No Change in Me

Ron Hynes and Murray McLauchlan’s classic “No Change in Me” is another song in the key of life heard on Allison Crowe’s new album, “Newfoundland Vinyl IV”:

Cultural treasure-chest GEST Songs of NFLD shares lyrics, ("This getting nowhere is getting to me, Wondering where you can go to be all you can be..."), and the original recording plus variant @ http://gestsongs.com/07/nochange.htm  And you'll find more from Allison on GEST, as well @ http://gestsongs.com/acrowe.htm

Newfoundland Vinyl IV 

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-iv-2

The lovely isle of Newfoundland, off Canada’s Atlantic coast, is inspiration for this collection – the newest in the “Vinyl” series from Corner Brook, NL musician Allison Crowe.

Allison’s in harbour with a boatful of tunes reveling in, and revealing, the region’s rich culture and history – stirring music that nourishes heart and soul.

The album opens with "Mice March" and closes with "Russian Dance", both selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” – freshly arranged and performed “trad” style for Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Ed & Ed’s Newfoundland Christmas Concert”. And between these tracks is a bounty of adventuresome musical ideas – embracing songs of land and sea.

Traditional music, and modern favourites – funny, poignant, earthy and ethereal – all part of the “Newfoundland Vinyl” stage-show lovingly curated and directed by Allison Crowe each Summer at TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

The album cover photograph by Allison shows us what she sees at home making music. And the songs themselves let us feel it all, as well. Joys and hardships be tugging on the heart-line first cast by Buddy Wasisname, and true as ever: “You might think she’s rugged and cold, but she’s home, sweet, home to me.”

Credits:

Allison Crowe: all vocals, instruments, engineering and production.
Album cover photo: Allison Crowe.
Graphics: Mind Palace Design.

Sláinte!

Foto Fun

Fun reveal - Allison Crowe's foto for "Sea and Be Scene" - to celebrate the 6th anniversary of Stephanie Beaumont's site saluting East Coast Canada! (with a contest, to boot) http://seaandbescene.com/2016/07/sabs-6th-birthday-salute-for-july-29th

The Water Witch

From Corner Brooker Allison Crowe's upcoming album, "Newfoundland Vinyl II", comes this stirring song of a shipwreck and brave rescue efforts that occurred on November 29, 1875.

The Water Witch, a Brigus Schooner, was heading for its home port of Cupids, Newfoundland, (the birthplace of English Canada), when it ran aground near Pouch Cove, NL in a blinding snow-storm.

The historical facts, (which flow loosely in the song on certain points), can be found online thanks to a number of resources, including:

The Pouch Cove Heritage Committee site @ http://www.pouchcoveheritage.org/waterwitch.html

“The Disaster Song Tradition” webpage @ http://disastersongs.ca/1870s-water-witch

And, with more musical history, the ever-deep riches of Gery Deugaw’s “GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador” - http://wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/01/witch.htm

“View of Pouch Cove” ca. 1900, the photograph accompanying this music, is by Robert E. Holloway and preserved by Library and Archives Canada.

There's plenty more word - and all the music - to flow in early December 2014 - once we're back from some concert fun!

"Absolutely fabulous" Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Musician Allison Crowe in the dressing room at the lovely Imperial Theatre, Saint John, New Brunswick, on the final night of touring with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet - performing in "The Doorway: Scenes from Leonard Cohen".

Allison says her friend, photographer, and fellow-musician Billie Woods took a photo like this a few years back, when Alley, Billie and band were on tour. So, she's trying it out here :)

The view from backstage - Allison's piano and bench is bathed in blue light so you don't see it out front...



"Absolutely fabulous" - this description by writer and educator Lori Mayne neatly sums up the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Maritime Tour. "Had chills during the selection set to Leonard Cohen's words and music."

Here's a family portrait of the RWB on the road! (photo by Ingrid Kottke)

NB The people in this picture are having the time of their lives. You can, too :)

Dancing Days Are Here Again

Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the first organization to present a theatrical or dance production of the works of Leonard Cohen, (1970s "The Shining People of Leonard Cohen"), in May, 2012, presents the World Premiere of "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen", contemporary dance wedded to the words and music of Cohen, choreographed by Jorden Morris. Musician Allison Crowe performs "Hallelujah" live on-stage (voice, piano) in this new ballet's first run.

In November 2012, "The Doorway" opens in Canada's Maritime provinces - touring as part of the RWB's virtuosic quadruple bill... and the legend grows!

Allison Crowe reprises "Hallelujah" in this newest dance incarnation - and also brings to the stage new versions of "Bird on a Wire" and "Sisters of Mercy".

A sensation in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet nextt takes to the stage in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Saint John, NB.

Allison Crowe is loving the opportunity to again collaborate with the amazing RWB - performing songs of Leonard Cohen :)

"Here comes Allison Crowe's piano for tonight's RWB ballet performance at the Confederation Centre (of the Arts, Charlottetown, PEI) tweets Darcy Campbell about this photo


Andrea Nemetz, Dance Critic for the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, attended opening night of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Maritime Tour - and has this to say about the Leonard Cohen-rooted ballet in the program:

"RWB technique, emotion dazzle in Halifax return

'The Doorway: Scenes from Leonard Cohen' was the evening’s only departure from classical ballet. Choreographed by Jorden Morris, the emotionally charged piece was the story of lovers in different stages of relationships told through Cohen’s music and words.

The Letters (sung on tape by Cohen and Jennifer Warnes) showcased a man and a woman desperate for communication, eagerly anticipating missives from lovers, dismayed or elated at their receipt, leaping over chairs or tables or draping themselves miserably over the objects.

Bird on a Wire, sung by Allison Crowe, was a duet in which the couple were achingly and joyously in love, while Sisters of Mercy, also sung by Crowe, showcased the supportive friendship between a group of women.

Since you Asked, a poem from a CD, was a duet for two men, powerful and full of loneliness.

And while the glorious sounds of Crowe’s signature rendition of Hallelujah filled the room, Sophia Lee transfixed the audience with the poignancy of her performance."

Full ballet review @ http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/166277-rwb-technique-emotion-dazzle-in-halifax-return

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet paid homage to a Canadian legend in The Doorway: Scenes from Leonard Cohen during its performance in Halifax. (Bruce Monk photo)