Happy Birthday to cellist+ Céline!

Happy Birthday, Céline! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Today we celebrate the birthday of Céline Sawchuk (née Greb), cellist and vocalist in Allison Crowe and Band – and the graphic designer of band posters, album art and more. Originally from the Black Forest of Germany, Céline now is home on Canada’s Salt Spring Island. 

As Allison and the group ready songs for their next album and concerts, here’s the sound of Céline’s strings and voice united with Alley and co. on “You All Haunt Me” from their “Heirs+Grievances” double-disc debut: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/you-all-haunt-me-3

Why music? Why breathing?

Inside the cover of Allison Crowe and Band’s debut, “Introducing / Heirs+Grievances”.

The answer – literal and figurative! (To quote Homer Simpson, “It works on so many levels.”)

Allison Crowe and Band Ready to Tour Again

Bandmates (left to right): Dave Baird (bass); Sarah White (mandolin, guitarist, vocals); Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle & bodhran): & LIN (cello, vocals) make a thrilling hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and rock. Prepare for joy and fun via the quartet's debut, "Introducing / Heirs+Grievances", and with the band in concert. Next tour dates for the musical revolution happen October/November 2016. 

Allison Crowe and Band following their most recent concert in Europe - next bring their singular sound live to Canada.

Allison Crowe's Rubenesque Records Celebrates 15 Years

Rubenesque Records, the music label of Allison Crowe, is 15.

Rubenesque logo - conceived by Allison Crowe & designed by Lin Lin

An artist, a person with the integrity of this Canadian islander was always going to find her own way and on August 23, 2001, Allison incorporated Rubenesque Records Ltd. and carried on the road less-traveled – stating: "Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make."

Righteous Babe Record’s founders, musician Ani DiFranco and manager Scot Fisher, remain a model of truly independent spirit and creativity in today’s record industry – hopeful proof that "If you are disgustingly sincere and terribly diligent, there are ways for any serious artist to operate outside the corporate structure."

Rubenesque Records marks its 15th year with the debut of Allison Crowe and Band – “Introducing / Heirs + Grievances” – the 20th release by the label, and the launch of another, exciting, creative phase.

Virtuoisic, versatile and visceral – Allison Crowe’s amazing body of work is experienced through more than 150 original song recordings, on board with Canadiana, sea chanteys, Celtic aires, hymns, carols, tunes of Newfoundland and Labrador, centuries-old broadside ballads renewed, as well as singular interpretations of Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Tori Amos, The Beatles, Broadway, jazz, soul and so much else.

Allison’s talents and accomplishments are too vast and varied to be summed up in words. The music says it all @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com

“Allison Crowe August” is what DJ Mark Jabroni of CHMR Radio in St. John’s, NL has proclaimed this month. Rubenesque itself has some special music releases, tours, concerts and more fun in the works to celebrate with gusto this August – and everything after.

Right now, bridging the years, here’s vintage video of Allison performing in Vienna early this century paired with audio from her band’s most recent concert in Vancouver. “Secrets”, Allison Crowe’s piano and vocals with cellist Lin Lin is part of “Introducing”, the live disc half of Rubenesque’s newest (RRL 00020). Sláinte mhaith!!

An Artful Sunday Serving

Today, Sunday, July 3, Michael Enright, Host of CBC Radio’s “The Sunday Edition”, starts the first hour of his program with an essay on ”why we don’t know anything”. Following this, Enright meets up with “extraordinary polymath” Steve Martin, known to many as comedian, musician and more – and the pair venture through the Art Gallery of Ontario. On Canada Day the AGO opened its comprehensive exhibit, “The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris”, curated by Martin, “an eloquent missionary on behalf of” Harris, a member of Canada’s famous “Group of Seven” landscape painters.

Bridging this gallery tour with the show’s next segment – a serenade to a “smart, long-living, matriarchal animal” (the donkey) – is a celebratory musical performance from Allison Crowe and Band. (No spoilers as to the song.) Tune in across Canada (on CBC Radio One - Sunday at 9 a.m. outside NL and 9:30am in NL + 'Round Midnight' Monday at 12 midnight).

Around the world, as well, enjoy the show, any time, by visiting http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/getting-it-wrong-steve-martin-art-curator-in-praise-of-the-donkey-the-biological-clock-canadian-diplomacy-1.3655850 - and clicking on LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE 01:42:58. Allison and Band are heard a little more than 32 minutes into the program – but stick around, as 'The Sunday Edition' delivers more stories in its second hour, and, as promised, “a full course of great music to garnish your Canada Day weekend from Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Allison Crowe, Papa Haydn and the Gene di Novi trio”.

Pandora serves up "Heirs + Grievances" fresh from Allison Crowe and Band

“Only in Canada, eh? Pity!” is a tagline familiar to Canucks – for Red Rose Tea. Today ’t’is a pity that Pandora’s blend of personalized internet radio is available only in America. Still, for our music-loving friends in the USA, we’re happy to note Pandora has bagged the debut release from Allison Crowe and Band – “Heirs + Grievances” – and it’s now streaming alongside such earlier, solo, albums as “Tidings”, “Newfoundland Vinyl”, “Spiral”, “Sylvan Hour”, “This Little Bird” and plenty more steeped in Allison Crowe’s singular brew of rock, folk, jazz, Canadiana, Celtic, and soul. If you’re south of the 49^th, drink in the sounds @ http://www.pandora.com/allison-crowe/heirs-grievances 

For anyone wondering what's in our cups - should it be stronger than orange pekoe - here's a clue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAtDXOnmqiM

Silence - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

“Silence”

Silence - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Amazing Allison Crowe and Band – debut album “Heirs + Grievances”:

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances 

Words - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

In 2013, Murúch, the pioneering blog that's been sharing music and culture notes online since 1999, premiered a solo version of Allison Crowe’s “Words”, saying: “What a lush piece of work that song is! There’s a touch of Celtic folk in the instrumentation, haunting backing vocals and a slow building, seething tension until Allison unleashes her wail toward the end of the song.”

“Words” was named #1 of the year’s top songs by Murúch (2013’s other top ten picks came from artists: Alice Boman; Trent Dabbs; Lorde; Vienna Teng; Foxygen; Imagine Dragons; MS MR; & Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu): http://www.muruch.com/2013/12/muruch-2013-top-songs.html

Now, Allison Crowe and Band unleash a group performance of “Words” with visual accompaniment from another pioneer - Winsor McCay, who revolutionized comics and animation a century ago, through such creations as 1921’s “Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend: The Pet”:

Words - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Waking here from the surrealistic pillow of “Heirs + Grievances” lyricism.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

Allison Crowe and Band - Live on Tour

On Easter Sunday 2016 the “Heirs + Grievances” Tour of Allison Crowe and Band hopped into Radio Koper in Slovenia as part of a visit hatched by the country’s brilliant arts patron and cultural liaison Milka Smid-O’Reilly. The quartet chatted with radio host Drago Mislej aka Mef and musician/translator Matej Krajnc (of popular Maribo-based group Sužnji Sendvičev) and performed four songs live-on-air before RK’s in-studio audience.

Canada’s Allison Crowe uniquely inhabits the world of song – continually adding breadth and depth to a richly peerless repertoire for piano, vocals, guitar, fiddle and bodhran. Crowe’s “supernaturally agile and exquisite voice”, (as it's distilled by Muruch), is mated ideally with her sublime international touring band: Céline Greb aka Lin Lin (cello, vocals); Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals); and Dave Baird (bass). The group’s gorgeously thrilling hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock bridges vital originals with fresh interpretations of classics by such artists as Leonard Cohen and Annie Lennox.

The freshness and range of musical ideas and expression heard in each performance attests to the sagacity of Allan Showalter, eminence grise of “Cohencentric: Leonard Cohen Considered” blog, in his observation: “Once you've heard one Allison Crowe song, You've heard one Allison Crowe song.”

Here's a traditional song, "Tarry Trousers", out of TNL's "Newfoundland Vinyl" hit show, with Allison, Sarah and Céline harmonizing Catch four songs from Allison Crowe and Band, (plus a preceding full set by Matej Krajnc & Sužnji Sendvičev), on the RK Easter show – “OKROG OSMIH z MEFOM - MATEJ KRAJNC in SUŽNJI SENDVIČEV ter ALLISON CROWE & BAND” @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BatEQS_t7lU : “V Studiu Hendrix Radia KOPER je Drago Mislej - MEF v njegovi nedeljski oddaji, 27. marca 2016, gostil Mateja KRAJNCA in Sužnje Sendvičev ter kanadsko pevko Allison CROWE z njeno skupino.” Hvala!!

Introducing / Heirs + Grievances Release!

"Introducing / Heirs + Grievances" is released!: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

When critics liken you to Edith Piaf, Elton John, Aretha Franklin and Modest Mussorgsky, it’s a good sign you’re truly one-of-a-kind. So it is with musical explorer Allison Crowe who, since creating her own record label in 2001, uniquely inhabits the world of song – continually adding breadth and depth to a richly expressive repertoire for piano, vocals, guitar and bodhran.

Crowe’s “supernaturally agile and exquisite voice” is complemented ideally by her international touring band: Céline Greb (cello, vocal harmonies); Sarah White (mandolin, vocal harmonies); and Dave Baird (bass). Longtime friend, musician and photographer Billie Woods contributes guitar and vocal harmonies to the band’s recordings. The combo’s gorgeously thrilling hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock bridges vital originals with fresh interpretations of classics by Annie Lennox and Gary O'Driscoll.

Alongside multi-genre concert and recording projects over this past year the Nanaimo-born, Newfoundland-based artist’s active as music curator and arranger for acclaimed stage productions of: Atlantic Canada’s folk and popular song; the collaborative works of Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill; and choral renderings of traditional Christmas carols.

A singular artistry and virtuosity make Allison Crowe performances legendary - and fun. In the Scottish Highlands she brought down the house on a bill with Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s Poet Laureate, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Master of the Queen's Music. In Hollywood Superman movie director Zack Snyder is outspoken in his respect and admiration. Touring with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet audiences responded with spontaneous standing ovations.

"The most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life,” says longtime American public broadcaster Ross Hocker. “Allison has a special gift that is so very rare in musicians today. She is true to her mind, heart and spirit. She also has a most wonderful humor which envelops her audience."

"Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," sums up Allison Crowe.

"Heirs + Grievances" is the debut studio album of Allison Crowe and Band (and the 20th release on Crowe's label, Rubenesque Records Ltd.) The digital album contains 13 exciting tunes and honestly potent performances. It’s a magnificent set of songs from Allison Crowe and her extraordinary band of musicians. The physical CD comes with a bonus, live, set – “Introducing”. Enjoy!!

Introducing / Heirs & Grievances

Allison Crowe & Band have just recorded a new album. Collectively, 27 song tracks (representing 20 unique song titles) will be released in the New Year from recent sessions at White Rock, BC’s storied Turtle Recording Studios and from a live concert in Vancouver, Canada.



Allison’s titled the studio set “Heirs & Grievances” and the live set “Introducing”.

Growing up on rock and popular music – before its mass corporatization – it was thrilling to experience the creative vitality, the ideas and sounds of such bands as The Beatles, The Kinks, Mott the Hoople, The (Small) Faces, Pink Floyd… and original voices on the radio and turn-table – Van Morrison, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Luke Kelly, Otis Redding, David Bowie, Elton John, Patti Smith and so many, many, more singular talents.

My rock/pop roots are seeded in a time before Allison and her fellow musicians are born. Thankfully, these new tracks deliver the same, genuine, feelings as did those recordings from such artists emerging in previous generations.

"Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," says Allison Crowe. And she does - with bandmates Billie Woods (guitar, vox), Lin Lin (cello, vox), Sarah White (multi-instrumentalist), and Dave Baird (bass).

Melting down some lines lacquered on the body of an earlier water-shed recording of lore, “Introducing / Heirs & Grievances”, today, “is a magnificent album that pays off on every bet ever placed…”

Sláinte! Adrian (du Plessis)


Image: Allison Crowe & Band concert poster – photo by Billie Woods, art design - Lin Lin / Contour Grafix. Audio discs – studio session engineered by Larry “Turtle" Anschell, live recordings engineered by Brad Graham. Coming together in 2016 for release.

The Ship Sails On

When Allison Crowe first appeared on national television in her home country of Canada (some 14 years ago), television host Vicki Gabereau, “Canada’s Queen of Chat” observed: “You don't sound like anybody else, honey. Nobody sounds like you."

This holds true today for the musician (vocals, piano, guitar, bodhran, fiddle) and her bandmates: Billie Woods (guitar, vocals); Celine Greb (cello, vocals); Sarah White (multi-instrumentalist); & Dave Baird (bass, vocals).

The group group’s hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock delivers on Allison Crowe’s mission to make "Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music”.


The band is soon to share its sound world-wide via concerts and recordings. Here’s a sample of what’s cooking as we join Allison, Billie, Celine and Dave at home with “You All Haunt Me”.