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!

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.

 

Happy Independence Day :)

Allison Crowe, live, with a tune and message from the great American topical songwriter Phil Ochs” “When I’m Gone”.

Happy Independence Day, everyone, and a special shout-out to all our dear friends in the USA who are celebrating this July 4th weekend.

Here’s to joy and peace :)

Photos by the wonderful Billie Woods.

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.

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.

Home for the Holidays and more

It’s an holiday weekend o’er numerous Canadian provinces (outside of NB, NS and NL). The biggest celebration happens in Prince Edward Island and soon carries over to Newfoundland – marking a return home of the prodigal son, Link. Allison Crowe’s dashing friend has been visiting UPEI’s Small Animal Hospital where the super medical team has set him back on track. Next stop, home, as evinced in Allison + band’s joyful rendition of Gary O’Driscoll’s universally hearth-felt anthem:

"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.

"Hold Back" + "Effortless" Ciné

“Cinema changed him and he changed cinema,” Agnès Varda, the great Ixelles (Brussels)-born French photographer and film director, says of cultural confrère, French-Swiss director/screenwriter/critic, Jean-Luc Godard. 

JLG’s short “Une femme coquette” is filmed in Geneva with credits to Hans Lucas (a nom de guerre the ground-breaking iconoclast used also for writings in ‘Cahier du Cinéma’). It’s rarely exhibited and seen until its recent sharing online with the world by Australian cinéaste and critic Dave Hesler. (Gracias, Nina, for flagging the original now available in full via YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzpFi0uBmzs and elsewhere.) 

This early (1955) creation of Godard, as excerpted here, finds its images meeting new sound – from Canadian musician Allison Crowe. “Hold Back” is recorded by Crowe herself at home in Corner Brook, NL. The ciné song’s lyricism reveals “an heart of mystery and some fears faced”.

“Effortless” is recorded by Ryan Adams in a log-home of Crowe’s friends on Salt Spring Island, BC. “Trying not to try so hard” is the puzzle.

"Tonight Will Be Fine"

“In celebration of Valentine's Day, Cohencentric offers Allison Crowe's romantic cover of Leonard Cohen's Tonight Will Be Fine”:

Allison Crowe, Tonic! & The ScotianAires Share the Love

Mother Nature’s showing Canadians a lot of love for wind, ice and snow this season. Still, Spring is coming – and with its flowers and bird song arrives, in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, unalloyed joy in the form of a concert featuring Allison Crowe, Tonic! and The ScotianAires.

At the Bella Rose Arts Centre, Saturday, April 1st, 2017 “Music Speaks Louder than Words” (even those words used to describe the weather):
https://www.facebook.com/events/253414015091473/permalink/268387346927473

"On Feb. 14  give the gift of music! Share the a cappella love!"

You All Haunt Me

Allison Crowe is writing this season. Poems, prose, thought pieces, stream of consciousness... words that may become songs, companions thereto, or something totally different.

Over 2017 she’s bringing together a bigger bi-coastal band, adding new members soon. While all this creativity unfurls we’ll share discoveries of recordings past.

Her music catalogue is already free of over-production – art without artifice. Still, even more unvarnished is this version of “You All Haunt Me” – a song most recently heard on Allison Crowe and Band’s debut, “Introducing / Heirs+Grievances” (http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/you-all-haunt-me-3). This is the song first recorded simply to preserve the tune. As with the band version, the video features scenes from cinema classic “Ménilmontant”.

Journalist Erin Fletcher, describing Allison Crowe in concert, found words that fit this, and any, track of hers just as well: "The music is the woman. She communicates about love, death and life through her songs. Her voice is unmistakable, and in the same song she can be powerfully raw, yet hit a high note so delicately it slips through her lips and kisses your ear.”

You All Haunt Me from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

"Music Speaks Louder Than Words"

Just announced! Allison Crowe returns to the lovely Canadian city of Halifax, Nova Scotia - her first visit since performing in H-town with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 2012. This upcoming special concert event - "Music Speaks Louder Than Words" - happens Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Bella Rose Arts Centre.


Here's the scoop from The ScotianAires:
https://www.facebook.com/events/253414015091473  Much fun ahead  :)

Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

We need always strive for peace and love in our lives and justice in society as we’re reminded on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here’s the piano version of “Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)".

Allison Crowe performs the Patty Griffin song live-in-the-studio of Newfoundland’s “Out of the Fog”. Thanks to musician, photographer, activist+ Bob Benvenuti for introducing Allison to this music.

Celebrating this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Allison Crowe’s guitar version of Patty Griffin’s MLK song – tribute to the great civil rights activist and Baptist minister – “Up to the Mountain”

Visuals come from “Faces: Broadway” part of the “Faces: Newfoundland" installation created by Philip N. Robbins and Jillian Parsons (known then for their work with Stockpile or Larger Than a Cat).

Happiest New Year!!

Happy New Year!! In every way :) Sláinte mhaith!

Felice anno nuovo! Gelukkige nuwejaar! Ilufio ètussé! Gëzuar vitin e ri! E glëckliches nëies! عام سعيد aam saiid! Shnorhavor nor tari! Amokitanone! Yeni iliniz mübarək! Aw ni san'kura! Mbuee! Urte berri on! З новым годам Z novym hodam! Shuvo noboborsho! Asgwas amegas! Mbembe mbu! Nauka sal mubarak hoe! Bonne année! Sretna nova godina! Bloavezh mat! честита нова година Chestita nova godina! Hnit thit ku mingalar pa! Sun lin fi lok! Bon any nou! Malipayong bag-ong tuig! 新年快乐 Xin nian kuai le! Bledhen nowedh da! Pace è salute! Sretna nova godina! šťastný nový rok! Godt nytår! Sale naw tabrik! Mbu mwa bwam! Gelukkig nieuwjaar! Feliĉan novan jaron! Head uut aastat! Eƒé bé dzogbenyui nami! Mbembe mbu! Bamba mbou! Gott nýggjár! Manigong bagong taon! Onnellista uutta vuotta! Mikudo xwe yoyo! Lokkich neijier! Bon an! Dioul mo wouri! Feliz ano novo! გილოცავთ ახალ წელს Gilocavt akhal tsels! Frohes neues Jahr! Καλή Χρονιά Kali xronia! Sal mubarak! Rogüerohory año nuévo-re! Bònn ané! Barka da sabuwar shekara! Hauoli makahiki hou! שנה טובה Shana tova! Ombura ombe ombua! Nav varsh ki subhkamna! Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab! Boldog új évet! Gleðilegt nýtt ár! Obi anuri nke afor ohuru! Selamat tahun baru! ᐅᑭᐅᒥ ᓄᑖᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᑦᓯ Ukiumi nutaami quviasugitsi! Ath bhliain faoi mhaise! Buon anno! Sugeng Warsa enggal! あけまして　おめでとう　ございます Akemashite omedetô gozaimasu! Aseggas ameggaz! ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಹಾರ್ಧಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು Hosa varshada hardika shubhashayagalu! Nav reh mubarakh! Zhana zhiliniz kutti bolsin! Sur sdei chhnam thmei! Ngethi cya mwaka mweru! umwaka mwiza! ЖАӉЫ ЖЫЛЫӉЫЗДАР МЕНЕН Zhany zhylynyzdar menen! 새해 복 많이 받으세요 Seh heh bok mani bat uh seyo! Sala we ya nû pîroz be! Mvhura zompe zongwa! Sabai di pi mai! Felix sit annus novus! Laimīgu Jauno gadu! Bón ànno nêuvo! Bonana! Laimingų Naujųjų Metų! Gelükkig nyjaar! Omwaka omulungi! E gudd neit Joër! Среќна Нова Година Srekna nova godina! Arahaba tratry ny taona! Selamat tahun baru! Nava varsha ashamshagal! Is-sena t-tajba! Kia porotu te ano ou! Kia hari te tau hou! Navin varshaachya hardik shubbheccha! Kaoha nui tenei ehua hou! Ose:rase! Шинэ жилийн баярын мэнд хvргэе Shine jiliin bayariin mend hurgeye! Wênd na kô-d yuum-songo! Umyaka omucha omuhle! Naya barsha ko subhakamana! Ngeu' shwi pong mbeo paghe! Jostouse anna! Godt nyttår! Bon annada! Subha nababarsa! naya sar Mubarak! Ungil beches er rak! Bon anja! Nawe kaalmo mobarak sha! Gelukkig Nieu jaar! سال نو مبارک Sâle no mobârak! Szczęśliwego nowego roku! ਨਵੇਂ ਸਾਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ Nave saal deeyan vadhaiyaan! Bun di bun onn! Baxtalo nevo bersh! Un an nou fericit! С Новым Годом (S novim godom)! Ia manuia le tausaga fou! Luholâš uđđâ ive! buorre ådå jagev! Lihkolaš ođđa jagi! Leklvaz ođđ eeˊjj! Buerie orre jaepie! Nzoni fini ngou! Bonu annu nou! Bliadhna mhath ur! Срећна Нова година Srećna Nova godina! Mwaha mwema! Goredzva rakanaka! Nain saal joon wadhayoon! ශුභ අළුත් අවුරුද්දක් වේවා Shubha aluth awuruddak weiwa! Omaka t'etcha kin washte kte ni! Srečno novo leto! Dobir leto! Sanad wanagsan! Feliz año Nuevo! Wan bun nyun yari! Mwaka mzuri! Gott nytt år! Es guets Nöis! Manigong bagong taon! Ia orana i te matahiti api! соли нав муборак Soli nav muborak! Assugas amegaz! இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் Iniya puthandu nal Vazhthukkal! Yaña yıl belän! నూతన సంవత్శర శుభాకాంక్షలు Nuthana Samvathsara subhakankshalu! สวัสดีปีใหม่ Sawatdii pimaï! Tashi delek! Sanat farah wa khare! Tshidimu tshilenga! Itumelele ngwaga o mosha! Posa varshada shubashaya! Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun! Gluk in'n tuk! Vyľ Aren! Щасливого Нового Року / З Новим роком Z novym rokom! Naya sal mubarak! Yangi yilingiz qutlug' bo'lsin! Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới! Ene boune anéye! Bone annéye! Blwyddyn newydd dda! Bon lanné! Dewenati! Nyak'omtsha! אַ גוט יאָר A gut jor! Eku odun! Barka'n da djiri tagio! Unyaka omusha omuhle!

New Year's Countdown / Auld Lang Syne from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

When I'm Gone - Day 20 on Musical Advent Calendar

Day 20, Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar opens on her cover of a song first released on the 1966 album “Phil Ochs in Concert”. Topical songwriter, humanitarian and activist Ochs penned “When I’m Gone” and its message rings true as ever today:

Each day through Christmas enjoy a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

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

Mary - Day 17 on Musical Advent Calendar

The Musical Advent Calendar’s Day 17 opens on this combination of a song from a writer of rare gifts, Patty Griffin, and an interpreter of rare grace, Allison Crowe – “Mary”. (After recently highlighting a live performance – here, now, is a downhome version.)

Each day through Christmas delivers a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

Feed NL Day

practicing in the Bleak Midwinter (with a fitting view!) for tomorrow morning at CBC for #CBCfeedNLday in Corner Brook :) @cbcnl #cbc

A video posted by Allison Crowe (@allison_crowe) on Dec 8, 2016 at 10:23am PST

Foggy Shores of Home - Day 10 on the Musical Advent Calendar

Day 10 on the Musical Advent Calendar opens a portal to one of the finest songwriters across the land and seas, Canada’s Gary O’Driscoll. Born in Bay Bulls on Newfoundland’s southern shore, O’Driscoll’s great compositions include “Men Who Die for a Living”, “Cliffs of La Scie”, “Out from St. Leonard’s” and “Christmas in the Harbour”.

Allison Crowe loves to perform and share the O’Driscoll canon – in her own concerts and recordings and through curating “Newfoundland Vinyl”, a perennial favourite show at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

We’re all invited aboard Gary O’Driscoll’s tunes – hear Allison and band welcome us to those “Foggy Shores of Home”: 

Foggy Shores of Home - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Each day through Christmas a new song to celebrate this season will open on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html