BTW-Fergus Hambleton, Sleave, Grace Cummings, Jerry Leger, Ava Lake, Raine Hamilton, David Bauhaus J, Donkey, Tony McManus/Julia Toaspern, Matters Of The Heart, Sleater-Kinney, Jessica Rhaye

Fri Nov 01 2019
Fergus Hambleton

Gonna start by getting personal in the sense that Fergus Hambleton is a personal fave of mine. It seems like he’s been weaving his way into Toronto’s musical tapestry since forever. In the '70s Hambleton hooked up with legendary Jamaican composer/trumpeter Jo Jo Bennett and a lasting friendship was formed leading to the pair becoming the foundation for acclaimed reggae collective the Sattalites.

"I was a sax player and I was living in the neighbourhood where all of the reggae stores and musicians were," says Hambleton. "I got to know people and they would ask me to come and play on this and this and that and that. I got pulled into it gradually and it was all very nice. I enjoyed that music because Jamaican music always has lots of horns in it and as a Sattalites horn player, I always appreciated that."

Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade Release “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine”

Fri Nov 01, 2019

Award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade have released their newest single and video, “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” — the latest off 2019’s Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan.

And prompt dreams, it does. The video — backlit with star-like twinkle lights, not unlike Rhaye’s own connection to the track — invites viewers into the band’s intimate performance of the 1967 classic. “I’ve always pictured Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ when I listen to this song,” says Rhaye. “Dylan talks about the John Wesley Harding album and, at the time, his increased interests in painting and his work to sharpen the imagery in his lyrics.”

“I think our version helps capture the lyrical imagery of the song.”

“Our version of this classic Dylan tune also takes on more of a ballad feel than the original version,” she continues, considering additional creative differences between the two. “Chris’ beautiful guitar solo — along with the delicate cymbal work and bowed bass — gives our version a very lush and dreamy feel.”

BTW- Gordon Lightfoot, Toronto Tabla Ensemble, Yoke Lore, Martin Simpson, Jessica Rhaye, Wide Mouth Mason, Begonia, Leela Gilday

Fri Oct 04 2019
Gordon Lightfoot

There’s something about ‘The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald’ that makes it an essential Fall song as well as a crucial Halloween one.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKJNBxDCMIs

Multi-Award Winning & JUNO Award Nominated Toronto Tabla Ensemble just dropped a new single “Dream Symposium.” It’s a large deal for the group as it features next gen players of the TTE carrying on the tradition of the table drum forming the core of a musically compelling drum-centric ensemble.

Watch "Dream Symposium" via YouTube Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzmX5_6beOk

Jessica Rhaye and the Ramshackle Parade Release Video “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”

Fri Aug 23, 2019

Award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade release today “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” — the second single off their forthcoming release, Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan

“I first heard ‘Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands’ covered by Joan Baez from her 1968 album, Any Day Now,” Rhaye recalls. “I was just a kid and my dad would play it in the old family station wagon. 

“In fact, I didn’t even realize it was Dylan’s song, I just associated it as being Joan Baez’s. 

“When The Ramshackle Parade and I started to collaborate for this record, I knew I wanted to do a version of this track,” she continues. “Joan Baez’s version is more than 11 minutes long and Dylan’s is similar — it actually takes up an entire vinyl side of his Blonde on Blonde album and is five verses long. We knew we needed to trim it back so our version is two verses of the original.”