In the tradition of cross cultural exploration, the trio New Origin come together to make a clear statement of its intent. With a new recording and concerts internationally, these three "comprovisors" are truly the sum of their individual paths.

Christophe Rocher has been involved in the creation of new works that feature Paul Rogers, Daunik Lazro, Hasse Poulsen, Joêlle Leandre, and Bernard Lubat amongst many other cutting edge artists in the European contemporary music scene. In addition, his own "Ensemble Nautilus" and his key role in the "The Bridge Project" have toured internationally to high acclaim.

To say that the list of important artists Joe Fonda and Harvey Sorgen have created with is impressive is an understatement. Those in the world wide community are well aware of their accomplishments over the decades. Artists such as Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Braxton, Barry Altchul, Dave Douglas, Oliver Lake, Hot Tuna, Brenda Bufalino, Karl Berger, Ahmad Jamal and a host of others have had the good fortune to make a connection to these two.

Through many years of touring and recording, the members of this trio have left an indelible mark on the history of jazz and improvised music. Many reviews, awards, and accolades have been bestowed on each of them from the international music critics and writers. With the coming together of Rocher, Fonda, and Sorgen, the expansiveness of their output is a force to be reckoned with. New Origin will be on tour supporting their new record.

christopherocher.eu
joefonda.com
harveysorgen.com

Understated Nova Scotia improvising quartet New Hermitage has steadily been gathering momentum over the past few years. Veteran critic Peter Margasak remarked in the Quietus that “the group’s fragile, gauzy chamber sound pushes against what you might expect from such an ensemble,” and indeed their unconventional instrumentation of Andrew Mackelvie (reeds), India Gailey (cello), Ellen Gibling (harp), and Ross Burns (guitar) imparts an ambient weightlessness to their music. 

The ensemble's debut album was nominated for Music Nova Scotia Award, and written up by dearly departed wayward tastemaker Tiny Mix Tapes. Their 2018 performance with internationally renowned bass clarinettist/ ECM record alumnus Jeff Reilly saw subsequent commercial release and won Classical Recording of the Year at the 2019 Music Nova Scotia Awards. 2020's Unearth was widely acclaimed in publications such as Musicworks, Vital, Free Jazz Blog, the WholeNote, PanM360, and Esoteros.

In their five years together, they've been programmed alongside Joshua Abrams' Natural Information Society, Angel Bat Dawid, pi'pa virtuoso Liu Fang, and prolific noise explorer i d m theft able while embarking on multiple tours of Eastern Canada. 

newhermitage.ca

Free event… we do appreciate donations

PLEASE REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE

Water & snacks available by donation

Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

Amsterdam-based American vocalist, dancer, actor, and pedagogue Jodi Gilbert has enjoyed a fascinating and eclectic career thus far. She has received several grants to study theatrical forms and music (Wayang Kulit and Gender) in Bali and was sent to Mongolia by the Dutch government to work and perform with Mongolian musicians and singers. She continues to teach privately sponsored workshops in voice, dance, theatre, improvisation, and Balkan song throughout Europe and the USA.

Jodi Gilbert came into contact with the traditional musics of her Eastern European grandparents as a teenager, and since that time has been influenced by this music as a singer, and an improviser. She has taught many workshops in Balkan song in USA, and Europe.

Balkan song is an incredibly rich and varied oral tradition that has been passed down through countless generations. In Balkan countries singing accompanied every aspect of life; work and play, happiness and sadness. Those familiar with its sound know that it embodies great emotional intensity, and resonates with people the world over.

In this workshop we will learn and sing some of the beautiful folk songs sung at gatherings of everyday people in communities around the Balkans. We will explore the harmonies, melodies, rhythms of Bulgaria, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, oa. Through these soulful songs (most sung in 2 and 3 part harmony), we'll explore techniques to open participants' voices to discover a natural Balkan folkloric timbre.

It is not necessary to read music, it is helpful, but much of the music will be taught by “ear” with just lyric sheets, sometimes music notation will be used. Singers of all ages, genders, and levels of experience are welcome! The only prerequisite is the ability to accurately match pitch and solidly hold one's part when singing in harmony with others.

$20 advance
$25 regular participants at door
$20 discounted at door for students, seniors, un(der)employed, artworkers
PLEASE REGISTER & PAY VIA EVENTBRITE

Beverages & snacks available

Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

• $20 advance tickets via Eventbrite

• $25 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed

• $30 at the door regular

• $130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)

  No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
  Food and beverages available at venue

  Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

  These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

  Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

Amsterdam-based American vocalist, dancer, actor, and pedagogue Jodi Gilbert has enjoyed a fascinating and eclectic career thus far. She has received several grants to study theatrical forms and music (Wayang Kulit and Gender) in Bali and was sent to Mongolia by the Dutch government to work and perform with Mongolian musicians and singers. She continues to teach privately sponsored workshops in voice, dance, theatre, improvisation, and Balkan song throughout Europe and the USA.

This workshop focuses on the voice and the unknown regions of the voice; the expansion of the boundaries of vocal possibilities. Through the exploration of improvisational ideas and games based on rhythm, timing, physicality, counterpoint, personal expression and emotion, we will discover a broader definition of musicality that can expand ones personal musical vocabulary and freedom of expression.  

The workshop will begin with a highly physical and vocal warm-up and move into various exercises focusing on freeing one’s thinking and judgemental mind to discover the expressive and personal voice. Elements of intention, texture, emotion, images, timing, color, timbre, dynamics, and physicality of sound will be employed.

This workshop is open to everyone, musicians and lay-persons alike. No previous singing experience is necessary. The workshop is for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Free event… we do appreciate donations

PLEASE REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE

Water & snacks available by donation

Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

• $20 advance tickets via Eventbrite

• $25 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed

• $30 at the door regular

• $130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)

  No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
  Food and beverages available at venue

  Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

  These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

  Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

Broadcast in 1992, On The Edge is a 4-part miniseries about improvisation in music — in all of its forms. Written by improvising British guitarist Derek Bailey and based on his book 'Improvisation: Its Nature and Practice in Music', the program admirably includes everything from traditional Korean music to French Catholic liturgical organ performance to downtown New York free jazz.

Film screening will be followed by a handful of short, 10-15 minutes each, festival curated, surprise ensembles, ad hoc groupings made up of some of the leading, world-renowned improvisers from acrooss the globe, revered national artists and Southern Ontario musicians.

Free event… we do appreciate donations

PLEASE REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE

Water & snacks available by donation

Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

• $20 advance tickets via Eventbrite

• $25 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed

• $30 at the door regular

• $130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)

  No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
  Food and beverages available at venue

  Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

  These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

  Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.

• $25 advance tickets via Eventbrite

• $30 at the door for students, seniors, artworkers, un(der)employed

• $35 at the door regular

• $130 festival passes to all 7 ticketed core weekend events + Balkan vocal workshop (up to $255 value at the door)

  No one will be refused admission for lack of funds, provided there’s space
  Food and beverages available at venue

  Limited capacity, masks, social distancing and vaccine passports may be required.

  These concerts are made possible by kind support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Hamilton, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Big thanks to these funders for believing in what we aim to do.

  Also a big thanks to The Cotton Factory, Bayfront Park, Bridgeworks and the Hamilton Public Library (for partnering with us and) for opening their doors to us …the Hamilton Spectator for their support.