Please stay tuned to see a list of artists participating in the Swan Boat Residency. […]
Archives: Artists
sum – 숨[suːm]
숨[su:m] (formed in 2007, Jiha Park and Jungmin Seo) compose and perform their own musical pieces. Their ambitious aim is to start a new era of Korean traditional music that sheds light on contemporary spirit by addressing in musical sense sentiments and lessons learned from living a modern life. […]
Sultans of String
JUNO nominees/2x CFMA winners, Sultans of String, perform high octane worldbeat-jazz. Known for dizzying roots music jams, poly-rhythms and revved up riffs, the Sultans of String sound can’t be pinned down — it’s Sable Island meets the Silk Road, with detours through the Gypsy-Jazz coffeehouses of Eastern Europe, next an East Coast Kitchen Party, over to the majestic Arctic, then to the bustling markets of Lebanon!
Fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.
Kicking things off as a dynamic duo playing tiny cafes in 2007, this fiercely talented and hardworking indie act has been on a meteoric rise, with an astonishing number of awards and accolades in tow. Invitations to play world stages and with such legendary artists as The Chieftains and David Bromberg are recent highlights. The Chieftains’ very own Paddy Moloney also appears on the band’s brand new CD, Symphony!
Symphony! is distributed across North America by Red River Entertainment through the SONY Network. Bob Frank, chairman of Red River (former President of Koch/EI Entertainment) states, “We welcome the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s most innovative groups and look forward to expanding their music and footprint in the US.”
Acclaimed promoter and former A&R man David Wilkes (Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Jerry Jeff Walker) states, “I have worked with numerous top ten chart songs and #1 Pop Billboard and Country music hits”, Wilkes says. “In all that time, I have not worked with composers more talented than Chris McKhool and Kevin Laliberté from Sultans of String. Not only are they a superb writing team, they are also amazing arrangers & musicians. Symphony! is a gigantic leap forward.”
The band is led by JUNO-nominated 6-string violinist Chris McKhool (Jesse Cook, Pavlo) who grew up in a Lebanese-Egyptian (Makhoul) house bursting with music and diversity. Growing up, Chris was fed a steady diet of delicious musicality alongside Middle Eastern cuisine and violin lessons.
When McKhool first heard founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the dynamic duo has grown, featuring such amazing musical friends as 2nd guitarist Eddie Paton (Robert Michaels), bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk, Amanda Martinez), and Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Parachute Club, Alex Cuba), as well as special guests such as folk pop darlings Dala, The Chieftains’ Paddy Moloney, internationally recognized sitar virtuoso Anwar Khurshid, ukulele giant James Hill, and others. […]
Success K
From Italy to Canada is one of the most international artists who have revolutionalized music in African Canadian Entertainment. Success Okoro-Adima (otherwise known as Success K) is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist living in the city of Toronto, Canada. From an early age he has been involved in the creation of music, he was a star amongst his peers. With a big smile and engaging personality, he sets out to make his mark in music by writing heartfelt songs, capable of penetrating deep into any listener’s system. A prolific musician in his bred country Italy, he has been involved in many different musical projects as a vocalist, composer and solo artist. Success K’s style can be described as unique, innovative, optimistic and in-love-with harmony. His music reminds us about easily disregarded details in society as well as positive messages, emotions, love and dreams. A guaranteed ticket for anyone to be inspired, hopeful and happy. […]
Suba Sankaran
Suba Sankaran is a twice-JUNO nominated, DORA award-winning vocalist/pianist/percussionist who has performed internationally to critical acclaim. She performs with world music ensembles like Autorickshaw, sings a cappella with Retrocity and FreePlay Duo (with Dylan Bell). She is a composer, producer, arranger, choral director, adjudicator, workshop leader and private teacher. […]
Studio F Minus
Studio F Minus creates public conversations through public art projects. The firm is the collaborative of artist/architects Mitchell F Chan and Brad Hindson. […]
Spire
Spire is a group of dedicated young musicians united by a vision of creating a fusion between
Eastern and Western musical genres. Their seven members combine Chinese and Western instrumentation to perform a variety of music ranging from traditional to modern pop.
Among the finalists at the North American Asia Pacific Showcase – ‘Kollaboration Toronto’,
Spire has received high acclaim from audiences for their unique musical style and engaging
arrangements. A sold out concert at the Toronto Chinese Modern Art Academy, and a standing ovation at the U of T’s Chinese New Year Concert attest to their ability to inSpire. […]
Söndörgö
This atypical Hungarian Band, plays a little know kind of Balkan Music with Tamburitza. Learned directly from old masters of the hungarian serbo-croatian minority their music is inspired by collectings of Bartok and Vujicsics. They brillantly combine respect for traditions, desire to innovate, and a fizzing unstoppable virtuosity! […]
Soley Ensemble: Inner Journey 1 in association with Rumi Canada
Tehran-born singer Soley with over 50 years of music background, joins local musicians for a memorable performance. Enjoy a selection of Persian Qawwali-style Sufi music, sacred whirling dervish dance and the poetry of Rumi, Attar and more! Presented in Persian and English. […]
Read More… from Soley Ensemble: Inner Journey 1 in association with Rumi Canada
So Long Seven
So Long Seven performs richly textured acoustic music that brings their diverse influences into a distinctly Canadian voice. Influenced by bands such as Punch Brothers, Shakti, Oregon and many others the band is breaking new ground. At once spirited and meditative, So Long Seven consists of Neil Hendry (guitar/mandolin), William Lamoureux (violin/voice), Ravi Naimpally (tabla/percussion) and Tim Posgate (banjo), together they are creating a seamless tapestry of sound through their original music. Blending composition and improvisation So Long Seven has been dazzling audiences all across Canada. […]