CRCR

What happens when you pair up a couple of eccentric, multi-genre, critically-acclaimed, road-weary Canadian wizards of prose, back one of them with a delightful string quartet, guitar-playing drummer, and the other with one of Torontos most in-demand guitarists, multiple-Juno-nominated bassist, and a blues-belting, grand-piano-tinkling siren of song? Magic. Laughter. Surprises. And multiple standing-ovations at CBCs prestigious Glenn Gould Studio. CR Avery and Corin Raymond, CR and CR. Meet them. Enjoy. But if you dont like colourful language, go to the next post.

East Vancouvers CR Avery might be the most original, high-quality act youll see all year. Theres nothing that happens on stage that leaves the listener in a state of neutral; from the moment he strides on stage, you know you cant leave yourself vulnerable, for he might gallop all the way up the aisle toward your safe seat and stick a mic in your face, asking you to sing a solo. He might shock you with his language, or songs about eating you out, and best yet, hell kidnap your tender musical soul with his remarkable sense of rhythm, piano-playing virtuosity, ironic arrangements, and pop-friendly phrasing. Hes an 80s icon in a 21st century body.

Southern-Ontario and Winnpeg Manitobas Corin Raymond is a storyteller, a man who doesnt know mundane, a writer for whom every detail is worth examining. Hes a loveable bear of a country singer, and a sweaty, sexually overheated bluesman, just depends on the company he keeps, and the songs that he sings. He makes no apologies for his romantic works, he lives large, sings larger, and laughs at the elephants in the room. He, like CR Avery, is also smart enough to surround himself with brilliance, players like David Baxter, Treasa Levasseur, Brian Kobayakawa in The Sundowners, and Sean Cotton in The Undesirables.

On the heels of the 2010 Olympic games, this pair gets the gold medal for musical balls. Chalk up another one for Canada

Category:

Music

Tags:

• CR Avery
• Corin Rayomond
• Glenn Gould Studio
• Roots Music Canada
• rootsmusic.ca