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HyesMusings

Memories… Sorrow
By HyeM.

Memories

Outcry

Reluctantly

Always

Leaving

Emptiness…and

Sorrow

James Campbell has been called “Canada’s pre-eminent clarinetist” by both the Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen. His son, Graham Campbell, has become a fixture on the Toronto music scene, playing jazz, rock, folk, reggae, and traditional and modern Brazilian music. The talented father-son duo have joined forces again to launch their second CD, As You Near Me, released by Marquis Classics.

As You Near Me features James and Graham performing duos and ensemble works with a variety of guest artists, including the Afiara String Quartet, which is featured on four tracks. Among the contemporary works are several new compositions and arrangements by Graham.

This is but an excerpt of the CD, a track titled Thinking Stop Thinking, which is both lively and charming. One of the reviews, recommend the full disc for relaxing on any day of the week. Sounds like worth a full listen to me.

Next we have Campbell/Afiara, which unites James and Graham with the Afiara String Quartet. As a new fusion ensemble, Campbell/Afiara brings a chamber sound to jazz, the infectious rhythms of Brazilian choro, and newer works.

In Campbell/Afiara, each member brings something unique to the mix, but also learns from the others. James brings his vast chamber music experience, Graham gets to expand his voice as a composer/arranger through writing for world class musicians, and the Afiara are exposed to jazz and improvisation. Campbell/Afiara is a project that is not only about the talent, but also about artistic and creative growth.

Thursday night promises to be filled with great sounds and great talent to support it. As I usually say, get out of the routine, and enjoy the music scene in our city… whatever your taste.

*Header image source: webtaj.com

The inaugural Toronto International Short Film Festival, will be held tonight and tomorrow (November 6 – 7) at the Carlton Cinema Theatre. Toronto Shorts Fest provides a showcase for the best short-form cinema and its creators in the world.

Given that Toronto has lost one of the major festivals dedicated to showcasing the best short films and its filmmakers from around the world, this festival arrives at a good time in Toronto. The idea behind Toronto Shorts Fest is to give recognition to these filmmakers and their work.

The festival will present six programs, screening three on each day.

Some films I would like to see and recommend include:

Night Shift (Program 1, Wed. Nov 6, 5:30pm)
Drama / New Zealand
Director: Zia Mandviwalla
Amidst the arrivals and departures, an airport cleaner faces the longest journey.

The Wheatfield (Program 2, Wed. Nov 6, 7:45pm)
Animation / USA
Directors: Alexander Smith, Adrian Smith
The tale of the Battle of Gettysburg told through the eyes of an aged Union Soldier named James Jackson Purman as he vividly recalls his fateful encounters with friends and foe.

The Ties Between Us (Program 3, Wed. Nov 6, 10pm)
Drama / Canada
Director: Christer Harris
Two friends must work through guilt as they face a night of tragedy together after their friend dies trying to protect them.

The Morning After (Program 4, Thurs. Nov 7, 5:30pm)
Romance / Canada 
Director: David Renaud
Mae is surprised to wake up in her best friend Lisa’s guest room, naked in bed with sexy stranger. She is eager to put the night behind her, but can this perceptive and playful mystery man convince Mae that sometimes you have to wake up to find the man of your dreams?

Sirocco (Program 5, Thurs. Nov 7, 7:45pm)
Drama / Finland
Director: Mikko Kuparinen
A lonely woman finds an abandoned baby by her apartment house’s garbage bin and decides to take the baby home with her.

Day_6011 (Program 6, Thurs. Nov 7, 10pm)
Animation / Belgium 
Director: Raf Wathion
After an elite robotic soldier has been alone on guard for more than 6,000 days, he encounters his first contact.

Toronto Shorts Fest offers films from a wide spectrum. All six programs showcase animations, documentaries, comedies, narrative, genre, and graduation short films. Tickets for each screening program are $13.50; they can be purchased online or at the box office up until 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time of each program. For a full list of films, screening times, and programs, go to tisff.net.

The 2013 Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair (TIABF) joins the prestigious San Francisco, New York and Boston fairs on the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers’ (ILAB) 2013 North American calendar.

This is the only international antiquarian and collectible book fair in Canada, the TIABF features exhibitors from across Europe and North America. All exhibitors are members of their national associations and are among the world’s foremost booksellers. They will bring a wide ranging selection of books, maps, prints and manuscripts for your perusal – including travel and exploration; natural history, science and technology; children’s and illustrated; fine press and limited editions; modern first editions and signed volumes; antiquarian and incunabula; as well as interesting and unusual books of all kinds.

On opening night (November 8th) Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg will be introduced as the fair’s Patron of Honour. Well now if that does not entice you, I don’t know what will… The ceremony will start at 4:45pm that afternoon.

These world-renowned booksellers are gathering at the Art Gallery of Toronto this weekend, November 8th to 10th. Whether you are an experienced or novice book collector, there will plenty of books and book-related materials for your liking. Regardless, if you make a purchase or simply stop by to take a peek, there will be something to discover while at the same time enjoying your day at the art gallery. Win-win!

Teutonic Knights’ Rules List of Rules of the Teutonic Order First Half of the 15th Century Photo: TIABF

Thy soul shall find itself alone
‘Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone;
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy.

Be silent in that solitude,
Which is not loneliness- for then
The spirits of the dead, who stood
In life before thee, are again
In death around thee, and their will
Shall overshadow thee; be still.

The night, though clear, shall frown,
And the stars shall not look down
From their high thrones in the Heaven
With light like hope to mortals given,
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which would cling to thee for ever.

Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish,
Now are visions ne’er to vanish;
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more, like dew-drop from the grass.

The breeze, the breath of God, is still,
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy, shadowy, yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token.
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries!

Source: Wikipedia

Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor, and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre.

The 13th annual International Diaspora Film Festival (IDFF) with a special focus on films from Latin America and legendary Brazilian Director Glauber Rocha, launches November 1-5 at the Carlton Cinema and Innis Town Hall, with an exciting lineup of international films and discussion panels.

IDFF provides Toronto audiences with an opportunity to experience the cultural mosaic of the present world through the medium of cinema. Diaspora refers to the dispersion and migration of a people from their homeland and the communities they form in new lands. The festival explores themes of migration, immigration, and cultural diversity by showcasing works of both established and emerging filmmakers. IDFF pays special attention to independent Canadian filmmakers from ethnic minorities.

This Sunday, November 3rd (6:30 pm, at Innis Town Hall), singer Amanda Martinez appears at the festival after the Canadian premiere screening of Ciclo, a film directed by her cousin Andrea Martínez. The film is about her father and her uncle’s life changing journey: in 1956, the two brothers left their hometown in central Mexico with the desire to cross the continent on bicycle. Eighty-two days later, they arrived in Toronto, not knowing this feat would change the entire route of their lives and of their family tree… Amanda and her band will perform songs from her brand new album Mañana.

Amanda Martinez Photo by Johnny Lopera

IDFF’s line up of films is varied and looks quite interesting. Other films of note include, Goodbye Morocco by Nadir Moknèche; Clandestine Childhood by Benjamín Ávila; The New World by Jaap van Heusden; just to name a few.

The International Diaspora Film Festival runs in Toronto from November 1-5. For more details about it, including screening and ticketing info, visit diasporafilmfest.com. To learn more about Amanda Martinez and hear more of her music, including Mañana, visit amandamartinez.ca.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival celebrates its 17th annual edition this year with an exciting expansion to include films from across South Asia. In response to the overwhelming demand from the local community for more South Asian films, Reel Asian is officially expanding to include feature films from India, Pakistan, and the South Asian continent. This expansion to include South Asian work in the festival marks the beginning of a new era for Reel Asian.

Opening Night Film: Bombay Talkies
November 5, 7pm – Isabel Bader Theatre
The film features four short films, each directed by an all-star lineup of Bollywood directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap. They also feature some of Bollywood’s hottest stars, including Rani Mukerji and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and cameos from Katrina Kaif and Amitabh Bachchan.

My thoughts: Given Reel Asian is expanding to include South Asian films, Bombay Talkies is certainly worth attending.

Shorts Presentation: Counter Move 
Nov 7, 6pm – AGO Jackman Hall
This year’s Best of Canadian Shorts program broadens perspectives on history and memory and offers a wide range of well-crafted animations, performing arts on screen and music-inspired videos.

My thoughts: Whenever possible, it’s good to support local filmmakers. This series includes Randall Okita‘s Portrait As A Random Act of Violence, which comes highly recommended after screening at TIFF this year. As well as other shorts by Hefang Wei, Casey Mecija, and Oliver Husain to name a few.

How to Use Guys with Secret Tips
November 7, 8:30pm – AGO Jackman Hall
Choi Bo-Na spends her days on movie sets hiding in the shadow of her sexist boss and baggy hoodie. When she stumbles upon a secret instructional video, she suddenly gets more romantic attention than she bargained for.

Preceded by Short Film: Gaysian
This is a romantic comedy about an Asian gay man confronting racism in the dating world, making him reconsider his own prejudices.

My thoughts: A girl wh takes over her male-dominated company? I’m curious! And Gaysian is a short film by local filmmaker Austin Wong and designed by Rose Lagace. Again, supporting local talent.

Centrepiece Presentation: Tales from the Dark Part 1
November 8, 8pm – The Royal Cinema
This story is adapted from the horror novel series by best-selling author Lilian Lee, the series brings together some of the most familiar stars and directors to present three supernatural stories about ghosts seeking retribution.

Directors include well-known actor Simon Yan, who makes his directorial debut with Stolen Body, a story about a little ghost and a poor man with a surprisingly socioeconomic message. Lee Chi Ngai directs A Word in the Palm, a horror/comedy featuring Tony Leung Ka-fai as a fortuneteller about to retire from his trade. And the last tale, Jing Zhe, directed by Fruit Chan, focuses on the ancient practice of “villain hitting.” On a Hong Kong curbside, an old woman runs a business that lays curses on her customers’ enemies.

My thoughts: I’ve included this series not only because the title and premise sound interesting, but also because I am a fan of Simon Yan’s work, and thus, I’m curious about his directorial debut.

Feature Presentation: Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo 
November 8, 11:15pm – The Royal Cinema
The long-anticipated third installment of Hideaki Anno‘s epic anime saga begins with Shinji returning to Earth after 14 years of hibernation, only to discover a new world order and a home he barely knows. With complex themes explored through Christian imagery, some scenes close to content from https://www.animehentaivideos.xxx/, mecha drama tropes, and psychoanalysis of the main characters, Neon Genesis Evangelion gets a reinterpretation with this new film series.

My thoughts: I’m not well versed in this series per se, but I always make a point of attending any anime-related screenings. This is no exception… plus, did you see the trailer?

The Rocket
November 10, 5:30pm – The Royal Cinema
This is coming-of-age story about a spirited boy’s quest to break free from his ill-fated destiny. Performed by mostly nonprofessional actors, it is one of the first internationally released feature films from the seldom-seen country of Laos.

My thoughts: I’ve never heard of a feature film from Laos, have you? The premise of the film sounds interesting to me and the festival refers to its style as following in the “steps of Whale Rider and Beasts Of The Southern Wild,” it’s piqued my interest.

Closing Night Gala: Linsanity
November 10, 8pm – The Royal Cinema
In 2010, director Evan Jackson Leong approached a relatively unknown Harvard University Taiwanese American basketball player seeking to document his life on film. Little did he know that Jeremy Lin would experience a meteoric rise to athletic stardom.

My thoughts: If you’re a fan of the NBA, then you know who Jeremy Lin is. With home movie footage and interviews with Lin and his family & friends, this should be interesting.

Live Presentation Film & Dance: Sprung 
November 13, 8pm – Innis Town Hall
This dance-themed commission project brings together the collaborative efforts of talented filmmakers and dynamic performers in a range of fringe styles including waacking, poppin’, Filipino folk, athletic, conceptual and contemporary.

My thoughts: When a festival offers other events besides film screenings, I suggest checking these out. There is always something new to learn and discover.

Reel Asian runs in Toronto and Richmond Hill from November 5 to 16. This list includes events in Toronto only but do visit the festival’s website for the full lineup of films, special events, and box office & ticketing information.

Internationally celebrated jazz pianist Ron Davis fuses his passion for both jazz and classical music in his latest project, Symphronica. His tuneful and invigorating collection of melodies arranged for jazz trio with symphony orchestra has already proved a hit in live performances.

The Symphronica album, released this past September, includes nine compositions, which were 10 years in the making. This is Ron Davis’ passion project and as he says, “it is one of the most important milestones in my career. It brings together my love of jazz, classical, world and general pop music, while allowing me to collaborate with some of the most incredible musicians, living in Canada today.”

Three unorthodox chamber performances will mark the launch of Symphronica at Toronto’s Lula Lounge, on Sundays, October 27, November 3, and 10.

Davis will be at the piano and on keyboards, as part of an unusual combination of master musicians comprising his electric/acoustic quartet, you will hear: Kevin Barrett (guitars), Mike Downes (bass) and Roger Travassos (drums), and a string quartet remarkable for its ability both to play “straight” and improvise: Jessica Deutsch (violin), Ben Plotnick (violin), Anna Atkinson (viola) and George Meanwell (cello).

Rehearsal Time with Ron Davis & Friends Collage by HyeM.

The October 27 program focuses on the jazz-classical fusion. November 3 explores new horizons, inspired by Davis’ artistic direction of the Glenn Gould Variations Event, which was initiated for Gould’s 80th anniversary in 2012. In the November 10 program, Celebrating Poland, Davis includes music he performed at the Jewish Cultural Festival in Warsaw at the end of August – in which he concluded his concert with a popular Polish song (Bal u Grubego Joska – Party at Fat Joe’s), written about his maternal grandfather, owner of a tavern frequented by both Polish celebrities and the underworld.

I had the pleasure of sitting in for one of their rehearsals this past week, and I’ll have to say that we’re in for a musical treat. The variety of music and improvisation will have you rediscovering some old faves, travelling back in time, and dancing as well. And that was only a taste of the various selections they’ll be playing on each Sunday night!

On each evening, doors open at 6:30 p.m., with shows at 8 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available online.

One dollar from every seat sold will be donated to the Unison Benevolent Fund to help members of the Canadian music community who are facing personal or professional challenges.

In the Museum of Death the guests are eating lunch
made from a dead man’s recipe.
They use knives and forks invented by the dead.

Everyone sits in a room
built by those who are no longer with us,
everyone speaking words the dead have made.

Everything is archaeological:
prayer, toilest, table manners, cash.
Even the air was once breathed by the dead.

Look how impatiently the curator taps
his fingers on his desk. It’s getting late.
Very soon the guests will have to go.

James Pollock is the author of Sailing to Babylon (Able Muse Press, 2012), which was a finalist for the Griffin Poetry Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award in Poetry, runner-up for the Posner Poetry Book Award, and winner of an Outstanding Achievement Award in Poetry from the Wisconsin Library Association.

His critical essays and reviews have appeared in Contemporary Poetry Review, Canadian Notes & Queries, Arc Poetry Magazine, and others. He earned a Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from the University of Houston, and is now an associate professor at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he teaches poetry.