They drove across the country, swam in countless lakes and became much more competent at frisbee throwing. They managed to keep playing even in the dark of night with only the moon to light their game.
Claire is now beginning to write the next album. Much fun to be had. Amongst the hard bits of course.
The Album
Their fantastic fantastical album Crow’s Nest/ Nid de Pie was recorded in sequence with no overdubs on Tuesday. Special effects like paddles in laundry sinks and boxing gloves were recorded on a Wednesday. Thank you to both the Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council for making this album possible.
The songs were arranged by Claire Jenkins Avec Band with Don Kerr. All songs were composed and written by Claire Jenkins except for: Strange Weather by Tom Waits/ Kathleen Brennan. It appears with permission on the album in a French translation by Claire.
The People
They are based out of Toronto although most of them moved there from other places. They all do other things. Sean Cotton plays with lots of people and is half of the hard, beautiful duo The Undesirables. Brad Hart plays with lots of people, writes his own music and a feature film with funding attached. Tom Howell works in radio, most notably as one of the producers of CBC Radio One’sAnd Sometimes Y. He’s the word nerd. Claire Jenkins’ main focus is the band. She also composes music for theatre, acts and thinks up projects. Treasa Levasseur has her own band that she fronts. They are energy unleashed. Her next album Low Fidelity will be coming out in the fall. Joe Phillips plays with different people and is principle bassist for Orchestra London. Brian Kobayakawa also plays bass with the band on occasion. His main project is the amazing Creaking Tree String Quartet. Don Kerrproduced the album as well as The Hidden Cameras, Peter Elkas and lots of other projects. He also plays with Ron Sexsmith and many other talented people. Sarah Goodman is behind the camera for the videos below and has taken a bunch of the photos. She makes documentaries. Andy Murray did the artwork for the album and takes a lot of our photos too. He’s a landscape designer.
The Live Show
Like nothing and everything you have seen before, Claire Jenkins Avec Band have a really, really good time playing live.
Claire Jenkins Avec Band on CBC Radio 3 Podcast search engine on bottom left Tunes and Such click here
Links to Press
Review of Crow's Nest/ Nid de Pie: HEROHILL ...if you don't start smiling and swaying along to this plunky percussed folk track... well, you probably hate parties, sunshine and life in general...
Feature Article by Tim Perlich: NOW Toronto ...an intriguing audio vérité document of the "low-budget epic"...
John Sakamoto's Anti-Hit List: The Toronto Star ...captured in all its glory...
Thanks sweet heart! How is the world treating ya? I was reminiscing the other day, remembering our infatuation with The police and Simon and Garf... I didn't realize it at the time but you were, even then, a great musician. Though I always knew you were an artist .
i was gifted a cello this weekend, crazy and amazing i know. my favorite thing to play on it is the opening line to secret heroes :) great to see you this weekend! xot
Hello Claire!! I hope your summer has been fantastic! I'm living back on the coast now on Galiano Island putting together an album and playing music by the ocean. It was great to meet you in the bleakness of that Toronto winter. It'd be great to hang out and pass the guitar back and forth if you're ever out this way. I'm living by the ocean in a beautiful place with lots of extra rooms so If you're ever in Victoria or Vancouver you have a place to stay for a rest.
take care and keep that beautiful light of yours shining! oso
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