La Vie en Rose: A Time for Tidings

The spirit of Edith Piaf, “The Little Sparrow”, soars. Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk are the wind beneath the wings of “La Vie en Rose”, composed by Piaf (Edith Giovanna Gassion) & Louiguy (Louis Guglielmi):

A Time for Tidings

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/a-time-for-tidings

Canada's amazing Allison Crowe (vocals, piano & guitar), Vancouver Island-born, Newfoundland-nested singer-songwriter, pairs with exquisite cellist/vocalist Céline Sawchuk, born in Germany's Black Forest and now home on Salt Spring Island, BC to bring “Tidings” – music for the season & all-time.

"A Time for Tidings", cabaret-style live from the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, stirs together traditional Christmas and holiday evergreens with year-round musical treats from English, French and German repertoire. It's an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, roots and soul to reflect and refresh all our emotions.

Uniting a range of rich cultural traditions, Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk deliver real wonderment, solace and joy.

"Allison Crowe's voice is as much a manifestation of Christmas spirit today as Bing Crosby's was in 1942. It's as warm as an open fire; as gorgeous as snow-frosted evergreens; as tender as that hug you give your mother on Christmas day" – The Pique

"Be prepared to be amazed" – ChristmasReviews

Music recorded and engineered by Leif Henderson at "The Cultch". Thanks, as well, to Audio Archivist John MacMillan.

Album Art: Alick Tsui Photography + Mind Palace Design

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Joyeux Noel! Buon Natale! +

Best o' the season to you and yours!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Peace

Tochter Zion + Stille Nacht (Silent Night): A Time for Tidings

Celebrating this season with an Euro single – “Tochter Zion / Stille Nacht (Silent Night)” – Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk and a pair of traditional songs this Christmastime.

A Time for Tidings

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/a-time-for-tidings

Canada's amazing Allison Crowe (vocals, piano & guitar), Vancouver Island-born, Newfoundland-nested singer-songwriter, pairs with exquisite cellist/vocalist Céline Sawchuk, born in Germany's Black Forest and now home on Salt Spring Island, BC to bring “Tidings” – music for the season & all-time.

"A Time for Tidings", cabaret-style live from the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, stirs together traditional Christmas and holiday evergreens with year-round musical treats from English, French and German repertoire. It's an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, roots and soul to reflect and refresh all our emotions.

Uniting a range of rich cultural traditions, Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk deliver real wonderment, solace and joy.

"Allison Crowe's voice is as much a manifestation of Christmas spirit today as Bing Crosby's was in 1942. It's as warm as an open fire; as gorgeous as snow-frosted evergreens; as tender as that hug you give your mother on Christmas day" – The Pique

"Be prepared to be amazed" – ChristmasReviews

Music recorded and engineered by Leif Henderson at "The Cultch". Thanks, as well, to Audio Archivist John MacMillan.

Album Art: Alick Tsui Photography + Mind Palace Design

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Joyeux Noel! Buon Natale! +

Best o' the season to you and yours!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Peace 

A Time for Tidings: Allison Crowe w. Celine Sawchuk

Canada's amazing Allison Crowe (vocals, piano & guitar), Vancouver Island-born, Newfoundland-nested singer-songwriter, pairs with exquisite cellist/vocalist Celine Sawchuk, born in Germany's Black Forest and now home on Salt Spring Island, BC to bring “Tidings” – music for the season & all-time. 

"A Time for Tidings", cabaret-style live from the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, stirs together traditional Christmas and holiday evergreens with year-round musical treats from English, French and German repertoire. It's an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, roots and soul to reflect and refresh all our emotions.

Uniting a range of rich cultural traditions, Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk deliver real wonderment, solace and joy.

"Allison Crowe's voice is as much a manifestation of Christmas spirit today as Bing Crosby's was in 1942. It's as warm as an open fire; as gorgeous as snow-frosted evergreens; as tender as that hug you give your mother on Christmas day" – The Pique

"Be prepared to be amazed" – ChristmasReviews

Music recorded and engineered by Leif Henderson at "The Cultch". Thanks, as well, to Audio Archivist John MacMillan.

Album Art: Alick Tsui Photography + Mind Palace Design

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Joyeux Noel! Buon Natale!

           Best o' the season to you and yours!!

Traditional Christmas carols "Tochter Zion" and "Stille Nacht (Silent Night)" warm a Winter's day-or-night. Allison Crowe, Canada’s bi-coastal musical marvel, with Céline Sawchuk, vocalist/cellist from Germany’s Black Forest, bring us “Tidings” – European-style.

 

Now I’m 64 – Allison Crowe and Band W2U2

Where e’er you be – join in on this lovely Newfoundland parlour song. Allison Crowe and Band, from their freshly-released “Welcome to Us” recording, bring forth “Now I’m 64”. It’s a tune popularized by Atlantic Canada music legends Ryan’s Fancy, Harry Hibbs, Figgy Duff… and, now, us all:

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock – that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock, captured fresh at the LSPU (Longshoremen's Protective Union) Hall in St. John's, NL, Canada – it’s music that’s food for the soul and fun for all.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined and enjoyed. Sláinte!

"Welcome to Us 1", the concert’s first act, presents the brilliant bi-coastal band's more guitar-and-fiddle-centric tunes – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-1

"Welcome to Us 2", the concert’s second act, features the group's more piano-centric tunes – and encore – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2

"Welcome to Us Banter Bits" includes any chat, laughter, applause not found on the "Welcome to Us" albums on iTunes et al. A free download to complement the concert music: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-banter-bits

For our video wrapper here – hearty thanks to Alick Tsui Photography and Mind Palace Design.

Arthur – Allison Crowe and Band W2U2

“Arthur” explores love and memory – and our fragile hold on each. From Act 2 of Allison Crowe and Band’s “Welcome to Us”:

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock – that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock, captured fresh at the LSPU (Longshoremen’s Protective Union) Hall in St. John’s, NL, Canada – it’s music that’s food for the soul and fun for all.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined and enjoyed. Sláinte!

“Welcome to Us 1”, the concert’s first act, presents the brilliant bi-coastal band’s more guitar-and-fiddle-centric tunes – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-1

“Welcome to Us 2”, the concert’s second act, features the group’s more piano-centric tunes – and encore – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2

“Welcome to Us Banter Bits” includes any chat, laughter, applause not found on the “Welcome to Us” albums on iTunes et al. A free download to complement the concert music: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-banter-bits

Hearty thanks to Alick Tsui Photography and Mind Palace Design for the visuals.

Skeletons and Spirits – Allison Crowe and Band W2U2

Allison Crowe (piano vocals) and bandmates Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, vocals), Dave Baird (bass) & Keelan Purchase (harmonica) bring forth “Skeletons and Spirits” – from Allison Crowe and Band’s fresh release, “Welcome to Us 2”.

Following a delightful visit with Allison and Linkers sharing fun with “Arthur” at home – https://vimeo.com/271562940 – from a dasching duo we embrace the collective joy and genius of a quintet.

Banding together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows – for a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock – that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock, captured fresh at the LSPU (Longshoremen's Protective Union) Hall in St. John's, NL, Canada – it’s music that’s food for the soul and fun for all.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined and enjoyed. Sláinte!

"Welcome to Us 1", the concert’s first act, presents the brilliant bi-coastal band's more guitar-and-fiddle-centric tunes – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-1

"Welcome to Us 2", the concert’s second act, features the group's more piano-centric tunes – and encore – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2

"Welcome to Us Banter Bits" includes any chat, laughter, applause not found on the "Welcome to Us" albums on iTunes et al. A free download to complement the concert music: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-banter-bit

Hearty thanks to Alick Tsui Photography and Mind Palace Design for the visual elements.

I Am the Air – Allison Crowe and Band W2U2

We’re all in this together. “I Am the Air”, the next breath in the song suite from Allison Crowe and Band – Act 2 of “Welcome to Us”.

Visual accompaniment is from the cinema masterpiece “Ménilmontant”. (The full suite – I Might / Back to Black / Shifts of Light / Tones in Transition / I Am the Air / Lisa's Song – is @ https://vimeo.com/261671693 )

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock – that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock, captured fresh at the LSPU (Longshoremen's Protective Union) Hall in St. John's, NL, Canada – it’s music that’s food for the soul and fun for all.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined and enjoyed. Sláinte!

"Welcome to Us 2", the concert’s second act, presents the brilliant bi-coastal band's more piano-centric tunes – and encore – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2

Catharsis in Music + Once in Theatre

“Catharsis” – Allison Crowe and Band cap Act 1 of “Welcome to Us” with this lively reel from Virginia musician-caller-teacher Amy Cann (“Twenty+ years helping people learn to do whatever they think they can't.”) Once they catch a collective breath, Allison and ’mates will return with Act 2 – the piano songs:

And there's theatre in the offing!

Can’t wait to get started and meet everyone!!  

  

"Welcome to Us" Acts 1 & 2

“Welcome to Us” Acts 1 & 2 is now out in our world.


For such acts of creative genius, and just pure joy, take a bow Allison Crowe (composer, vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) and Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals).

The music is now on Bandcamp (Act 1:
http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-1 + Act 2: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2 ), CD Baby
( http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/AllisonCrowe ), iTunes (
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/allison-crowe/id15902153 ), Spotify, Amazon and all places you find music online.

We’ll be sharing the band’s sounds, from the rawest of folk roots to the richest of arena rock, over coming weeks.

Right now, here be a look at the creators – Allison, Céline, Sarah, Keelan & Dave – via the album covers from Mind Palace Design.

Happy Golden Days

Turns out that musical soul sisters Allison Crowe (piano, guitar & vocals) and Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), this holiday season just past, not only charmed the birds out of the trees with their concert performances – they also brought out the “tapers” – those dedicated folks who preserve cultural happenings on record for posterity.

Pretty much from the start of Allison Crowe’s public life, she’s been appreciated by tapers/traders – sometimes known as bootleggers, and often first-or-succeeding generations of Deadheads – fans of The Grateful Dead.

The first Allison bootlegs start around 2000/2001 with the appearance of Deadhead and taper Brad Norman aka Condor at concerts and in-stores. With gusto, Condor’s torch passed to AudioArchivist John MacMillan and others in this music-loving community.

We’ve recently enjoyed a bounty of song/video recordings posted by Victoria, BC’s MacMillan aka Bootleg Santa, and, now, a recording made by one of his confreres has emerged – this being a remarkably intimate capture of Allison & Céline’s sold-out “Tidings” concert at the Cultch last month in Vancouver, BC.

Taper Leif Henderson shares this show with us on his “Dead Perspective” YouTube channel. It’s two hours of “Tidings” music and merriment – reflected in the sepia tones of those golden days of yore:

Verses - Allison Crowe and Band Live!

Celebrating the birthday of Allison Crowe, a great artist of our lifetime, with this newest of recordings –  “Verses”.

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) recently banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock –  that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock to St. John’s and a concert night at LSPU Hall, magic’s afoot once more with Allison Crowe and Band – and, this time, serendipitously, artifacts remain to be shared in addition to golden memories of artists and audience+.

Alick Tsui, the truly remarkable SJ-based photographer, was able to attend Act 1 (the band’s NL concerts formed around one set in which Allison played guitar or fiddle, and, post-intermission, a second set of songs founded on Allison’s piano tunes) – and Alick captured some iconic images of Allison, Céline, Sarah, Dave & Keelan.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined.

First up – this original song tagged with some trad.

Meet Allison Crowe and Band

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) recently banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock –  that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.” 

Rolling across the rock to St. John’s and a concert night at LSPU Hall, magic’s afoot once more with Allison Crowe and Band – and, this time, serendipitously, artifacts remain to be shared in addition to golden memories of artists and audience+.

Alick Tsui, the truly remarkable SJ-based photographer, was able to attend Act 1 (the band’s NL concerts formed around one set in which Allison played guitar or fiddle, and, post-intermission, a second set of songs founded on Allison’s piano tunes) – and Alick captured some iconic images of Allison, Céline, Sarah, Dave & Keelan.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined. First, let’s meet the band on-stage :)

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

"Heirs+Grievances" Full Riches

“Heirs+Grievances”, already a glorious album of music from Allison Crowe and Band, is now an even fuller experience. Two song tracks are restored to the original release: a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No.2” and a live-in-the-studio take of “Secrets (That Aren’t My Own)” – a signature of Crowe’s repertoire.

As concert versions of both songs are heard on “Introducing”, the live-CD element of the double-album, these tracks were dropped from last year’s physical pressing. Now, they’re reunited with the other tracks captured at Turtle Recording. A work of “artistic genius”, as “The Celtic Music Fan” describes the album, is now ever-more brilliant.

"Secrets" of Mona Lisa

“There is hope,” writes musician Allison Crowe. “That word keeps coming up. It makes me think that maybe it’s real. It is resilient. You can try to leave it out but it keeps putting itself back in place. You can try to deny it but it won’t stay buried.” 

Crowe’s writing her first book, “Fluttering” about which she says: “There's a few paragraphs that are just sort of thinking out loud but, for the most part, there's either poems, prose, thought pieces, or stream of consciousness.” 

She’s composing, as well, for her next album – the artist's 22nd on Rubenesque Records' label. “Rare Birds” brings together again her brilliant bi-coastal band for concerts and recordings. 

Right now, here’s one of music’s great voices and one of rock’s great songs – “Secrets (That Aren’t My Own)” – a previously-unreleased version from Allison Crowe and Band’s “Heirs+Grievances” sessions. 

Silence - Day 18 on Musical Advent Calendar

Today, Day 18 on the Musical Advent Calendar, brings “Silence” – in two forms. Allison Crowe’s brilliance as composer and performer is wondrously evident in each recording – captured a decade apart – and both created in the same, real-time, as the experience of listening.

Firstly, here’s Allison solo, singing and playing in a friend’s log-home on Salt Spring Island, Canada. This 2006 recording was released just last year on her “Sylvan Hour” album – described by pioneering culture blog Muruch as “truly a masterpiece” (http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/sylvan-hour).

Second version of “Silence', open Day 18 on the Musical Advent Calendar, is this recording, live-off-the-floor – found on Allison Crowe and Band’s 2016 debut, “Heirs+Grievances” (http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances) – an album that’s marvellously enjoyable testament to Crowe’s “absolute personal commitment" to song (Some Diurnal Aural Awe) and “artistic genius” (The Celtic Music Fan):

Each day through Christmas delivers a new song – and today, a pair of recordings - opening on Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

It's a Wrap

Musical wonder woman Allison Crowe's flown coast-to-coast across Canada now, and the lasso of truth promises to circle the globe, all in good time :)

Musicians Sarah White, LIN, and Dave Baird gave their all on Allison Crowe and Band's "Heirs+Grievances" tour. The first North American leg is now a wrap - and it's time all are home for a rest. New musical stirrings await.

Life's Secrets

Allison Crowe’s oeuvre comprises more than 200 songs – found online in the “ABC List” @ http://www.allisoncrowe.com/ABC.html

"Anything I do sing, it's part of my life," said Billie Holiday, whose supreme voice is captured on recordings from last century. The same is true for Allison Crowe, a great voice alive today.

“Secrets (That Aren’t My Own)” – on Allison and Band’s debut double-album, “Introducing / Heirs+ Grievances” – features Allison’s vocals and piano-playing, accompanied by cellist LIN:

The Music

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

Set-list from Allison and Band’s “Heirs+Grievances” concert tour this season.

Arthur - Allison Crowe and Band Euro Live Bootleg Sparkles in Cohencentric Setting

Gem of a music-lover’s blog, “Cohencentric: Leonard Cohen Considered”, reveals facets of artistry on display in a rare bootleg of Allison Crowe and Band. The recording, just unearthed from an European audio-trove, features the quartet performing a song sparkling in the diamantine prose of Allan Showalter, Cohencentric’s master wordsmith:

“ ‘Arthur’ is elegantly, efficiently lapidarian, interweaving deeply personal questions of devotion and loyalty, Arthurian legend, intense romantic longing, and, of course, sex. It is, in a word (albeit a conveniently coined term) – Cohenesque. The video for ‘Arthur’ is also a visual treat, featuring sweet, awkward, altogether fetching clips from home movies, shot in Johannesburg and the Natal Coast of South Africa, of the honeymoon of two young people of my own parents’ generation.”

http://cohencentric.com/2016/10/03/allison-crowe-band-arthur-euro-live-bootleg