Congo
Square JazzFest 2008
31st
January to 2nd February 2008,
Dalhousie Institute
Congo
Square brings you JazzFest 2008.
Thursday January 31, 2008
6:00 PM : Welcome Message/Introduction of Band
6:15 PM : Catherine Potter Duniya Project (Canada)
Catherine Potter Duniya Project
World Music ensemble Catherine Potter - Duniya Project has
played at key Canadian stages (Festival de Jazz de Montréal,
Ottawa Jazz Festival, Festival du Monde Arabe and Harbourfront
Centre Theatre), often with distinguished guests such as Pandit
Hariprasad Chaurasia, Simon Shaheen and Subhankar Banerjee.
The Canadian release of this self-titled album has received
rave reviews and the troupe is presently on an exciting five-country
concert tour of India and Europe.
With the band consisting of drummer Thom Gossage, guitarist
Bill Parsons, bassist Nicolas Caloia and tabla player Ravi
Naimpally, the best of Indian classical, jazz and contemporary
sounds have merged in Catherine’s compositions. This
Project is a long musical journey between Montreal and Mumbai
and has been played at key Canadian stages often with distinguished
guest such as Simon Shaheen and Shubhankar Banerjee. With
a strong reputation as a stimulated performer of North Indian
classical music, the five musicians are set to tour India
with their sophisticated cross-cultural approach.
Catherine Potter
Trained in Indian & Western classical music, jazz, West-African
and Balinese music, Catherine has gained a solid reputation
as an inspired performer of North Indian classical music,
and has performed extensively in Canada, USA and India. She
has also been featured on Radio-Canada and CBC Radio and television,
and has shared the stage with Hariprasad Chaurasia and Zakir
Hussain. Catherine Potter's first CD of North Indian classical
music titled Bansuri, was recorded in Mumbai with the excellent
tabla-player, Kalinath Mishra, and was released in Canada
in 1997.
With a MA in Ethnomusicology from the Université de
Montréal and a BFA in Jazz Studies from Concordia University,
Catherine Potter contributes to a wide array of collaborations
both in concert and on recordings. An extensive performer,
this multi-faceted artiste is active and popular in concert
circuits across the world, taking her music and its uniqueness
to newer heights.
Thursday
January 31, 2008
8:00 PM : Introduction of Band
8:15 PM : Mynta (Sweden/USA/India)
Mynta
The musical traditions of Sweden and India come together
with a global range of influences to create the unique music
of Mynta. A true cultural exchange between Indian tabla player
Fazal Qureshi and classical vocalist Shankar Mohadevan and
Swedish musicians Anders Hagberg (flute, soprano and willow
flute), Max Ahman (acoustic guitar), Mikael Nilsson (percussion)
and Christian Paulin (electric bass), Mynta blends Indian,
African, Latin-American, Arabic, Swedish, and Norwegian music.
According to Option magazine, "Qureshi and Mikael Nilsson
lay down some of the most electrifying percussion grooves
I've heard in years; and in it's blinding, effortless, speed,
Max Ahman's guitar pays homage to John McLaughlin. Mix in
Swedish hammered dulcimer, the Indian santoor and tanpura,
and the North African saz and this becomes an exotic sort
of orchestra. With groups like Mynta, it's clear that Scandanavia
is turning out the most fascinating and enjoyable world fusion
around."
Conceived by electric bassist Christian Paulin, Mynta initially
focused on blues and Latin-influenced jazz. Their debut album
reflected the influence of Chick Corea and Gary Burton. Shifting
to a more-improvisatory style of jazz fusion, in the 1980s,
the group often performed with Swedish vocalist Maritza Horn.
A turning point in the band's evolution came when they met
Qureshi and Mohadevan while touring India in 1987. With the
addition of the two India musicians, Mynta moved towards the
world fusion on which they've built their international reputation.
Mynta has gone through numerous personnel changes. Former
members include tenor saxophonist Stefan Isaksson, alto saxophonist
Jonas Knutsson, guitarist Max Schultz, and drummer Magnus
Persson.
Current lineup of Mynta comprises Christian Paulin, Fazal
Qureshi, Max Ahman, Sebastian Printz-Werner, Dallas Smith,
and Santiago Jimenez Borges.
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