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Local CD shopping (Canada & Italy)
Introducing
/ Heirs + Greivances
~
When critics liken you to Edith Piaf, Elton
John, Aretha Franklin and Modest Mussorgsky, it’s a good sign
you’re truly one-of-a-kind. So it is with musical explorer Allison
Crowe who, since creating her own record label in 2001, uniquely
inhabits the world of song – continually adding breadth and depth
to a richly expressive repertoire for piano, vocals, guitar and
bodhran.
Crowe’s “supernaturally agile and exquisite voice” is complemented ideally by her international touring band: Céline Greb (cello, vocal harmonies); Sarah White (mandolin, vocal harmonies); and Dave Baird (bass). Longtime friend, musician and photographer Billie Woods contributes guitar and vocal harmonies to the band’s recordings. The combo’s gorgeously thrilling hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock bridges vital originals with fresh interpretations of classics by Annie Lennox and Gary O'Driscoll.
Alongside multi-genre concert and recording projects over this past year the Nanaimo-born, Newfoundland-based artist’s active as music curator and arranger for acclaimed stage productions of: Atlantic Canada’s folk and popular song; the collaborative works of Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill; and choral renderings of traditional Christmas carols.
A singular artistry and virtuosity make Allison Crowe performances legendary - and fun. In the Scottish Highlands she brought down the house on a bill with Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s Poet Laureate, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Master of the Queen's Music. In Hollywood Superman movie director Zack Snyder is outspoken in his respect and admiration. Touring with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet audiences responded with spontaneous standing ovations.
"The most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life,” says longtime American public broadcaster Ross Hocker. “Allison has a special gift that is so very rare in musicians today. She is true to her mind, heart and spirit. She also has a most wonderful humor which envelops her audience."
"Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," sums up Allison Crowe.
"Heirs + Greivances" is the debut studio album of Allison Crowe and Band (and the 20th release on Crowe's label, Rubenesque Records Ltd.) The digital album contains 13 exciting tunes and honestly potent performances. It’s a magnificent set of songs from Allison Crowe and her extraordinary band of musicians. The physical CD is a double-album - pairing this studio set with a live concert set from Allison and Band – “Introducing”. Enjoy!!
This double-CD is now available: in British Columbia @ Fascinating Rhythm (51 Commercial 250-716-9997), in Nanaimo and Lyle’s Place (770 Yates 250-382-8422) in Victoria. On Canada's Atlantic coast, the album is found @ MALA (74 Broadway 709-634-4004) in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, and at Fred's Records, St. John's, NL. In Italy, you'll find "Introducing / Heirs + Grievances" @ Teatro del Sale, Via dei Macci 111r, 50122, Firenze, Italy.
Allison Crowe's just returned to her home in Corner Brook, NL, after attending the World Premiere in New York City of "Man of Steel", the Zack Snyder-directed Superman epic in which she has a cameo - as a musician performing "Ring of Fire", a song made famous by Johnny Cash. MoS is currently the #1 box office draw on planet Earth. (Had things not gone so wrong on Krypton, it'd surely be a smashing success there as well.) Next she rolls on to Cow Head, in Gros Morne National Park
"I am so grateful to have been asked by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, two years in a row, to put together songs and musically direct for a show called 'Newfoundland Vinyl'. As part of the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, I get to work with extremely talented and fun people each Summer in a gorgeous setting - Cow Head, NL. From the vast and encyclopaedic sea of beautiful music to come from, and out of, Newfoundland and Labrador, here is a collection of some of the songs from this year's show." ~ Allison Crowe
"Newfoundland Vinyl”, the vinyl LP, is available on Crowe’s home islands – on Atlantic shores @ MALA (74 Broadway 709-634-4004) in Corner Brook and at venerable Fred’s Records in St. John’s, NL. On Canada’s Pacific coast, the LP is stocked at Fascinating Rhythm, in Nanaimo, Lyle’s Place, in Victoria, and Salt Spring Sound, SSI, BC. In the city of Vancouver, Canada - it's @: Highlife Records; Neptoon Records; Red Cat Records; and Zulu Records.
The album can also be mail-ordered for delivery anywhere, and, digitally, it’s available here on Allison's Music Site and on CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon and other fine sites that make music available online.
Spiral
contains eight of Allison Crowe’s original songs, ranging from the
tender and playful country/roots of “Dearly”, to the
upbeat pop of “Double-Edged Swords”, ’cross the loving “Oceans”,
and darker terrain of “I Don’t Know” and the hard rocking
title track. Raw, natural, emotion is embraced passionately with
elegiac beauty and melody in these, and such joy-filled tunes as “Going
Home Tonight” and “No Matter the Battle”. With the
live track, “Wake Up”, Crowe, again, renders the personal
universal, and the global, human.
Uniquely known not just as one of the most exciting songwriters of
a new generation, Crowe is also one of our finest interpreters of
popular song. Spiral’s mix of light and shadow includes a
trio of fresh covers – revisiting music of Annie Lennox (“Why”),
Leonard Cohen (“Chelsea Hotel No. 2”), and Hunters and
Collectors’ Antipodean anthem, “Throw Your Arms Around Me”.
On this song collection, the bi-coastal Canadian, (she calls
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Nanaimo, British Columbia, home), is
joined by ideally-skilled and sympathetic west-coast musicians
Billie Rocha-Woods (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Dave Baird
(bass, backing vocals), Laurent Boucher (percussion), Brendan
Millbank (cello) and Larry Anschell
(electric guitar, and, also, Engineer/Producer at Turtle Studios in
White Rock, B.C.)
Kayla Schmah, Los Angeles-based, Canadian-born, composer and film
scorer, orchestrates and produces the album with, yes, "gorgeous"
musical textures, and cinematic ideas artfully brought to life.
Concert capturings by Engineers B.R.N. (aka Condor) and John
MacMillan complete this diverse mix of music made in Corner Brook,
Nanaimo, as well as Chilliwack, White Rock, Denman Island and Salt
Spring Island, Canada, Vienna, Austria, and Hollywood, USA.
The visual art of Spiral matches its aural beauty - with
cover paintings by Netherlands-based Tara Thelen, photographs by
Canada's Billie Rocha-Woods, and California's Dan Goldwasser,
fontage from Brazil’s Billy Argel and graphic design by Florida's
Alix Whitmire.
Allison Crowe's album, Spiral ****REVIEWS****
"Spiral" is now available in record stores from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, Canada and in Florence, Italy. Locations incl. Nanaimo, B.C’s Fascinating Rhythm (250-716-9997) and Lobelia's Lair; on Salt Spring Island at Salt Spring Sound; in Victoria, B.C. come to Lyle's Place (250-382-8422); in Vancouver, visit Zulu Records (1972-1976 W 4th Ave.); in Newfoundland drop by Fred's Records (709-753-9191) in St. John's, and @ MALA (74 Broadway 709-634-4004), Corner Brook. In Italia, you'll find "Spiral" in the shop of Teatro del Sale, Via dei Macci 111r, 50122, Firenze, Italy.
Little
Light is a popular singer-songwriter collection from Allison
Crowe. It opens with a rustically shimmering version of "Northern
Lights" - a song Allison performed 'specially for the John
Lennon Northern Lights Festival in Durness, Scotland. "Angels"
is recorded live at St. Andrew's United Church, Christmas-time, in
Allison's birthplace, Nanaimo, Canada. She's backed here by bassist
Dave Baird and percussionist Laurent Boucher. "Disease", a
song of social commentary, has, through years of live performance,
become epic - channeling Beethoven, grunge and more. Here 't'is captured in its
raging glory by Larry Anschell (on International Women's Day 2008,
the same night celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Engineer and
Producer Anschell's Turtle
Recording Studios - this live track co-engineered by Brad Graham). Title
track "Little Light" is among a set of guitar songs
that reveal a different sort of Allison Crowe's writerly reflections
in music. "Happy People", like such earlier songs
as Crowe's own, "Skeletons and Spirits", a bright
melody coats more acid observations. Strong and gentle poetics of
"Hold Back" warm us by a fire kindled in the '70s
by Joni Mitchell. "Choose to Be" bridges the piano
sound of Allison's "This Little Bird" songs with
her new tunes. Bob Dylan's ramblin' shoes lead to a less restless
farewell, as the album closes with "Wedding Song" -
Crowe's sweetest, rootsiest, love song to date.
The interpretations on this collection are: "Time After Time" - originally a hit for that most unusual girl, Cyndi Lauper - Allison, a child of the '80s gives her impassioned take, live (Scott LittleJohn recording this, the same night as "Angels"); "Running for Home", is a cover of the Matthew Good Band, and one of the songs Allison has performed since her teens; and, by way of the Righteous Babe, Ani DiFranco, comes Allison's vocal-guitar nod to the great peace-loving bard, Phil Ochs - "When I'm Gone". "Can't be singing louder than the guns when I'm gone, so I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here."
Allison Crowe's popular Little Light ****REVIEWS****
Available in Nanaimo, B.C at Fascinating Rhythm 250-716-9997 and in Victoria, B.C. come to Lyle's Place (250-382-8422). In Vancouver, visit Zulu Records (1972-1976 W 4th Ave.) In Newfoundland drop in to St. John's Fred's Records for your music.
This
Little Bird contains everything to love about
the music of Allison Crowe. Adding titles of engineer and producer
to her vocal, piano and guitar credits, Crowe is joined on most of
the album's tracks by an ideal rhythm section ~ Dave Baird (bass)
and Laurent Boucher (percussion). Nine new originals map emotional
and spiritual territory with fresh sounds, encompassing: the elegiac
"Phoenix"; the ramble tamble "Alive and
Breathing"; gorgeous songs of love and hope, "Effortless"
and "There Is"; the jaunty dark humor of "Skeletons
and Spirits"; the redemptive grace of "Now";
the raucous celebration of the title track; a joy of simplicity in
"Circular Reasoning"; and "Silence",
a song that stirs with gypsy romance.
Acclaimed not only as an exciting songwriter and live performer,
but, also, as a supreme song interpreter, for her freshly definitive
takes, Allison Crowe delivers a trio of remarkable covers on "This
Little Bird" - giving her singular voice to "A Case
of You" (Joni Mitchell's knowing paen to heart and
homeland), "Darling Be Home Soon" (John Sebastian's
lovin' spoonful of longing) and "I Never Loved A Man (The
Way I Love You)" (Ronnie Shannon's soulful song best-known
as Aretha Franklin's break-out tune in 1967).
Allison Crowe's soaring album, This Little Bird ****REVIEWS****
Available: in Nanaimo, B.C. at Fascinating Rhythm; in Vancouver at Zulu Records and Highlife
Much of Allison's music can be found in St. John's, Newfoundland at:
Live
at Wood Hall is an exciting journey through
Allison Crowe's concert repertoire, recorded with a simple clarity
in the converted chapel of Victoria (B.C.)'s Conservatory of Music.
Alongside more than an album's worth of original songs of love and
hope to social and political commentary, Allison covers cherished
favourites - including Ani DiFranco ("Independence Day"),
Counting Crows ("A Murder of One"), Tori Amos
("Playboy Mommy"), Janis Joplin ("Me and
Bobby McGee"), and John Lennon ("Imagine").
Colours in the artist's musical palette range from roots &
blues, through folk, pop/rock, jazz and Broadway. There's even a
tradtional Irish aire, "Believe Me If All (Those Endearing
Young Charms)", sung acapella. Once again, Larry Anschell
(Turtle Studios) captures the music on tape and Alix Whitmire
designs the beautiful artwork/CD cover. " 'Music, man, that's
where it's at'/ it is a religious line/ outside, the chimes rung/ an
they/ are still ringin." ****REVIEWS****
Live at Wood Hall is available in Nanaimo, B.C at Fascinating Rhythm 250-716-9997, Lobelia's Lair 250-753-5440. In Victoria, B.C. come to Lyle's Place, HMV+; and in St. John's, Newfoundland visit Fred's Records for your music.
"Music for the season and all time"
Tidings brings together traditional carols, and not-so-traditional songs, all interpreted, even redefined, through the vocal and piano artistry of Allison Crowe. It's a much-loved collection tagged "the Yule-tide find of the year" by one music critic. "Her voice celebrates the music with a bluesy rock-gospel intensity; her controlled vibrato, silken rasp, and powerful projection rivet your attention. This is no casual background music... be prepared to be amazed," says another reviewer. Tidings is popular year-round - not just during the Christmas season when it's a natural. The album's songs are recorded, live-off-the-floor, on Winter's eve in Canada by Engineer & Producer Larry Anschell, (Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan, k-os), who captures the magic at his Turtle Recording studio by the shore in White Rock, British Columbia.
Tidings' track-listing: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Traditional); River (Joni Mitchell); Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen); Silent Night (Traditional); In the Bleak Midwinter (Traditional); What Child Is This - Greensleeves (Traditional); Let It Be (The Beatles); The First Noel (Traditional); In My Life (The Beatles); O Holy Night (Traditional); Shine a Light (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards); Angel (Sarah McLachlan). ****REVIEWS****
Peace on Earth ~ goodwill toward all.
Tidings is available at the following fine merchants (among others):
Corner Brook, NL ~
MALA (74 Broadway 709-634-4004)
St. John's, NL ~
fred's
records
Ladysmith, B.C. ~ Salamander Books, 535 First Ave. 250-245-4726
Mayne Island, B.C. ~ Tree Frog Gallery 250-539-3551
Nanaimo, B.C. ~ Fascinating Rhythm 250-716-9997,
Lobelia's Lair
250-753-5440
Pender Island, B.C. ~ Talisman Books & Gallery
Salt Spring Island, B.C. ~ Saltspring Sound
Sidney, B.C. ~ Mainly Music
Vancouver, B.C. ~ Delicados (W. Hastings & Richards), High Life (Commercial
Drive), Red Cat Records (Main & 26th),
Zulu Records
(1972 W. Fourth Ave., 604-738-3232), HMV, Virgin
Records+
Victoria, B.C. ~ Lyle's Place
Florence, Italy ~ Teatro del Sale Emporio
Secrets
Allison Crowe recorded this solo, singer-songwriter, album in 2004.
First setting up a home studio, Allison engineered and assisted with
production (alongside Rainer Willeke of Canadian r'n'b combo, Soul
Station). Allison performs all vocals (lead and harmonies),
plays piano, guitar, keyboards and added percussive 'thumps' to the
collection. Secrets contains a mix of tunes from Allison's
"band days" (some of which are radically redefined),
freshly-penned songs, and a couple of choice picks from other
artists: Counting
Crows' brooding "Raining in Baltimore" ~ the
first song Allison performed when she launched her career as a
singer-songwriter; and "Joan of Arc", a shining
exemplar of Leonard
Cohen's poetic brilliance. Guest artists contributing to Secrets
are: Del Crowe (guitar); Jo Lundstrom (accordion); Eric
Reiswig (Uilleann pipes); and Rainer Willeke (tambourine).
****REVIEWS****
Merchants: Nanaimo, B.C. - Fascinating Rhythm 250-716-9997, Music World, Lobelia's Lair 250-753-5440; Victoria, B.C. - Lyle's Place, HMV+; Sidney, B.C. - Mainly Music; Salt Spring Island - Saltspring sound; Vancouver, B.C. - Zulu Records (West Fourth), Red Cat Records (Main & 26th); St. John's, NL - fred's records (198 Duckworth)
Lisa's
Song+ 6 Songs The first track on this disc was
recorded live-off-the-floor, in April 2003, by Rick Erickson of Seacoast
Sound in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The six songs that
follow "Lisa's Song" were recorded
live-off-the-floor one afternoon on analog tape by Engineer and
Producer Larry Anschell (Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan, Soundgarden+),
at his Turtle Studios in White Rock, B.C. Allison Crowe and
bandmates, Dave Baird (bass), Kevin Clevette (drums), stopped into
Turtle while on their way to perform in Seattle, Washington, USA for
"Jammers" - fans of Pearl Jam converging from all across
America and the world. The essential truth of the trio's July 2001
session is captured in these live, raw, grooves.
****REVIEWS****
Please visit Lisa's Page to learn about Lisa Marie Young, the inspiration for the title song.
Lisa's Song + 6 Songs EP is available at the following retail outlets in Canada:
St. John's, NL ~ fred's
records
Nanaimo, B.C. ~ Fascinating Rhythm 250-716-9997, Lobelia's
Lair 250-753-5440
Vancouver, B.C. ~ Zulu Records
Victoria, B.C. ~ Lyle's Place
Allison's "6 Songs+"
CD (containing Fade Away, two versions of Midnight, Crayon & Ink,
Dark Blue, Scared, Philosophy, & Midnight - Version 2002) is
available at Canadian HMV outlets and:
Mayne Island, B.C. ~ Treefrog Gallery & Natural Clothing
Nanaimo, B.C. ~ Fascinating Rhythm 250-716-9997
****REVIEWS****
Nationally & Internationally It's morely likely you'll find "Lisa's Song + 6 Songs" (which contains all the original 6 Songs plus it includes "Lisa's Song"), though, if you specifically want "6 Songs+", this EP may be available through:
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