Lori Freedman will tour Balkan Europe with Les Amis Ensemble (Lynn Kuo, Rachel Mercer, Marianna Humetska, Joseph Macerollo) under the direction of Michael Pepa. Les Amis Ensemble is a group of some of the most talented Canadian musicians. The ensemble performs contemporary as well as traditional chamber music.

• April 27: Petar Preradovi Square, Zagreb (Croatia)
• April 28: Mimara Museum, Zagreb (Croatia)
• April 30: Haus der Komponisten, Vienna (Austria)
• May 2: Sibiu (Romania)
• May 3: George Enescu Hall, Bucarest (Romania)
• May 4: City Hall, Lviv (Ukraine)
• May 6: French Cultural Institute, Budapest (Hungary)

Missing her already? Listen to some excerpts from her latest album 3.

The next Mercredimusics will host Esther Bourdages, Michel F Côté, Jean Derome, Alexandre St-Onge, and Pierre Tanguay on April 25, 2007 at Casa Obscura in Montréal for a special Music/Film happening with Jean Detheux’s improvised movies.
While you’re waiting to take part in this unusual event becoming an actor, listen to some audio clips of the releases Flat fourgonnette (Mescal Free Style) and 10 compositions.

Gordon M Allen (trompette), Philippe Lauzier (saxophones, clarinette basse), Pierre-Yves Martel (contrebasse), and Isaiah Ceccarelli (batterie) will be at Casa del Popolo in Montréal on Thursday May 3, 2007.

Double shot of jazz, on April 28, 2007, with Trio Derome Guilbeault Tanguay and Trio Bourassa Derome Tanguay. Listen to some excerpts of the album The Feeling of Jazz.

Tombak is the name of an important percussion instrument used in Persian classical music. It is a one-sided drum carved out of the trunk of a walnut or mulberry tree and covered in goat or lamb skin. It is in the dedicated hands here of Ziya Tabassian, who studied classical percussion in Montréal, and tombak in Iran. He is member of several ensembles that are engaged in classical and world music. On Tombak however we find all alone with the tombak or zarb. Tabassian composed 9 pieces to demonstrate his love for this instrument. Compositions that are beyond the musical context where the tombak is usually heard. Played with bare hands he creates subtle and sober improvisations, that show the great flexibility of his playing. It is amazing what new sounds and colors he finds on this simple instrument. Through a great variety of techniques and musical principles, he discovers new dimensions on this rich instrument. On the other hand, how inventive and virtuoso this music may be, it is just two hands on one basic percussion instrument. Within these limitations Tabassian does a great job. But as a listener you must have a great affinity with this idiom in order to really appreciate and enjoy it. So I hope Tombak finds it’s way.

René Lussier will present his song cycle Le prix du bonheur with violonist Liette Remon on Saturday April 21, 2007 at Centre culturel Henri-Lemieux in Montréal. Listen to some audio clips of his release Qu’ouïs-je? online.