The Pearl Company

Shari Vandermolen with QUARTER TO NINE: Friday, October 4: 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers/seniors. Quarter to Nine is a jazzy musical act with the remarkable Shari Vandermolen on vocals.  The name comes from the song “About a Quarter to Nine” from the musical 42nd Street.  Incorporating the sweet soft jazz feel of days gone by, or the burlesque feel of risqué blues, their influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Billie Holiday and the “big-band sound”. They’ll be bringing you Jazz Standards, naughty blues and torch songs peppered with just the right amount of show tunes for good measure. “Shari’s training as an actor imbues her music with an emotional edge that takes us places we have never been with these songs. Quarter to Nine is an experience as much as a concert.” http://www.q29.ca Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyDlzfMzUkI

EMERGENCY MONOLOGUES: Friday, September 27: 8:00pm. Admission: $18.00/$15.00 students/artists/seniors. A memorable evening of shock, horror, and hilarious true-to-life (and death) comedy. Morgan Phillips is an EMS paramedic/ambulance driver who has turned his true stories into a hilarious one-man performance that is part stand-up comedy and part (utterly) surreal storytelling. Phillips has won the NOW Magazine Audience Choice Award in Toronto and is back at The Pearl Company by popular demand. “Phillips [has an] easy and unaffected knack for telling funny as hell stories about crime scenes and head-on collisions.” Sean Davidson (EYE WEEKLY) “Side-splittingly hilarious view into the world of Paramedicine” Jason Ng (FNG) “Morgan Jones Phillips is a consummate story-teller – filling in the small details of each scenario as skillfully as a master-weaver entwines a rich tapestry.” Luc Iogna (Director) “Brutally honest, macabre and often hilarious…” (NOW Magazine) www.emergencymonologues.com Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BrG-Z_0zo

Amber & Friends Fundraiser: Friday, September 20. 7pm doors. 8:00pm show. $20 / $10 for children under 12.  Please join Stephanie Beatson (Amber) for a musical fundraising event to help sponsor her upcoming volunteer work abroad in South Africa. Joined by fabulous special musical guests The Fox and the Moon, Jimere, Amber of course, and… much more TBA! Door prizes and raffles! This show is ALL AGES. Stephanie will be working in South Africa on two different volunteer placements.  The first is a cheetah reintroduction project that aims to help boost cheetah population long term.  The second one is devoted to the research and care of African elephants.  This is to study how the animals behave in captivity and to offer them a safe place to live, free of poaching.  For both projects, she’ll be helping with general park maintenance, cleaning and feeding, research tasks (collecting samples, observing behaviour, etc.) as well as helping to host guided tours in the park.

THE JACK STREET SHOW: THE LAST CALL: The Memorial Wake & Celebration of the Life & Work of the late local Artist & Story Teller. Monday, September 16. Doors at 6:00, show at 9:00. Pay what you wish at door. Join Jack’s wife LLLLaura, his family of friends, and his dog, Gonzo in celebrating the man’s life and work. At 9:00 the show be launched with bagpipes and we will showcase the eclectic parade that was Jack’s life: his poetry, his stories, his musical collaborations, his artwork (the retrospective he was working on before he passed away)..  Jack`s favourite music will accompany LLLLaura`s photo slideshow. Bob Ezergailis’ videos of Jack on stage, taken over the years will be projected on the big screen of the main floor theatre. Suggested attire is Gypsy/Hippy/Jack Street style. There will be spirited libations, merriment, great gobs of food, remembrance and lively conversation, all the things Jack loved the most. Truly a multi-faceted, entertaining, and interesting evening not to be missed. A good old “Knees Up” as Jack would say! Pot luck offerings welcome!

Ambre McLean & Tara Holloway:The Teeny-Weeny tour: Saturday, September 14: 8:00. Admission: $15.00/$10.00 students/artists. Guelph

singer/songwriter Ambre McLean (Busted Flat Records), made it through to round 3 of the CBC Music Searchlight competition which surprised no one except that she did not finish by winning!  “Ambre’s voice, is an instrument itself: gorgeous, sometimes with a rich, bluesy feel, other times a sweet mellow sound, alternatively soft and ferocious, always carrying these tunes straight to your musical heart.?” (David Yazbeck, CKCU FM).  “It doesn’t take long for her talent to make her seem larger than life, filling the room with the kind of songs that make you remember lost loves and abandoned dreams.” www.ambremclean.com And Tara Holloway (Light Organ Records) Somewhere in the sonic vicinity of Liz Phair and Susan Tedeschi lie the tunes of Tara Holloway, whose debut Sins to Confess exhales and thrashes in equal measure. But whether Holloway belts or bawls, rocks or ruminates, the blues is ever present.

Paul Reddick: Wednesday, September 11: 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. Paul Reddick calls Toronto home, but his reputation is spreading internationally. The award-winning harmonica player, bandleader and songwriter described his most recent CD, Wishbone, as “a soundtrack for dancing and sex.” (!) Now, the January issue of Mojo, listed the CD in the #3 spot on its annual list of the Top 10 blues records of 2012. And if those accolades weren’t enough, here’s Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, a long-time Reddick fan, “Wishbone is terrific!”  When Reddick, nominated for no less than five Maple Blues Awards, was asked “What is the blues?” the answer: “The Blues will always provide a soundtrack, a language, an endless landscape. It offers an unlimited means to express, explore and experience every thing and every question that matters most.  It can be the heart singing its deepest song.” http://www.paulreddick.ca

Smoky Tiger: Sunday, September 8: 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. Very interesting group from Winnipeg. Check out the Youtube video below and join me in thinking that these guys are smokin’! Formed in the cold dark tundra of Manitoba, Smoky Tiger has made mere mortals tremble and the skies split asunder! Consisting of a revolving door of like-minded eccentrics from Winnipeg’s many-tentacled music scene swirling around one man (Andrew Courtnage) behind a powerful and intimidating Lowery organ!  “The entity Smoky Tygre is an angelic-demonic spirit which is sometimes summoned by, sometimes possessed by, sometimes channelled by….Andrew Courtnage…… Its songs express fury and ecstacy: the dualistic nature of modern existence. Courtnage has journeyed the planet …. trying to reveal inner truths through sonic vibrations to all the friendly and nonfriendly peoples of the planet with varied success.” https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smoky-Tiger/ Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-jifbpcww

The Steel City Jazz Festival: August 22 to 25. $10 admission. The 1^st Annual Steel City Jazz Festival was founded by Chris Ferguson and Emily Milko and is playing in several venues around town. www.steelcityjazzfest.com 
At The Pearl Company:  
August 22: Bob Shields/Jay Burr/Mike Malone @ 10:00pm, Mike Malone (trumpeter, composer, arranger) has been an important part of the Canadian jazz music scene since the early 1970s. Jay Burr plies his tuba chops mainly in the bass chair with a variety of groups in a wide range of styles, but is also active as a soloist and in improvisation. Bob Shields is on guitar with his usual panache.
The Johnathan Black Trio @ 11pm, $10. Cancelled.
August 23: Brian Browne w Sean Browne: 10pm, $10: Brian Browne is an Ottawa-based pianist who has played extensively in Toronto and New York. He has recorded seven albums as leader over a career spanning fifty years and studied with legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. He has recently returned to Canada after spending ten years on the New York jazz scene. Bass player, Sean Browne has adopted a non-standard fingering technique that lends his playing a dexterous, powerful sound.
August 24: Mike Malone w/ The Chris Platt Trio, Carissa Kimbell: 10pm, $10:  Trumpeter Mike Malone has been an active member on the Canadian jazz scene since the early 70s, and has worked as a writer and performer with a number of groups. The Chris Platt Trio have played with Mike before, and have expertly demonstrated why the classic jazz pairing of younger musicians with a veteran player is such an exciting, vital part of the music. Carissa Kimbell, , draws from a wide array of influences in her selection of material and in her own writing. Carissa’s repertoire ranges from Amy Winehouse to Joni Mitchell and plenty more.
August 25: Hamilton Dixieland All-Stars, 6pm, $10: Performing a mix of Broadway, classical and contemporary music in their unique Dixieland manner.

: 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers/seniors. Kim Wempe’s beautiful voice is haunting and smokey; the child of Janis Joplin and sister of Adele; but Wempe is out to blaze her own trail. This may be because she is far from the fragile and sensitive singer songwriter and when she sings, her vibe is strong woman with the urge to move mountains! She has won both an East Coast Music Award and Music Nova Scotia Award.  http://kimwempe.com

Norbert Kögging with his band, KØGGING: Wednesday, October 9: 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers/seniors. Dutch vocalist, Norbert Kögging, embarks on a tour from Toronto to Vancouver and one of the stops is Hamilton! KØGGING recorded their debut album, Daydreaming, at the Banff Centre for the Arts in 2011. The music, described as singer-songwriter jazz, is intimate, distinct, and sincere. Norbert is a convincing story-teller who shares his experiences honestly and from the heart.  The tour marks Norbert’s fourth visit to Canada, a nation that holds a dear place in his heart. “This is where it all started,” Norbert recalls when KØGGING recorded Daydreaming, at the Centre in 2011. The album, which harnesses the inspiration that Norbert found there, is about fresh ideas, open space and the opportunities to come.  http://norbertkogging.nl

The Jazz Connection Big Band with Andrea Superstein: Friday, August 9. Doors at 8:00; Jazz at 8:30. $15 /$10 students/all artists.  “East meets West”. Well-known Vancouver jazz vocalist, Andrea Superstein teams up with powerhouse jazz ensemble, Jazz Connection Big Band, as part of her eastern Canada tour, guaranteeing another swinging, high-energy jazz show at The Pearl! We already know the 17-piece JCBB delivers uncompromising and straight-ahead jazz, funk, and Latin, combining the highest level of musicianship with great charts. Andrea also brings a reputation for hot jazz with a contemporary vibe which promises an interesting meeting of musical minds.  Check out the top GTA jazz musicians who will be joining the JCBB for this special concert:  Mike Malone, Scott Neilson, Bruce Tournay and James Gannett. “This is one of the most exciting, entertaining and musically interesting jazz ensembles to come along in many years – the musicianship, the repertoire and the energy are all of the highest level!!” Nick Deutsch – Co-ordinator, Mohawk College, Faculty of Music. www.jazzconnection.ca  http://andreasuperstein.com Listen: http://epresskitz.com/index.php?u=2691

Steve Poltz: Thursday August 1. 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. Southern California’s (Canadian-born) Steve Poltz,  one of America’s most talented men has been entertaining the world for more than a decade. He is one of the most beloved songwriters of his generation. His music, as both a solo artist and with cult legends, The Rugburns, has enjoyed long stretches in the Billboard top ten, gobbled up acres of mainstream radio and appeared in scores of television shows, commercials and movies. He has collaborated with everyone from Jewel to Glenn Tillbrook to Mojo Nixon, and his legendary live show has earned him a ferocious global fan base.  With his latest record, Noineen Noiny Noin, (1999 in Australian-ese) Poltz is back to remind the world that the intersection of beauty and madness is a majestic place to spend a little time. Poltz’ 13th full-length album is a wind-in-the-face joyride that takes on a jaw-dropping range of themes, including love, murder, Johnny Cash and transvestites. And that’s just one song. This album rocks, beguiles and entertains, opening like a flower with each new song.
Steve and great friend and co-writer Jewel started writing songs together a few years ago and it was Steve who helped launch Jewel’s career. The most memorable and famous of their co-creations would have to be “You Were Meant For Me” which appeared on the Jewel album, “Pieces Of You”. and was one of the biggest selling singles in recent history. www.poltz.com Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4qmqgjj4Do

FIN DE FIESTA: Wednesday, July 31. 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. FIN DE FIESTA brings Spanish passion to Canadian soil. They are a group of flamenco artists recently returned to Canada from Seville, Spain where they spent some time studying flamenco intensively, and are now organizing a tour to perform the new material. Most also perform with Flamenguitos del Norte, a flamenco collective that has performed at flamenco festivals across Canada. The name FIN DE FIESTA translates to “End of the Party”, a reference to the open jam session that occurs at the end of a traditional flamenco show in Spain. It is during the fin de fiesta that the true improvisational and spirited nature of flamenco shows itself, and it is that lively spirit that inspires the group. FIN DE FIESTA is made up of guitarist Dennis Duffin, singer Tamar Llana, and dancers Lia Grainger and Alexandra Talbot. Watch on YouTube: http://bit.ly/1ciqkLK  Read Gary Smith’s article about Lia and Fin de Fiesta: http://bit.ly/1636orM 

Amanda Rheaume: Wednesday, July 17. 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. Métis singer/songwriter Rheaume is a powerful vocalist with just a touch of grit and an instantly-accessible roots-pop-Americana sound. Her new album, Light of Another Day is a collection of catchy, country-tinged tracks, notable at times for their airy upbeatness and at others for their goose bump-inducing tenderness. In addition to her superb musicianship, Rheaume has distinguished herself as a community activist, organizing Ottawa’s Bluebird North songwriter showcases, raising money for breast cancer, recording a charity Christmas EP for the Boys and Girls club of Ottawa, and even performing for the troops in Afghanistan…twice. She`s also sung at Lilith Fair. Much of the inspiration for her new album comes precisely from the day-to-day struggles of the developing artist – the automobile breakdowns at the side of the highway, the uninspiring day jobs that help pay the bills, and, of course, the budding romances that die from too much distance. Rheaume is an instantly-likeable artist both on and off the stage and one whose got the voice, the sound and the songwriting chops to share stages with the best. www.amandarheaume.com  Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-cfkDef8W4

Amber: Whiskey Epiphany: Alligator Baby: Saturday, July 13: 8:00pm. $10 at the door. Amber is a local singer-songwriter whose piano rocks her sound: www.ambersings.com  Whiskey Epiphany is an Oakville group, a mix of acoustic rock, folk, and a bit of blues. www.whiskeyepiphany.com  The music of Alligator Baby from Montreal is as quirky, charming, and versatile as its members. They’re an amiable rock band promoting their recently released Album “The Cool Side of the Pillow” www.alligatorbaby.com