Entertainment

The Sultans of String are holding a special concert, Oct. 29, to celebrate the release of their newest CD, Move. The Sultans of String, whose founders include Beacher Chris McKhool, violin; guitarist Kevin Laliberté, and bassist Drew Birston, has over the years established itself as a high-energy, award-winning combo whose musical offerings vary from Spanish Flamenco, through Afro-Cuban rhythms, Gypsy Jazz, and Arabic folkmusic. The group’s debut CD, Luna, was an instant success cementing the band’s reputation for excellent musicality combined with highly popular appeal. Their concerts are always sold out, and they have been nominated for several JUNO Awards.
Move, the Sultans’ third CD follows in the tradition of the first two. All but one of the pieces are composed by McKhool and Laliberté, and the collaboration between the two shows to perfection. Guest artists including Ken Whitely, Amanda Martinex, Ernie Tollar, Jordan Klapman, and the Cuban Trumpet Ensemble complement the sound, and add to the “truly global sonic tapestry.”
Be sure to listen to the Sultans’ rendition of Canadian icon, Neil Young’s Heart of Gold. Sung by guest vocal duo, Dala, the group takes the country out of Neil and replaces it with a Latin rhythm that completely tranforms the piece.
The Move CD release concert takes place Oct. 29, at 8 p.m., at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W., near Spadina. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 at the door. They can be reserved by visiting the group’s website at www.sultansofstring.com. A portion of ticket sales will go towards ArtsCan Circle,a charitable organization that sends teams of musicians to Northern First Nations communities.
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The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra kicks of its 32nd season on Oct. 29 with the first of five concerts in this year’s subscription series. Called An American in Paris, the concert features some popular music from such composers as Gershwin and Copland, as well as Canadian composers.
On the program is George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Aaron Copland’s Outdoor Adventures, and Four Dances from Rodeo. The Philharmonic’s Music Director, Ronald Royer, will be presenting the world premier of his Concerto for Trumpets and Chamber Orchestra. And composer-in-residence Alex Edington will be having his Huron Antiphon performed. This piece involves having a brass quintet move around the perimeter of the auditorium while performing the piece. Featured soloist for this will be Burnette Dillon on the trumpet. Dillon’s resumé includes stints as principal trumpet for the Pacific Symphony, the Pasadena Symphony, and the Joffrey Ballet.
Tickets to An American in Paris are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for youth with group rates available. Tickets are available at the door, or through the box office by calling 416-429-0007, or spo@spo.ca.
An American in Paris will be performed Oct. 29, at 8 p.m., in the Birchmount Park Collegiate Auditorium, 3663 Danforth Ave. There is free parking available.
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The Scarborough Music Theatre opens its 50th season with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Nov. 3 to 19. This very popular musical was written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and opened on Broadway in 1982. Its long Toronto run starred Donny Osmond in the lead role.
Joseph recounts the Biblical story of the young boy sold into slavery by his brothers. His dreams ultimately save Egypt from seven years of famine. Joseph will be played by Todd Appleton, with narration by Katie Wise.
Tickets for Joseph are $25 for adults, with student, senior and group discounts available. They can be obtained by calling the box office at 416-267-9292, or through the website at www.theatrescarborough.com.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs Nov. 3-6, 10-13, and 17-19.  Regular evening performances begin at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinées on Sundays. All performances will be held at the Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. at Markham.
Due to popular demand and high ticket sales, Scarborough Musical Theatre has added two additional performances – Nov. 9 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 12 at 2. Currently 90% of the tickets are already sold, but a very limited number of rush seats will be made available for each performance on a first come, first served basis.
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Beach jazz singer and performer, Peggy Mahon, is performing a cabaret show Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at the Annex Live, 296 Brunswick Ave. called The ‘Next Stop… Haiti’ Cabaret.
“The reason I call it ‘Next Stop Haiti’,” Mahon said. “Is because I’ll be is going as part of a group of 400 people traveling with Habitat for Humanity to help build 100 houses in the town of Leogane. The earthquake destroyed more than 90% of the homes in that city, and killed upwards of 25,000 people. Both former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, will be in Haiti during this time to oversee the building project.
“I will share a tent with five other women,” said Mahon. “No running water, and no opportunity to play tourist. I already met my goal of raising $5,000 to help cover the cost of the trip and building materials, so this concert is not a fund-raiser, just a fun send-off party.”
Habitat for Humanity has been one of the most effective organizations active in Haiti since the earthquake struck in January 2010. Not only has the organization helped to rebuild several communities, it has been involved in providing jobs for the Haitian people. For more information visit www.habitat.org.
Joining Peggy for her ‘Next Stop… Haiti Cabaret’ are her regular accompanists Danny McErlain, piano, and Dave Field, bass. Tickets are $20 at the door. If you would like to make dinner reservations at Annex Live, call 416-929-3999.
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The next concert in the very popular Jazz Vespers Series will be held Nov. 5, at the new location at St. Aidan’s Church (Beach United is undergoing renovations). The Larry Bond Trio, featuring Larry Bond, piano; Bruce Redstone, sax; and Bob Mills, bass, will be the featured performers. The theme the trio has chosen for this performance is Autumn Reflections.
Larry Bonds is a Toronto-born pianist, composer and arranger. He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, studied at Trinity College in London, and with Gordon Delamont, and Ruben Vasquez. His CD, Walkin’ Easy, has had lots of airplay on CBC and Jazz FM 91.
Bruce Redstone has performed with Bonds for many years, as well as in ensembles such as the Don Bowes Big Band, the Kalais Trio, and the Latino Jazz Project.
Jazz Vespers runs 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, 70 Silverbirch Ave. at Queen. For more information call 416-691-8082, or visit www.beachunitedchurch.com. The event is free, but there will be a free-will offering.
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A Fest of French Music, Food and Wine will be held at Kingston Road United Church, Nov. 6, from 12:30 p.m. onward. This is a special event which features a delicious French-inspired meal provided by local Kingston Road businesses, followed by a recital of “sensuous French music,” all in support of the Kingston Road United Fund for the Roof.
Cheese and wine will be provided by The Art of Cheese, salads from Courage Foods, breads and dessert from Knead Bakery, and coffee by Savoury Grounds.
The entertainment, which gets underway at 2 p.m., will be provided by Rebekah Wolkstein, violin, and Su Jeon, piano. Wolkstein has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Ballet of Canada, the Esprit Orchestra, and the Canadian Opera Company to name but a few. She is currently a doctoral student in violin performance at the Faculty of Music, U of T, and teaches privately through Humber College. She is also a writer and journalist.
Su Jeon was born in Korea and raised in Germany and Japan. She studied at both the Juliard School of Music, and the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, recently completing her doctorate at l’Université de Montréal. She has performed with the Arlington Philharmonic, the Aspen Concert Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Centre Orchestra and the Hart House Orchestra among others. Both Wolkstein and Jeon perform recitals of French music together.
Tickets for the meal and concert are $30 (Canadian Chardonnay wine can be purchased for an additional $5 per glass). To order tickets call the Kingston Road U.C. at 416-699-6091, or on line at www.kruc.ca.
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The Beach musical community – and the larger Canadian musical community – has lost one of its bright lights. Daisy DeBolt passed away Oct. 4 after a brief illness.
DeBolt came from a musical family and began her professional career in Manitoba in the early 1960s. She came to Toronto in 1965, and played in several clubs and coffee houses around the city. It was at the Mariposa Folk Festival that she met Allan Fraser. Their duo – Fraser & DeBolt – recorded two very popular albums for Columbia Records, and toured Canada and the United States through the 1970s.
After the breakup of Fraser & DeBolt, Daisy turned to writing, and composed music for the National Film Board of Canada, and the dance company Ballet Y. Her first solo CD, Soulstalking, launched her back onto the summer folk festival circuit, along with several spots on CBC radio. DeBolt was also an accomplished actor, appearing with Theatre Calgary in several productions, including the lead role in Sam Slick. She will be missed by many.

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