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February 15, 2007

Arts reporter Elissa Barnard asked several East Coast musicians what they’re listening to these days:
By ELISSA BARNARD Arts Reporter

RYLEE MADISON

She’s flying in from songwriting in Nashville to perform at an ECMA showcase, nominated for female solo recording of the year:

Music source: "I just got an IPod in June and I put it in my car. I try to listen to local radio stations. All the music I listen to is when I’m driving in the car, when I’m on my way somewhere."

East Coast: "I listen to a lot of artists I work with, Charlie A’Court and Dave Carmichael. I’m a fan of Gordie Sampson’s writing. I listen to everything he’s ever written. Lennie Gallant. I’m a big fan of Crush and Great Big Sea and Ken Tobias."

Other: Keith Urban. "A wonderful singer-songwriter in Nashville, Julie Lee (Still House Road). Her lyric writing and her style have really captivated me. Amy Grant, Rock of Ages, I’m listening to a lot, one of my favourites."

FRED LAVERY

He’s the owner/operator of Lakewind Sound in Point Aconi, nominated for industry professional of the year.

Music source: "At work I listen to music from many different sources, IPod, CD player, online MP3s and even from vinyl and cassette depending on the related work I am doing. Most of the time this is critical listening with the purpose of learning something."

East Coast: "We have so many great talents here that I could list, but here’s just a few in my collection. Lennie Gallant, Ron Hynes and Gordie Sampson, Bruce Guthro, Dave Gunning are great songwriters, the Barra MacNeils and Natalie MacMaster are just amazing performers, Garrett Mason plays like an old soul and Matt Minglewood is inspirational. You could find any of them in my CD player."

Other: "If I am driving in my vehicle and want to listen to music for enjoyment I like to have variety. I’ll have a diverse collection from Celtic to blues, to country/folk to rock and classical. I am very interested in hearing great songs from any era although my CD collection is limited to fairly contemporary writers like Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Lightfoot and Tom Waits."

STEPHEN ANTLE

He’s the ECMA 2007 event chair

Music source: "I listen to CDs, I listen to music on the computer as well in terms of purchased downloads and burning CDs."

East Coast: "I was born in Cape Breton and all my favourite songwriters lived within 30 miles from me. I’ve always been a fan of East Coast music. Slowcoaster, Jill Barber’s new stuff, her album, is amazing. Amelia Curran. Of course your usual suspects, JP Cormier, Bruce Guthro, Gordie Sampson. His first album, Stones, to which I still listen, is a great record and Sunburn is burned into the car CD. Shaye. Love Shaye, as well, and Damhnait’s work, love Damhnait (Doyle). Carmen Townsend is someone who’s been in rotation in my music and Charlie A’Court. And Ron Hynes, his last album (Get Back Change) — I haven’t bought his new one yet — it’s one of my desert island discs as well. He just seems to get better with every record. Ron is such a battle weary singer and songwriter. (With every record) he just becomes a greater communicator. In-Flight Safety, I’m just starting to experience them. I’m not surprised they got all those nominations."

Other: "I’m a big blues fan, Jim Byrnes, Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing. It’s nice to see the Police back together."

RON HYNES

He’s nominated for Factor recording of the year, male solo recording of the year, entertainer of the year and SOCAN songwriter of the year:

Music source: "During the day I usually have the GalaxieFolkRoots channel on as they feature most if not all of my favourite folk performers from Canada: Ian Tyson, Cindy Church, Rankins, Lennie Gallant, Pamela Morgan, Colleen Power, Lightfoot, Cohen, Cockburn.

"My favourite hangout in the late afternoon is the Rose and Thistle where Derek the bartender plays a lot of Neil Young, the Stones, and lately a lot of JP Cormier as I gave him some of JP’s work. I really like CBC locally as the music is always good and you can just leave it on and go about your daily routine. I don’t own an IPod."

East Coast and Other Music: "Mostly my taste runs to singer-songwriter stuff and that includes everyone from Dylan, Tom Waits and Steve Earle to all the Atlantic Canadian songwriters. I never listen to me."

SHANE C

He’s nominated for urban single track recording of the year and African-Canadian recording of the year:

Music source: CDs, MP3, computer, even television. Also radio station Z103.5 FM The Beat of Halifax. "I sit back and listen to the radio and they play pretty much everything – they played a couple of my songs."

East Coast: Classified, Sko-Shun Tiez, sometimes myself!

Other: Hip hop, R&B stuff, R. Kelly, Fantasia, Snoop Dogg.

JAMIE GATTI

Jamie Gatti, nominated for jazz recording of the year:

Music source: "I don’t have a computer. I still have a turntable (purchased on tour in Germany just before CDs hit the market). I don’t use it very often. Mostly CDs. I don’t have a computer. I try to get out to the clubs."

East Coast: "I listen to everything I can get my hands on, music by the Barra MacNeils, the Rankins or JP Cormier. Lennie. I try to listen to everyone. I play session so it’s good to be up on different styles. A lot of players around here, Chris Mitchell, sax, Jeff Goodspeed, Scott Macmillan has a great band called Scott ‘n the Rocks playing every Monday at Stayner’s. Paul Simons, Tom Roach, he had a great album last year, piano trios. Doug Riley is someone I’d probably listen to the most. I have a lot of his recordings. There’s all kinds of great players."

Other: Jazz by legendary artists like Chet Baker and Teddy Wilson for whom Gatti played in the back-up band in the Chateau Laurier jazz club in Ottawa in the 1970s. "Some classical and maybe some funk and rock, heavy metal even but jazz is probably the number one. I have a lot of newer, funkier jazz. I guess I just throw a blanket and I try and sample everything."

( ebarnard@herald.ca)