Allison Crowe's Vox

RWB's Leonard Cohen Ballet Success Rolls North in New Program

"Leonard Cohen's music comes to life at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet", CBC News reports earlier this month. After profoundly moving audiences during its world premiere run at Manitoba's Centennial Concert Hall, this weekend "The Doorway - Scenes from Leonard Cohen" rolls into Northern Manitoba for performances in: The Pas, May 25; Flin Flon, May 26; and Thompson, MB, May 27. In these communities, the Jorden Morris-choreographed "Doorway" is on a program with Peter Quanz's "In Tandem" and Brian Macdonald's "Pas D'Action".

In 1959, it was Brian Macdonald's "Les Whoops-De-Doo" that the RWB premiered in Flin Flon. And, it's another Macdonald creation, 1970's "The Shining People of Leonard Cohen", which premiered in Paris, France, that marked the first time a professional theatre or dance company produced the works of Canada's iconic songsmith on stage.

Of the "Shining People" production, cultural commentator Max Wyman notes: "That was absolutely in tune with the zeitgeist. But it was intriguing stuff as well. People loved it." (More from Wyman, and many more people on the inspiring story of the "constant phoenix" that is the RWB can be enjoyed in the award-winning documentary "40 Years of One Night Stands: The Story of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet".)

Of the newest ballet to the words and music of Cohen, Alison Mayes of The Winnipeg Free Press recounts: "Last year, Winnipeg's Jorden Morris was asked to choreograph a pas de deux to Leonard Cohen's soulful 'Dance Me to the End of Love' for the nationally televised Genie Awards. It was so well received that the Royal Winnipeg Ballet commissioned Morris to create a longer work to songs by the legendary Cohen. The 44-year-old dancemaker, who teaches at the RWB School and created the company's hits Peter Pan and Moulin Rouge" now is opening "The Doorway".

In it, Corps de Ballet member Sophia Lee, (paired with Jaime Vargas for the Genies sensation), dances "Hallelujah" - to the voice and piano of Allison Crowe. On opening, Crowe spoke with CBC Manitoba Scene Producer Andrea Ratuski: "I feel so humbled and so grateful to be a part of this. This is such an amazing company to be able to work with and I'm just so excited. It's so beautiful to be able to watch Sophia dance -- and all the other dancers, too -- all the songs. They translate so beautifully. You can kind of see the lyrics within the dance. It's gorgeous."

RWB's Sophia Lee dances to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" w. Allison Crowe onstage (CBC News - screen-cap)

Feelings shared by the audience. "Spine-tingling" That's how Holly Harris, dance reviewer for the Winnipeg Free Press, describes the ballet performance of "Hallelujah". Dan Aysan, owner of Winnipeg's renowned Selim's Antiques, and RWB season ticket-holder for much of 26 years posts: "Well... the Royal Winnipeg Ballet surprised me last night. Everything I had ever wanted them to do was done! They focused on the dance and not overwhelming production... and it captivated. The lighting and sound production were fantastic... but rarely did they overshadow the dancers themselves. 'Luminous' was astonishing and EXACTLY the type of work I hope the RWB considers doing more of. 'The Doorway' was a wild mix of dance, live music and spoken word that surprised me with it's depth and simplicity (how often do you get dancers' movements, Leonard Cohen's words & music with a smattering of Peter Gzowski's voice mashed up on stage ?!?)"

CHVI Radio's Adrienne Daniels attended the opening, and comments: "the triumph of this performance was Mr. Cohen himself. He wasn't there, but the RWB used audio from interviews he did regarding the songs being danced to and it gave such an incredible insight into the performance that it took it to that magical level. Where spirit and art connect and you FEEL the music. You feel it in your soul, its tangible with your hands and you can literally taste it.

"I was witness to one of the most moving spectacles of human expression that I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. My soul took flight for over 2 hours as I watched the poetic nature of the human form in motion; dancing, swaying, fighting, loving, understanding and confusing all at once."

Details of "The Doorway", "In Tandem" and "Pas D'Action" performances this weekend, (to recorded music), can be found on the RWB's site @ http://www.rwb.org/

Hallelujah ballet

"Spine-tingling."

That's how Holly Harris, dance reviewer for the Winnipeg Free Press, describes this performance of "Hallelujah".

Corps de Ballet member Sophia Lee, fresh from a lead role as "First" in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's production of Mark Godden's "Svengali", here dances Leonard Cohen's modern song classic. Allison Crowe sings and plays piano on-stage with Lee in the world premiere of "The Doorway", choreographed by Jorden Morris. RWB Soloist Jo-Ann Gudilin (nee Sundermeier), "Mother" in "Svengali", dons the blue dress to perform "Hallelujah" with Crowe on alternate dates.

(CBC News - screen-caps)

Arthur / Up to the Mountain - Double-A-Side from Allison Crowe

Allison Crowe releases a double-A-side single - two new song recordings available world-wide for enjoyment in audio and video formats.

In the terrestrial sphere, "Arthur" has its world premiere on CBC Radio's "On the Go" program. Show Host Ted Blades promises to carry things "Up to the Mountain" next.

Blogger "Muruch" is helping Allison Crowe celebrate the music release, and 10th anniversary of Rubenesque Records Ltd. - with the online premiere of Allison's two newest song recordings. And, as a treat for the next couple of weeks, the music is a gift from Muruch

Over at "1 Heck of a Guy" the two song videos make their debut along with this explanation: "Allison Crowe has often been featured on this site, in part for her gorgeous voice and in part for her exquisite songwriting."

Both of those elements, DrHeck, says, are on display in this new release:

"Arthur" - Playing her vintage upright-grand piano, at home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, Allison Crowe sings of love weighed through life and time.

"Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" - Already a lover of American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, Allison Crowe's introduction to this Griffin tune came from Canadian rock and soul musician Bob Benvenuti when the two Canucks performed at a Christmas "Tidings" concert together. Crowe brings it on home with guitar and vocals - performing as her own Jordanaires for back-up.

Rubenesque Records Ltd., Canada's most independently successful music label, celebrates its 10th anniversary with this characteristically passionate performance pairing.

 

Here, above, is “Arthur” - as it’s heard on the new release.

 

NB The single version of "Up to the Mountain" is on guitar. We're fortunate to also have this video of a piano performance - Allison live-in-the-studio - "Out of the Fog" in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Warmest thanks to the team behind this popular news and arts magazine - Michael Fisher, Television Producer, Bruce Lane, camera - and all the OotF crew at Rogers television.

Music everywhere... Yes, your Blueness

Exciting times - even in the rain! We aim to have Allison Crowe's double-A-side single available digitally before the end of this month. More news on this two song recording - "Arthur" / "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" coming in the next few days. Here's a look at the single cover art - photo by Allison!

 
Next month, August 23, marks the tenth anniversary of Allison's label, Rubenesque Records Ltd. Along with virtual cake and balloons, we'll make it a special celebration together :)

Allison Crowe’s New Double-A-Side-Single, and Album Plans

Acclaimed musician is ready with new recordings and fresh direction

Musician Allison Crowe, one of the world’s great songwriters and live performers, releases a double-A side digital single this Summer featuring a piano-based original song “Arthur” and an interpretation of Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)” on guitar.

The bicoastal Canadian artist is in pre-production of her eighth album - advancing a series of critically and commercially successful recordings. Her label, Rubenesque Records Ltd., is celebrating ten years of establishment-free creation.

In a recent interview with Helen Jayne Reid of CornerBrooker.com Crowe reveals some of the creative impetus to her next full-length release. She cites the heavier, industrial, production sound heard in “from the choirgirl hotel”-era Tori Amos, and the recordings of Nine Inch Nails. NIN’s Trent Reznor is also exemplary as a creator not bound by the corporate calculation of popular music today.

Recognizing the truth of John Lennon’s lyric, “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans”, Allison Crowe is giving a window of 12 – 18 months to solve intricate production puzzles with the current album collection of ten songs and a poem, ‘Snow”.

While in pre-production this Summer, Crowe performs a single live show – as part of TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival concert series in Cow Head, near her Atlantic home of Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

Allison Crowe’s double-A-side single, “Arthur” and “Up to the Mountain” is set for release next month (July, 2011 – on iTunes et al).

7ThumbsUp.wordpress.com ~ Allison Crowe's recipes for life

I imagine some famous chefs, when not in the kitchen, or on camera, relish the opportunity to serve up notes on a piano or guitar, or dish out an aria or folk-tune.

Musician Allison Crowe, concert and recording phenomenon, when not on the road, also creates by home-cooking – sharing off-stage recipes and reflections in her "7 Thumbs Up" blog - "A Celebration of Life, Love and Food".

 

“I grew up with the Galloping Gourmet Graham Kerr hehehe, (he was CRAZY), and learned how to make an omelette from watching Julia Child.” Crowe starts listing other favourites: “Michael Smith (creative, makes delicious food you can do at home with what you have, but also gourmet). Jamie Oliver is amazing - he leads food revolutions. (I wish I could live in his house, with his wife, too, and also their gardener - they have this huge garden and outdoor kitchen. Maybe I can visit!). Ina Garten, decadent, guilt-free (and for other reasons, reminds me of my friend Joanne Christensen a lot). Nigella Lawson (Nigella is why I love figs… she's like the sensualist of the crowd). Fabio Picchi (hehe I met him at Cibreo, when I performed at Teatro del Sale in Florence. He’s pretty awesome.) Anthony Bourdain for sure (I haven't had Food Network for a long while). Gordon Ramsay (especially his OLD show where he helps people). Laura Calder (she’s why I make Boeuf Bourguignon… she reminds me of my friend Helen a lot, also the sensualist type). Giada de Laurentiis (she makes amazing Italian does Giada. My bassist, Dave, is smitten.) David Rocco’s Dolce Vita (he does very cool rustic Italian stuff and there’s a Fabio connection!) also, the Surreal Gourmet guy, I have a soft spot for Bob Blumer hehe

I pretty much like all of them… I’ll stop at that or the list won't end.”

Life is a bowl of cherries - macerated. So far, on the “7 Thumbs Up” blog, it appears that Allison Crowe knows you’re coming and she’s baked some cakes: there’s an X Box Cake, a Super Meat Boy cake, Caffeinated Triple-Bypass Brownies, an Eggless Mocha Cake… For those who cannot live on dolce alone – there’s recipes for Pumpkin Gnocchi, Roasted Potato Pizza, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Midnight Mac’n’Cheese, Tomato Quinoa Bread, Baked Salmon with Quinoa and Veggies, Citrusy Hoisin Chicken Lettuce Wraps, plus, ‘specially for Beaumont Hamel, Canada Day, Rosemary Bread and Toutons. And, redolent of Bob Dylan’s “Shelter from the Storm”, just to think that it all began with SUPER EPIC RAINBOW CAKE!!!!

The music here is a dash of Allison at sound-check, bootlegged from a Thanksgiving Day concert. Fittingly, the soundman on this occasion surprised us by wheeling over, and flipping the top on, the unusual housing for his mixing board – a bbq grill.

Thoughts on life and the colour Orange

…going through journals from very, very early elementary school, probably grade 1 or 2, with my friend Fanifau. I came across this journal, one of those little Hilroy notebooks that's half-blank and half-lined where you'd practice writing in one area and drawing in the other. (I LOVED those little books.)

 

That day we were given a task.

 

Choose your favourite colour, and, using that colour, in crayon, draw pictures with it, and write about why it’s your favourite colour.

 

Somehow I got orange – and in the picture area I drew some lips, (I must have just learned how to draw lips), and some other things, maybe an entirely orange rainbow, maybe a sun. Beneath the pictures I wrote, and I quote here:

 

“Orange is my favourite colour. I love orange. I WOULD DIE WITHOUT IT.”

 

This is who I am.

 

Now, I don’t remember even LIKING the colour orange let alone having it as my favourite colour. Maybe it was the last colour left in the box. (I WAS shy after all – no seriously – I was… that may have been in part due to the eye-patch I had to wear, or a constant fear of having to wear corrective shoes for having pigeon-toes… that never did happen.) Whatever the case, in the moment, I meant EVERY word of that with EVERY fibre of my being, and I always will.

 

‘Fau and I both laughed until we cried. When I was at my youngest I was a concentrated version of myself – and as I get older the years creep in and settle a little bit of that out – always leaving the original formula but making things a little easier to swallow. Not watered-down but perhaps mixed with something a touch smoother.

 

Things hold less intensity – not because they are less important – but because in order to get through day-to-day life I’ve had to learn to let go of some things or ways of thinking a little bit.

 

I still believe in what I believe in with every single fibre, to my bones, but, perhaps, and hopefully, these days, a little less to my own detriment… and with less of a weight. There is a bright side to the dark – but I can look at both with equal respect – and I realize that I truly know very little about much at all – and I look at that with bright eyes eager to learn and see.

 

I keep hearing that I don’t look 29 and that makes me unreasonably happy considering that when I was younger I always seemed much older. Whatever the case, I dig it. I think it may be less in the physical look as it is in the outlook. Things are funny. Laugh at them. It’s okay. We’re all in this together. We’ll understand and keep you in our wings. We are humans and we laugh and love and cry and disdain together – and it’s beautiful.

 

We lost a great friend this year in Corner Brook in Shannon. He is someone that I will always remember with a smile through a tear who loved people without judgement, and had a humour and glimmer in his eyes that I think all of us could learn from, who seemed to know all of this just by existing - and I am reminded to tell everyone I know and love each day how much I appreciate them - and for that lesson I am eternally grateful.

 

Thank you for another year of knowing you, everybody, and thank you for being yourselves.

 

Love,

Allison :)

 

'Cover Me' Premieres "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" & 1 Heck of a Guy, MTV and more dig it

"Cover Me" blog's Editor-in-Chief Ray Padgett, (SPIN, Consequence of Sound, Mashable and more), premieres Allison Crowe's take on Annie Lennox & Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams"

In the accompanying article, "Allison Crowe Shows Us What 'Sweet Dreams' Are Made Of (Cover Me Premiere)", writer Eric Garneau says of Crowe's bare take on the song:

"She delivers a reading on this '80s mainstay at once beautifully melodious and ferociously in-your-face."

Allison Crowe being a rock musician - well, what was called rock in the '60s - she really enjoys, but doesn't replicate, the sounds of the original's pop sensibility. She strips things to their emotional core.

1 Heck of a Guy, a blog renowned for its reportage on Leonard Cohen and broomcorn lore and much, much more, shines a light on Allison Crowe's "alchemy" in covering songs - saying:

"Allison, whose covers include not only outstanding versions of Joni Mitchell’s 'River' and 'A Case of You,' Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah,' 'The Beatles’ 'In My Life' and 'Let It Be,' Lennon’s 'Imagine,' and Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time,' but also the most provocative and seductive (forgive me, Aretha) take I’ve heard on Ronnie Shannon’s 'I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You).' And, I stand by my conviction that Allison Crowe is the best thing to happen to 'Me And Bobby McGee' since Janis Joplin changed Kristofferson’s lyrics."

This fun, naturally, arises from the premiere of Allison's take on Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart - The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" on the "Cover Me" blog.

This music news has now spread to the MTV blog: "Allison Crowe Strips Down Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams' " - and the site which has been serving 'Sweet Dreams' to devoted Eurythmics fans since 1999 - ethrillnet

1 Heck of a Guy includes a link to this YouTube audio with pic:

 

When the makers of Hollywood movie "Sucker Punch" were looking for ideas on how to approach the song, they called on Allison Crowe. For the 2011 blockbuster from director Zack Snyder, actress Emily Browning performs the song as a production number that opens what promises to be an exciting, visceral, film ride.