The Pearl Company

“Raise the Roof”: Saturday, November 17, 8:00pm.  The Pearl is hosting this fundraising gala and with your generous support, we will celebrate the completion of a fundraising milestone that will see the construction of three desperately-needed classrooms in the Guatemalan village of San Lucas, Ixcan. This town is the birthplace of adopted Hamiltonian, Eugenia (Sheny) Rodrigues. Her special vision was to help the youth of her town to have the education that was not possible for her until she came to Canada.
The goal is to raise $10,000.00 to complete the fundraising and begin construction of the school. The people of Guatemala have suffered a brutal civil war and continue to suffer under the repressive regime.  Education of their young people is the first line of defense for a better future. There are 100 tickets available; they are $100.00 each. If you have attended one of our New Year’s Eve parties this event will be similar, however, with the addition of our favourite 17-piece Big Band “The Jazz Connection”. And yes, there will be dancing!  We would like this event to help Sheny and the many people who have worked on this project for years to realize their dream. For more information on this project and the fundraiser please go to http://www.cheprojects.ca/index.html

An Invitation: The Jazz Connection Big Band! “We have, at long last, produced our first CD – “Live At The Pearl”. To celebrate this milestone we are having a CD release party and would be delighted if you could attend. Details: Date – Friday, Nov 16. Doors open at 8:00. Cover – $20ea/$30couple (includes complimentary CD) There will be “finger foods” and non alcoholic drinks, performances by the current Jazz Connection Big Band and by alumni sitting in with the band to “jam”. Please RSVP as we are expecting quite a number of fellow musicians, media, supporters, fans of good music, friends etc. Hope to see you there!”
Catch the powerful sound of this band in The Pearl’s relaxed, funky venue.  They are a well-established 17-piece jazz ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians from the Hamilton/Toronto area. Jazz Connection delivers a high energy, uncompromising, straight ahead jazz performance combining the highest level of musicianship with great charts in an entertaining show that easily engages both the jazz enthusiast and the casual listener. www.jazzconnection.ca

C.R. Avery & The Madison 22 Review: Live at The Pearl: The 5-person East Van wrecking crew! Thursday, November 15. Tickets for this Sensational Spectacle are: Adults: $20 (adv)/$25 (door) Students: $15 (adv)/$20 (door). Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm.
The masterful outlaw Hip-Hop harmonica-playing, beat-box poetics of C.R. Avery meets with the tasteful art of Hot Burlesque, in a performance, the likes of which you will have never witnessed before! Toss into the mix some dirty 12-Bar Blues and you’ve got C.R. Avery & The Madison 22 Review…all the way from Canada’s West Coast! C.R. Avery is a unique, raw and dynamic performer. His genius lies in many genres – blues, hip-hop, spoken word and rock & roll. His incredible live performances have been described as Bob Dylan in the body of Iggy Pop….  Every show is all or nothing and his fearless approach to all genres of music both on stage and in the studio proves the longevity of this talented, astonishing creator who has so much more to come. www.cravery.com

The Parachute Club & Lorraine Segato: Saturday, November 10. 8:00. $25 at the door. As one of Canada’s most internationally renowned trans-cultural music bands, The Parachute Club has garnered five Junos, numerous memorable performances, and the political yet optimistic “power to the people” song “Rise Up”.  They will be performing and filming for a documentary in the unique ambiance of The Pearl.
Lead vocalist Lorraine Segato, a Hamilton native, fondly recalls “kicking around James Street” with Daniel Lanois. As the relationship developed, Lanois was recruited to produce the band’s debut album before he went on to produce all those other big names. Of course, Grant Avenue Studio is only a block and a half away from The Pearl and Lorraine informs me that she went to Cathedral Girls. Let’s keep it in the ‘hood’!
After reuniting in 2012 with rave reviews at the world renowned Edmonton Folk Festival the band is preparing to release a new single ‘Only Human’ and record this very special intimate concert in Hamilton.  Here’s Graham Rockingham’s article and just in case you need reminding, the old ‘Rise Up’ video is in it! http://bit.ly/SN42bI

The Pearl Company Announces Sponsorship Opportunity: Thursday, November 8. 7:30 – 9:00pm. No charge.
The Pearl Company will be unveiling their sponsorship packages for their 2013 season.  We have a very charming young actor/singer supporter who has been working very hard to bring sponsorship money to The Pearl.  Matt Cassidy has been working with Media Saver Hamilton, putting together some very attractive packages which work both ways – for us and for our sponsors.  The rewards can be more than the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes with aligning yourself with culture!

There will be a wide range of advertising opportunities for local businesses that will help to establish a profitable, sustainable, mutually beneficial business relationship.  We all know a vibrant arts scene improves the community both culturally and economically. We are very excited at the prospect; If you are interested or know anyone who might be, come on down.  There will be food, drink and entertainment on hand.

Amelia Curran: Friday, November 9. 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. Amelia’s on a CD Release Tour and this new CD is garnering rave reviews. A meditation on frailty, restlessness, time and its finitudes, Spectators is both storm and harbour. It is a highly accomplished disc, one that definitely goes beyond orthodox folk territory. “Curran’s sense of adventure extends to her lyrics, which are by turns philosophical and intimately personal…. This is simply superb stuff.” Exclaim.ca With a number of East Coast Music Awards and an extensive discography, she’s a songwriter by trade, and a writer at heart, Curran describes the craft of song-writing as an act of “expressing the inexpressible, …. describing the indescribable.” “.  In addition to being a musician, Curran is also a playwright and actor, and has had her plays performed in fringe festivals.  “One of this country’s finest singer-songwriters.” Montreal Gazette.  www.ameliacurran.com
Amelia plays to a sold out hometown crowd. Listen to the podcast at Radio 3 CBC. http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/concerts/Amelia-Curran-2009-09-03

Gary Santucci: Saturday, November 3. 8:00pm. $15 door/$10 students/arts workers.  Fans are complaining that Gary doesn’t play enough any more; he’s too busy running The Pearl…. Here’s the response; an intimate evening of guitar music: Classical guitar, World Music, and original compositions from Gary Santucci. Trained in Spain (and Canada) and playing his unique brand of flamenco and world music for over 30 years, he has become a consummate musician whose repertoire spans numerous genres. Among his awards is Best Classical Musician 1982 [Hamilton Wentworth Council of the Arts],  The City of Hamilton Arts Award for Music 2004, and together with Barbara Milne, The City of Hamilton Arts Award 2008 for Lifetime Achievement.  Almost certainly, some musical friends will appear. (We need a new photo of G with his ‘now’ haircut….)

Peter Tigchelaar: CD Release Party and Concert: Thursday, November 1, 8:00pm. Tickets at the door $10: Celebrating the release of Peter’s new recording “More Like Lightning”. Peter will be playing live with friends and this time out the ukelele is the primary instrument, along with other small instruments. There are many ways for music to come to life; it’s a unique process for everyone. For Peter it has been a complex combination of many factors. It started with the conviction, motivation and hard work learned through his many years of running Urban Green, his Interior Plant Care business. Working on his song-writing until the time was just right, he has crafted his music through many years of playing for friends, in churches, at home concerts and events around Hamilton. www.petertig.com