Global Community Celebrates Cohen

Allison Crowe is among the artists and community members of Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, paying tribute to the maestro Leonard Cohen – events in a global chain of people celebrating the life and creativity of the bard:

"No Way to Say Goodbye, a Tribute to Leonard Cohen" - Rotary Arts Centre, Corner Brook, NL Canada - Photo courtesy Dean Peckford - posted to The Leonard Cohen Forum

The Elusive Resurrection

Times of great trouble in this world. Times, also, of great inspiration. And of great hope.

Hear “The Elusive Resurrection”, from Newfoundland poet Al Pittman’s first collection (Brunswick Press, 1966*):

“Oh for the strength
the indomitable courage
to cast away
this shroud
and leap to life
to run and sing
to free these lips
that now do nothing
but argue
and would kiss
to reach
into the sun and stars
and grasp
what little of heaven
has been given us
to devour”

Another NL great, singer-songwriter Ron Hynes, turned a poem from Pittman’s final collection, “Thirty-for-Sixty”, (published by Breakwater Books in 1999*), into a song. Musician Allison Crowe, home in Corner Brook, NL, where Al Pittman grew up, delivers here the essence of those words:

* Both poems appears in Breakwater’s 2015 release “Al Pittman: Collected Poetry”.

Muruch Seeks Music & Poetry for RAINN Benefit Album

Believing in one’s dreams and making them real – to help make the world a better place - is what Muruch, the culture blog, is doing now – “assembling an album of music and spoken word poetry solely to benefit RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network organization and helpline originally created by Tori Amos.

Muruch Presents: A Benefit Album for RAINN will feature music by Allison Crowe and Pamela Means, poetry by Muruch’s Editor Victoria and WV Poet/TED Talker Crystal Good with other contributions by artists and writers to be announced…”

Get  involved with this soulful project via Muruch’s website @ http://www.muruch.com/2015/05/rainn.html and on Muruch’s RAINN Fundraising Page @ https://fundraise.rainn.org/fundraise?fcid=454243

Celebrating Al Pittman

April 11, today, marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of legendary Canadian writer Al Pittman (who passed away in 2001). Born in St. Leonard's, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, the cherished poet and playwright grew up in Corner Brook – home to musician Allison Crowe.



30 for 60 from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

From Pittman’s 1999 selection of poetry, “Thirty for Sixty”, Newfoundland’s “Man of 1000 Songs” Ron Hynes set words to music – and a tradition of artistic regeneration is on deck once again here with Allison’s take on this elegiac hybrid.

Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)

“Myself I long for love and light…” – on her debut full-length, “secrets”, Allison Crowe covers Leonard Cohen’s “Joan of Arc”


Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

On her debut album "secrets" Allison Crowe included this Leonard Cohen song cover. Her voice and piano is accompanied by Jo Lundstrom (Rosehip Jam, Black Velvet Band) on accordion. Crowe engineered the recording, with production by Rainer Willeke (of Victoria, BC's Raindog Studios).

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/joan-of-arc

The video image of Allison Crowe is by Canada's Billie Woods.

MOJO magazine's December '08 issue paid tribute to "Rock's Greatest Poet" Leonard Cohen with a celebration of his "deep and moving music". Of Allison Crowe's contribution of "Joan of Arc" to its 'All Star Tribute", (featuring Judy Collins, Nick Cave, Katie Melua, Martha Wainwright, Dion and others), a cover-mount CD titled "Cohen Covered", MOJO says: "Once famously described by the Vancouver Courier as possessing a style akin to 'Elton John meets Edith Piaf', the Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe is renowned for her ability to blend control and melodrama. Certainly she does so on this spirited cover of Cohen's 'Songs of Love and Hate' classic, a track which also powerfully showcases her considerable talent as a fine interpreter of song."

"Any album that features a track from Leonard Cohen is certainly heading in the right direction. But when it is covered so beautifully, it makes you realise what an amazing lyricist Leonard Cohen is. Joan of Arc is the Cohen song covered on this album and it's certainly in my top 10 of Cohen covers. It's also my favorite track on (Secrets)" ~ Colin Meeks, indielaunchpad.com (USA)

King's in the Kitty

Elvis Aaron Presley’s born on this day, January 8, in 1935. Shuffling the video deck in tribute, here’s Allison Crowe dealing musical cards from Newfoundland singer-songwriter Ron Hynes and poet Al Pittman – “and life's about chances” – “30 for 60”:

Throw Your Arms Around Me

Love is the answer.

Inviting “Throw Your Arms Around Me”, Allison Crowe’s 16 Songs wraps around this tune from songwriter Mark Seymour and mates in Hunters and Collectors (1981–1998, 2013–2014) an Australian band noted for its “blend of pub rock and art-funk”.

Throw Your Arms Around Me from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Pairing is with visuals from “L’Atalante”, the poetic, beautiful, loving and loveable 1934 film from French director Jean Vigo (1905 – 1934).

Musical hugs are supplied here by Canada's Allison Crowe (voice, piano, engineer), Billie Woods (acoustic guitar, bgs), Dave Baird (bass, bgs), Laurent Boucher (percussion), Larry Anschell (engineer), & Kayla Schmah (producer).

#16 of 16 Songs

Why

Famous in its original, glorious, pop incarnation by singer-songwriter Annie Lennox, "Why" is a song recast here by Allison Crowe's elemental voice and guitar.


Why from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

"Art is emotion" observed Alfred Hitchcock, and the Canadian musician's singular way of communicating emotion makes her one of the great interpreters in popular music today as well as one of our finest modern songwriters and concert performers.

Strings on this version are gorgeously arranged and orchestrated by Hollywood film-scorer Kayla Schmah - herself an artist inspired by the themes and ideas of Hitch's frequent collaborator, the brilliant, pioneering, composer Bernard Herrmann.

“This song is stunning. I can't stop listening to it,” says Dartmouth-based dancer, Julie Dumont, “it makes me want to cry and dance all at the same time”.

The music's visually paired with an excerpt from Jean Vigo's marvellous cinema masterpiece - "L'Atalante" (1934) – one of the most beautiful, poetically real, films ever made. Lovers of movies – of life itself - seek it out, and enjoy the full experience.

#2 of 16 Songs