence on the two, and note for note, they taught themselvez most of the album. A couple more facez joined their posse, and soon they were performing for over five hundred people at the school'z Talent Show. Ironically, Metallica had performed in Vancouver a day or two prior, so a majority of the students in attendance were still riding the high from that Metallica show, for the Talent Show.

Prior to the last song performed, thingz got physical. The standz erupted, and a sea of people flooded the floor. There were shoez flyin' in the air, chairz were sent to the wind and the teacherz began to freak out. Wuz it a riot? What the hell wuz goin' on? Had the students lost their mindz? Well kinda... but all in the name of rock n' roll.

Shit indeed did hit the fan when it wuz all said and done. The principal sat young Donnie down in hiz office, and behind closed doorz, gave him the third degree. It wuz right out of the moviez. "I understand this Metallica-band played in Vancouver a couple of nights ago," he sez, "and when you guyz told the people to come on down from their seats to join in, you started to play Metallica'z music, and then everyone got hypnotized by it. Somebody could have gotten hurt or even killed down there! I am unimpressed."

Critics... you gotta love 'em. At least for entertainment valuez.

Tommy would extend hiz heavy metal wayz, and join local heaviez Malevolence, (Whom were formed by Zappnin Black artist Jay Black), and Donnie posted his servicez up in a local muzic store, then went on to form Conviction. (Another heavy metal act for the Victoria scene). Contact wuz alwayz held between Donnie and Tommy, and quite frequently they would find themselvez holding late nite jamz, of music more in the vane of Black Sabbath and Captain Beyond. Metal may have moved in, but their rock n' roll
roots were never forgotten or wasted away.

Az time went by, flavourz would change.

Tired of the angst of playing heavy music, Tommy cut hiz hair and started another band, more in a Green Day sound of thingz. Donnie went on with Conviction, and then even a stint with Malevolence. He too growing weary of the screaming fury that wuz hiz music, hung up hiz Metallishoez to reconvene with Tommy and get back to their roots of rock n' roll. The two would put together (with another tired heavy metallist) a band known as; Rollie Fingers. Dragster rock n' roll wuz the brand of music, and a fresh new beginning would take place. Excited by this new direction, and creative mayhem, the boyz would delve into a giant bottle of alcohol(izm).

Meanwhile, on the other side of the tracks, Johnny would join up with some school mates of the other two and start putting to work and play, a band; The Mungle Pilgriffs. Although the three, (Donnie, Johnny & Tommy), had known (to some extent) who each other were, they would not formally get together for quite sometime yet.

Az Rollie Fingers checked itself into rehab, (so to speak), the band fell into a black void of nothingness. Donnie went back to the heavy metal monster, for lack of better thingz to do, and Tommy formed Black Creek with, conveniently enough, Johnny (who had been growing a different kind of tired, tired of the bullshit). Johnny and Tommy would play together for a year before they decided to move in for the kill.

Unimpressed with where they were with their drummer at the time, they tried to sway Donnie from the dark side. Then, after much anticipation from all the playerz involved, the three finally got together. The team wuz formed, and the family had begun.
The long lost brotherz were finally united az one, and Zappnin Black had come to be. The Superership wuz now completely assembled (batteriez not included), and the ball of havin' a ball, wuzza rollin'.

After months of hard workout, the songz were attaining shape, and a sunshiney form of 'Feelgood Rock' wuz gasoline for the machine... ... and the mileage wuz fantastick! Appropriate enough, it wuz the right time to record the soundtrack for this future Feature Attraction.

The Spring of 2001 saw the Brothership land in Vancouver for a six day tenure, three of which were within' the wallz of Greenhouse Studios. In this time, five songz were laid down, and during the creation of the CD's cover art, a comic strip wuz born. Now, az memberz of the netherworld, everything fell into place and the puzzle piecez were to fit together perfectly.

The Fall of 2001 brought on training camp for Team Black. They would know their routine like the back of their handz, and the game plan wuz put forth. While pulling bitz n' piecez from recipez of the likes of Dave Halen, Sly Stone and Paul Stanley, the Black's have bin cookin' up a game plan even John Madden would tail-gate for, and that my friendz, is how Super Bowlz are won.

Bringing us up to prezent date. Performance iz now the main focus for the Boyz of the Black. Cuz the show must go on and on... and then on some more! Gotta give to the people what they need; good company, good timez and good muzic. Az the prime candidates for perfect hosts, it'z the package deal. Signed, sealed and delivered. Satisfaction guaranteed, (cuz anything less would be uncivilized).
In the lean and mean time, put your sunglassez on, fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight. It'z gonna be one helluva tomorrow and tonight.

So for now, "Let the gamez begin, and the good timez, Rock n' Roll!"

 

from Roctoria 2002

Donnie and Tommy Black began playin' various Ozzy and Motley Crue songz together in their latter yearz of high school. Az time went by, flavourz would change. Eventually tired of the angst of playing heavy music, Tommy cut hiz hair and started another band, with a Green Day sorta of sound. Donnie went on with Conviction, and then even a stint with local heaviez Malevolence. He hung up hiz Metallishoez to reconvene with Tommy and get back to their roots of rock n' roll. Meanwhile, on the other side of the tracks, Johnny Black would join up with some school mates of the other two and start putting to work and play, a band; The Mungle Pilgriffs. Donnie went back to the heavy metal monster, for lack of better thingz to do, and Tommy formed Black Creek with Johnny. Johnny and Tommy would play together for a year before they decided to move in for the kill. Unimmpressed with where they were with their drummer at the time, they tried to sway Donnie from the dark side. The three finally got together. The team wuz formed, and the family had begun.


Copyright © 2001 Zappnin Black. All Rights Reserved.