February 7 ~  Songs of Hope for Haiti

 

The recent earthquake disaster in Haiti has focussed the world’s attention on the country. Help is needed now and in times ahead.

Randy Winchester, Events Coordinator of The Nave Gallery in Cambridge / Somerville, Massachusetts, USA has brought together a dozen musical friends of the Nave, a group of artists which includes Allison Crowe, contributing her song "Aquarius Rising", to make an album, “Songs of Hope for Haiti”.

Says Randy: “Songs of Hope for Haiti is a project to help relief efforts in Haiti. Please consider making a donation to Partners In Health. Go to their website and learn about the good work that they do around the world, especially in Haiti. PIH needs our support now more than ever during this enormous crisis.

Partners In Health (PIH) works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in twelve countries around the world, and has been working on the ground in Haiti for over twenty years. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for their patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities they serve.

You can find the album here on Jamendo:

The album features new songs by:

* The Accident That Led Me To The World
* Bill Barclay
* Yael Bat-Shimon
* Allysen Callery
* Allison Crowe
* Ken Field
* Jim Goodin and Peter Thðrn
* Allyssa Jones
* Dennis Moser
* Celia Slattery
* Michael Winograd Klezmer Ensemble
* Zefiro

And thanks to V. Van Sant, graphic designer for our beautiful album cover and Melissa Glick for promotion.

   

Songs of Hope for Haiti - CD front and back covers designed by V. Van Sant

I hope that you enjoy this album and please give generously to help support Partners In Health. Thank you.”

As well, Randy notes: “The Nave Gallery, is pleased to announce a Benefit Concert on Friday, February 12 to benefit Partners in Health, an organization providing medical care to earthquake victims in Haiti. The concert will feature singer/songwriters Allysen Callery, Celia Slattery, and Allyssa Jones, along with accompanist Mark Shilansky. Each of the artists appearing at the Benefit Concert have contributed a track to the album.”

Join “Songs of Hope for Haiti” in supporting Partners In Health c/o: The Nave Gallery;
Partners In Health; Songs of Hope for Haiti facebook group; Songs of Hope on Jamendo ; and
Songs of Hope for Haiti on MySpace

 

 

 

 

January 31 ~  Double-Bill: In Honour of Ani

 

Both Hands

 

Today, as pioneering musician Janis Ian is joined in a march forward by such high profile recording acts as Radiohead and Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Ani DiFranco's DIY beacon shines ever-bright.

Asked, "Why music?", Allison Crowe responds: "Why breathing?"

Just as naturally, the Canadian musician embraces DiFranco's truth: "If you are disgustingly sincere and terribly diligent, there are ways for any serious artist to operate outside the corporate structure."

Which makes it really about the music. Best-known for her piano music, one of the first guitar songs Allison Crowe performed on-stage was the Ani DiFranco song "Both Hands". Fortunately, Nanaimo, B.C.'s Scott Littlejohn was on hand to record this moment live (in 2004).

"The one person who really knows me best says I'm like a cat..." ~ 'Virtue', Ani DiFranco

 

 

 

+ 32 Flavors

 

Ani DiFranco ~ "songwriter, musicmaker, storyteller, freak".

In 1989/90, years before digital/online technology helped light up the terrain, Buffalo-based DiFranco was showing us how DIY is done. In creating her own label, Righteous Babe Records, and charting a path that includes loyalty and integrity as touchstones, "the little folksinger that could" - did!

"I don't think the music industry is conducive to artistic and social change and growth. It does a lot to exploit and homogenize art and artists. In order to challenge the corporate music industry, I feel it necessary to remain outside it. I could be selling a lot more albums. Life could be a lot more cushy. But it's much more interesting to try and hammer out an alternative route without the music industry and maybe be an example for other musicians. You don't have to play ball," notes Ani DiFranco.

Major inspiration to Allison Crowe, who created her own label, Rubenesque Records Ltd., (about to release a seventh CD/album since 2003), the music of Ani DiFranco is a cherished feature of Crowe's live performances.

 

Heres Ani's song "32 Flavors" performed by Allison (vocals, piano) and Dave Baird (bass), and Kevin Clevette (drums) live at Lucky Bar, Victoria, Canada in 2001. One of the earliest live recordings of Crowe, it's first captured by Condor, and later engineered by Welsh audio-tech David Powell.

The image of Allison Crowe is by the ever fabulous photog Billie Woods.

 

 

 

January 27 ~  This Little Bird

 

 

anada's Allison Crowe, on piano and vocals, lays down another song track with Dave Baird on bass and Laurent Boucher on percussion. ("This Little Bird", on the album of the same name, a song that playfully celebrates freedom, makes me think of other such innocent fun as The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night".)



While she puts together her next album, I'm riffing through a batch of photos of Allison just stumbled upon, and picking up other cultural footnotes.

Conan OBrien, American comedian and late-night television host, now a free bird, gave a moving farewell in signing off 'The Tonight Show'. After thanking his fans for coming together to make a sad situation joyous and inspirational, 'Coco' addressed his audience, directing these words particularly to young people watching:

"All I ask is one thing... Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you. It's just true."

This calls for more... cowbell.

 

 

 

January 26 ~  Delightful

 

My Mom was always fond of saying, "Never delay a kindness". Words to live by.

Someone who takes that maxim to heart, and print, is the mysterious Dr. Heck Guy - blogger behind the highly erudite and even more entertaining Heck of a Guy: "A pastiche of posts, featuring song, dance, snappy chatter plus notes on prose, poesy, love, lust, life, and beyond".

With a new album creation on the home stretch, I've been in the position of pulling together items from past and present, in the process gaining new perspective and, further, a deepened appreciation of Allison Crowe's immense artistry and integrity.

It buoys my spirits to know that the music she creates inspires people all over this world, and, as one example, here's the latest from that online articulator song and dance, DrHGuy:

Must-hear Allison Crowe Cover Of John Sebastian's Darling Be Home Soon

I happened onto this video of Allison Crowe, the Canadian singer-songwriter and icon-in-training, performing her uniquely gorgeous version of "Darling Be Home Soon," a classic pop – in the best sense of “pop” – tune and couldn’t go to sleep without posting it first.

Written by John Sebastian (as were ” “Do You Believe in Magic”, “Summer in the City”, “Daydream,” “Nashville Cats,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,” “Six O’Clock,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” and “Younger Girl”), "Darling Be Home Soon" was popularized by The Lovin' Spoonful, Sebastian’s band, in 1967. I hereby proudly confess to being a long-time admirer (since before 1967) of Mr. Sebastian and The Lovin' Spoonful.1

Crowe’s luscious, sometimes almost lascivious vocalizations match up surprisingly well with the delightfulness, a Sebastian trademark (nobody does delightful like John Sebastian), that pervades "Darling Be Home Soon" to produce an irresistibly enjoyable, profoundly satisfying performance.

 

1 See Confessions Of A Pop Music Junkie

 

 

January 24 ~  Darling Be Home Soon

 

Allison Crowe's trio perform "Darling Be Home Soon", a song penned by the great American songwriter and musician John Sebastian - and which was a hit for The Lovin' Spoonful in 1967 and performed solo at Woodstock in '69.

 

These days Sebastian, composer of numerous classic songs - beautiful and playful - is still busy, making jug band music. "It seems to make him feel just fine..."

Crowe, who engineered and recorded this track for her album, "This Little Bird", is accompanied here by Dave Baird on bass and Laurent Boucher on percussion.

The b/w photo of Allison Crowe and her darling is by Billie Woods.

 

 

 

January 10 ~  These Words

 

"These Words", this song from Allison Crowe, debuted on the 300th episode of
Accident Hash - part of the fifth anniversary celebrations for the pioneering and much-loved music podcast of Boston's new media maven C.C. Chapman.

To mark the occasion, Ewan Spence, Edinburgh-based blogger, podcaster of comedy, music (including the TPN Rock podcast) and more, rallied the online community of musicians, CC's family,
friends and fans, known as "Homefrys", and brought together content for a special show today (January 10, 2010).

 

"These Words" is among a collection of songs that Allison has gathered together for release this New Year. This single track will be followed by the release of her seventh album/CD, "Spiral", in early 2010.

The image accompanying the music in this video is a detail from Gaston Bussiere's painting - Joan of Arc - Jeanne d'Arc.

 

Click on the thumbnail for a view of the full painting: