The Whole Music Experience

Sagapool Coop Faux Monnayeurs Independent Release/Canada Similar to the French music collective Lo’Jo, Quebec’s Sagapool collectively represents a multicultural stew on its self-titled album.   However, as mentioned in the press notes, Sagapool performs meditative music.   Not to confuse meditative with new age, this sextet lead by clarinetist Guillaume Bourque musically ponders the Great White North, and oddly sounds like Finish or Norwegian folk music.   Sure, the musicians toss the words Klezmer and Balkan around in the band’s description, and we do hear an Eastern European gypsy tinge, especially on an upbeat song Marcel , which sounds like the circus rolled into town. However, I can draw comparisons between this Quebecois band and European musical acts, but by the end of the day, the best descriptor is original.   Now, I’ve never traveled to Quebec so I am left with a mystical description of the place--some far off land, bordering the US and ...

Heather Masse Bird Song (2009) Red House Records The Wailin’ Jennys Bright Morning Stars Red House Records The music industry is rife with irony.   For instance Heather Masse, a musician with a solo career and a member of two bands, marks the third alto vocalists for the Canadian band The Wailin’ Jennys.   The first two altos left the band to pursue solo careers, but neither of them became a "Prairie Home Companion" darling in the manner that Masse had.   However, each alto brought her own signature to the band such as the old English ballads influence of Cara Luft and the mandolin-tinged bluegrass of Annabelle Chvotsek and each vocalist helped to transform WJ. Heather Masse, the only American vocalist in the band, brought her music conservatory experience, mainly as a jazz vocalist and her love of old timey blues and jazz.   While you can certainly hear these influences in the form of bluegrass swing ( Cherry Blossom Love ...