Nov 24 2006

 

On Saturday, Dec. 2, Canadian vocalist/pianist Allison Crowe completes her annual migration and alights at Campbell River’s United Church (415 Pinecrest) bringing with her a collection of songs for the season and all time.

The internationally acclaimed songbird presents her Tidings concert here as a fundraiser for the Campbell River Food Bank.

The Food Bank has been operating since 1985 and currently feeds 1,100 to 1,400 people each month. For the past decade, the organization’s outgoing administrators, Bev and Fraser Steenson, their board and legion of dedicated volunteers, have tended the needs of those less fortunate – all, thankfully, with the tremendous support of the North Island community.

Thanks to the invitation of local resident Ron Nicolaye, Crowe is delighted this year to lend a hand in her own way.

“Treat yourself to one of the mightiest talents on the singer-songwriter scene today,” says Bob Muller, long-time administrator of cover songs on the official Joni Mitchell Discussion List (JMDL). Crowe’s just-hatched album, This Little Bird, contains her take on Joni’s “A Case of You”.

The JMDL’s Muller, in reviewing this new album, says: “Allison really comes into her own on this CD – her wonderful songs, supported by her emotive vocals, strong and confident, navigates them with feeling and strength. I mean, it takes a lot of self-confidence to tackle Aretha’s version of ‘I Never Loved a Man...’ but Allison does and nails it just as good as the Queen of Soul herself.

Special guest artist for this Tidings benefit concert is Salt Spring Island’s globe-trotting musician and photographer, Billie Woods.

Woods has just returned home after touring England, Ireland and Scotland with Crowe.

London’s hip music blog, The Face of Today, said of her performance in that city: “She played some elegant classical guitar and sang beautifully.”

Of Crowe’s set, the journal noted: “With tones reminiscent of Ani DiFranco and Joni Mitchell, her neatly crafted songs of personal joy and torment came from the heart and filled the room with her whole soul.”

At the United Church, the evening’s concert repertoire will bring together some traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an equal measure of Crowe’s uniquely original blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. It’s a passionate and joyous sound that one music critic describes as “Elton John meets Edith Piaf”.

Crowe’s band on the bill features a pair of top-flight rhythm-makers also heard on her This Little Bird album: Dave Baird on acoustic and electric bass, and percussionist Laurent Boucher, renowned for his playing with Sunyata and other combos.

Advance tickets are $20 general and $15 students and seniors. For ticket info, contact Ron Nicolaye 250-923-6972 and drop by IRIS, Discovery Harbour 140-1416 Island Highway (250-287-9651) and The Music Plant, 619 11th Avenue (250-287-7770).

For more word on Crowe, and her Tidings concert to aid the Campbell River Food Bank, visit www.allisoncrowe.com