The Pearl Company

Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers: Tuesday, March 20: 8:00.$15 door. $10 artists/students. Rugged, raspy, and roaring with charisma, Ben Caplan, former Hamiltonian, now living in Halifax, delivers it all from poetic ballads to frenetic gypsy anthems. He has just been handed the honour of playing the Canadian Music Week (CMW) Opening Night Gala in Toronto’s  CN Tower with one of Canada’s top songwriters and performers, Joel Plaskett!
It is not surprising that Ben has arrived at this current pinnacle with songs that have a depth and musicianship that combines expressive percussion, upright bass, violin, sax, clarinet, flute, with terrific use of call and response sing-along choruses. Caplan has marked his place in the Canadian music landscape with a growling spirit similar to that of Tom Waits while his use of gypsy-inspired strings, amid the sultry tones of clarinet and saxophone, sync beautifully with the energy of his live show.  The show is raging, strong, and exploratory; it’s the blues in Ben’s soul, pounding with the heart in your chest that makes Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers a gotta-be-there kind of act. www.bencaplan.ca
Folk-indie Polish band Paula i Karol will open for Ben.  Inspired by Canadian kitchen parties, acoustic instrumentations, and music collectives, this new band is creating a buzz on the Warsaw scene and helping define the multinational nature of Polish and Canadian pop music.  “[They are] Poland’s new superheroes. Not the tight pants, fluttering cape kind. More like, come to our concert – we’ll break your heart, and then we’ll fix it up kind,” – The Guardian   www.paulaikarol.pl

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To purchase tickets, please call or email or pay at the door. For PayPal purchases, please see below.

SW Austin: Fresh New Work! Wednesday, March 21.  (7pm to 10pm) No Charge. Spring is in the air and with that,  FRESH NEW LIFE! SW Austin celebrates again by showcasing several NEW WORKS! -so new we wonder if the paint has even dried! Come and celebrate the NEW and enjoy LIVE JAZZ with the energetic fury of Errunriv (pron: river run)! Meet the artist, and connect in the Pearl’s wonderful historical environment.
A very exciting display of talent, 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 his new works for the first time in Hamilton at The Pearl Company. Runs through March 31st.  www.swaustinart.blogspot.com

Charly Chiarelli’s ‘Mangiacake!’ March 15–17 / 22–24. 8pm. $15 at the door/$10 students/artists. Charly Chiarelli is one of the world’s premiere storytellers, widely known for his trilogy of one-person plays. The 2nd, Mangiacake, addresses the difficult aspects of growing up as a newcomer to Canada, his return to Sicily, and his fight with cancer. Charly shows the funny side of it all with his own brand of Sicilian blues and his virtuoso harmonica playing.  Mangiacake (the Italian immigrant’s name for non-Italians) picks up where CuFu left off; young Charly enters Westdale High School where he concludes the road to success in Canada is assimilation. He decides to become a mangiacake and does his best to blend in – with mixed results. He runs for president of the student council using the slogan “put a wop on top!”.  He wins!
When, as an adult, Charly goes back to Sicily, he finds out what a ‘mangiacake’ he actually has become in this strange, magical land where his relatives are like characters out of myth. www.charlychiarelli.com
Charly has been inducted into the McMaster University Alumni Gallery of Fame – along with performance inductee notables like Martin Short and Eugene Levy, and astronaut, Roberta Bondar.
“Heart, humour and a generosity of spirit…” “Laugh-out-loud funny”…Toronto Star…

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To purchase tickets, please call or email or pay at the door. For PayPal purchases, please see below.

Kaleidoscope Brown:featuring Brownman Ali with ARECIBO: – Episode 8 of the Kaleidoscope Brown Series! Trumpet (Trinidad): With Paul Morrison – piano (Canada) Amhed Mitchel – drums (Cuba): Ben Miller – 6-string electric bass. Saturday, March 10. 8:00pm. $15 door. $10 artists/students. A brand new latin-jazz outfit delving deeply into both Cuban and Brazilian modern jazz traditions in the New York latin-jazz spirit of Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band featuring some of Toronto’s most acclaimed jazz and latin music specialists. The group is named after the Arecibo radio telescope housed in Puerto Rico – the largest radio telescope in the world, responsible for the deepest exploration of space mankind has achieved to date.  http://arecibo.brownman.com Jazz writer Conrad Gayle writes: “Brownman Ali does it again as the great mastermind creating bands as vehicles for his creative output.  Read the rest of this entry »

Jean-Paul de Roover with Wax Mannequin: Friday, March 9. 8:30 door; 9:00 show. $10 door. $5 artists/students. Jean-Paul de Roover is much more than just a one man band, this ‘sonic architect’ builds songs through live looping, combining rock, folk, electronica and a capella into his own well constructed hook-filled post-pop. The originality and creativity of his time-less performances shines through to every listener. http://www.jeanpaulderoover.com
Wax Mannequin: “Part wandering minstrel, part rock animal, Wax Mannequin combines a fine sense of prog-rock parody with intense sincerity and lyrical smarts. He will indoctrinate you with chilling harmonies, absurd lyrics and the almighty power of the guitar http://www.waxmannequin.com

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