Music Festival for Engineers Without Borders

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Featuring Musical Performances By


JOINING US IN THIS CAUSE ARE A MIX OF SOME OF THE BEST SINGER-SONGWRITERS AND MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD

THE LARRA SKYE QUINTET


In December 2005, Larra released her debut album 'The World Disappears' at the famed Montreal Bistro in Toronto to a sold-out crowd. Since then, her original compositions have been receiving airplay from national campus stations, jazz stations and the CBC (including Jurgen Gothe's DiscDrive). In June, HMV took 'The World Disappears' nationwide and within a month, it was on their bestseller charts for jazz. The album is also being sold through Indigo and Chapters stores across the country. At 23, Larra has performed with some of the best in Toronto's jazz music scene. She continues to write music and is currently studying privately with Lisa Martinelli. Larra is currently on tour from the east coast to the west coast.

Joining her this night will be Eric Boucher on piano, Rich Brown on bass, Rich Underhill on sax and Anthony Michelli on drums.

EVALYN PARRY


Greg Quill of The Toronto Star: "...Parry has surpassed expectations with this expansive two-CD set...inventive instrumentation and imaginative arrangements enhance the theatrical spark of Parry's verbal wit, as she builds a complex series of vignettes occupied not just by her own thoughts and preoccupations but also by lively characters, apparently the remnants of real-life encounters, acting out their own perplexing parts. Adventurous stuff." Says Robert Everett-Green of The Globe and Mail, in his "Essential Tracks" on Feb 27, about "War Dream" (first track on the record): "Toronto musician Parry glides between song and speech in this slippery,sinister number about a world turned inside out."

KARYN ELLIS


Her most recent CD, HEARTS FALL, is fast becoming a CBC and campus station favourite, appearing on CBC playlists like the Vinyl Cafe, Bandwidth, Freestyle and Radio Canada International and spending six months on regional campus top-30 charts across Canada as well as reaching number 49 on the national campus Top-50 chart (exlaim!) and number 19 on the national campus monthly folk/roots/blues charts (earshot-online.com). About the record, CBC's Amanda Putz from BANDWIDTH comments: "[Karyn's] voice is lovely, the arrangements are simple & clever, and there's an almost rustic quality to the record-likely from being recorded live off the floor-that makes it extra sweet."

NOAH ZACHARIN


Noah Zacharin was born, weaned, and raised in Montreal. Inspired to ask for a guitar by a camp counselor who played ukulele; grateful he didn't ask for one of those. Learned to play at the feet of his parents' hi-fi speakers, listening to, among others, Mississippi John Hurt, Dave Van Ronk, Reverend Gary Davis, David Bromberg, Bob Dylan, and Patrick Sky. Wrote his first song at 13 listening to his dad's AM/FM/SW radio (removed from the family Rambler for the occasion) for the most beautiful girl who walked the high school corridors and around whom he could never remember how to speak English. Performed regularly from a very young age both as a solo act (first gig, beer bash for college boys: they didn't care much for Joni Mitchell or ragtime, both of which were in his set) and as a guitarist for all brand and manner of singer. Caught the poetry bug in college, symptoms of which included hanging out with poets in bars in the east end of town, and publishing poems and translations all over the place. Currently augments his work on his own work (read: songs, records) producing recordings for other songwriters in Toronto where he now lives. Hosts a monthly show (weekly in the Summer) on CKLN radio, featuring recorded music and live performances by new talent as well as veteran performers. Loves music, bicycles, truth, animals, G-d.

RUSSELL LEON


Russell Leon is a unique songwriter and captivating performer who has been building an impressive reputation on the Toronto music scene. With an acoustic CD under his belt, Leon expanded on his folk roots and cranked up his electric guitar to form the Russell Leon Band in 2001. Propelled by the dynamic drumming of Larry Kline and a stellar cast of supporting musicians, the band began to create music as diverse as the city it calls home. Regular performances around Toronto found them playing to a growing number of enthusiastic fans in settings ranging from wild rock concerts to intimate acoustic shows. In 2005, the Russell Leon Band completed a full-length CD and welcomed Marcus Walker aboard on bass (photos to be updated soon). The band plays many of the city's top live music venues, including the Cameron House, the Rivoli, the Reverb, Rancho Relaxo, Clinton's, Holy Joe's, and Graffiti's. Recent RLB gigs of note include Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast, and opening slots for music legends Ike Turner and Leon Russell(!). All of the members of the Russell Leon Band are experienced players with a flair for shifting stylistic gears. These world travellers are all over the musical map, making it difficult to define their overall sound. But the music is grounded in Russell Leon's compelling lyrics and spirited vocal performances. His eclectic storytelling and social commentary go straight to the heart, while the band's irrepressible energy brings people to their feet. Raising consciousness and raising the roof, the Russell Leon Band demands to be heard. Now it's time for everyone to discover a true jewel of the independent music world.

PETER J SLACK


Peter is an independent Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, aspiring music producer, mechanical engineer, philosopher, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Peter has a lifetime of musical training and involvement. In his teens, Peter studied jazz guitar at Eli Kasner's guitar academy for 5 years and is self taught on the piano. He began writing and recording music independently when he was 13 living in Toronto. Peter turned momentarily from the musical path in 1984 and spent the next decade obtaining an Engineering degree at the University of Western and practicing as an Engineer. In 1996 Peter began producing music and formed a music production and recording company, Digital Bird Studios. Peter produced several albums for young independent artists and continued to experiment with his own recording and writing styles in the digital realm. In 2004, Peter was inducted into the Toronto area collective of songwriters known as Songwriter's Unite!. Peter has spent several years writing songs and gaining inspirations through performances with and among other amazing artists in this collective. Peter has just released his first official CD: "The Cat Continuum", a folk-pop album. Peter publishes philosophy, words and music both on his podcast that has worldwide distribution ( http://peterjslack.blogspot.com ) and on his website ( http://www.pjslack.com ). Peter is also a member of SOCAN and an active member of the Headwaters Acoustic Music Society. Peter is an activist to heal the world with music.

JEN GILLMOR


Jen has been playing in Toronto-area bands of many stripes since 1988. Currently, her main project is a collaboration called Brazen Crush (basses, cello, vox). She also plays bass with Kelly and the Kellygirls, fretless bass and cello with Peter J Slack, and has recently begun playing cello with didgeridoo player William Pypher. Jen also plays cello and bass with Eric Nagler and Matt Segriff. Jen has toured nationally and internationally with numerous projects, recorded around a dozen albums, appeared in nationally broadcast music videos and on various local and national television shows. Jen has either recorded, performed and/or toured with: Roach Motel, Amer Diab, Evalyn Parry, The Wetspots, Tucker Finn, duo with Lyndell Montgomery, Dropdeadbeats, The Matriphiles, Random Order, Women Ah Run Tings, Tamara Williamson, The Kitchen Sink Project, Meryn Cadell, Snowdogs, The Nancy Sinatras.

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