The Pearl Company

Jay Aymar: Thursday, March 8, 8:00pm. $15 at the door / $10 artist/student.  “Not just another singer-songwriter, Jay Aymar has both the storytelling gift and a natural musicality.  His muse takes him to unusual places and unexpected perspectives, and his music is brains and heart in equal measure. His most famous song, “My Cherry Coloured Rose,” (covered by the Legendary Ian Tyson) is unlike any other you’ve ever heard.  The man may have greatness in him.  We’ll all have to watch.” (Jerome Clark, author, songwriter, music critic – Rambles Magazine)
Jay Aymar counts scores of industry insiders as fans and has been slowly building a size-able fan base throughout North America. Known for writing stories about every people living everyday lives, Jay have been singing these songs at folk clubs, theatres and house concerts across the country – performing over 200 concerts per year. A 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award nominee in the Emerging Artist category, Aymar is certainly one to watch! www.jayaymar.com

Corin Raymond: Bookworm / Morgan Jones Phillips: Emergency Monologues:A mind-boggling, spirit-warming double-bill! Friday/Saturday, March 2 / 3. 8:00pm. $20 at the door/$10 students/artists.

BOOKWORM: This captivating one man show debuted to rave reviews at the Hamilton Fringe Festival in July 2011. It is the story of Corin’s own big, brilliant, beautiful book-life, told masterfully and with gripping sincerity. If you are an educator, book lover, storyteller, or someone whose heart beats a little faster when you take in wonderfully written words or a really great tale, this show will inspire, delight and move you! “Corin Raymond declares in his show “A good book has a soul”. This play has a gigantic soul that everyone should experience…Corin is a masterful storyteller… [The play] is an absolute marvel.” Ryan Trepanier. Read the reviews:  http://artword.net/Fringe_Reviews/?p=104

EMERGENCY MONOLOGUES: is part stand-up comedy and part storytelling about being a paramedic in Toronto. Morgan Jones Phillips won the NOW Audience Choice Award at the Summerworks Theatre Festival in 2008 and played here at The Staircase recently to sold-out crowds. “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) www.emergencymonologues.com

SW Austin: Recent Work. Opening in The Pearl Gallery Thursday, March 1.  (7pm to 10pm). SW Austin’s declared concern is the paint itself – the physicality of the paint, the traces from the movement of his brush. This is as important to the final picture as colour and shape. Steve Austin creates this new work through a layering and extracting process that results in a thick hide of paint on the canvas. The image is created when the artist scrapes paint away from the resulting strata, revealing in a picture that is neither landscape nor still life, nor pure abstraction, but a study in contrast. He now lives in Hamilton and is excited to show this new work for the first time in Hamilton at The Pearl Company. Runs through March 31st.  swaustinart.blogspot.com

Mark Berube and The Patriotic Few: Wednesday, February 29, 8:00pm., $15 at the door. $10 artist/student. When recorded by the CBC for Canada Live, Mark (formerly of the Fugitives with C.R. Avery!) was compared to a “young Leonard Cohen” for his lyrical brevity and craftsmanship.    Mark’s latest album, June In Siberia, sees a departure for Mark and The Patriotic Few (Kristina Koropecki on cello, Patrick Dugas on drums, and Amélie Mandeville on bass) honing in on the impressive vocal and instrumental strengths of each member.  The overall result is a striking and unique blend of indie chamber-folk. “At a sold out show at La Cigalle in Paris, Mark sold out of albums both nights and was touted by the French press as “a very strong and promising artist …equally charming behind the piano or a cappella. Not to be missed!”  “One of the best of the year…folk music without going on about it. Rare and raw and perfect. ” Edmonton Sun “.  A song-writing stunner. ” Grant Laurence, CBC Radio 3. I am adding my praise to the above.  I have been raving about last year’s concert to all who will listen since I heard Mark and the band last year. Mind-boggling virtuosity springs to mind; he was excellent as a musician, as a poet, and as an individual.  www.markberube.com

Kaleidoscope Brown Series Episode 7: featuring the BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO (Trumpet. Bass. Drums.): Saturday, February 25. 8:00pm. $15 / $10 artists/students. ”Acclaimed trumpeter Brownman Ali’s ELECTRYC TRIO” captures the essence of the later years of Miles Davis’ life, his electric period, interpreted as only Brownman can do! The award-winning and internationally acclaimed BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO, about which JazzOnline.com writes: “Brownman’s eclectically powerful electrified trio captures the essence of the later years in Miles Davis’ life, his electric period, however, without imitation. Brownman’s ELECTRYC TRIO is uniquely his own, yet echoes with the sounds of ‘Bitches Brew’ and ‘In a Silent Way’ right down to Miles’ use of electronics while still managing to stay grounded in the sounds of today. Clearly paying apt tribute to Brownman’s NYC mentor Randy Brecker, they are a truly impressive and energized modern jazz outfit.” http://brownman.com

StandUp Theatre’s Tough Enough Saturday & Sunday February 25 & 26 at 2:00pm.  Tickets $12. Call 905-517-1054 to buy tickets in advance. Tough Enough is a musical… the eleventh musical production in StandUp’s short history…maybe the best…probably the most important. A straight on look at bullying in our culture. These kids are good…so’s the message…a perfect storm…  StandUp Theatre’s actors are young people from 11 to 15.  They are presenting the play that they have been working on since fall.   All ages welcome.

The Jazz Connection Big Band: Friday, February 24. Doors at 8:00, jazz at 8:30. $15 /$10 students/artists: The JCBB is a well-established 17-piece jazz ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians from the Hamilton/Toronto area. They perform only the best modern big band charts from the books of Goodwin, Martin, Menza, Rich, Basie, and many other great contemporary composers. Jazz Connection’s approach is high energy, uncompromising, straight ahead jazz. They combine the highest level of musicianship with great charts in an entertaining show that engages both the jazz enthusiast and the casual listener equally. The incredible acoustics at The Pearl have no trouble accommodating that very cool space of surround sound big band music; we are always delighted to have them back! http://www.jazzconnection.ca

Dean Hollin CD Release: Saturday, February 18. 8:00pm. $15 / $10 students/artists.  With Steve Thomas on piano.  At last a CD celebrating Dean’s “musical biographies” of songwriters such as Porter, Kern, Mercer, Gershwin. Appropriately entitled “indicative”, his recent release is just that – indicative of the music that has become so undeniably associated with both the man and the entertainer!  Hollin lovingly weaves his extensive knowledge of the composers with each and every song he performs – accented with his own personal accounts and anecdotes.  This CD-release concert, with pianist Steve Thomas fingering the ivories, will feature numerous selections from “indicative” including “Moon River”, “One For My Baby”, “Stardust” and “When I Fall In Love”, as well as other favourites from Hollin’s rather impressive repertoire. Withvocal tones romantically reminiscent of such greats as Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett and Andy Williams, Mr. Hollin will take you back in time and remind you of the brilliance… “Hollin’s warm, smoky voice and his exquisite charm and enthusiasm radiates affection for his material and his audience” Gary Smith, Spectator http://www.deanhollin.com

Redeemer University College and Friends Showcase: Thursday, February 16, 7:30 start. $5 adv / $10 door.  Redeemer is bringing together some of their finest student musicians and giving them a stage upon which to hone their skills and show an audience what they can do.  Plato’s Cave is a group of 7 musicians mainly made up of music majors at Redeemer University College who are experimenting with many musical ideas and genres. They are the 2012 winner of the Redeemer Battle of the Bands. Miniver Sail are the 2012 People’s Choice Award winner’s of the Redeemer Battle of the Bands; they received accolades from the judges for their strong lyrics and contemplative style.  Myles Gardner is an aspiring singer-songwriter from McMaster University and an integral part of the music team at the Meeting House Church in Ancaster.
The Facebook event is located here: https://www.facebook.com/events/161472887299907/

Jaron Freeman Fox and The Opposite of Everything: Saturday, February 11. 8:00pm. $15 / $10 students/artists.  Described as “Gogol Bordello meets The Mothers of Invention”, The Opposite of Everything somehow combine bluegrass with Indian music, African beats with sea shanties, or klezmer with the blues, and make it sound like the most natural thing in the world.  With a diverse cast of Toronto’s finest and most adventurous musicians, the band is led by maniac violin virtuoso Jaron Freeman-Fox known for his celebrated solo album Manic Almanac.
“Jaron Freeman Fox  & The Opposite of Everything electrified the Blue Skies stage. It was an instant dance party.  The music was both challenging and superb. A definite highlight of the weekend.  Jaron’s creativity and talents are simply amazing…” –Joel LeBlanc- Artistic Director, Blue Skies Music Festival
“Jaron Freeman Fox and the Opposite of Everything electrified the crowds wherever they went at Live From the Rock. The exuberance, talent, creativity and controlled insanity demonstrated by this exciting Toronto conglomeration was a joy to behold.” –Jennifer Ives: Artistic Director, Live From the Rock   http://theoppositeofeverything.com

Roxanne Potvin with Kim Wempe: Saturday, February 4: 8:00 pm $15 / $10 students/artists: With her new album “Play”, Potvin has achieved something that few artists ever succeed in doing – she’s expanded her style and grown as an artist while still keeping the grit and authenticity that is so appealing about her music. All blues and no play made for an unfulfilled Roxanne Potvin. Her smart and sassy new album Play, finds the Montreal-based artist pushing new buttons and continuing her evolution from a stylish, bluesy guitar slinger to a more tuneful pop-orientated performer, free-spirited and varied.  Steve Dawson who runs the Black Hen label out of Vancouver encouraged her in her decision to shift direction and helped her keep the songs on “Play” ambitious, while never losing the loose limbed joyful feeling that inspired them.  She says about her aggressive, energy-driven hooks of Play, “I had been listening to all different types of music and learning to approach writing as a discipline. I found myself going back to the Beatles and Beck.” Clearly Roxanne can rock with the best of them when she wants to. www.roxannepotvin.com Kim Wempe’s beautiful voice is haunting and smokey; some insist she is the child of Janis Joplin and sister of Adele but Wempe is out to blaze her own trail and leave a slew of dropped jaws in her wake. This may be because she is far from the fragile and sensitive singer songwriter; 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

Kaleidoscope Brown: featuring BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC TRIO: (NYC style modern swing) Saturday, January 28. $15 door. $10 artists/students. With: Brownman Ali – trumpet: Soren Nissen – acoustic bass: Eric West – drums. Brownman has a frenetic international tour schedule (with musicians such as Paul Simon) and for January’s installment of KALEIDOSCOPE BROWN, the Toronto based Trinidadian-born multi-award winning jazz trumpeter brings the BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC TRIO to Pearl Company.  The trio serves up a night of 50’s & 60’s jazz a la Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and more from the American jazz songbook.  Brownman is flanked by two of the most called upon young bassists and drummers in the Toronto jazz scene right now – both under 25 years old!  Be ready for fresh-faced and exciting new takes on the classic jazz lineage.
“Award winning Trinidadian born, New York schooled jazz trumpet player Brownman Ali leads this modern jazz trio through inspired arrangements of standards and choice originals.  The new generation of jazz.” – Jazzonline.com “Performing organic jazz in the classic trio or quartet setting, this unit strives to embody the jazz improvising spirit of the 60’s – communication.  Playing selections of standards linked together in one organic mish-mash of sonic goodness, this unit brings classic jazz themes and powerful Brownman compositions into the new millennium” – Jazz Journey, CHRY radio http://bat.brownman.com

Jonathan Byrd / Raghu Lokanathan / Corin Raymond: Friday, January 27. 7:30pm doors/8pm show, $20/$10 artists and students. Jonathan Byrd’s Cackalack is his first release since joining Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell on the Chicago Tribune’s list of the 50 most significant singer-songwriters of the last 50 years! “This rootsy North Carolinian may be the most buzzed-about new songwriter in folkdom. He displays John Prine’s gift for stark little songs that tell big, complex stories, Guy Clark’s lean melodicism, Lyle Lovett’s wry mischief, and Bill Morrissey’s knack for the revealing image.” — Scott Alarik, Boston Globe  “Sly, subversive and able to say more in two words than most other people can say in a novel….” Midwest Record. “Jonathan Byrd doesn’t sing songs; he sings truth.” – Performing Songwriter.  www.jonathanbyrd.com Raghu Lokanathan’s latest album, ‘Blue Girl’, takes bold risks and vividly spins the stories of characters that are as likable and warped and dignified and unlikely as the grinning man himself; clever, sympathetic songs that showed a dark, and darkly humorous, edge.  These are brilliant songs, grittier than before, with radical experiments in song structure and point-of-view that always sounded natural, even inevitable.  “He writes songs like they used to a long time ago.” Utah Phillips.  http://www.raghumusic.com Corin Raymond is the Toronto-based troubadour who is also half of the Undesirables and whose band, The Sundowners blew us all away when they played here last May; John Prine comparisons often come his way. Corin is a Pearl favourite; a wonderful, warm human being who specializes in bringing the best singer/songwriters he can find to wonderful, warm, welcoming places like The Pearl.  His own songwriting talent is impressive and if you have heard him live, you will know that his personality and performance charm, captivate, and thoroughly entertain.  He is also the guy whose play “Bookworm” was the audience favourite at last summer’s Hamilton Fringe Festival and the guy who is paying for his next two albums with Canadian Tire money!  See his (going viral) YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9lVyhraw-A And Corin’s music:  https://www.facebook.com/CorinRaymondMusic

Joanna Chapman-Smith: Thursday, January 26, 8:00pm. $15 door/$10 artists/students: (No, she is not Hamilton’s infamous Joanna of Chapman Books!) She is, however, the winner of the 2010 Independent Music Award for best acoustic song, and has played to strong reviews in concerts and festivals from Australia to Denmark.  Her critically acclaimed release CONTRARIES has received airplay in more than fifteen countries. A well-nurtured thirst for new cultural experiences is unmistakable in Joanna’s music; in addition to jazz, folk and classical, her songs also show the influence of many other musical forms, from klezmer and Balkan choral music to tango and flamenco.  She is a skilled guitarist, pianist, and clarinetist, but her live shows also feature other, less conventional instruments, many of her own creation. These elements all help distinguish Joanna from other talented young singer-songwriters, but what truly sets her apart is the voice.  It’s an extraordinary instrument, crystalline and strong, which Joanna guides effortlessly through a nearly four-octave range. “The slinky-voiced Canadian whose arch acoustic musings and fondness for the accordion come laced with a hint of Parisian cafes and East European Klezmer music.” – Q MAGAZINE “Her voice exudes a warmth, charm and occasional vulnerability that easily brings you under her spell.” – BLUESBUNNY, “Chapman-Smith has a supple and finely-nuanced voice and writes with the ear of a poet.” – GEORGIA STRAIGHT  www.joannacs.com

Jacam Manricks Trio: Sunday, January 22. 8:00. $20 at the door. Jazz saxophonist/composer Jacam Manricks and his ensemble of internationally renowned Jazz artists are touring Canada in promotion of Jacam’s current album release ‘Trigonometry’ (Positone Records).  The tour will feature Jacam’s highly acclaimed compositions performed by a world-class ensemble including Canadian drummer Ernesto Cervini (Joe Lovano, Clark Terry & Benny Golson), Jim Vivian on bass (Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler & John Abercrombie) and Manricks on saxophone. As a saxophonist and woodwind player, Jacam has performed and/or recorded with some of the most prestigious international artists of our time, including Ray Charles, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, and the Queensland Symphony. He is a popular figure on the New York contemporary jazz scene and has released two highly acclaimed albums receiving outstanding reviews from international music magazines and newspapers. “(Manricks) does for jazz what author Walt Whitman did for existentialism, he gives the genre meaning that people can relate to and apply to their own lives.” –Jazz Times  “(Manricks is) A composer beyond the confines of genre perception…mellifluous…meditative…beautifully contoured…An impressive collection of pieces” – DownBeat Magazine  ‘Superb saxophone work, intellectually stimulating writing and ingeniously dovetailed rhythmic lines are the three sides that form the musical shape on ‘Trigonometry.’ – All About Jazz-New York   www.jacammanricks.com