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Upstream's Annual Open Waters Festival


Open Waters Festival 2013


On behalf of the Upstream Music Association I welcome you to Upstream Music’s Annual Open Waters Festival of new and improvised music. As in previous years, I continue to promote visionary ensembles with fresh concepts from across Atlantic Canada who meet the yearly challenge of being heard and inspired by our increasingly knowledgeable festival audience. From Mother of Girl to Khyberian Knights, from Threnodies to subText the festival line-up and musicians continue to inspire new horizons.  Paul Cram - Artistic Director
 

January 3rd:  Chronicle Herald Article: Read HERE
January 10th: Chronicle Herald Article: Read HERE


SIR JAMES DUNN THEATRE - 2nd Floor - 6101 UNIVERSITY AVE

KHYBER CENTRE OF THE ARTS - 1588 BARRINGTON STREET 

 

ALTERNATING CURRENTS

THURSDAY JANUARY 10th
8:00 PM

Sir James Dunn Theatre

Crofts / Adams / Pearse

Crofts/Adams/Pearse is Eastern Canada’s most active free improvising trio. They have performed in Halifax for suddenlyLISTEN and The Halifax Jazz Festival, as well as in Moncton for ReFlux and in Jonquiere PQ at Le Festival des musiques de creation. C/A/P released Sonomatopia in 2009 and will launch a new recording made with Gerry Hemingway, very soon.

-Intermission-


Geordie Haley’s Threnodies
Guitarist Geordie Haley created this music in collaboration with dancer/choreographer Susanne Chui for the THRENODIES PROJECT (threnodyproject.blogspot.ca/). Guitarist Geordie Haley created this music in collaboration with dancer/choreographer Susanne Chui for the THRENODIES PROJECT (threnodyproject.blogspot.ca/) featuring Tim Crofts, keys, Doug Cameron, drums, Ronald j Hynes, bass and Geordie Haley, guitar/composer.  THRENODIES are blues based compositions structured around free improvisation. Each member of the quartet is a composer, educator and active contributor to the rich local creative music scene.

 

10:00 PM

Khyber Centre for the Arts

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION JAM

After our first concert all are invited to mingle at an open reception at the Khyber building with catering and cash bar while following strolling festival musicians combing the building seeking out the sonic sweet spots.

 

ORCHESTRAL CURRENTS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11th

8:00 PM

Sir James Dunn Theatre

DESERT ISLAND ORCHESTRA

a collaboration of Upstream Music and the Dal Music Department

The name is derived from an early Upstream survivalist workshop concept where musicians are marooned on a Desert Island with diverse instruments and backgrounds and a challenge to play something beautiful together to get them off the island. It is in this spirit that Upstream partnered with Dalhousie Music students and faculty to merge ages and "who shows up" orchestration to make music together. The music utilizes conduction and is built around compositions by students Arthur Jackson Fairfax-Berry, Thomas Hoy and Upstream's Paul Cram.


-Intermission- 

 

PAUL CRAM ORCHESTRA

The PCO has always existed as a wilder spin-off of Upstream Music Association’s 23 year old Upstream Ensemble featuring compositions by composer/reedman/conductor Paul Cram with Jeff Reilly - conduction/ bass clarinet, Dave Burton - drums, Lukas Pearse - bass, Jeff Torbert- guitar, Dawn Hatfield - baritone sax, Rick Waychesko - trumpet and Rosanna Burrill - violin.

 

10:00 PM

Khyber Centre for the Arts

BRAD JEFFORD TRIO+ (NFLD)

Hailing from Newfoundland, The Brad Jefford Trio+ has become a strong force on the St. John's jazz and improvised music scene. Featuring Greg Bruce on tenor saxophone, Brad Jefford on guitar, Josh Ward on bass and Andrew McCarthy on drums, the group's original material features elements of jazz, blues, funk infused with open and free improvisation to create a unique sound coming from the Rock.


-Intermission-

MOTHER OF GIRL
mother of girl puts familiar melodic concepts into experimental sound landscapes. Local musicians Ryan Veltmeyer, Ann Denny and John Snow bring a wealth of experience from many Halifax and Toronto bands, including I See Rowboats, Paper Beat Scissors & Airfields. They trade around on voice, trombone, keyboard, drums and found instruments as they swerve in and out of catchy pop hooks, sweet folk ballads and parallel musical universes.

 

CROSSOVER CURRENTS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12th

 

CANADIAN NEW MUSIC NETWORK REGIONAL MEETING

1 to 3 PM
MacAloney Room - Dalhousie Arts Centre.

Moderator: Norman Adams 
Join an open discussion on the state of our art forms in Eastern Canada. We will touch on subjects that can include: Who is our audience, and how can we build it? What do we need to operate more successfully? How can we better collaborate? Where can we get more support for our work? For further information on CNMN: http://www.newmusicnetwork.ca/en/regional-meetings/regional-meetings-2012-2013/atlantic/

 

8:00 PM
Sir James Dunn Theatre
subText

The subText ensemble is five of Atlantic Canada's foremost improviser-composers. They perform in flexible configurations ranging from duo to quintet, often with guest artists who share their sense of musical adventure. Together, the musicians apply their richly diverse backgrounds towards a common musical goal - thoughtful improvisation, with the exuberance of avant-jazz and the elegance of contemporary chamber music. Steven Naylor - piano, Jeff Reilly -bass clarinet, Christoph Both - cello, Derek Charke - flute and Tom Roach - drums.


-Intermission-

THE HOURGLASS ENSEMBLE
A meditation on time and sand and glass, time marked, time passing, clocks and chronometers, the glass fills and empties. Inspired by the poems of Robert Herrick:

And these mine eyes shall see

All times, how they 

Are lost i' th' sea 

Of vast eternity:
The Hourglass Ensemble Erin Costello - voice, Norman Adams - cello, Jeff Reilly - bass clarinet, Peter Wiegold - keys, Tom Easley - bass, Nick Halley - percussion.


10:00 PM

Khyber Centre for the Arts
Andrew Reed Miller and Helen Pridmore
Andrew Reed Miller and Helen Pridmore have been making experimental music together since 1999. In Subliminal they will present a synesthetic mix of extended techniques, psychedelic audio and hypnotic video. Originally from New York, Andrew Reed Miller now lives Saint John, where he plays bass in a multitude of contexts and makes original interactive compositions. “Miller is a superb player, a master and a creative inventor......” -Stephen Pedersen Last month, Helen performed music by John Cage with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.


-Intermission- 


KHYBERIAN KNIGHTS
Upstream's free improvising party band draws on compositions, spoken word, dance and multi-media in various measures depending on the occasion and venue. Tonight’s performance calls for a dance party to close the Open Waters Festival and features Keelin Jack & Christian Murray on vocals, Tom Walsh & Paul Cram on horns, Arthur Bull & Geordie Haley on guitars, Tim Crofts on keys, Doug Cameron on drums, Lukas Pearse on bass and joined by dancer, Rhonda Baker.

TICKETS:

Dalhousie Art Centre Box Office

Phone:  (902) 494-3820

www.artscentre.dal.ca  
Dunn Shows:

Adults: $25.00, Pass $45

Seniors: $20.00, Pass $39

Students: $15.00, Pass $36

Buy Dunn Show Tickets and attend the Khyber shows free!

Khyber Tickets $10  (at the door)

All Dalhousie Music Students receive a free Festival Pass


Media inquiries: janice.jackson@ns.sympatico.ca or (902) 429 1899


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