Cd Isle...CDs by BC island recording artists

Allen Dobb’s recently produced CD, Rosetown, conjures-up the Canadian landscape and even deeper, more personal realms.  Credit producer/engineer John Ellis, who also plays guitars, mandolin, banjo and pedal steel on Rosetown, for mixing an evocative soundscape that showcases Dobb’s well-crafted lyrics and hook-laden, eclectic music.

Born in New Zealand ('72) and raised on the west coast of Canada, Damian's musical diversity has led to performances with some of the finest musicians in the country and abroad. (Michael Kaeshammer, David Gogo, Paul Laine, Paul Pigat, Pat Coleman,The Swinging Bachelors, Bob Murphy, Danger Danger, Phil Dwyer, Resin, The Big Band Trio, Tyler Yarema)

Performance highlights have included sharing the stage with Joshua Redman, Albert Collins, Cecil McBee, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Holly Cole, The Shuffle Demons, Buddy Guy, Metalwood, The Paladins, Colin James, The Odds, Junkhouse, Jane Bunnett, Phil Dwyer, Joey DeFrancesco, and numerous festival appearances including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto and Vancouver DuMarier Jazz Festivals, Beilefeld Jazz fest (Germany), High Sierra Music Festival (USA)

As well as playing drums Damian regularly works in the chair of Producer, Engineer, Graphic Designer (this site), Composer and has run his own label Bagel Boy Records for the past 10 years.

Damian's production, engineering and graphic design credits include the bands "Dr. Tongue", "Gypsyland", "Tongue and Groove", his latest release as a band leader entitled "Digs" and the ever popular "Nicol Street Christmas I, II and III" which feature many artists including musicians from The Odds, Wunderbread, David Gogo, Camille Miller, Gerry Barnum, Paul Laine.

As a composer Damian has written a large collection of material encompassing a wide variety of musical genres both on his own and in collaboration with other artists. Many of these compositions have been featured on radio and on his label. In 2000 co-writes with Michael Kaeshammer appeared on the later's Juno nominated album "No Strings Attached" (Alma Records)

The past four years have seen Damian touring extensively with Michael Kaeshammer, a young and talented pianist who is rapidly gaining recognition in Canada and abroad as one of the most exciting live acts around. Damian also maintains a busy live and studio schedule with his own ensemble and as an in demand session player. Having performed all across Canada, USA and Europe, Damian has been busy changing the way people think about the drums.

On Digs Damian is joined by some of the most highly regarded musicians on the west coast, Throughout the album pianist Chad Geekie amazes the listener with his incredible touch and sensitivity. A busy performer Chad is also an accomplished composer. Simon Fisk and Joey Smith hold down the bass chair and demonstrate why they are two of the most sought out bass players going. Other guests include Tina Jones (Wunderbread) singing beautifully, Marty Shepard's lush trumpet tones, and newcomer Jamie Campbell on tenor saxophone. (Received Jazz Report Magazine's Most Outstanding High School Musician award)

Fingerstyle blues guitarist Dan Livingstone has been receiving acclaim from musicians and audiences alike as an exceptional guitar player and an engaging performer. Whether playing rags, blues or spirituals, his expressive style marks him as a performer with “big ears” and a passion for the authentic. In separate concerts last year, Livingstone opened for international legends Duke Robillard and Buckwheat Zydeco. Audiences at the 16th annual Islands Folk Festival ranked him as one of the top performers of the weekend, alongside such world class players as Carlos del Junco.

Livingstone is inspired by the magic of the Piedmont, Delta and Texas blues traditions, and one of his aims as a musician is to immerse his audience in the music of Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Fred McDowell, and Robert Johnson. Livingstone’s originals – very popular with his fans – reflect a mix of these influences as well as a highly developed, lyrical style.

Now living in Montréal, Livingstone is a regular performer in the clubs around that city and toured Quebec this year to play various festivals, including Carleton International Maximum blues festival and Rimouski en blues. Over the past few years, Livingstone performed in different cities across Canada, including festivals and clubs in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. A cross-country tour this year took him from Va ncouver Island to the Magdalens. Born and raised on the west coast, Livingstone developed his early musical awareness through exposure to the music of John Fahey, Ken Hamm, and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Livingstone has spent the last few years travelling and performing in different cities across Canada, including festivals and clubs in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Quebec City. At the 1999 Pan Am Games he performed with Winnipeg guitar wizard Tim Butler; he has also shared the stage in other events with wel-known Canadian musicians Dave Gogo, Ken Hamm, Dave McLean and Rick Fines.

Livingstone’s debut CD was released in June 2000 and is entitled, Dan Livingstone. A new CD highlighting his original songs will be released later this year.

"Dave belted out his first note on June 15, 1954 in Fort William, Ontario. He was raised by a completely unmusical family who moved around a lot, and then got into the radio business which continued his transient lifestyle - that is, until he arrived on The Wet Coast. 

In Nanaimo, he discovered a very creative community, so he settled in, dabbled in theatre, and did some writing. Eventually, he got tired of producing radio advertising, so now he's left that behind to concentrate on his music, and has never been happier.

Unfailing Love, a CD of Christian praise and worship, is the first CD by Salt Spring musician David Carl Vollrath. Vollrath wrote all of the CD's music and lyrics, plays acoustic guitar and sings lead vocals on all 12 tracks.

Vollrath and his family worship at the Community Gospel Chapel, where he is involved with the praise and worship music ministry. He has held the same position with the Salt Spring Baptist Church, and wrote the CD's title track for the occasion of his baptism at that church. Vollrath began playing guitar at age 13 and says he "immediately had a desire to write his own music and lyrics." In 1994, two years after "accepting Jesus as his Lord and Saviour," he "began writing songs to glorify the Lord."

Unfailing Love was produced by Vollrath and Ramesh Meyers of Allowed Sound Studio, engineered by Meyers and mastered by Paul Brosseau at Nomad Music. Contributing musicians are Meyers, Marlene Cormack, Laurent Boucher, Paula Vollrath and Susheela Dawne. Before moving to Salt Spring, Vollrath attended the Salvation Army's Highpoint Community Church in Victoria, and before moving to the west coast was also involved with the Salvation Army's Sault Ste. Marie Corp. in Ontario.

As a student of the craft of lyric writing, Vollrath hopes to encourage and assist others in writing original Christian songs for praise and worship by offering songwriting workshops at churches. Unfailing Love is released by Vollrath's own record label called Living Water Music.