Following closely behind, there was a five-way tie with four nominations each between Arcade Fire, Justin Bieber, Broken Social Scene, Hedley and Johnny Reid.
Torontonians dominated the small-ensemble/solo classical category, with nominations going to Anton Kuerti, Amici Ensemble, Gryphon Trio and Winona Zelenka.
Singer-songwriter Neil Young will receive the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. He was a co-founder of Farm Aid, and created The Bridge School with his wife Pegi for the education of children with severe speech and physical impairments.
---
Complete list of 2011 Juno Award Nominees
JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD (PRESENTED BY LIVE NATION)
Cash Money*Universal
Drake 
04 Over – clip
Universal
Hedley 
08 – Perfect – Hedley – clip
Johnny Mac*EMI
Johnny Reid 
02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
Island Def Jam*Universal
Justin Bieber 
01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
WEA*Warner
Michael Bublé 
01 Haven’t Met You Yet – clip
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
HalfLife*Sony
Classified Oh Canada
Oh Canada
Self Explanatory is the 11th studio album and major label debut from East-Coast hip-hop heavyweight Classified. The album contains 22 songs and a unique way of listening to the entire body of work. Throughout Self Explanatory, Luke Boyd challenges the listener to create their own adventure as they progress from track to track. Want to go to the club? Go to Track 17. Tired, and want to go home? Go to Track 22. If you want to go for a quick bike ride and a date with your girl, go to Track 7 and if you want to reflect on life and re-affirm your inspiration, go to Track 6. Each adventure reveals different shades of the artist, Classified, who has created a unique place for himself in an art form that isn’t always true to its own path.10 Oh…Canada – clip
Cash Money*Universal
Drake Find Your Love
Find Your Love
This astronomical rise to success continued into 2010 with the release of his major label debut album Thank Me Later. After several setbacks from its original October 2009 release date, the album was released on June 15th, 2010 preceded by lead single “Over,” which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of approximately 1,100,000 copies in the U.S. to date. It produced three further singles which attained chart success; “Find Your Love,” “Miss Me” (feat. Lil’ Wayne) and “Fancy” (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz).01 Find Your Love – clip
Universal
Hedley Perfect
Perfect
Hedley’s THE SHOW MUST GO ranges from the electro-tinged opener “Cha-Ching,” about reality television’s intoxicating allure, and the rap-inflected “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” a jaundiced look at cougar women on the prowl, to such unabashedly sweet love songs as the piano ballad “Amazing” and the reggae feel-good number “Shelter.” Characteristically Hedley, there’s also such odes to hedonism as the hilarious “Young and Stupid” and the riotous “Nine Shades of Red,” which describes one of Hedley’s typically boisterous nights on the town. They may not be rocket surgeons, saving lives or saving the world, but Hedley is clearly making a contribution to the music scene. From the fizzy pop-punk of its debut to the sophisticated pop-rock of THE SHOW MUST GO, Hedley continues to prove that mixing frivolity with thoughtfulness and showmanship with songcraft is the best formula for success.08 – Perfect – Hedley – clip
Nonesuch*Warner
kd lang Hallelujah Vancouver Winter 2010
Hallelujah Vancouver Winter 2010
k.d. lang is that rare performer who, over 25 years as a major-label artist, has matured before our very ears. The Western Canada native launched her career with a blend of country-rock stylings and playfully punk-like attitude, by turns whimsical and subversive; back then, she practically put the alternative in alt-country. But from the very beginning, her bravura singing belied her kitschy cowgirl outfits and spiky hair; anyone lucky enough to attend her very first appearance in the United States, on a triple bill of unsigned artists at New York City’s Bottom Line, could hear that she was marked for greatness.01 Hallelujah (2010 Version) – clip
Universal
Young Artists for Haiti Wavin’ Flag
Wavin’ Flag
On Thursday, February 18, 2010, a diverse group of 57 Canadian artists gathered at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC to re-record of hip-hop artist K’NAAN’s “Wavin’ Flag.” This rendition, which has become an anthem for Canada’s Haitian relief efforts, was performed live by K’NAAN and an all-star cast on April 18th at the 2010 JUNO Awards from St. John’s, NL. Produced by Canadian music icon, Bob Ezrin (Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, KISS, Pink Floyd), and made possible by the support of the Slaight family, some of the talented musicians that lent their voices for Young Artists For Haiti include: Justin Bieber, Jully Black, Pierre Bouvier from Simple Plan, Broken Social Scene, Tyler Connelly from Theory Of A Deadman, Fefe Dobson, Drake, Elisapie Isaac, Esthero, Nelly Furtado, Emily Haines from Metric, Jacob Hoggard from Hedley, Ima, Chin Injeti, K’NAAN, Pierre LaPointe, Avril Lavigne, Lights, Matt Mays, Justin Nozuka, Kardinal Offishall, Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, Deryck Whibley from Sum 41, Hawksley Workman and Nikki Yanofsky.01 – Wavin’ Flag – Young Artists for Haiti – clip
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INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Interscope*Universal
Eminem Recovery
Recovery
On April 13, 2010, Eminem tweeted, “There is no Relapse 2″, to his followers. When he tweeted this, people started to believe that he was not releasing an album at all, but it simply meant that the album title would be changed to Recovery. He confirmed this by tweeting, “RECOVERY”, with a link to his website. Eminem said, “I had originally planned for Relapse 2 to come out last year. But as I kept recording and working with new producers, the idea of a sequel to Relapse started to make less and less sense to me, and I wanted to make a completely new album. The music on Recovery came out very different from Relapse, and I think it deserves its own title.” His seventh studio album, Recovery, was released on June 21. In the US, Recovery sold 741,000 in its first week to land atop the Billboard 200.
Capitol*EMI
Katy Perry Teenage Dream
Teenage Dream
When it came time to make her exhilarating second album “Teenage Dream,” Katy found herself increasingly drawn back home to Santa Barbara, Calif. Back to where they knew her before she became a superstar. Before she kissed a girl and liked it. And, certainly, before she sold 5 million copies of her Capitol Records blockbuster, “One of the Boys.” “I love the vibe that Santa Barbara gives off and I wanted to really tap into the purity of my childhood and that feeling,” says the two-time Grammy nominated singer. “It was really fun to get away and walk into the studio with no make-up on.” “Teenage Dream,” out Aug. 24, will move you, both emotionally and physically. “When I was touring, I wanted people to dance more,” Katy says. “So I wrote an album that made people move, yet didn’t sacrifice the story substance that I had on the last record.” The album, whose producers include Max Martin, Tricky Stewart, Stargate, Dr. Luke and Greg Wells, is a glorious evolution from “One of The Boys,” It showcases an artist who dares us to join her as she experiences every facet of life.
RCA*Sony
Ke$ha Animal
Animal
When Ke$ha was 17, she quit high school, “which was crazy because I was enrolled in an International Baccalaureate program and was going to go to Columbia University and study psychology,” she says, “but I wanted to move back to L.A. and pursue my music.” That’s when she met Dr. Luke. “I had been looking for a female artist with an incredible, distinctive voice who had her own style,” Luke says. “Ke$ha didn’t sound like anybody else.” Ke$ha’s style and ambition is best described in her own words, “I may seem kind of crazy, but behind it all I have my s**t together. I’m working really hard to make this happen and it’s nice to see that hard work pay off. I mean, three years ago I was stealing canned vegetables from the dollar store to survive. Now I’m on a No. 1 song, working on my album, and have a little change in my pocket. To be able to take my mom out to dinner is the best feeling in the world.”
Capitol Nashville*EMI
Lady Antebellum Need You Now
Need You Now
With male and female front-people, Hillary says, “I think we’re able to say so much more and reach so many more people. Because there’s no way that I could have been able to put my vocal on a song like ‘Hello World’ and make it believable like Charles did.” The diffused focus also makes for a more dynamic live experience. “When it’s a song I’m singing lead on, Charles and Dave can go be buddy-buddy on stage. When Charles and I do a duet, we can, without being too theatrical, almost play out the songs and tell the story a little bit more, whether we’re making it dramatic or fun and flirty.” Charles agrees: “Having the two lead vocals there can take people into different journeys. And I think there are people who are just naturally gonna gravitate to her voice that aren’t gonna gravitate to mine, and vice versa. And then on top of it, you’ve got this harmony potential, with Dave. It warms it up so much. We definitely feel very fortunate that we found each other and it all happened.”
Big Machine/Open Road*Universal
Taylor Swift Speak Now
Speak Now
Taylor Swift is a four-time Grammy winner, the top-selling digital artist in music history, has had singles top both the Country and Pop radio charts, and had the #1 best-selling album in any genre of music in 2009. This year, at the age of 20, she became the youngest artist in history to win the music industry’s highest honour, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Also at the 2010 Grammys, she took home the awards for Country Album of the Year, Best Country Song, and Best Country Female Vocal Performance. Her 6x-Platinum FEARLESS album is the most awarded album in Country music history. Taylor is slated to play 85 shows in 18 countries in 2011.
Back to Top
02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
04 Over – clip
08 – Perfect – Hedley – clip
02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION)
Sonovox*F.A.B.
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
The Suburbs
The suburbs have always spawned poets who flee to the world’s great cities. Montréal’s Arcade Fire, however, return to the landscapes of their youth and return with The Suburbs: songs that draw on themes of loss and renewal, of drawing inspiration from scarcity, of generations past and future, of responsibility and maturity, of hoping that something pure can last. The Suburbs, like its namesake, revels in open space, reflections on long drives, and contemplating possibilities. Lyrics decrying wasted time, arms folded tight, and cities with no children, are set to sparse pop, icy new wave epics, anthemetic punk and lush balladry — all delivered with a breadth and beauty that expands the palette of a band that has never settled for the easy route out of town.02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
Cash Money*Universal
Drake Thank me Later
Thank me Later
This astronomical rise to success continued into 2010 with the release of his major label debut album Thank Me Later. After several setbacks from its original October 2009 release date, the album was released on June 15th, 2010 preceded by lead single “Over,” which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of approximately 1,100,000 copies in the U.S. to date. It produced three further singles which attained chart success; “Find Your Love,” “Miss Me” (feat. Lil’ Wayne) and “Fancy” (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz).04 Over – clip
Universal
Hedley The Show Must Go
The Show Must Go
Hedley’s THE SHOW MUST GO ranges from the electro-tinged opener “Cha-Ching,” about reality television’s intoxicating allure, and the rap-inflected “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” a jaundiced look at cougar women on the prowl, to such unabashedly sweet love songs as the piano ballad “Amazing” and the reggae feel-good number “Shelter.” Characteristically Hedley, there’s also such odes to hedonism as the hilarious “Young and Stupid” and the riotous “Nine Shades of Red,” which describes one of Hedley’s typically boisterous nights on the town. They may not be rocket surgeons, saving lives or saving the world, but Hedley is clearly making a contribution to the music scene. From the fizzy pop-punk of its debut to the sophisticated pop-rock of THE SHOW MUST GO, Hedley continues to prove that mixing frivolity with thoughtfulness and showmanship with songcraft is the best formula for success.08 – Perfect – Hedley – clip
Johnny Mac*EMI
Johnny Reid A Place Called Love
A Place Called Love
The driving force behind Johnny Reid’s, A PLACE CALLED LOVE, is as universal as it is straightforward. With his first release on EMI/Johnny Mac Entertainment in Canada, Reid takes on love in all its myriad forms; exploring both the intensity of his feelings for his closest family, and the enduring gratitude he has for those who have helped him become one of Canada’s most successful recording artists of the past decade. “One of the greatest relationships I have, apart from my family, is the relationship I have with the people who come out and see my shows and buy my records. The longer I’m given the opportunity to record songs and sing them, the deeper that relationship becomes. My hope is that this record will take them to a place of peace, or to a place that’s a great memory, someplace that resonates with them as A Place Called Love.”02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
Island Def Jam*Universal
Justin Bieber My World 2.0
My World 2.0
A virtually untapped well of natural artistic talent, Justin Bieber is primed to be a solid force in music for many years to come. “I think older people can appreciate my music because I really show my heart when I sing, and it’s not corny,” he says. “I think I can grow as an artist and my fans will grow with me.” And just think, he’s just getting started.01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
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This astronomical rise to success continued into 2010 with the release of his major label debut album Thank Me Later.
After several setbacks from its original October 2009 release date, the
album was released on June 15th, 2010 preceded by lead single “Over,”
which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Hot Rap
Songs chart. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart
and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of
approximately 1,100,000 copies in the U.S. to date. It produced three
further singles which attained chart success; “Find Your Love,” “Miss
Me” (feat. Lil’ Wayne) and “Fancy” (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz).
04 Over – clip
The driving force behind Johnny Reid’s, A PLACE
CALLED LOVE, is as universal as it is straightforward. With his first
release on EMI/Johnny Mac Entertainment in Canada, Reid takes on love in
all its myriad forms; exploring both the intensity of his feelings for
his closest family, and the enduring gratitude he has for those who have
helped him become one of Canada’s most successful recording artists of
the past decade. “One of the greatest relationships I have, apart from
my family, is the relationship I have with the people who come out and
see my shows and buy my records. The longer I’m given the opportunity to
record songs and sing them, the deeper that relationship becomes. My
hope is that this record will take them to a place of peace, or to a
place that’s a great memory, someplace that resonates with them as A
Place Called Love.”
02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
A virtually untapped well of natural artistic
talent, Justin Bieber is primed to be a solid force in music for many
years to come. “I think older people can appreciate my music because I
really show my heart when I sing, and it’s not corny,” he says. “I think
I can grow as an artist and my fans will grow with me.” And just think,
he’s just getting started.
01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
Neil Percival Young, (born November 12, 1945)
is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the
most influential musicians of his generation. Young began performing as a
solo artist in Canada in 1960, before moving to California in 1966,
where he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield along with Stephen
Stills, and later joined Crosby, Stills and Nash as a fourth member in
1969. He then forged a successful and acclaimed solo career; releasing
his first album in 1968; his career has since spanned more than 40 years
and 37 studio albums, with a continual and uncompromising exploration
of musical styles. Young’s latest masterpiece, LE NOISE, is an
eight-song album collaboration with legendary producer/songwriter Daniel
Lanois, which Young subsequently documented in a 39-minute film posted
on YouTube. Young is a five-time JUNO Award winner and was inducted to
the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1982 and twice to the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame. In 2009 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and
in 2010 was named the MusiCares Person of the Year by The National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He is also the 2011 Allan
Waters Humanitarian Award recipient.
01 – Walk with Me – Neil Young – Clip
Since her signing with Arista Records nearly
two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan’s studio and live albums
has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA. TOUCH (1988) and SOLACE (1991) were both gold sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, the 3X-platinum FUMBLING THROUGH ECSTASY, was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of THE FREEDOM SESSIONS
(1995, gold). “I never have set goals, in the sense that I expected to
be successful or get to a certain place. My idea of success has always
been, does it feel right? Does it feel good to me? Do I enjoy doing it?
And somehow miraculously, I’ve been able to follow that path and have a
great success at it.” “So this whole career, the life that I have, the
opportunities that I’ve been given—it all comes as unexpected. Every
day I pinch myself, you know? I can’t believe all this has happened to
me.”
03 – Loving You Is Easy – Sarah McLachlan – clip
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cash Money*Universal
Drake 04 Over – clip
Johnny Mac*EMI
Johnny Reid 02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
Island Def Jam*Universal
Justin Bieber 01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
Reprise*Warner
Neil Young 01 – Walk with Me – Neil Young – Clip
Nettwerk*Sony
Sarah McLachlan 03 – Loving You Is Easy – Sarah McLachlan – clip
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The suburbs have always spawned poets who flee
to the world’s great cities. Montréal’s Arcade Fire, however, return to
the landscapes of their youth and return with The Suburbs:
songs that draw on themes of loss and renewal, of drawing inspiration
from scarcity, of generations past and future, of responsibility and
maturity, of hoping that something pure can last. The Suburbs,
like its namesake, revels in open space, reflections on long drives, and
contemplating possibilities. Lyrics decrying wasted time, arms folded
tight, and cities with no children, are set to sparse pop, icy new wave
epics, anthemetic punk and lush balladry — all delivered with a breadth
and beauty that expands the palette of a band that has never settled for
the easy route out of town.
02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
Broken Social Scene (BSS) remains one of the
most significant manifestations of Canada’s burgeoning indie rock
movement, a sprawling and relentlessly creative collective that has
produced some of the nation’s most dynamic musical accomplishments.
Materializing at the start of the 2000s with the lo-fi atmospheric
recordings of K.C. Accidental’s Kevin Drew and By Divine Right’s Brendan
Canning, the band debuted with 2001’s Feel Good Lost and
introduced a string of household names into the Canadian musical
consciousness. Broken Social Scene’s profile, and its roster, exploded
with the 2002 release of You Forgot It In People. With
appearances from Leslie Feist, Jason Collett and a host of others, the
album garnered worldwide attention, and landed Broken Social Scene a
JUNO Award for Alternative Album of The Year. 2004 saw the well-received
B-sides and rarities collection Bee Hives, and in 2005 BSS released its
third, self-titled full length. In Spring 2010, BSS returned
triumphantly with Forgiveness Rock Record, a sonically refined offering that garnered universally glowing reviews and debuted at No. 1 in Canada.
03 – Texico Bitches – Broken Social Scene – clip
Down With Webster (DWW) is Bucky on vocals, Pat
on vocals and guitars, Tyler on bass and keys, Marty on drums, Cam on
vocals, Kap as Hype Man, and Diggy the DJ. The seven-member,
genre-bending, musical juggernaut draws on disparate influences to
create a wholly original musical feast. Their chaotic live shows are the
stuff of local legend, selling 1000+ tickets as headliners in their
hometown of Toronto as an indie band before ever releasing a single or
video. The band writes, produces and performs all of their music,
garnering attention from industry veterans as varied as Timbaland and
KISS front man Gene Simmons, both of whom wanted to sign the band to
their respective labels. DWW won the Rogers Mobile/Universal Music best
unsigned artist in Canada contest in 2008. Their Universal Motown debut,
Time To Win, vol. I, was the first of two seven-track mini-albums, followed by Time To Win, vol. II which was released Spring 2010.
02 – Whoa Is Me – Down With Webster – clip
On March 11, 2010, Great Big Sea celebrated
their 17th birthday as a band. “No one is more surprised than us that
we have lasted almost 18 years,” points out lead singer Alan Doyle.
“Like most bands, when we started we were just looking forward to the
next tour, the next show or the next song. Then, after a few years we
realized that we liked doing this more than anything else. So we kept
going.” Their latest album, Safe Upon The Shore, reflects the
newest twists in their original plan. The album is a feast of creative
impulses, recorded in fits and starts over a six-month period. Some of
it was recorded in New Orleans with producer Steve Berlin, while other
songs were recorded at the band’s studio in St. John’s, NL. The band
used guerrilla setups to record the rest of it on tour buses and in
various dressing rooms.
02 – Nothing But A Song – Great Big Sea – Clip
Three Days Grace has built a dedicated and
ever-growing fan base over the course of two platinum albums and years
of touring across North America. A sense of adventure permeates their
latest release, Life Starts Now, which the Toronto-based band began writing after coming off the road for One-X
in April 2008. Though the album doesn’t skimp on Gontier’s trademark
anguished vocals, Barry Stock’s urgent riffs, or Sanderson and Walst’s
thunderous rhythm section, the band knew that they had evolved as
musicians, thanks to hundreds of live shows, and wanted to capture it in
their sound. To help them reach their goals, Three Days Grace reunited
with producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Motorhead, Papa Roach,
P.O.D), who produced One-X. The result is an album that brims
with confidence, musicality, and accessibility, that is certain to
please long-time followers while getting Three Days Grace even more
attention from rock music fans everywhere.
02 – Break – Three Days Grace – clip
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sonovox*F.A.B.
Arcade Fire 02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
Arts & Crafts*EMI
Broken Social Scene 03 – Texico Bitches – Broken Social Scene – clip
Universal Motown*Universal
Down With Webster 02 – Whoa Is Me – Down With Webster – clip
WEA*Warner
Great Big Sea 02 – Nothing But A Song – Great Big Sea – Clip
Jive*Sony
Three Days Grace 02 – Break – Three Days Grace – clip
Back to Top
In 2006, Basia went to live in Montréal and
through friends she met Howard Bilerman, an engineer and co-owner of the
famed Hotel 2 Tango studio. Initially the recordings were meant only as
an “audible memory” of the time Basia spent with friends in London and
Montréal. But Bilerman, smitten with Basia’s songs, began to write to
friends at labels, friends with music-blogs, anyone who might pay
attention. It’s this spark that sets Basia Bulat apart from the raft of
typical singer-songwriters, and also what attracted the interest of
Geoff Travis and Britain’s legendary Rough Trade label – who released Oh My Darling
in Europe and Japan in the Spring of 2007. The album was released in
North America shortly thereafter, and has since gone on to worldwide
acclaim. It garnered a Polaris Prize nomination in 2008, and rave
reviews from everyone from NPR and Q. Her new offering, Heart Of My Own, was born after over a year of touring that took Bulat across Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S. several times over.
05 – Heart of My Own – Basia Bulat – Clip
Singer songwriter Bobby Bazini was born in
Mont-Laurier, a small peaceful town north of Montréal. Bazini grew up
surrounded by music, and one day while at his grandmother’s house, he
discovered the music that would change his world and fill his heart: a
full collection of Johnny Cash vinyls. This along with the rural setting
became the canvas of his music, as he started to write songs. At age
16, his influences turned to soul music as he discovered artists like;
Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Ben E. King. Ready
and excited to finally introduce his work, Bazini began performing at
local venues around town. His voice, his unique tone and delivery along
with his compositional style immediately touched all that witnessed it.
The contradiction between such an old soul in such a young body amazed
everyone. In a chance meeting, a radio station was so impressed with
Bazini that he sent one of his new songs to a manager in Montréal. A
debut album was born…Better in Time. The rest is now history.
04 – I Wonder – Bobby Bazini – clip
Swim is Caribou’s masterpiece and the
record Dan Snaith has wanted to bring to fruition for as long as he has
been making music. Snaith has been a leading figure in electronic music
over the past decade. A mathematics scholar and ingenious
multi-instrumentalist/composer, he surprised critics and fans with
2007’s Andorra, a brilliant, electro-tinged pop breakthrough. After the startling infectiousness of Andorra, Swim
is a more complex, multi-layered affair—rife with fascinating rhythms,
instrumentation, and vocals that become more alluring with each listen.
“This is the record I’m most proud of because it’s the most ‘me’ in the
way things sound; I feel like I have my own vocabulary now,” says
Snaith. “So much of contemporary music is soaked in referencing this or
that. I wanted people to put the record on and not be able to say, ‘This
sounds like so-and-so.’ I want people to say, ‘This sounds like Dan!’
It’s what everybody wants—to have their fingerprint on the music they’re
making. I feel like I’ve achieved that to a greater extent than I have
in the past, and that’s exciting.”
01 – Odessa – Caribou – clip
Hannah Georgas released her debut full-length album, This Is Good,
in her native Canada this past April on Hidden Pony Records creating an
instant splash, landing the May cover of Canada’s only national music
monthly, Exclaim! The album, produced by Howard Redekopp (Tegan
and Sara/New Pornographers) and Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother),
features infectious mix of pop-rock gems and folky tenderness that
brings to mind elements of Feist and Basia Bulat. Georgas was named by
CBC Radio 3 as Best New Artist in 2009, and her album was highly-buzzed
about even before its release. It garnered glowing reviews in The Globe & Mail and The National Post
along with almost every daily and weekly paper across Canada, and was
named to the long-list for the Polaris Music Prize. Georgas performed
in September at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, at the Osheaga Music
Festival in Montréal and took part in The Malahat Revue, cycling and
performing across British Columbia with Jeremy Fisher, Aidan Knight and
Said The Whale.
03 – Dancefloor – Hannah Georgas – clip
Meaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. Talking about her independently-recorded debut album, The Cricket’s Orchestra
, Smith says: “Les (Cooper) and I put our heads together and decided to
create my musical world by using a string quartet, an eight-piece horn
section, guitars, keys, upright bass, a clarinet, some flutes, and even
an Omnichord. We used Mellotron samples in place of a modern band
because we loved the quirky, vintage vibe they brought to the songs, and
topped it all off with some turntable scratches. The result is an ideal
blend of old and new.” The Cricket’s Orchestra, was picked up
by Sire Records/Warner Music Canada and released in early 2010. Smith
also received a great deal of exposure by contributing a cover of
alternative rock group Pixies’ “Here Comes Your Man” to the soundtrack
of 2009′s (500) Days of Summer, featuring Smith playing an Omnichord.
02 – I Know – Meaghan Smith – clip
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
Secret City*EMI
Basia Bulat 05 – Heart of My Own – Basia Bulat – Clip
Mungo Park* Sélect
Bobby Bazini 04 – I Wonder – Bobby Bazini – clip
Merge*F.A.B.
Caribou 01 – Odessa – Caribou – clip
Hidden Pony*EMI
Hannah Georgas 03 – Dancefloor – Hannah Georgas – clip
Sire/WEA*Warner
Meaghan Smith 02 – I Know – Meaghan Smith – clip
Back to Top
Lead singer Care Failure is, by her own
admission, a bit of a mess. A bona fide rock star, yes – if you’ve seen
her perform, that much is undeniable, just a genetic fact – but she’s
not the sort who is merely mastered the cosmetic arts of the calling. At
the age of 22, the volatile Die Mannequin frontwoman has already
weathered more pure, textbook rock ‘n’ roll experience than dozens of
leather-and-tattoos poseurs twice her age. One listen to Die Mannequin’s
full-length Warner Music debut, Fino + Bleed, will tell you –
as visceral and honest and full-on as any art one might expect a decade
of premature “hard living” to yield. To scenesters in Die Mannequin’s
native Toronto, Fino + Bleed has been in the works for
something like forever. And, in many respects, it has – Care was
literally plucked from the streets by former EMI Publishing Canada
president Michael McCarty and vice-president Barb Sedun at 17, and given
the sort of time to develop within the music industry infrastructure
once accorded to the likes of Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M., but is now
supposedly a thing of the past.
06 – Bad Medicine – Die Mannequin – clip
Hollerado is four friends that grew up on the
same street in tiny Manotick, Ontario. They’ve become one of the most
lovable groups on the planet thanks to their insanely catchy and
energetic guitar pop, boundless creativity and a relentless DIY
approach. Starting from the humblest beginnings as a moving company
called Haulerado in 2006, charismatic lead singer/guitarist Menno
Versteeg, lead guitarist Nixon Boyd, his brother and drummer Jake Boyd
and bassist Dean Baxter found countless, colourful and improbable ways
to bring their music to the world…Demos in plastic baggies and
eventually a whole record in one, the band’s full-length debut Record In A Bag was released on Royal Mountain Records via Arts & Crafts in February 2010. Their videos have starred Kids In The Hall’s
Dave Foley, Margot Kidder aka Lois Lane, and most recently featured
“Human 8-Bit” antics in their sensational video for “Americanarama.”
Hollerado also invented the Residency Tour and has played with some of
the most critically lauded names in music including Weezer, The Black
Lips, The Cribs, Andrew W.K., Titus Andronicus, Girl Talk and The Dead
Weather.
03 – Juliette – Hollerado – clip
Put five 23-year-old guys who’ve known each
other since they were six years old, give them a trumpet, a saxophone,
sequencers, percussions, turntables, a drum, a bass and a couple of
keyboards, and you get Misteur Valaire (MV). MV’s style is neither
electro or hip-hop, nor is it jazz or rock. In fact, it’s a wild mix of
all that, with brass, samplings and beats to make you dance all night!
The quintet offers an impressive show in a setting reminiscent of a 1979
studio, creating a real cinematic experience. With their third album, Golden Bombay,
MV solidifies their creative talents, making their music more
accessible with an international scope. An impressive team of guest
singers has been invited on the album (Bran Van 3000, Senja Sargeant of
Ladies of the Canyon, Fanny Bloom of La Patère Rose). MV believes that
music should be distributed freely to reach a maximum of fans. This
marketing formula was first applied to their previous album Friterday Night which found more than 50,000 downloaders to date, and their latest album is also available for free.
01 – Brandon Marlow – Misteur Valaire – clip
The world doesn’t yet belong to My Darkest
Days, but they’ve come a long way since singer/guitarist Matt Walst,
drummer Doug Oliver and bassist Brendan McMillan started the band in the
small town of Norwood, ON, where they grew up. Influenced by hard rock
groups like Nirvana, Tool and Deftones, along with the songwriting
approach of the Beatles, Walst got a first-hand glimpse at what it takes
to succeed from his older brother Brad, bassist and co-founder of
platinum rock band Three Days Grace, which helped when the group set out
to record their debut, self-titled album. Taking their name from those
moments where Matt Walst says he draws his songwriting inspiration, My Darkest Days
combines the rowdy celebration of rock sexuality alongside more
personal observations about relationships. The salacious “Move Your
Body” with leering lyrics such as “you come on tapping at your back
door, baby,” and the sensual reggae world beat of “Setitonfire,” are
balanced by autobiographical tales like “Every Lie,” “Like Nobody Else”
and the country twang of “Come Undone,” featuring sassy vocals from yet
another label mate, the comely Jessie James.
02 – Porn Star Dancing – My Darkest Days – clip
Said The Whale released Islands Disappear,
on October 13, 2009 via Hidden Pony Records/EMI. Produced by Howard
Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, Mother Mother) and Tom
Dobrzanski, the album draws on the experience of driving across Canada,
from the van breaking down in Manitoba (“Dear Elkhorn”) to camping in
Alberta (“Emerald Lake, AB’). The album’s first single, “Camilo (The
Magician),” with its gritty powerchords and sunny powerpop chorus, was
dubbed the “song of the summer” by Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio 3, while
the track “Emerald Lake, AB” was given the CBC Bucky Award for Most
Canadian Song. In July, the band teamed up with Hannah Georgas, Jeremy
Fisher and Aidan Knight to form the super-group, The Malahat Revue, and
toured Vancouver Island by bicycle playing nine shows over the course of
12 days and 500 km. Most recently, the band embarked on an acoustic
“busking” tour of local Vancouver high schools, raising $3500 to support
MusiCounts – Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS.
04 – Camilo (The Magician) – Said The Whale – clip
NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
WEA*Warner
Die Mannequin 06 – Bad Medicine – Die Mannequin – clip
Royal Mountain*Arts & Crafts/EMI
Hollerado 03 – Juliette – Hollerado – clip
Mr. Label*Outside/Select
Misteur Valaire 01 – Brandon Marlow – Misteur Valaire – clip
604*Universal
My Darkest Days 02 – Porn Star Dancing – My Darkest Days – clip
Hidden Pony*EMI
Said The Whale 04 – Camilo (The Magician) – Said The Whale – clip
Back to Top
02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
13 – We Used To Wait – Arcade Fire – clip
04 Over – clip
04 – The Deep End – Hannah Georgas – clip
04 – On Top of Your Love – Royal Wood – clip
03 – Loving You Is Easy – Sarah McLachlan – Clip
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO)
Sonovox*F.A.B.
Arcade Fire “Ready To Start” , “We Used To Wait” , “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” THE SUBURBS – Arcade Fire
“Ready To Start” , “We Used To Wait” , “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” THE SUBURBS – Arcade Fire
The suburbs have always spawned poets who flee to the world’s great cities. Montréal’s Arcade Fire, however, return to the landscapes of their youth and return with The Suburbs: songs that draw on themes of loss and renewal, of drawing inspiration from scarcity, of generations past and future, of responsibility and maturity, of hoping that something pure can last. The Suburbs, like its namesake, revels in open space, reflections on long drives, and contemplating possibilities. Lyrics decrying wasted time, arms folded tight, and cities with no children, are set to sparse pop, icy new wave epics, anthemetic punk and lush balladry — all delivered with a breadth and beauty that expands the palette of a band that has never settled for the easy route out of town.02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
13 – We Used To Wait – Arcade Fire – clip
Cash Money*Universal*Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Drake “Fireworks”- co-songwriter M. Samuels , “Over”- co-songwriters Noah Shebib, M. Samuels, C. Kalla & A. Cook , “Show Me A Good Time”- co-songwriters K. West, J. Bhasker & E. Wilson THANK ME LATER – Drake
“Fireworks”- co-songwriter M. Samuels , “Over”- co-songwriters Noah Shebib, M. Samuels, C. Kalla & A. Cook , “Show Me A Good Time”- co-songwriters K. West, J. Bhasker & E. Wilson THANK ME LATER – Drake
This astronomical rise to success continued into 2010 with the release of his major label debut album Thank Me Later. After several setbacks from its original October 2009 release date, the album was released on June 15th, 2010 preceded by lead single “Over,” which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of approximately 1,100,000 copies in the U.S. to date. It produced three further singles which attained chart success; “Find Your Love,” “Miss Me” (feat. Lil’ Wayne) and “Fancy” (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz).04 Over – clip
Hidden Pony Records*EMI*Beetle Bomb Music
Hannah Georgas “Chit Chat” , “The Deep End” – co-songwriter Robbie Driscoll , “Lovers Breakdown” THIS IS GOOD – Hannah Georgas
“Chit Chat” , “The Deep End” – co-songwriter Robbie Driscoll , “Lovers Breakdown” THIS IS GOOD – Hannah Georgas
Hannah Georgas released her debut full-length album, This Is Good, in her native Canada this past April on Hidden Pony Records creating an instant splash, landing the May cover of Canada’s only national music monthly, Exclaim! The album, produced by Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara/New Pornographers) and Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother), features infectious mix of pop-rock gems and folky tenderness that brings to mind elements of Feist and Basia Bulat. Georgas was named by CBC Radio 3 as Best New Artist in 2009, and her album was highly-buzzed about even before its release. It garnered glowing reviews in The Globe & Mail and The National Post along with almost every daily and weekly paper across Canada, and was named to the long-list for the Polaris Music Prize. Georgas performed in September at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, at the Osheaga Music Festival in Montréal and took part in The Malahat Revue, cycling and performing across British Columbia with Jeremy Fisher, Aidan Knight and Said The Whale.04 – The Deep End – Hannah Georgas – clip
MapleMusic*Universal*MapleMusic Publishing
Royal Wood “Waiting” , “On Top Of Your Love” , “Tonight I Will Be Your Guide” THE WAITING – Royal Wood
“Waiting” , “On Top Of Your Love” , “Tonight I Will Be Your Guide” THE WAITING – Royal Wood
Singer-songwriter Royal Wood has spent years perfecting his craft of balladry and pop music. His new album, THE WAITING, appropriately begins with a song entitled “You Can’t Go Back” — and why would he? With each new release, Royal Wood delivers another collection of heartrending and honest tales of love, loss and life more impressive than the last. It now seems more than ever that Wood has found his voice. “This record is about the duality of life and how at times, I seemingly waited for the mirrored experience to return,” says Wood. “I went through so many severe shifts personally and all of that turbulence led to serious thought and reflection. That is why these songs were born and why they are my most personal and introspective to date.”04 – On Top of Your Love – Royal Wood – clip
Nettwerk*Sony*Tyde Music
Sarah McLachlan “Illusions of Bliss” , “Forgiveness”- co-songwriter Pierre Marchand , “Loving You Is Easy” LAWS OF ILLUSION – Sarah McLachlan
“Illusions of Bliss” , “Forgiveness”- co-songwriter Pierre Marchand , “Loving You Is Easy” LAWS OF ILLUSION – Sarah McLachlan
Since her signing with Arista Records nearly two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan’s studio and live albums has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA. TOUCH (1988) and SOLACE (1991) were both gold sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, the 3X-platinum FUMBLING THROUGH ECSTASY, was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of THE FREEDOM SESSIONS (1995, gold). “I never have set goals, in the sense that I expected to be successful or get to a certain place. My idea of success has always been, does it feel right? Does it feel good to me? Do I enjoy doing it? And somehow miraculously, I’ve been able to follow that path and have a great success at it.” “So this whole career, the life that I have, the opportunities that I’ve been given—it all comes as unexpected. Every day I pinch myself, you know? I can’t believe all this has happened to me.”03 – Loving You Is Easy – Sarah McLachlan – Clip
Back to Top
02 – The Whole Thing – Carolyn Dawn Johnson – clip
02 – Roll that Barrel Out – Dean Brody – clip
04 – Up All Night – Deric Ruttan – clip
01 – Day Job – Gord Bamford – clip
02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY COUNTRY STYLE)
Dancing Lily/Road Angel*Universal
Carolyn Dawn Johnson Love Rules
Love Rules
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is a JUNO Award-winning country music singer-songwriter. Johnson first rose to fame by co-writing Chely Wright’s 1999 No. 1 U.S. Billboard single “Single White Female.” In 2000, she signed with Arista Nashville and, in 2001, released her debut album, ROOM WITH A VIEW. The album’s first two singles (“Georgia” and “Complicated”) were both No. 1 hits on the Canadian Country Music Charts, and the latter was a top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Her next single “I Dont’ Want You To Go” was also a Top 10 in the U.S. With a gold record to her name, she has had continued success in her native Canada taking home 16 CCMA Awards to date and receiving yet another nomination in 2010. After a four-year hiatus, Johnson returned with the single “Let Me Introduce Myself,” which since reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Cdn. Country chart. The song served as the lead single to her fourth album, LOVE RULES, released in August 2010. her second single, “The Whole Thing” is already Top 20 and climbing. The album is produced by Johnson and Frank Rogers.02 – The Whole Thing – Carolyn Dawn Johnson – clip
Open Road*Universal
Dean Brody Trail in Life
Trail in Life
“Without risk there’s no reward,” says Dean Brody. “It’s important to be fearless. You need to be persistent. You can’t give up.” Brody would know. If there’s one thing the Jaffray, BC, born singer-songwriter has proven in his career, it’s that he’s not afraid to pull up stakes and risk everything to chase his dreams. Fair to say that ethic is a good part of the inspiration behind the title to his new record, TRAIL IN LIFE, the follow up to his 2009 self-titled debut, and first on Open Road Recordings. If the success of Brody’s first release was a kind of vindication for him, TRAIL IN LIFE is a record his listeners can find a certain amount of vindication in themselves. It’s a collection of songs that finds beauty and strength in the everyday things too often undervalued. Songs that linger on the moments between our victories and defeats, throwing into stark relief the simple struggles and small triumphs we all experience day in and day out, and celebrating them for what they are: the raw materials that all the best parts of life are made of.02 – Roll that Barrel Out – Dean Brody – clip
Black T Records*EMI
Deric Ruttan Sunshine
Sunshine
Deric Ruttan was raised just outside Bracebridge, ON, on land where his great grandfather made moonshine in the 1930’s. It was the perfect backdrop for the singer-songwriter, who grew up listening to everything from CCR to Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash to Neil Young. After touring with several country bar bands, Deric moved to Nashville, TN, where his unique outlook and delivery attracted the attention and praise of songwriters Don Schlitz and Steve Earle. Deric has had over 30 songs recorded by other artists, he is a CCMA winner (2007 Songwriter of the Year), and a nine-time CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) nominee. While based in Nashville for the last 16 years, Deric regularly tours in his native Canada, where his three albums, DERIC RUTTAN (2003), FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME (2008), and SUNSHINE (2010) have to-date generated nine Top 10 radio hits, four Top 20 radio singles and two No. 1 videos, with songs like “When You Come Around,” “First Time In A Long Time,” “Good Time” (duet with Dierks Bentley), “That’s How I Wanna Go Out,” and the infectious “Up All Night.” Deric and his wife Margaret have five children and a beagle named Sam.04 – Up All Night – Deric Ruttan – clip
Cache Ent.*Royalty
Gord Bamford Day Job
Day Job
The way Gord Bamford lives his life comes alive through his music. This independent singer-songwriter has been making country music a priority for the past 16 years. Gord wrote 11 of the 13 songs on his fourth album, DAY JOB, released on April 6, 2010. DAY JOB, is already his best-selling to date, and recently earned Gord the Canadian Country Music Association’s (CCMA) Male Artist of the Year; DAY JOB won CCMA Country Album of the Year; the video won CMT Video of the Year; and he and Byron Hill received the CCMA Producer of the Year Award. Gord, a steadfast family man, works tirelessly to find ways to give back. The Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation and his annual charity golf tournament have raised just under $500,000 in three years to support central Alberta charities. The CCMA organization named Gord its 2010 Humanitarian of the Year. He credits the support of his fans, business partnerships, friends and family that keep him grounded and focused on creating his own legacy in Canada’s country music industry.01 – Day Job – Gord Bamford – clip
Johnny Mac*EMI
Johnny Reid A Place Called Love
A Place Called Love
The driving force behind Johnny Reid’s, A PLACE CALLED LOVE, is as universal as it is straightforward. With his first release on EMI/Johnny Mac Entertainment in Canada, Reid takes on love in all its myriad forms; exploring both the intensity of his feelings for his closest family, and the enduring gratitude he has for those who have helped him become one of Canada’s most successful recording artists of the past decade. “One of the greatest relationships I have, apart from my family, is the relationship I have with the people who come out and see my shows and buy my records. The longer I’m given the opportunity to record songs and sing them, the deeper that relationship becomes. My hope is that this record will take them to a place of peace, or to a place that’s a great memory, someplace that resonates with them as A Place Called Love.”02 – Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World – Johnny Reid – clip
Back to Top
02 – I Believe In You – Black Dub – clip
04 – Heartless – Justin Nozuka – clip
02 – Thinking People – Luke Doucet and The White Falcon – clip
01 – Walk with Me – Neil Young – Clip
02 – Captive – Sarah Harmer – clip
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY GALAXIE, YOUR MUSICAL UNIVERSE)
Jive*Sony
Black Dub Black Dub
Black Dub
Black Dub is the latest project from acclaimed musician and producer Daniel Lanois, a legendary guitarist and composer who has produced seminal albums for U2, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, Willie Nelson and Neil Young. Lanois is what historians like to call a musician’s musician. In Lanois’ own words: “Black Dub is essentially a three-piece band with a high level of musicianship,” comprised of Trixie Whitley (vocals), Brian Blade (drums), Daryl Johnson (Bass) and Daniel Lanois (guitars, vocals, keys). “We don’t operate on a technological grid. Nor are we tied to a page of fixed notes. Our songs are fluid. Often recorded live. One take. No overdubs. It’s a very old fashioned idea really. I think that might be why we get such a strong response on YouTube. Each video we create is a live musical performance shot with a hand-held camera seen through the eyes of one individual. No cuts. No edits. It’s clear that people still have an appetite for something honest and authentic with real musicians playing live. In these sad times of pre-packaged music, people yearn to experience something soulful, heartfelt, something meaningful. As simple as it sounds, real music is a rare commodity these days.”02 – I Believe In You – Black Dub – clip
Coalition*Warner
Justin Nozuka You I Wind Land and Sea
You I Wind Land and Sea
Justin Nozuka’s charge is to craft songs that make his listeners feel like they were up all night together, sharing sleep-deprived confessions. The first collection of these, HOLLY (Coalition/Glassnote Records), is named for Nozuka’s highly supportive mother, and came out when Nozuka was just 19. The press marvelled at his mature sound and vision, calling Nozuka “as soulful and wise as blues greats four times his age.” His follow-up, YOU I WIND LAND AND SEA, will cement and further define that reputation—even as Nozuka endeavours to stay grounded amid copious praise of HOLLY and his performances on tour and television. YIWLAS encompasses a dozen deep, liberating tracks that expand on the acoustic folk-soul foundation base Nozuka laid with HOLLY and introduces key influences. The moody, tribal “Gray” checks Jeff Buckley as much as Ray LaMontagne; first single “My Heart Is Yours” applies gospel devotion to romantic soul, and “Unwoken Dream” mines the psych-folk genre—an ostensible left turn for Nozuka, yet perfectly executed. And throughout the album, the production nods subtly to Radiohead, adding a third dimension to Nozuka’s sound which, finds his powerful soul pipes running as smoothly as ever.04 – Heartless – Justin Nozuka – clip
Six Shooter*Warner
Luke Doucet Steel City Trawler
Steel City Trawler
Canadian Folk Music Award-winning artist Luke Doucet’s hard-playing, hard-touring efforts have won praise from the hardest-nosed critics in Canada and south of the border, including sitting atop “Best Of” lists by The Independent in the UK, our own Toronto Star, and the discerning ear of High Fidelity author Nick Hornby. Doucet’s impeccable instincts have steered multiple projects by fellow Six Shooters NQ Arbuckle and Melissa McClelland, as well as the most recent release by Rose Cousins. On his new, critically acclaimed and 4-star reviewed album, STEEL CITY TRAWLER, Doucet brought in first time producer Andrew Scott (Sloan). STEEL CITY TRAWLER comes from the heart of the post-industrial landscape and mindset. The album is a finely balanced mix of clever turns of phrase, cords and moods, irreverent bouncy rockers and tender, spacious ballads.02 – Thinking People – Luke Doucet and The White Falcon – clip
Reprise*Warner
Neil Young Le Noise
Le Noise
Neil Percival Young, (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation. Young began performing as a solo artist in Canada in 1960, before moving to California in 1966, where he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield along with Stephen Stills, and later joined Crosby, Stills and Nash as a fourth member in 1969. He then forged a successful and acclaimed solo career; releasing his first album in 1968; his career has since spanned more than 40 years and 37 studio albums, with a continual and uncompromising exploration of musical styles. Young’s latest masterpiece, LE NOISE, is an eight-song album collaboration with legendary producer/songwriter Daniel Lanois, which Young subsequently documented in a 39-minute film posted on YouTube. Young is a five-time JUNO Award winner and was inducted to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1982 and twice to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2009 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2010 was named the MusiCares Person of the Year by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He is also the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award recipient.01 – Walk with Me – Neil Young – Clip
Cold Snap*Universal
Sarah Harmer Oh Little Fire
Oh Little Fire
The first sound you’ll hear on OH LITTLE FIRE is a high-pitched keening, like the shrieking of an unattended phone, or the distant skirling of a ghost on a winter night. Suddenly, Sarah Harmer’s band kicks in, with drums propelling a gust of rock more forceful than anything she’s played since her mid-‘90s days with rambunctious Kingston rockers Weeping Tile. She sings with a sense of purpose: “A new wind will blow through everything / Through everything I know.” On OH LITTLE FIRE, her first album in five years, Harmer sounds reinvigorated and positively charged.02 – Captive – Sarah Harmer – clip
Back to Top
02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
03 – Texico Bitches – Broken Social Scene – clip
11 – 28 jours – Karkwa – clip
05 – Lewis Takes Action – Owen Pallett – clip
04 – Boots Of Danger (Wait Up) – Tokyo Police Club – clip
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY LONG & MCQUADE)
Sonovox*F.A.B.
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
The Suburbs
The suburbs have always spawned poets who flee to the world’s great cities. Montréal’s Arcade Fire, however, return to the landscapes of their youth and return with The Suburbs: songs that draw on themes of loss and renewal, of drawing inspiration from scarcity, of generations past and future, of responsibility and maturity, of hoping that something pure can last. The Suburbs, like its namesake, revels in open space, reflections on long drives, and contemplating possibilities. Lyrics decrying wasted time, arms folded tight, and cities with no children, are set to sparse pop, icy new wave epics, anthemetic punk and lush balladry — all delivered with a breadth and beauty that expands the palette of a band that has never settled for the easy route out of town.02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – Clip
Arts & Crafts*EMI
Broken Social Scene Forgiveness Rock Record
Forgiveness Rock Record
Broken Social Scene (BSS) remains one of the most significant manifestations of Canada’s burgeoning indie rock movement, a sprawling and relentlessly creative collective that has produced some of the nation’s most dynamic musical accomplishments. Materializing at the start of the 2000s with the lo-fi atmospheric recordings of K.C. Accidental’s Kevin Drew and By Divine Right’s Brendan Canning, the band debuted with 2001’s Feel Good Lost and introduced a string of household names into the Canadian musical consciousness. Broken Social Scene’s profile, and its roster, exploded with the 2002 release of You Forgot It In People. With appearances from Leslie Feist, Jason Collett and a host of others, the album garnered worldwide attention, and landed Broken Social Scene a JUNO Award for Alternative Album of The Year. 2004 saw the well-received B-sides and rarities collection Bee Hives, and in 2005 BSS released its third, self-titled full length. In Spring 2010, BSS returned triumphantly with Forgiveness Rock Record, a sonically refined offering that garnered universally glowing reviews and debuted at No. 1 in Canada.03 – Texico Bitches – Broken Social Scene – clip
Audiogram*Select
Karkwa Les chemins de verre
Les chemins de verre
Karkwa formed in 1998 and was noticed when the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse (a France–Québec youth exchange organization), invited them to perform at the cultural expo in Paris. It wasn’t until 2001 when Karkwa truly stepped onto the scene, making it to the final round at the 7th Annual Francouvertes Music Festival. Karkwa confirmed its marquee role in the world of Québec rock with their first album Le pensionnat des établis released in 2003, followed by the launch of Les tremblements s’immobilisent (2005). In April 2008, singer/guitarist Louis-Jean Cormier, drummer Stéphane Bergeron, keyboardist François Lafontaine, bassist Martin Lamontagne and percussionist/singer Julien Sagot released Le volume du vent, their landmark third album. The two years following the release of their third album were hectic, with hundreds of performances in Canada, France, Switzerland, United States and Lebanon. Their fourth album is based on spontaneous impulses of creativity and was put together without pre-production for a more organic and impressionist sound. In 2010, Karkwa won the prestigious Polaris Music Prize as well as their 10th Félix (Quebéc’s music award recognition) for Best Alternative Album of the Year.11 – 28 jours – Karkwa – clip
For Great Justice*Sonic Unyon
Owen Pallett Heartland
Heartland
The album HEARTLAND is the product of nine months of work in four countries. Heartland is a fully orchestral record, designed to exist simultaneously as an album, a 45-minute piece of orchestral music and a set of songs for looped violin and voice. Owen Pallett explains: “The album is about the beginning, middle and end of a relationship. But it’s sung from the point of view of the object of my affection. Heartland was compositionally modelled upon the principles of electronic music. The principles of analog synthesis informing symphonic writing, like an inversion of a Tomita record. These songs too, were designed to be as dense with polyphony as the Final Fantasy live shows can become. While writing it, I kept an image in my head of putting so many notes on the page that the paper turned black.” Work began in earnest in November 2008, when Pallett and Arcade Fire drummer Jeremy Gara flew to Reykjavik, Iceland, to work at The Greenhouse, Valgeir Siggurdsson’s studio (Björk’s Medulla, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s The Letting Go) with engineer Mio Thórrison at the board. The orchestra was recorded January 2009 in Prague, with the Czech Symphony.05 – Lewis Takes Action – Owen Pallett – clip
Dine Alone*Universal
Tokyo Police Club Champ
Champ
For a band that burst on the scene with and EP featuring 16 minutes of music (2006′s A Lesson In Crime) followed in rapid fire succession by additional EPs and singles (Smith, “Your English Is Good”) and a debut album (2008’s Elephant Shell) all within two years time, you’d think 26 months between albums would be an interminable wait. And it might well have been for Tokyo Police Club, had they not toured relentlessly in support of that first album through August of 2009—and started writing new songs virtually the second their previous record was put to bed. The nine-month gap between the close of that tour and the June 8th release of Champ, Tokyo Police Club’s second full length album and first for the mom+pop label, has been anything but boring or unproductive. Quite the opposite in fact: The Newmarket, ON, quartet ended up immersing itself more fully in its craft than ever: Greg Alsop, Josh Hook, David Monks and Graham Wright challenged and redefined their songwriting and performing chops and techniques from day one of pre-production, and, together with producer Rob Schnapf ultimately created the defining record of their career to date.04 – Boots Of Danger (Wait Up) – Tokyo Police Club – clip
Back to Top
04 – I Wonder – Bobby Bazini – clip
02 – Whoa Is Me – Down With Webster – clip
05 – Give Him Up – Faber Drive – clip
01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
03 – Loving You Is Easy – Sarah McLachlan – Clip
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY RECORDING ARTISTS COLLECTING SOCIETY – A DIVISION OF ACTRA)
Mungo Park* Select
Bobby Bazini Better in Time
Better in Time
Singer songwriter Bobby Bazini was born in Mont-Laurier, a small peaceful town north of Montréal. Bazini grew up surrounded by music, and one day while at his grandmother’s house, he discovered the music that would change his world and fill his heart: a full collection of Johnny Cash vinyls. This along with the rural setting became the canvas of his music, as he started to write songs. At age 16, his influences turned to soul music as he discovered artists like; Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Ben E. King. Ready and excited to finally introduce his work, Bazini began performing at local venues around town. His voice, his unique tone and delivery along with his compositional style immediately touched all that witnessed it. The contradiction between such an old soul in such a young body amazed everyone. In a chance meeting, a radio station was so impressed with Bazini that he sent one of his new songs to a manager in Montréal. A debut album was born…Better in Time. The rest is now history.04 – I Wonder – Bobby Bazini – clip
Universal Motown*Universal
Down With Webster Time to Win Vol. 1
Time to Win Vol. 1
Down With Webster (DWW) is Bucky on vocals, Pat on vocals and guitars, Tyler on bass and keys, Marty on drums, Cam on vocals, Kap as Hype Man, and Diggy the DJ. The seven-member, genre-bending, musical juggernaut draws on disparate influences to create a wholly original musical feast. Their chaotic live shows are the stuff of local legend, selling 1000+ tickets as headliners in their hometown of Toronto as an indie band before ever releasing a single or video. The band writes, produces and performs all of their music, garnering attention from industry veterans as varied as Timbaland and KISS front man Gene Simmons, both of whom wanted to sign the band to their respective labels. DWW won the Rogers Mobile/Universal Music best unsigned artist in Canada contest in 2008. Their Universal Motown debut, Time To Win, vol. I, was the first of two seven-track mini-albums, followed by Time To Win, vol. II which was released Spring 2010.02 – Whoa Is Me – Down With Webster – clip
604*Universal
Faber Drive Can’T keEp A SecrEt
Can’T keEp A SecrEt
“We wanted to write songs that would stand the test of time, and we wanted to have more control and co-produce with several different producers.” After beating more than 500 artists from across Canada to take first place in a radio competition, Faber Drive started opening for acts like Nickelback, Simple Plan and Hedley. With the release of their pop-punk infused debut album, Seven Second Surgery, Faber Drive hit No. 1 on MuchMusic, saw three Top 10 radio singles and was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2008 JUNO Awards. However, the Faber Drive that appears on its sophomore album can’T keEp A SecrEt is a band that has progressed from the JUNO Award nominees of 2008. Where Seven Second Surgery laid the ground work for the Vancouver-based band’s career, can’T keEp A SecrEt now builds and evolves, deftly bringing bright colors, edgy tones, and more emotion into the fold and crossing the borders between Faber Drive’s punk rock roots into electro-pop mixed with epic balladry. “We wanted to take a risk with can’T keEp A SecrEt and move forward without forgetting our original sound or our dedicated fans,” explains bassist Krikit.05 – Give Him Up – Faber Drive – clip
Island Def Jam*Universal
Justin Bieber My World 2.0
My World 2.0
A virtually untapped well of natural artistic talent, Justin Bieber is primed to be a solid force in music for many years to come. “I think older people can appreciate my music because I really show my heart when I sing, and it’s not corny,” he says. “I think I can grow as an artist and my fans will grow with me.” And just think, he’s just getting started.01 – Baby [feat. Ludacris] – Justin Bieber – clip
Nettwerk*Sony
Sarah McLachlan Laws of Illusion
Laws of Illusion
Since her signing with Arista Records nearly two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan’s studio and live albums has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA. TOUCH (1988) and SOLACE (1991) were both gold sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, the 3X-platinum FUMBLING THROUGH ECSTASY, was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of THE FREEDOM SESSIONS (1995, gold). “I never have set goals, in the sense that I expected to be successful or get to a certain place. My idea of success has always been, does it feel right? Does it feel good to me? Do I enjoy doing it? And somehow miraculously, I’ve been able to follow that path and have a great success at it.” “So this whole career, the life that I have, the opportunities that I’ve been given—it all comes as unexpected. Every day I pinch myself, you know? I can’t believe all this has happened to me.”03 – Loving You Is Easy – Sarah McLachlan – Clip
Back to Top
14 – Sabotage – Cancer Bats – clip
06 – Bad Medicine – Die Mannequin – clip
14 – Sabotage – Cancer Bats – clip
03 – Runaway – Hail The Villain – clip
01 – Last Parade – Matthew Good – clip
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Distort*Universal
Cancer Bats Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones
Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones
They’ve birthed a grimy hardcore giant and hailed a more metal-centric destroyer, but in 2010, Cancer Bats dropped their heaviest, deadliest, and most brutal offering to date with Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones. Since releasing Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones, the JUNO Award-nominated Cancer Bats have charred the pages of Kerrang!, Alternative Press, Revolver, Eye Weekly, Exclaim!, and countless other top-tier publications. Over the years, the Cancer Bats have ignited the concert-going kindling from stages at SXSW, Taste Of Chaos, Rock Im Park, Rock Am Ring, Download Festival, Edgefest, Leeds, and Reading, and alongside heavyweights like Rise Against, Billy Talent, Alexisonfire, Bring Me The Horizon, and Bullet For My Valentine. Still, the ultimate goal is just to share their music with people that are passionate about it.14 – Sabotage – Cancer Bats – clip
WEA*Warner
Die Mannequin Fino + Bleed
Fino + Bleed
Lead singer Care Failure is, by her own admission, a bit of a mess. A bona fide rock star, yes – if you’ve seen her perform, that much is undeniable, just a genetic fact – but she’s not the sort who is merely mastered the cosmetic arts of the calling. At the age of 22, the volatile Die Mannequin frontwoman has already weathered more pure, textbook rock ‘n’ roll experience than dozens of leather-and-tattoos poseurs twice her age. One listen to Die Mannequin’s full-length Warner Music debut, Fino + Bleed, will tell you – as visceral and honest and full-on as any art one might expect a decade of premature “hard living” to yield. To scenesters in Die Mannequin’s native Toronto, Fino + Bleed has been in the works for something like forever. And, in many respects, it has – Care was literally plucked from the streets by former EMI Publishing Canada president Michael McCarty and vice-president Barb Sedun at 17, and given the sort of time to develop within the music industry infrastructure once accorded to the likes of Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M., but is now supposedly a thing of the past.06 – Bad Medicine – Die Mannequin – clip
Wax/Wind-Up*Warner
Finger Eleven Life Turns Electric
Life Turns Electric
Finger Eleven earned thier confidence album by album, tour by tour and song by song. Since 1998, the band have worked the road non-stop and released successful albums such as their debut Tip and its follow-up, The Greyest of Blue Skies. By the time they released their third, self-titled album, Finger Eleven had built a solid career. They didn’t know that a little acoustic tune, “One thing,” written unassumingly under a tree somewhere, would be the one to crack the charts, and subsequently gave them the them the confidence to write Them vs You vs Me, the gold-certified album that won Rock Album of the Year at the 2007 JUNO Awards. Them vs You vs Me featured “Paralyzer” a monster slab of backbone slide that became the band’s biggest crossover hit. After five albums and countless tours, Finger Eleven have made their big rock record. It’s loud, powerful and fast. It’s the album they’ve waited their entire career to make. Life Turns Electric is the sound of Finger Eleven’s pedal to the proverbial metal. They fly past state troopers and speed traps. They barrel headlong into the future but take a scenic route through the dusty roads of the ‘70s to get there. There’s nothing retro about it, but you can hear how they’ve inhaled the fumes of Classic Rock. This is the sound of a band blasting forward and having a blast while doing so. The guitars are back, the melodies are strong and instantly memorable, branding the lyrics on your brain the very first time you hear them.14 – Sabotage – Cancer Bats – clip
WEA*Warner
Hail the Villain Population: Declining
Population: Declining
Hail The Villain is a band with big ideas. They aren’t satisfied with writing songs, making an album and going out on tour. They want to create an entire Hail The Villain universe that includes not only the music, but a dynamic live show, animated videos, a comic book, a unique interactive website, and maybe even a movie someday. “Most people are going to aim for what’s attainable,” says Bryan Crouch. “For us, it’s aiming for what’s unattainable.” With Crouch on vocals, Joseph Stamp (guitars), Chad Taylor (bass) and Flavio Cirillo (drums), Population: Declining was born. Hail The Villain attack their career with the same hard-nosed approach you’d expect from growing up in Canada’s automobile manufacturing town of Oshawa, ON. From the moment they finished recording their debut album, they have been pain-stakingly involved in all creative elements that connect to fans in their vision.03 – Runaway – Hail The Villain – clip
Universal
Matthew Good Vancouver
Vancouver
Consistent, honest and forthright about everything from life to music, Matthew Good is one of few Canadian musicians who require no introduction. In 2009, Good’s sincerity finds him in an enviable place: alive, feeling fine and more inspired than ever before. His personal anguish and frustrations dealt with, Good now tackles new territory: the outside world. He has dubbed this journey, Vancouver, a dedication to and examination of his experiences living in the world-renowned city for the better part of his life; the land responsible for forming many of his personal reflections and opinions on the world. Good broaches all spectrums of his home, delving into the individual, economic, and social impact Vancouver’s many facets incite. From straightforward rock to the infusion of strings which offer a lushness and bold atmosphere to the album, Vancouver offers fans the familiarity of Good’s inherent style yet accents and bolsters his need for diversity and advancement.01 – Last Parade – Matthew Good – clip
Back to Top
02 – Sunshine Superman – Emilie-Claire Barlow – clip
01 – Holding My Honey’s Hand – Jeff Healey – clip
02 – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Kellylee Evans – clip
01 – Let Go – Laila Biali – clip
04 – For Another Day – Nikki Yanofsky – clip
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CRYSTAL SENSATIONS)
Empress*eOne Music
Emilie-Claire Barlow The Beat Goes On
The Beat Goes On
You could say that The Beat Goes On finds Emilie-Claire Barlow going back to the future. The chanteuse’s acclaimed previous two albums, 2007’s The Very Thought of You and 2009’s Haven’t We Met? (both nominated for JUNO Awards) drew upon the Great American Songbook and tunes from the ‘30s and ‘40s. Here, she looks forward to the ‘60s for her repertoire. The result is a charming album that does real musical justice to that most colourful of decades. The ‘60s are a veritable musical treasure trove and Emilie-Claire mines this rich vein with real deftness. The result is a wonderfully varied collection of classic songs given new life by inventive arrangements and signature vocal skill. The diversity of song choices on The Beat Goes On came quite naturally…“It was only when I analyzed it later that I saw this was a good cross-section of puzzle pieces from the musical decade. There is Motown [“Yester-me Yester-you Yester-day”], country [“He Thinks I Still Care”], singer-songwriters like Carole King, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Bob Dylan, bossa nova and psychedelia, with Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman.” That was all completely subconscious.”02 – Sunshine Superman – Emilie-Claire Barlow – clip
Stony Plain*Warner
Jeff Healey Last Call
Last Call
Jeff Healey lost his sight after developing eye cancer at the age of one. He began playing guitar when he was three years old and performing at the age of 17. The Jeff Healey Band released their debut album on Arista, See The Light, in 1988 and immediately developed a devoted following in blues-rock circles. As the 21st century dawned, Healey taught himself to play trumpet and began to lean to the kind of traditional 1920s and ‘30s jazz that had always fascinated him. His first jazz album to see wide release, It’s Tight Like That, appeared on Stony Plain Records in 2006. Healey continued in the traditional jazz idiom for both Among Friends and Adventures In Jazzland, released in 2007. In 2008, a month before the release of his last studio album Mess Of Blues, Healey died from cancer. The follow up 2009 release, Songs From The Road, boasts a wide range of material. His last jazz album, Last Call, was recorded informally in the months before his death, and released in April, 2010. Much of the material features a “one-man band” consisting of Healey playing multi-tracked guitar parts, trumpet and handling the vocals.01 – Holding My Honey’s Hand – Jeff Healey – clip
Plus Loin*SRI
Kellylee Evans Nina
Nina
Vocalist Kellylee Evans continues to evolve her distinctive sound with her newest release Nina, a beautiful tribute to one of jazz’s greatest vocalists and pianists, Nina Simone. Evans received accolades for her first two albums, Fight or Flight and The Good Girl, written and produced by Kellylee at Audio Valley Recording Studio in Perth, ON, with the help of engineer and co-producer Steve Foley and her trusty touring band since 2005. The alternative-soul pop recording was the sophomore follow up to the 2006 critically acclaimed urban-jazz debut, Fight or Flight, which helped garner the Toronto native JUNO Award and Gemini Award nominations in 2007 and a win for Best Female Artist at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Evans even took second place in the prestigious Thelonius Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, whose judges included Quincy Jones and Al Jarreau. Her energy-charged live shows have led to opening spots for George Benson, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti and Maceo Parker.02 – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Kellylee Evans – clip
Independent
Laila Biali Tracing Light
Tracing Light
From the beginnings of jazz, musicians chose standards – a mix of their personal favorites and chart toppers – as part of their repertoire. Poised to become the new face of contemporary jazz, Laila Biali has already showcased her original music and arrangements at world-class venues spanning five continents, including New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the International Jazz Festival in Peru and the Cotton Club in Japan. Her musical versatility has also won her touring engagements with top-tier artists including jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Paula Cole, platinum-selling artist Suzanne Vega, and most recently pop icon STING. Biali’s previous album, From Sea to Sky, was called a “surefire winner” (Toronto Star) with “cause for celebration and recognition” (Montréal Gazette). Her newest album, Tracing Light, gains recognition for Biali’s “bold musical ventures,” “youthful funkiness,” “ingenuity, verve and depth” (Ottawa Citizen). Named SOCAN Composer and Keyboardist of the Year at the 2005 National Jazz Awards, Biali has moved from being cited as ‘an artist to watch’ to one who is ‘it’; as Toronto Life magazine puts it, “on the way to setting, and playing, her own standards.”01 – Let Go – Laila Biali – clip
Decca*Universal
Nikki Yanofsky Nikki
Nikki
Nikki Yanofsky is a 16-year old musical prodigy. In 2008, Nikki’s debut release, Ella…Of Thee I Swing, a live CD/DVD, earned two JUNO Award nominations. Nikki’s career spiked in February 2010, appearing before an estimated TV audience of 3.5 billion people singing the Canadian national anthem at the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver. Nikki was also chosen to sing the official Olympics song, “I Believe,” which went 4x platinum in Canada, making her the youngest Canadian artist to ever do so. In spring 2010, she released her first studio album, Nikki, on Decca Records. Produced by Jesse Harris and Phil Ramone, Nikki features new arrangements of classic standards, an original song written for Nikki by Feist, and her first original music, written with Harris and Ron Sexsmith. The album has already gone gold in Canada, and debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. In Fall 2010, Nikki received the inaugural Allan Slaight Award at Canada’s Walk Of Fame gala. The Award recognizes excellence in the performing arts by a young Canadian, and is one of the biggest honours of Nikki’s career.04 – For Another Day – Nikki Yanofsky – clip
Back to Top
01 – Mourning Star – Adrean Farrugia – clip
01 – For Jim – Chey Doxas – clip
01 – Dancing Sunlight – Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra – clip
01 – Next Exit – Kelly Jefferson Quartet – clip
01 – Polonaise Libanaise – Matt Herkowitz – clip
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY WORLD VISION ARTIST ASSOCIATES)
Independent
Adrean Farrugia Ricochet
Ricochet
“Pianist Adrean Farrugia’s disc reflects an expansive musical vision and the talent and craft to combine elements from a range of influences … I’ll be surprised if there’s a better debut jazz CD released in Canada this year.” – Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen. Award-winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia has been a vital member of the Canadian jazz scene for 15 years. He has performed with such international jazz luminaries as Curtis Fuller, Randy Brecker, Ira Sullivan, Don Thompson, Kenny Wheeler, Moe Koffman, Joel Frahm, and Darcy James Argue as well as with various ensembles across Canada, the U.S., France, Poland and Japan. He can be heard on more than 30 recordings to date, two of which are under his own name. His most recent release Ricochet was released at the 2010 Toronto Jazz Festival on the mainstage at Nathan Phillips Square, and has garnered both consistent radio play and critical acclaim nationwide. Adrean Farrugia is on the music faculties of both Mohawk College and York University. He has also been a contributing columnist to the American publication The Piano Book – the world’s foremost publication on all things piano related. Adrean Farrugia plays Shigeru Kawai pianos.01 – Mourning Star – Adrean Farrugia – clip
Justin Time*EMI
Chet Doxas Big Sky
Big Sky
Chet Doxas is accomplished both as a saxophonist as well as a composer and arranger. Born in 1980 in Montréal, Chet grew up in a fertile musical environment. Beginning with piano and drums – he then moved to clarinet, tenor and alto saxophone. He has appeared at Carnegie Hall, received the Rico Golden Reed Award at Music Fest Canada and was honoured as Jazz Report Magazine’s “Best Secondary Jazz Musician in Canada.” Chet has gathered much experience, including several impressive collaborations on stage and on recordings, including Dave Douglas, Oliver Jones, Joe Lovano, Bill Stewart, Maria Schneider, Michel Donato and Lorraine Desmarais. He has also recorded and composed for numerous film soundtracks, most notably the Academy and Grammy Award-nominated soundtrack of Les Triplettes de Belleville. In addition to these collaborations, this versatile young musician is also a member of the Montréal Jazz Saxophone Quartet and co-leads the trio Byproduct. On his latest release Big Sky, the Chet Doxas Quartet reveals an inspired and creative band at the top of their game. A contemporary jazz ensemble with a level of complexity that combines their respect for classic jazz while maintaining their adventurous edge.01 – For Jim – Chey Doxas – clip
Justin Time*EMI
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra Treelines
Treelines
Growing up among some of Canada’s finest musicians – saxophonist Christine Jensen and her sister (and frequent collaborator) Ingrid (trumpet & flugelhorn) were exposed to everything from Chopin to Broadway to Big Bands by their pianist mother. Jensen’s first love was the piano, though when she started studying the saxophone at age 12, Christine quickly grew to love it as she realized that she could create her own voice through that instrument. Now Montréal-based, she is influencing the next generation of composers and players as an adjudicator, clinician, and instructor at McGill University – Christine Jensen is considered “one of the most important Canadian composers of her generation.” In her travels abroad, she has shared her love of music and invaluable experience with young jazz enthusiasts around the world, taking her music to Peru, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey, and Haiti. Christine’s latest work, Treelines, with her 18-piece jazz orchestra, featuring some of Canada’s most progressive improvising musicians, is an homage to Canada’s environment. This unique project has garnered praise for capturing the scope of the Canadian terrain and for it’s timely and important subtext: protecting the unique forests of our magnificent country.01 – Dancing Sunlight – Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra – clip
Cellar Live
Kelly Jefferson Quartet Next Exit
Next Exit
Saxophonist and composer Kelly Jefferson has performed with the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, The National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider, Bill Holman, Ray Anderson, Kenny Werner, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Michel LeGrand, Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, as well as Ray Brown, Sonny Fortune, Renee Rosnes, Johnny Mathis, Russell Malone and Dee Dee Bridgewater, among others. Jefferson has toured extensively in Canada, the U.S., Japan, Europe, Thailand, China and Korea, including a nine-month tour in 2000 as the featured tenor saxophonist with legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He was nominated for Saxophonist of the Year by the National Jazz Awards from 2005 to 2009. Next Exit, is his latest project from The Kelly Jefferson Quartet featuring original compositions that stem from a variety of influences. An active freelance musician, Jefferson performs regularly with groups that include the William Carn Quintet, Manteca, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Time Warp, the Artie Roth Quintet, the Shuffle Demons, Dave Young Quintet, the Chris Tarry Group (2008 JUNO Award Winner, Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year), Denzal Sinclaire and Barry Romberg’s Random Access.01 – Next Exit – Kelly Jefferson Quartet – clip
Justin Time*EMI
Matt Herskowitz Jerusalem Trilogy
Jerusalem Trilogy
A graduate of the renowned Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, pianist, composer, songwriter and arranger, Matt Herskowitz has distinguished himself in several musical genres. He has performed at major festivals around the world, including the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the Rhino Jazz Festival in France, and the Hamburg and Bremen international music festivals in Germany to name a few. Matt’s performance on the soundtrack of the Grammy-nominated film The Triplets of Belleville has earned him much popular and critical acclaim. He performs Bach’s Prelude in C minor in the film, loosely posing as Glenn Gould, and Bach à la Jazz. In addition to his own recordings he has collaborated with many artists and producers, most notably pop diva Laura Fabien and Barry Manilow, who after hearing one of his recordings invited Matt and his trio to join him on his 2007 Christmas release, The Swing Of Christmas, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. His most recent release – Jerusalem Trilogy – features an appealing blend of musical styles a unique blend of progressive jazz, contemporary classical and world music influences creating an intoxicating world at once traditional and thrillingly new.01 – Polonaise Libanaise – Matt Herkowitz – clip
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02 – Mr. Sunshine – Earl MacDonald – clip
01 – Piece de Resistance – Felix Stussi 5 & Ray Anderson – clip
01 – The Great Danes – John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra – clip
01 – The Great Danes – John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra – clip
02 – Arboretum – Owen Howard – clip
TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Death Defying
Earl MacDonald Re: Visions, Works for Jazz Orchestra
Re: Visions, Works for Jazz Orchestra
Earl MacDonald lives jazz, as a performer, composer and educator. Director of jazz studies at the University of Connecticut, the Winnipeg native earned a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance at McGill University and a Master of Music degree at Rutgers, where he apprenticed with Kenny Barron. Earl is dedicated to music education, participating as a clinician, guest conductor and teacher at summer camps, in addition to his teaching at the University of Connecticut. From 1998 to 2000, Earl was the musical director, pianist, and arranger for the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band. In 2002, he won the Sammy Nestico Award for outstanding big band arranging, and has since been selected as a finalist for 2007 BMI / Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Award, and the 2008 ArtEZ Composition Contest in the Netherlands. Earl’s latest CD, Re:Visions – works for jazz orchestra, has been praised by jazz critics. In a review for All About Jazz, Dan Bilawsky asserts that “Re:Visions goes beyond where most big bands go and establishes Earl MacDonald as a major force in the world of jazz composition.”02 – Mr. Sunshine – Earl MacDonald – clip
Effendi*Select
Félix Stüssi 5 & Ray Anderson Hieronymus
Hieronymus
Félix Stüssi grew up in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland and has lived in Montréal since 1998. Self-taught on jazz piano, he later studied with Irène Schweizer, Markus Bischof, Christoph Baumann, Vince Benedetti, Art Lande, Jean-Christophe Cholet and Fred Hersch. In 1996 he won two Best Band and Best Soloist at the Zollikon Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Félix Stüssi & Give Me Five won the prestigious Grand Prix de Jazz GM at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal in 2007. The two first recordings of the quintet, Give Me Five (Outside Music/Unit Records, 2007) and Baiji (Justin Time Rercords/EMI, 2008), were very well received on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2010, Félix Stüssi 5 & Ray Anderson released Hieronymus.01 – Piece de Resistance – Felix Stussi 5 & Ray Anderson – clip
Exquisite
John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra Our First Set
Our First Set
More than 20 years on the Canadian music scene has firmly established John MacLeod as a respected and sought-after arranger/composer/trumpeter. John has scored music for ensembles ranging from string quartet to full symphony orchestra. He wrote arrangements for the acclaimed symphonic tribute to Benny Goodman – featuring renowned Canadian clarinettist, Bob DeAngelis — this program was performed at Carnegie Hall for the 70th Anniversary of BG’s famous 1938 concert. John was commissioned to write several big band arrangements for Oscar Peterson in the late ‘90s and was a featured soloist with the world renowned Boss Brass for over 15 years. John is a frequent guest performer at jazz festivals across North America and currently belongs to the David Braid Quartet as well as the Mike Murley Quintet. He is a founding partner of the Champagne Symphony Orchestra and an educator at both Humber College and the University of Toronto. As a freelance jazz artist, John has worked with international names such as Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Gerry Bergonzi, Buddy Rich and Clark Terry to name just a few.01 – The Great Danes – John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra – clip
Addo
Kirk MacDonald Quartet Songbook Vol.2
Songbook Vol.2
With an established reputation as one of Canada’s leading saxophonists, Kirk MacDonald cut his first record at the age of 13. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, worked with many leading musicians, and performed on over 40 CDs as both leader and sideman. Kirk has performed extensively throughout Canada, and has also performed in the U.S., Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Australia, Korea, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Over 65 performances of his compositions appear on 18 CDs by Kirk and other artists. His most recent activities include the release of Family Suite (2008) on Romhog Records, and JUNO Award-nominated Songbook Vol. 1 (2009) – a collection of his compositions for jazz quartet, on Addo Records. He followed up the success of Vol. 1 with Songbook Vol. 2 in 2010. Kirk also leads the Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra, a 19-piece all-star ensemble dedicated to performing his original compositions and featuring arrangements by leading Canadian and U.S. writers. Kirk has been an educator for over 20 years for leading jazz studies programs at University of Toronto, McGill University, and Humber College where he teaches improvisation, ensembles and saxophone in the Music Degree Program and the Community Music School.01 – The Great Danes – John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra – clip
Brooklyn Jazz Underground*BJUR
Owen Howard Drum Lore
Drum Lore
Drummer/Composer Owen Howard began studying drums at the age of 15. In 1988 Owen received a study grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, which enabled him to move to New York to complete his BFA in Jazz from The New School. It was then that Owen began to make his mark in New York. For the past 18 years Owen has enjoyed much success leading his own bands. He currently has five CDs to his credit. Pentagon and Sojourn (Koch Jazz), Days Before and After and Time Cycles (Fresh Sound New Talent), and now Drum Lore (released Aug 2010, on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records). In addition to his role as a leader, Owen has performed or recorded as a sideman with such artists as Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Tom Harrell, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Dave Liebman, George Garzone, Dave Holland, Eddie Henderson, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton and many others. Owen has appeared on over 40 releases to date and has toured extensively throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada as both a leader and as a freelance artist, in a wide variety of musical contexts.02 – Arboretum – Owen Howard – clip
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06 – Spirit Dance – David Braid and Canadian Brass – clip
04 – Sept 16th, 2005 – Fond of Tigers – clip
01 – Krasavaska Ruchenitsa – Jayme Stone – clip
02 – Ours Truly – The Creaking Tree String Quartet – clip
05 – Mamaya – The Souljazz Orchestra – clip
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Opening Day*Universal
David Braid & Canadian Brass Spirit Dance
Spirit Dance
Touted as one of Canada’s most gifted young pianists and composers, David Braid is among a new generation of Canadian artists making his mark on international stages. Braid has performed across Western Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australiia, Brazil, the U.S. and Canada. He has been called “A jazz genius to call our own,” by Maclean’s Magazine. Recently awarded 2009 Jazz Pianist of the Year in Canada, Braid is also a recipient of SOCAN Composer of the Year (2007), recognizing his output of over 70 works including compositions for solo piano, jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras. He is a JUNO Award winner, multi-National Jazz Award winner and a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts’ JazzID Award. Braid has produced seven recordings, garnering four JUNO Award nominations with five ensembles, and recently released with The Canadian Brass his eighth album, Spirit Dance.06 – Spirit Dance – David Braid and Canadian Brass – clip
Drip Audio*Fontana North
Fond of Tigers Continent & Western
Continent & Western
Called “post-everything,” Fond of Tigers have been developing their hypnotic and intense music since 2003. Since its origins as a solo project of guitarist Stephen Lyons, the group has expanded to include its signature double-drumkit attack and processed violin and trumpet textures along with the artfully layered hooks. Featuring seven of Vancouver’s leading creative musicians, Fond of Tigers play a layered, nuanced music that explores musical possibilities ranging from the smallest gesture of extended technique, to the full avant-rock bombast possible with a wild, double-drumkit-led septet. The group has shared stages with Tortoise, Deerhoof, the Grande Mothers, Shad, Mats Gustafsson, Sandro Perri, Chad vanGaalen, and others. Notoriously hard to categorize, Fond of Tigers continue to evolve and explore a musical territory in the outlands of avant-rock in their latest release, Continent & Western.04 – Sept 16th, 2005 – Fond of Tigers – clip
Independent*Outside
Jayme Stone Room of Wonders
Room of Wonders
Two-time, JUNO Award-winning banjoist Jayme Stone’s brand new album, Room of Wonders, is inspired by folk dances from Norway, Sweden, Brazil, Bulgaria, Italy and North America. Following the international breakout success of Africa to Appalachia, the album features Grammy-nominated fiddle pioneer Casey Driessen, special guest nyckelharpa craftsman Olov Johansson, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte and many more. “JUNO Award-winning Stone, the Yo-Yo Ma of the banjo, celebrates his new album Room of Wonders, an inquiring, sublime work inspired by folk dances the world over,” - The Globe and Mail. “The music is as spirited as its creator. It’s hard to imagine a room large enough to contain the talent that went into its making, or the varied sounds it surveys” – Georgia Straight. “The Room of Wonders of the title perhaps refers to the inside of his head – Stone’s rich, unfettered imagination – as he pursues music inspired by folk dances from around the world” – Toronto Star. “Once again, Stone makes you forget the instrument’s hillbilly twang: this is banjo like you’ve never heard it before” – Ottawa Citizen.01 – Krasavaska Ruchenitsa – Jayme Stone – clip
Independent*Outside
The Creaking Tree String Quartet Sundogs
Sundogs
String-band music has long been a staple of Americana. While the four members of Toronto’s Creaking Tree String Quartet pay homage to that tradition, they refuse to be bound by it. Instead, the technically dazzling outfit uses fingerboards to leap stylistic boundaries and fuse intricate styles. The result is a smartly intellectual and yet deeply moving sound that’s a true Canadian original: jazz forms sliding over a rootsy bluegrass base, with flashes of chamber music, reverence and avant-garde experimentation, heard in their latest release, SUNDOGS. The group’s previous, their third album The Soundtrack, was produced by Grammy winner and Nashville veteran Bill VornDick and was nominated for a 2009 JUNO Award, and won two Canadian Folk Music Awards, for Best Instrumentalists, and Pushing The Boundaries.02 – Ours Truly – The Creaking Tree String Quartet – clip
Strut*RED
The Souljazz Orchestra Rising Sun
Rising Sun
Since their creation in Ottawa, ON, back in 2002, The Souljazz Orchestra have become one of the most potent bands in their field. Drawing on the rough, raw grooves of the ‘60s and ‘70s and effortlessly fusing soul, jazz, afro and latin rhythms within their music, the group have moved forward the blueprint of Fela, Fania and the funk in entirely new ways, while keeping the vital analogue grit intact. As a live unit, years of relentless touring have formed the band into an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide. Having turned heads with two fine records on the Toronto-based Do Right! label, Freedom No Go Die (2006, featuring their breakthrough single “Mista President”) and Manifesto (2008), The Souljazz Orchestra have recently released the hotly anticipated Rising Sun album on London-based Strut Records. Drawing on a wider canvas of styles than ever before, touching on spiritual jazz, deep African rhythms, and cinematic soundscapes, The Orchestra take their sound to new heights with stunning musicianship and virtuoso arrangements throughout. Long-time fan Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio One) has already declared this album to be their best yet.05 – Mamaya – The Souljazz Orchestra – clip
Back to Top
01 – Cauchemar de course – BERNARD ADAMUS – clip
01 – Reste – Daniel Belanger – clip
06 – Mille apres mille – Fred Pellerin – clip
11 – 28 jours – Karkwa – clip
05 – Guess What_ (feat Kim Ho) – Radio Radio – clip
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Grosse Boîte*Sélect
Bernard Adamus Brun
Brun
Arrivé à Montréal via la Pologne à l’âge de 3 ans, le moins qu’on puisse dire, c’est que Bernard Adamus s’est parfaitement intégré à sa ville d’adoption. Grandement influencé par le blues, il se produit d’abord en faisant des reprises de cette musique touchante et vraie, pour ensuite prendre ce touchant et ce vrai, et les inscrire dans ses propres textes, en français. C’est ainsi que nait son premier projet, le Révérend, dont Bernard Adamus se réappropriera l’identité avec la sortie de son album “Brun”, au printemps 2009. Salué par la critique, Bernard Adamus se voit aussi récompensé par le Festival de la Chanson Petite-Vallée, qui lui remet 6 de ses 10 prix. Puis, en octobre 2009, c’est au tour de la SOCAN de lui remettre le Prix Echo de la chanson pour sa pièce “La question à 100 piasses”. Plus récemment, il a aussi remporté le Prix de la relève Archambault en plus de cumuler 7 nominations au Gala GAMIQ 2010 ainsi que 2 nominations à l’ADISQ 2010 (Révélation de l’année, Album Folk de l’année).01 – Cauchemar de course – BERNARD ADAMUS – clip
Audiogram*Sélect
Daniel Bélanger Nous
Nous
Just two years after the very earthy L’échec du matériel (2007) – an album that offered a lucid portrait of our time and its materialistic society, prolific singer-songwriter Daniel Bélanger then took us to another level with Nous, a happy, romantic flight that felt like an ultra-groovy stroll for two. The album’s single “Reste” has since been a major fix in Québec’s radio airplay, surely on its way to the No. 1 spot. These last few months have also been bubbling with intensity for Bélanger, who has been composing the musical score to René-Richard Cyr’s adaptation of Michel Tremblay’s classic play Les Belles-soeurs, rechristened simply Belles-soeurs. A huge hit, the play will tour the province until 2013. Needless too say, Daniel Bélanger always finds a way to surprise us.01 – Reste – Daniel Belanger – clip
Disques Tempête*DEP
Fred Pellerin Silence
Silence
Diplômé en littérature à l’Université du Québec, c’est par le conte que Fred s’est fait connaître sur les nombreuses scènes québécoises et européennes. Plus de 100 000 spectateurs pour son dernier spectacle “L’Arracheuse de temps” qui sera à l’affiche jusqu’à l’automne 2011. Plusieurs projets artistiques, dont les spectacles, les livres, les livres-CD, les DVD des ses spectacles ainsi que l’écriture du scénario du film Babine l’amèneront vers la chanson. Premier projet musical, la sortie de l’album Fred et Nicolas Pellerin, réalisé avec son frère en 2008 avec lequel ils ont remporté un Félix pour l’album traditionnel de l’année. “Silence” album solo qui verra le jour en novembre 2009 sera un incontournable du Québec, disque Platine après seulement 1 mois de la mise en marché. Jusqu’à ce jour plus de 120 000 albums vendus. Un exploit gigantesque à la hauteur de cet artiste rare qui continue de nous faire croire que l’humain est encore bon!06 – Mille apres mille – Fred Pellerin – clip
Audiogram*Sélect
Karkwa Les chemins de verre
Les chemins de verre
Karkwa formed in 1998 and was noticed when the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse (a France–Québec youth exchange organization), invited them to perform at the cultural expo in Paris. It wasn’t until 2001 when Karkwa truly stepped onto the scene, making it to the final round at the 7th Annual Francouvertes Music Festival. Karkwa confirmed its marquee role in the world of Québec rock with their first album Le pensionnat des établis released in 2003, followed by the launch of Les tremblements s’immobilisent (2005). In April 2008, singer/guitarist Louis-Jean Cormier, drummer Stéphane Bergeron, keyboardist François Lafontaine, bassist Martin Lamontagne and percussionist/singer Julien Sagot released Le volume du vent, their landmark third album. The two years following the release of their third album were hectic, with hundreds of performances in Canada, France, Switzerland, United States and Lebanon. Their fourth album is based on spontaneous impulses of creativity and was put together without pre-production for a more organic and impressionist sound. In 2010, Karkwa won the prestigious Polaris Music Prize as well as their 10th Félix (Quebéc’s music award recognition) for Best Alternative Album of the Year.11 – 28 jours – Karkwa – clip
Bonsound* Sélect
Radio Radio Belmundo Regal
Belmundo Regal
Radio Radio is a Montréal-based French-Acadian electro hip hop trio. Known for their unique rapping and their catchy melodies, they have won the public over with their highly accessible music, outrageous live performances and original videos. Along with invitations to perform at major international events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the Canada Day show at Trafalgar Square in London, England, SXSW, Les Eurockéennes de Belfort in France, The Festival International de Louisiane, Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, the Festival d’été de Québec (where they won the Miroir Award for Best urban/hip hop show) the CMJ, The Halifax Pop Explosion, Pop Montréal etc… Radio Radio was also short-listed for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize for their album Belmundo Regal, which recently won a Felix Award for Sound Recording and Mix of the Year at the 2010 edition of L’Autre Gala de l’ADISQ and a Nova Scotia Music Award for Francophone Artist / Group Recording of the Year.05 – Guess What_ (feat Kim Ho) – Radio Radio – clip
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01 – Mon t-shirt – Gregg LeRock – clip
01 – The Little Blue Doggy – Michelle Campagne – clip
01 – Proud Like A Mountan – Peter Lenton and Friends! – clip
05 – Vowels – The Kerplunks – clip
08 – Poopie Diaper – The Monkey Bunch – clip
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Grafton
Gregg LeRock Encore
Encore
Gregg LeRock has combined his three loves – teaching French, writing songs and performing for kids – into a single career. French teachers love Gregg’s songs because they are curriculum-related; kids love them because, in their words, “They rock!.” In addition to releasing three CDs (Vive LeRock, OUI! and Encore) and performing for hundreds of thousands of students, Gregg has penned dozens of songs for Canada’s top educational publishers; his songs are featured in numerous French textbooks and are sung in classrooms from coast to coast. In his own words: “I write songs that make French easy to learn – and sing - in various musical genres.” Gregg’s high-energy concerts feature pop, reggae, hip-hop, folk, blues and Cajun styles, guaranteed to get every kid shakin’ and singin’ … all in French! “My philosophy,” says Gregg, “is that the best way to teach kids is to teach them without them knowing they’re being taught and to make French ‘cool.’ And being able to do this while playing guitar behind your head always helps!.”01 – Mon t-shirt – Gregg LeRock – clip
The Secret Mountain*Universal
Michelle Campagne The Little Blue Doggy
The Little Blue Doggy
Michelle Campagne has been writing music and performing live for the past 20 years. As a founding member of the bilingual folk-roots group Hart-Rouge, she has produced a remarkably diverse discography that includes Inconditionnel, which dominated the Québec pop radio charts in the early ‘90s; a gospel album entitled Bonsoir Québec featuring a 30-person choir from Kentucky; and the critically-acclaimed more recent recording, Beaupré’s Home, released in the U.S. on the prestigious indie label Red House Records. She has performed in many countries and throughout the continent, most notably at the Newport Folk Festival and California’s Strawberry Festival. Michelle Campagne has also written songs for kids throughout her career including several dozen for her sister Carmen, one of French-Canada’s best-known singers for children. And as a performer, she has been involved in various concept family albums such as Un trésor dans mon jardin, written by legendary Québecois poet-songwriter Gilles Vigneault, and the world music lullaby project Dream songs night songs, a recent winner of the prestigious Parents’ Choice Gold Award in the U.S.01 – The Little Blue Doggy – Michelle Campagne – clip
Two Heartbeats
Peter Lenton Proud Like a Mountain
Proud Like a Mountain
Guitar-slinger / songwriter Peter Lenton engages all ages with his catchy blend of bluesy folk and interactive, heartfelt songs, with gentle messages like: caring for the environment, peace-building and celebrating local/global communities. He has been winning awards for years, both in the music industry and educational communities. Most recently, his “Proud Like a Mountain” song won the 2010 Billboard International Songwriting Award – Americana/Folk category! And his Proud Like a Mountain album was nominated for a 2010 Western Canadian Music Award, as one of the Top 5 recordings for children. Peter’s mischievous mix of storytelling, high-energy singing, and skillful guitar playing make his concert experiences and recordings a refreshing treat for all ages! Audiences lead / write songs, play percussion instruments, and wear wacky wildlife costumes! Peter taps music to fill concert halls, facilitate workshops and deliver musical keynotes all across Canada and beyond in places like Morocco, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia, proving that music truly is the universal language. He has shared stages with David Suzuki, Jane Goodall and Stephen Lewis…and many more at Folk and Children’s Festivals all across Canada.01 – Proud Like A Mountan – Peter Lenton and Friends! – clip
Independent*Pacific Music/Warner
The Kerplunks Number 3
Number 3
The Kerplunks are award-winning children’s entertainers bringing high-energy, colourful performances to the stage – and outfits to match! As a group they are committed to educating through musical creativity while presenting a wide variety of upbeat lyrics and musical styles. When they start playing, kids are soon dancing and following along with the actions. Even parents can’t resist getting up out of their seats and joining along in the actions! Fronted by the dynamic female duo of Tina Jones and Dinah D and backed up by their talented male counterparts Aaron Cadwaladr and Phil Wipper, The Kerplunks have played some of Canada’s best festivals, including the Vancouver International Children’s Festival and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. They have also performed their award-winning music in theatres and throughout BC public schools garnering rave reviews along the way. With multiple award wins and nominations (including two consecutive JUNO Award nominations), The Kerplunks have gained a high level of success in a short period of time. This standout children’s band, like their little fans, is getting bigger every day.05 – Vowels – The Kerplunks – clip
Tri-Pop*Fire The Imagination
The Monkey Bunch Power to the Little People
Power to the Little People
The Monkey Bunch are here to change the way people think of children’s music! Playing with a variety of musical stylings they engage kids with musicality and humour, while imparting fun but important educational messages about the environment. This high-energy music has children dancing, rushing the stage and going BANANAS! Shoshana Sperling is a Toronto writer/performer who has given us character-rich plays, television and live comedic monologues. Maury LaFoy is a musician/songwriter/producer who has played with Jann Arden, K-OS, Sarah Harmer, Ron Sexsmith and Olivia Newton-John. A hero doesn’t need a cape. Just the passion and confidence to fight the real fights. We, at Monkey Bunch Headquarters, are fighting the battle at festivals, the stage and the Internet. For that is where our soldiers reside. Then they, in turn, will take the message out to the streets, the grocery stores, the fields, the oceans, the sandboxes, the schools and one day… the voting booths! Power to the Little People!08 – Poopie Diaper – The Monkey Bunch – clip
Back to Top
09 – Suite for clarinet, violin and piano – Amici Ensemble – clip
04 – Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 – Presto_ Passionato (original Finale) – Anton Kuetri – clip
01 – PIano Trio in D major (_Ghost_) – Gryphon Trio – clip
01 – Etude #01 In A Minor, ‘Triple Etude, After Chopin’ – Marc-Andre Hamelin – clip
01 – Suite #1 in G Major BWV 1007 – Winona Zelenka – clip
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
ATMA*Naxos
Amici Ensemble Armenian Chamber Music
Armenian Chamber Music
The Amici Chamber Ensemble has been at the forefront of the Canadian chamber music scene for the past two decades. Founding members, clarinetist Joaquin Valdepeñas, cellist David Hetherington and recent addition, pianist Serouj Kradjian invite some of the finest musicians to join them in eclectic programming and projects, at the same time celebrating friendship through music; hence the name Amici. Some of the many renowned artists who have performed with Amici in their renowned concert series at the Glenn Gould Studio are James Ehnes, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Russell Braun, Michael Schade, Cho-Liang Lin, Jaime Laredo, André Laplante and James Sommerville. Amici Chamber Ensemble has commissioned and premiered over 20 works by Canadian composers, among them Allan Gordon Bell, Chan Ka Nin, Brian Cherney, Malcolm Forsyth, Jacques Hétu, Alexina Louie and Jeffrey Ryan. Alongside numerous broadcasts of their concerts on national radio, Amici recordings have placed them firmly among the world’s best chamber ensembles and garnered a JUNO Award for Best Classical Composition in 1994 for “Among Friends”, and multiple JUNO Award nominations. Two recordings of Olivier Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” highlight their critically acclaimed discography.09 – Suite for clarinet, violin and piano – Amici Ensemble – clip
DOREMI*Allegro
Anton Kuerti Anton Kuerti Schumann
Anton Kuerti Schumann
Anton Kuerti has performed in recital and with leading orchestras in 41 countries. In Canada he has appeared in 150 communities, and played with every professional orchestra, including 41 concerts with the Toronto Symphony. Kuerti has recorded all the Beethoven concertos and sonatas, the Brahms and Schumann concertos, and all the Schubert sonatas, among many other releases. A critic for Fanfare wrote simply that “Kuerti is the best pianist currently playing;” CD Review (London) called him “one of the truly great pianists of this century;” Fono Forum wrote “Anton Kuerti is one of the greatest pianists of our time,” while Gramophone called him “one of the leading Schumann pianists of our time.” Kuerti won the prestigious Leventritt Award when he was still a student. Other awards and honours include Officer of the Order of Canada, the Banff Centre National Arts Award, the Schumann Prize of the Schumann Gesellschaft, and the Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award.04 – Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 – Presto_ Passionato (original Finale) – Anton Kuetri – clip
Analekta* Select
Gryphon Trio Beethoven : Piano Trios Op. 70 No. 1, Ghost & No. 2: Op 11
Beethoven : Piano Trios Op. 70 No. 1, Ghost & No. 2: Op 11
Formed in 1993, the Gryphon Trio continues to delight audiences around the globe with their highly refined and dynamic performances. Based in Toronto, the Trio tours regularly throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Their celebrated recordings include works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Lalo and Shostakovich. As Canada’s preeminent ensemble, the Trio continues to be actively involved in teaching and nurturing future generations of both classical musicians and audiences. In addition to master classes at schools and universities across North America, the Gryphon Trio members are artists-in-residence at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, where Dr. Parker is the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance and violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon is an Assistant Professor.01 – PIano Trio in D major (_Ghost_) – Gryphon Trio – clip
Hyperion*SRI
Marc-André Hamelin Marc-André Hamelin- Études
Marc-André Hamelin- Études
Marc-André Hamelin (piano) is “One of the most adventurous and certainly the most courageous pianists of recent times” – International Piano Quarterly. French-Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin’s flourishing international career sees him appearing throughout North America, Europe, Australasia and the Far East. He made his name playing rare and adventurous repertoire, and now his output also embraces music from the classical and romantic periods. Highlights of his recent and forthcoming concerto engagements include performances of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, Brahms’ 2nd and Rachmaninov’s 3rd. Marc-André Hamelin appears regularly in the International Piano Series at London’s South Bank Centre and the London Pianoforte Series at Wigmore Hall. In 2007/08 season he gave his Haydn, Chopin, Debussy programme at the Lincoln Center, New York; the Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow; and Wigmore Hall, London; and in the recital series at Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.01 – Etude #01 In A Minor, ‘Triple Etude, After Chopin’ – Marc-Andre Hamelin – clip
Marquis
Winona Zelenka Bach : Six Suites for Solo Cello
Bach : Six Suites for Solo Cello
Renowned for her gorgeous, invigorating tone, emotional vibrancy and superb control, Winona Zelenka is celebrated as one of Canada’s finest cellists. As a soloist and principal cellist, Winona has performed with numerous orchestras, conductors and ensembles such as the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Sinfonietta, the Zuckerman Chamber Players and the Huronia Sinfonietta. She has worked with the legendary cellist Janos Starker and has had various works composed specifically for her by noted composers. Winona has the privilege of regularly collaborating with other critically acclaimed musicians and has also been the cello soloist of such notable film scores as Atom Egoyan’s Adoration, István Szabó’s Being Julia and the IMAX film Under The Sea. Her newest recording of the complete Bach Suites for Solo Cello has received international acclaim and was recorded on the “Starker Guarnerius” cello, dated 1707.01 – Suite #1 in G Major BWV 1007 – Winona Zelenka – clip
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01 – Summa – Angele Dubeau & La Pieta – Arvo Part Portrai – clip
03 – FELIX MENDELSSOHN_ Violin Concerto in E minor op.64 – James Ehnes – clip
01-WAM~1 – clip
01-FRA~1 – clip
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE OR SOLOIST(S) WITH LARGE ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT
Analekta* Select
Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà Avro Pärt : Portrait
Avro Pärt : Portrait
One of Canada’s most prominent virtuoso violinists, Angèle Dubeau has performed on the world’s greatest stages in a spectacular career that has spanned more than 30 years and across 30 countries. While her talent, virtuosity and musicality have been recognized with many awards, audiences have adopted her above all for her captivating performances, generosity and unparalleled communications skills. Dubeau is the only Canadian classical musician to have achieved two gold records for sales of 50,000 copies of a classical recording. Over her career, she has sold more than 400,000 discs. Angèle Dubeau has performed the great concertos of the repertoire as a guest soloist with numerous international orchestras. She founded La Pietà in 1997, an all-female string ensemble that varies in size, featuring some Canada’s best musicians.01 – Summa – Angele Dubeau & La Pieta – Arvo Part Portrai – clip
Onyx*SRI
James Ehnes James Ehnes Plays Mendelssohn
James Ehnes Plays Mendelssohn
Grammy, Gramophone and six-time JUNO Award-winning violinist James Ehnes is widely considered one of the most dynamic and exciting performers in classical music. He has performed in more than 30 countries on five continents, appearing with many of the world’s most well-known orchestras and conductors. This recording of Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto” and “Octet (Onyx)” adds to his already extensive discography of over 25 recordings. James has been hailed “the Jascha Heifetz of our day” (The Globe and Mail) and was recently named to the Order of Canada.03 – FELIX MENDELSSOHN_ Violin Concerto in E minor op.64 – James Ehnes – clip
ATMA*Naxos
Janina Fialkowska and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Bramwell Tovey Chopin Piano Concertos
Chopin Piano Concertos
Janina Fialkowska is a regular guest soloist with the world’s most prestigious orchestras in North America, Europe and Asia. She has worked with such conductors as Charles Dutoit, Bernard Haitink, Zubin Metha, Sir Georg Solti, Leonard Slatkin, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and many others. She has recorded all three Liszt concertos, as well as the Paderewski, Moszkowski and Chopin piano concertos, and a CD devoted to the music of Karol Szymanowski. Fialkowska was the founder of the award-winning “Piano Six” project and its expanded successor “Piano Plus,” where in a group of internationally renowned Canadian musicians devote a period of time each year to giving recitals and master-classes in far-flung communities of Canada. In 2002, her career was brought to a dramatic halt by the discovery of a tumour in her left arm. After the successful removal of the cancer and a groundbreaking muscle-transfer procedure, she resumed her career in January 2004. Janina Fialkowska is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has been awarded an honourary doctorate from Acadia University. The latest season saw her touring three continents with engagements in Germany, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, the U.S., Canada and Japan.
Ancalagon*Allegro
Lara St. John Mozart/Scott and Lara St. John/The Knights
Mozart/Scott and Lara St. John/The Knights
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by The New York Times. The Los Angeles Times has published, “St. John brings to the stage personal charisma, an unflagging musical imagination and genuine passion.” Lara has performed with orchestras on five continents and in recital around the world. She formed her own record label, Ancalagon Records in 1999, and has recorded with orchestras including the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. Her release Bach: The Six Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo in 2007 was the best-selling double-album of the year on iTunes and her recording featuring two world premiere 21st century concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra had Gramophone praising: “It’s the sort of work that should get audiences running, not walking, back to concert halls…” Lara has been featured in People and US News and World Report, on CNN’s Showbiz Today, and NPR’s All Things Considered, Fox News, CBC, BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and on a Bravo! Special: Live At the Rehearsal Hall.01-WAM~1 – clip
ATMA*Naxos
Les Violons du Roy under Bernard Labadie Bonbons
Bonbons
The chamber orchestra Les Violons du Roy borrows its name from the renowned string orchestra of the court of the French kings. The group, which has a core membership of 15 players, was brought together in 1984 by music director Bernard Labadie and specializes in the vast repertoire of music for chamber orchestra, performed in the stylistic manner most appropriate to each era. Since 2001, under the leadership of first guest conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni, the orchestra has begun to explore 19th and 20th century repertoire in depth. A pillar of the musical scene in Québec City, and well known throughout Canada and U.S., Les Violons du Roy has, since 1988, made over a hundred concert appearances in Germany, England, Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, Spain, France, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, and the Netherlands. The 18 recordings made by Les Violons du Roy have been internationally acclaimed by critics. Since 2004, the association with the ATMA label has led to four CDs, including Water Music, winner of a Felix Award; and a JUNO Award for Piazzolla.01-FRA~1 – clip
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01 – Chacona – Ensemble Caprice – clip
01 – Tchaikovky – My Only Beloved Mathilde I Claim – Gerald Finley – clip
02 – Les Illuminations, Op 18 – Karina Gauvin, Les Violons Du Roy, Jean-Marie Zeitouni – clip
11-MEA~1 – clip
01 – Ave verum corpus – Musica Intima – clip
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Analekta* Sélect
Ensemble Caprice Salsa baroque
Salsa baroque
Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière, Ensemble Caprice is renowned for its innovative interpretations of baroque music. Originally formed in Germany in 1989, the ensemble is now well established in Montréal. Since its inception, Ensemble Caprice has received national and international acclaim for their performances of early music. The ensemble continues to give concerts in Europe, and is regularly invited to participate in such early music festivals as those in Bruges in Belgium, Utrecht in The Netherlands, and in Germany the Händel Festival in Halle and the Recorder Festival in Stockstadt. In May of 2009 the Ensemble performed at the Internationale Händel-Festspiele in Göttingen, and has also toured in Israel and Taiwan. Subsequent to its acclaimed U.S. debut at the 2005 Boston Early Music Festival concert series, Ensemble Caprice has continued to tour across North America. In November 2009 The New York Times featured a lengthy article praising them as “imaginative, even powerful, and the playing is top-flight.”01 – Chacona – Ensemble Caprice – clip
Hyperion*SRI
Gerald Finley Great Operatic Arias
Great Operatic Arias
This Canadian baritone has become one of the leading singers and dramatic interpreters of his generation, with award-winning performances and recordings on CD and DVD with major labels and performing at the world’s major opera and concert venues in a wide variety of repertoire. His recent awards include Best Solo Vocal Recording 2009 for Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” and other Heine settings, and for his disc of Songs by Samuel Barber in 2008, both at the Classic FM Gramophone Awards. This follows the Editor’s Choice Award at the 2006 Classic FM Gramophone Awards. His active relationship with leading conductors including Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Sir Simon Rattle, Bernard Haitink, Alan Gilbert and Antonio Pappano has been part of a flourishing career.01 – Tchaikovky – My Only Beloved Mathilde I Claim – Gerald Finley – clip
ATMA*Naxos
Karina Gauvin Britten- Les Illuminations
Britten- Les Illuminations
Canada’s superstar soprano Karina Gauvin has impressed audiences and critics the world over with her luscious timbre, profound musicality and wide vocal range. She has sung with many major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Toronto Symphony, as well as period instrument groups like Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Musica Antiqua Köln, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, and Accademia Bizantina. On the operatic or concert stage, she has performed with conductors as diverse as Charles Dutoit, Kent Nagano, Semyon Bichkov, Roger Norrington, Christopher Hogwood, Alan Curtis, Helmuth Rilling, Bernard Labadie and Christophe Rousset. Also active as a recitalist, she has collaborated with several chamber music ensembles and with pianists Marc-André Hamelin, Michael McMahon and Roger Vignoles. A prolific recording artist, Karina Gauvin has received multiple JUNO Award nominations, and twice nominated for a Grammy over the past decade. She won the JUNO Award in 2001 and 2003 with Handel’s “Silete Venti / Apollo e Daphne” and Mozart’s “Requiem” with Les Violons du Roy, respectively.02 – Les Illuminations, Op 18 – Karina Gauvin, Les Violons Du Roy, Jean-Marie Zeitouni – clip
Deutsche Grammophon*Universal
Measha Brueggergosman Night and Dreams
Night and Dreams
The recipient of the prestigious Canada Council and Chalmers Performing Arts grants, Measha Brueggergosman has been twice nominated for JUNO Awards and won the 2008 JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral Performance for Surprise, recorded with Deutsche Grammophon, with whom she has an exclusive contract.11-MEA~1 – clip
ATMA*Naxos
musica intima Into Light
Into Light
Internationally renowned for their warm and engaging stage presence and unique perspective on ensemble singing, musica intima has earned a reputation as Canada’s most exciting vocal ensemble. But what makes musica intima truly unique is that they rehearse and perform without a conductor. In rehearsal they exchange ideas freely while exploring their own musical creativity. In performance, they engage the audience with a spontaneity and freshness all their own. Founded in 1992, musica intima has become an integral part of Vancouver’s cultural fabric. The ensemble regularly collaborates with local organizations, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver New Music, Music in the Morning, Vancouver Pro Musica, and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts as artists in residence at the Telus Studio Theatre. A distinctly Canadian ensemble, musica intima regularly commissions and premieres works by Canada’s leading composers, including José Evangelista, Peter Hannan, Jocelyn Morlock, Jordan Nobles, and Jeffrey Ryan. In 2009 musica intima was voted Best Local Classical Vocal Ensemble in Georgia Straight’s Best of Vancouver Awards. musica intima won top honours at the biennial CBC Choral Competition in 1994, 1996 and 1998.01 – Ave verum corpus – Musica Intima – clip
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16 – Last Dance – Last Dance – clip
07 – Exaudi – Musica Intima – clip
07 – Piano Concerto – Larysa Kuzmenko – clip
01-QUO~1 – clip
01 – Duo for Violin and Piano – Duo Concertante – clip
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
Centrediscs*CMC
Clark Ross Last Dance, PIANO ATLANTICA
Last Dance, PIANO ATLANTICA
Clark Winslow Ross is a Venezuelan-born Canadian composer whose works have been performed in England, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the U.S. and across Canada. Guitarist Daniel Bolshoy has performed Ross’ “McGillicuddy’s Rant” more than 70 times in North America and elsewhere, and released a CD of the same name in 2008; it’s also featured in a 2010 CD-release by Canadian guitarist Sylvie Proulx. Ross’ “Last Dance” was released in Spring 2010 on a Centrediscs CD by pianist Barbara Pritchard called Piano Atlantica. A forthcoming CD by pianist Kristina Szutor, Après Scarlatti, will include two newly-composed Ross works. Clark Ross is the founder and Artistic Director of the annual Newfound Music Festival, and was a founding member and past president of Toronto-based Continuum Contemporary Music. He won Young Composer Awards in national competitions by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and has received numerous commission grants from the CBC, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.16 – Last Dance – Last Dance – clip
ATMA*Naxos
Jocelyn Morlock Exaudi, INTO LIGHT
Exaudi, INTO LIGHT
“One of Canada’s most astonishing musical exports” – Fanfare: the Magazine for Serious Record Collectors. Morlock’s international career was launched at the 1999 at the International Society for Contemporary Music’s World Music Days with Romanian performances of her quartet, Bird in the Tangled Sky. Since then, she has become the composer of record for significant music competitions, including the 2008 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition and the 2005 Montréal International Music Competition, for which she wrote “Amore,” a tour de force vocal work that has gone on to receive more than 50 performances and numerous radio broadcasts. New CD releases for 2010 featuring Morlock’s work include musica intima’s Into Light, (nominated for two 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards: Classical Album of the Year, and Classical Composition of the Year for Morlock’s “Exaudi”), Fringe Percussion’s eponymous debut album (nominated for a 2010 Western Canadian Music Award), pianist Rachel Iwaasa’s “Cosmphony,” and the Canadian Chamber Choir’s In Good Company. Other notable, recent releases include Tiresias Duo’s Delicate Fires (nominated for a 2008 Western Canadian Music Award), Trio Verlaine’s Fin de Siècle and the Canadian Music Centre’s So You Want To Write A Fugue (“the most exciting disc of new Canadian music in years” – Toronto Star).07 – Exaudi – Musica Intima – clip
Centrediscs*CMC
Larysa Kuzmenko Piano Concerto, 3 CONCERTI
Piano Concerto, 3 CONCERTI
Larysa Kuzmenko is a Toronto-based composer and pianist. Her music has been performed and broadcast throughout the world . Her works have been published by Boosey and Hawkes, Plangere, and Frederick Harris, and have been recorded on CD by many outstanding artists. Her work for solo piano, In Memoriam to the Victims of Chornobyl, has become quite popular with pianists. This work has just recently been published by Plangere and was recorded on CD by Christina Petrowska Quilico. She has appeared as a pianist in several countries, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the St. Lawrence Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, and Massey Hall, as well as several other venues throughout Canada. She is currently on staff at both the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, where she teaches piano, harmony, and composition.07 – Piano Concerto – Larysa Kuzmenko – clip
ECM*Universal
Peter-Anthony Togni Quomodo Sedet Sola Civita (How doth the city sit solitary), LEMENTATIO JEREMIAE
Quomodo Sedet Sola Civita (How doth the city sit solitary), LEMENTATIO JEREMIAE
Since 1989, Peter-Anthony Togni has received a steady stream of commissions for choral music, string orchestra, chamber music, concertos, film scores and solo organ and piano works. As a solo performing organist he has toured Canada and Europe; and with his trio Sanctuary, he’s presented new works on every occasion. Performances include St. Bartholomew’s in New York, St. John Smith Square in London, St. Séverin in Paris, the Dom Cathedral in Riga, Latvia, the Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai, China.01-QUO~1 – clip
Centrediscs*CMC
R. Murray Schafer Duo For Violin And Piano, WILD BIRD
Duo For Violin And Piano, WILD BIRD
R. Murray Schafer, one of Canada’s pre-eminent composers who has won national and international acclaim for his achievement not only as a composer but also as an educator, environmentalist, literary scholar, visual artist and provocateur. The richness and depth of works such as Loving (1965), Lustro (1972), Music for Wilderness Lake (1979), Flute Concerto (1984), THE World Soundscape Project, and the 12-part work for music theatre, Patria, illustrates the wide range of his artistic interests. Schafer’s string quartets are among his most significant works. His diversity belies generalizations of style; his work could be described as a synthesis of 20th-century avant-garde techniques with the 19th-century romantic spirit. Schafer holds honourary doctorates from universities in Canada, France and Argentina.01 – Duo for Violin and Piano – Duo Concertante – clip
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02 – The Riot Song – D-Sisive – clip
04 Over – clip
05 – The BBQ feat. Rah Digga And Rage – Eternia And Moss – clip
06 – Out for Treats – Ghettosocks – clip
02 – Rose Garden – Shad – clip
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
URBNET* Fontana North
D-Sisive Vaudeville
Vaudeville
D-Sisive is a one-man music machine cruising to the hum of his own engine. After last year’s triumphant return to the hip-hop limelight with both his Polaris Prize nominated gem Let The Children Die, and his second classic full length of 2009, the acclaimed Jonestown, one would think the accomplished Toronto MC would be content to rest on his ever-expanding laurels. Not D-Sisive. The enigmatic one is back – and this time taking things to an entirely new level with the epic Vaudeville. Produced in tandem with Andrew ‘Fresh Kils’ Kilgour and featuring a surprise cameo from legendary Canadian songsmith, Ron Sexsmith, Vaudeville is filled with incredible hip hop tracks, smoke and mirror gags mixed with punch lines, and intense stories. An album that showcases the wide variety of influences and themes which only an enigmatic master of ceremonies like D-Sisive could pull off.02 – The Riot Song – D-Sisive – clip
Cash Money*Universal
Drake Thank Me Later
Thank Me Later
This astronomical rise to success continued into 2010 with the release of his major label debut album Thank Me Later. After several setbacks from its original October 2009 release date, the album was released on June 15th, 2010 preceded by lead single “Over,” which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of approximately 1,100,000 copies in the U.S. to date. It produced three further singles which attained chart success; “Find Your Love,” “Miss Me” (feat. Lil’ Wayne) and “Fancy” (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz).04 Over – clip
Fat Beats*eOne
Eternia & MoSS At Last
At Last
This 2005 JUNO Award nominee is widely considered one of Canada’s foremost lyricists. Eternia continues to knock down barriers and trailblaze across the globe for Canadian hip hop music. She has toured extensively in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Australia and Europe; those that are lucky enough to catch her on stage credit her as one of the best live performers they have witnessed. She has been billed with superstars such as Snoop Dogg, KRS One, Common, Blackthought, Pharoahe Monch, MC Lyte, Ras Kass, Ice-T, Kurupt, Jeru the Damaja, Scratch of The Roots, O.C., Bahamadia, Roxanne Shante, Prince Paul, Necro, D-12, Saukrates, Jully Black and many more. This year, Eternia completed her fifth full-length recording, AT LAST, with super-producer MoSS featuring guest appearances by some of hip hop’s elite, including Ras Kass, Rah Digga, Lady of Rage, Jean Grae, Tiye Phoenix, Joell Ortiz, Termanology, Reef the Lost Cauze, Tona, Maestro Fresh Wes and Lil Jaz. From The Source Magazine to Hot 97, from the National Post to CBC Radio, and Toronto to Berlin: This is undeniably the year of Eternia & MoSS…AT LAST.05 – The BBQ feat. Rah Digga And Rage – Eternia And Moss – clip
Droppin’ Science*Independent
Ghettosocks Treat of the Day
Treat of the Day
Ghettosocks released his debut LP, Get Some Friends, in November of 2006. The following year, he released his follow-up, I Can Make Your Dog Famous Mixtape, with DJ Jorun Bombay. Socks’ latest and best work to date, Treat of the Day, boasts 16 brand new high-cholesterol songs, featuring guest appearances from El da Sensei, Pumpkinhead, Edgar Allen Floe, Cesar Comanche, D-Sisive, Muneshine, Apt, and Timbuktu. Keeping a strong connection to early ‘90s hip hop, Ghettosocks’ smooth flow on the mic, sharp wit on the punch line, sweet tooth for pop culture, layered over thick and crunchy beats, makes for a one-of-kind hip hop delicacy that will keep fans coming back for more. Socks’ videos appear regularly on MuchMusic. Since his debut on J-Bru’s “Help I’ve Been Robbed!” Socks has appeared in rotation in videos such as Rhythmicru’s “We Have Come for you Children,” and for his songs “Step to a T-Rex,” “Don’t Turn Around featuring Edgar Allen Floe,” and his most recent hit “Out For Treats.”06 – Out for Treats – Ghettosocks – clip
Black Box*Fontana North
Shad TSOL
TSOL
Shad has quickly become one of Canada’s most respected young artists. His highly anticipated third full-length album titled, TSOL, hit stores in May 2010. TSOL is a carefully crafted mix of hard-hitting, clever rhyme schemes and soul searching social commentary, but it also exudes a new confidence from Shad, who the National Post praised as “Canada’s Best Rapper” in 2008. Shad’s sophomore record The Old Prince (2007) was received with top reviews by music critics across the board, snagging him a JUNO Award nomination for Best Rap Recording of the Year and securing a spot on the coveted Polaris Music Prize short-list. From Hillside to Warped Tour to opening for Common, Lupe Fiasco, K-OS and K’Naan and his own Canadian headline tours, Shad is able to connect with music lovers through his remarkable live show. His skillful wordplay and smooth flow combined with his engaging live shows and seven outstanding music videos, have allowed him to develop tribes of devout fans worldwide. With several classics under his belt, Shad continues to walk the humble path, appreciating the chance to share his thoughts through music.02 – Rose Garden – Shad – clip
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03 – Night by Night – Chromeo – clip
01 – Sofi Needs A Ladder – deadmau5 – clip
01 – Fixin To Thrill – Dragonette – clip
01 – Table Dancer – Keshia Chante – clip
Stereo Love – Edward Maya & Mia Martina – clip
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Last Gang*Universal
Chromeo Business Casual
Business Casual
The men of Chromeo, Dave 1 and P Thugg, released their third full-length album Business Casual, a testament to the growth and further sophistication that the band has undergone over the years as they’ve been collaborating. After their sophomore release, Fancy Footwork, pushed them into the stratosphere of party-rocking, club-banging, and heart-thrilling electro-funk, Business Casual can be considered their postgraduate work. The flipside of Chromeo, the emotional gangster tracks, are still here on Business Casual, represented by titles such as “Hot Mess,” “I’m Not Contagious,” and “You Make It Rough.” Newly added to the roster, is a straight-up pop, vanilla sound in the best sense (creamy and smooth) heard in “The Right Type,” a get-up-and-go tune in the greatest ‘80s tradition, and the album closer, “Grow Up,” reminiscent of golden era Billy Joel backed up by Cameo. In these uncertain times of financial upheaval and musical mediocrity, Chromeo’s Business Casual is a testament to the fact that inspirational funk shall always prevail. Vive le Chromeo!03 – Night by Night – Chromeo – clip
Ultra*EMI
Deadmau5 Sofi Needs a Ladder
Sofi Needs a Ladder
Joel Zimmerman doesn’t like being called a DJ. The dance music phenomenon, better known as deadmau5, rolls his eyes at the description, which he sees as a hopelessly outdated way of describing what he does. His sets are closer to live performances. He plays mostly his own material, assembling tracks on the fly, using cutting-edge computer technology, including software he’s helped write himself. He’s a multiple JUNO Award nominee, Beatport and International Dance Music Award-winning and Grammy-nominated artist, who’s had a string of No. 1 hits on Beatport, Billboard Dance Chart, and UK Singles Chart. This year has seen him play at the 2010 Olympics, as house artist for the MTV VMAs, and play a string of sold-out UK shows – his largest tour to date. He was also named the “most influential, relevant and forward thinking person in electronic music in the past 12 months” by Beatport. Thanks to deadmau5, dance music just got very exciting again.01 – Sofi Needs A Ladder – deadmau5 – clip
Universal
Dragonette Fixin’ To Thrill
Fixin’ To Thrill
For an underground pop band, Dragonette have made a lot of noise. They have achieved Top 10 singles in France and Canada, and a Top 10 album in Canada. Dragonette topped club charts in the UK, France and Australia, and had iTunes “Single of The Week” on three continents. On the web, their videos have been watched over 4 million times on YouTube, their songs have been played over 2.5 million times on Myspace, and they have topped the influential Hype Machine chart four times. As a live band they have sold-out shows on four continents, and done tours with Duran Duran, New Order and the Sugababes. They have collaborated with Basement Jaxx, Cyndi Lauper, Martin Solveig and Kaskade (their collaboration with him now sits at No. 5 on the U.S. album chart). In addition, their music has been used in Grey’s Anatomy, The Hills and CSI Miami, and has soundtracked ads from Toyota, Macy’s, JC Penney, Target, Kraft, and Sony Playstation. They have been featured in Rolling Stone, Elle and Vogue, amongst others.01 – Fixin To Thrill – Dragonette – clip
Tanjola*Univeral
Keshia Chanté Table Dancer
Table Dancer
With her third album close to completion for a 2011 release, 22 year old singer, songwriter, actress, Ford model and fashionista, Keshia Chanté is considered a seasoned veteran in Canada’s entertainment industry.01 – Table Dancer – Keshia Chante – clip
CP*EMI
Mia Martina & Edward Maya Stereo Love
Stereo Love
Jumping out of the gate with a cover of Edward Maya’s No. 1 European hit “Stereo Love” for her first single in Canada may seem like an odd choice for CP Records’ newest pop powerhouse, but Mia Martina has been doing things her own way for years. Mia started working with CP Records in 2007. She got in the studio with Belly and Danny Fernandes doing vocals and appeared on Danny’s album Intro on the single “Nonchalant.” This was her chance to shine as an artist. Though she enjoys being in the studio recording, Mia’s heart beats faster on stage in front of large crowds. She has performed with Danny Fernandes at the Summer Rush in Toronto, and she is ready for more. People can fall in love with songs, but with Mia, she feels the strongest connection live, where people can fall in love with her. With a team that constantly pushes her creatively and musically, Mia has direction – something very few artists in the business today posses. She knows what she can offer her fans and showcases it in her debut album with Belly, Da Heala and RyanDan. Mia’s work is nothing short of extraordinary.Stereo Love – Edward Maya & Mia Martina – clip
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03 – 80s Baby – Karl Wolf – clip
01 – Test Drive – Keshia Chante – clip
01 – Stars – Quanteisha Benjamin – clip
01 – So Much feat. Kardinal Offishall – Raghav – clip
01 – Come True (feat Kardinal Offishall) – Silver (aka Solitair) – clip
R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Lone Wolf*EMI
Karl Wolf Nightlife
Nightlife
First Africa, then the world. The phenomenal success of his inventive remake of Toto’s hit “Africa” launched Karl Wolf into the international spotlight, but this was far from a case of ‘overnight success syndrome.’ This multi-talented Montréaler has long enjoyed serious peer and music industry respect in Canada as a producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and singer of true skill and vision. Thanks to “Africa,” Karl Wolf’s music is now reaching the global marketplace, and his new album, Nightlife, dramatically confirms he’s the real deal. As his third solo record, Nightlife is an artistic triumph. Musically, it’s an accessible and highly melodic fusion of R&B, hip-hop, pop and dance music elements, a sound equally at home on pop and urban radio and the club dance floor. Vocally, Wolf’s sweetly soulful delivery is a constant pleasure, while lyrically he digs deep, probing matters of the heart with real flair.03 – 80s Baby – Karl Wolf – clip
Independent
Keshia Chanté Test Drive
Test Drive
With her third album close to completion for a 2011 release, 22 year old singer, songwriter, actress, Ford model and fashionista, Keshia Chanté is considered a seasoned veteran in Canada’s entertainment industry.01 – Test Drive – Keshia Chante – clip
EMI
Quanteisha Benjamin Stars
Stars
In 2008, Edmonton-based R&B singer Quanteisha was the winner of the Bounce 91.7’s Fourth Annual Bounce Showdown Talent Search. With this win, Quanteisha was awarded the opportunity to work with Canadian hit makers HipJoints (Kelly Rowland/Kreesha Turner), who produced a two-song demo for the upcoming artist. “Cover Girls,” the first of the two songs released to radio in September 2008. The following month Quanteisha was voted CHUM Emerging Artist of the Month by CHUM Music Directors from all across Canada. With only a few years of experience, Quanteisha’s resume includes opening for Divine Brown, Kardinal Offishall, and Finger Eleven and having her first single “Cover Girls” licensed for use on the Canadian television show Da Kink In My Hair. Quanteisha’s first music video for her song “Cover Girls” was released to MuchMusic on June 19, 2010 and her newest single “Stars” was recently released to radio.01 – Stars – Quanteisha Benjamin – clip
Cordova Bay*Fontana North
Raghav ft. Kardinal Offishall So Much
So Much
Fusing his musical influences of hip-hop, R&B, Bollywood, reggae, Indian classical music and soul, Canadian born singer Raghav, is set to release a new album in 2011. Signed to Cordova Bay Records, the 29-year-old Calgarian, first came on the national radar in 2007 when The Globe and Mail profiled him as one of “Canada’s best kept secrets in the arts.” Produced by Labrinth and featuring Kardinal Offishall, Raghav’s first single “So Much” has been making waves on CHR and Hot AC stations across Canada and is proving why this hometown talent is such a massive star in both South Asia and the UK resulting in 1.5 million sales worldwide. The success of this award-winning artist and his long list of high profile collaborators is quickly becoming breaking news in North America.01 – So Much feat. Kardinal Offishall – Raghav – clip
Independent
SILVER (aka Solitair) ft. Kardinal Offishall Come True
Come True
Silver is a multitalented , JUNO Award-nominated, positive Canadian role model who provides nothing but inspirational music to his fans around the world. The international artist, producer and songwriter, Silver, formerly known as Solitair, is the co-founder of the renowned Black Jays Production Team along with Kardinal Offishall. After more than a decade of producing hits such as the JUNO Award nominated hip hop classic, “ Easy to Slip” from the Beat Factory compilation album, Rap Essentials 2001, Silver continues to collaborate with elite artists from all over the globe. His upcoming full length release, The Departure, is aptly titled as it demonstrates Silver’s musical evolution. The album is a departure from predictable hip hop elements and fuses rock, pop, and alternative genres in his music. The Departure includes collaborations with heavy hitters such as Lil Wayne, Estelle, Nina Sky, and Kardinal Offishall. Silver’s first single release, “Come True,” featuring Kardinal Offishall, marries the alternative ‘90s sound with hip hop. With hit singles, collaborations with international artists, producers and throngs of new fans on the rise, Silver has not only raised his presence in the industry, he has also solidified his place as a defining voice in Canadian music.01 – Come True (feat Kardinal Offishall) – Silver (aka Solitair) – clip
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04 – celebrate my love (feat jay douglas) – Dubmatic clip
11 – Likkle But Mi Tallwah – Elaine ‘Lil Bit’ Sheperd – clips
04 – Brighter Days – Lydon John X (LJX) – clip
05 – Torn – Tony Anthony – clip
01 – Don’t Wanna Go – Tonya P – clip
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Renegade Rocker* Fontana North/Universal
Dubmatix System Shakedown
System Shakedown
Dubmatix is one of Canada’s premiere dub, reggae and electro artist/producer and 2010 JUNO Award winner for Best Reggae Recording. Dubmatix performs all instruments on each of his releases including drums, guitar, bass, piano/keyboard, melodica, percussion. Having imprinted his name in the minds of reggae fans worldwide with his debut release Champion Sound Clash in 2004, the Toronto-born producer is now firmly established as one of the top reggae producers worldwide with three chart-topping releases that includes the 2009 JUNO Award-nominated “Renegade Rocker” and the 2010 JUNO Award win for Best Reggae Recording plus international acclaim and a list of collaborations that include some of reggae’s most influential legends such as the late Alton Ellis (The Godfather of Rocksteady), The Mighty Diamonds, Michael Rose (Black Uhuru & Grammy Award Winner), the Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs and many more.04 – celebrate my love (feat jay douglas) – Dubmatic clip
D’Maestro Music*Independent
Elaine Lil’Bit Shepherd Likkle But Mi Tallawah
Likkle But Mi Tallawah
This lyrically conscious, fresh work of art is rooted in reggae and infused with soul, jazz and R&B. It is a true reflection of Shepherd and her musical style. The album includes a duet entitled “Jeopardize” with artist Humble, 2009 JUNO Award winner for Best Reggae Recording. It will also include her No. 1 titled track “Lady In The Streets,” which has been receiving rave, reviews. Recognized as the RMAA’s “Most Promising New Artist” for 2010 she is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Blessed with a killer voice and creative ability, Lil’Bit is recognized as “the little girl with the big voice.” Her sweet, feathery tone is a stark contrast to her soulful power. In high-school she took up guitar and piano, and began concentrating heavily on her songwriting. While studying jazz and contemporary voice in college, Shepherd began collaborating with musicians who would eventually introduce her to the world of hi hop, R&B, and reggae. More recently, she has emerged as one of Vancouver’s brightest young singer-songwriters, and a recording contract is her ultimate goal. Her life inspired debut album Lady In The Streets is due to be released in the Spring of 2011.11 – Likkle But Mi Tallwah – Elaine ‘Lil Bit’ Sheperd – clips
Independent
Lyndon John X (LJX) Brighter Days
Brighter Days
If you love roots rock reggae, you will find it in the latest album Brighter Days, by artist Lyndon John X. It is a classic example of new school reggae with an old school approach to roots music. Brighter Days is the much anticipated follow-up to LJX’s 2008 Juno Award-nominated debut album Two Chord Skankin’. The title track has set the airwaves ablaze and was featured on Canada’s largest CTV news network Canada AM. LJX’s live news performance marked a historic moment in Canadian broadcasting as a reggae artist has not been featured live on national TV in over a decade. Brighter Days is currently charting in Canada and on rotation in the U.S. and Jamaica. LJX’s sound has been compared to Steel Pulse and Bob Marley which are both honourable comparisons but his vocals, skank and overall sound are truly original. Now performing internationally, Lyndon feels even more excited to spread his positive reggae vibes to fans everywhere. He feels “reggae has and will forever be a revolutionary tool to broadcast injustices and project hope for the future on a global level!”.04 – Brighter Days – Lydon John X (LJX) – clip
Phylan*Sound Quake
Tony Anthony Million Chance
Million Chance
Tony Anthony’s Million Chance is currently No. 3 on the Jamaican Top 10 Album Chart and climbing. The album debuted at No.5 on the 50 most highly recommended album chart in Europe. Two singles released from the album “Torn” and “Bad News” are on high rotation on reggae radio worldwide. “Torn” was No. 1 on the Canadian Reggae chart for eight weeks, and is currently No. 2 on the Jamaica Top 20 reggae chart and climbing. It has debuted at No. 20 on the Caribbean Top 30 Reggae Singles chart. The videos for “Torn” and “Bad News” are on heavy rotation in Jamaica and other Caribbean music programs, and has gained many hits on YouTube. Tony Anthony has performed in many Canadian cities, Jamaica, other Caribbean Islands, Portugal and is currently booked to appear in England, Slovania, Czechoslovakia and Germany in December. Tony Anthony was awarded Top Reggae Male Vocalist of the Year in Canada for 2010 by the Canadian Reggae Achievements Awards. In 2009 his song “Mark and the Beast” was awarded Song of the Year by the Canadian Reggae Music Awards.05 – Torn – Tony Anthony – clip
Independent
Tonya P Don’t Want to Go
Don’t Want to Go
When her first single “With Me” hit the streets, fans were amazed by its powerful combination of modern R&B with the sweet sound of reggae and soul. Tonya P has truly become the voice for young women across the globe. She has a unique style that is adored by many and a voice that is comparable to none. Tonya was born and raised in Toronto, where she began singing in her high school music productions at the age of 14. She was always very much influenced by reggae singers Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and Marcia Griffiths not to mention the R&B singers of her time – Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige and Faith Evans to name a few. However coming from a Jamaican background gave her the ability to feel and relate to the reggae culture. When asked about her inspiration for her music she responded “Three things – Life, Love and Pain.” It is evident that Tonya’s music comes from the heart with a pure truth that everyone can relate to. The new single “Don’t Wanna Go” is receiving rave reviews along with heavy airplay on Toronto’s top Reggae programs.01 – Don’t Wanna Go – Tonya P – clip
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04 – Shine Alive – CerAmony – clip
03 – Stoned for Days – Derek Miller – clip
07 – Watersong – Eagle & Hawk – clip
12 – Kool Runnin – Joey Stylez – clip
03 – $13,000 – Little Hawk – clip
ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK)
Independent
CerAmony CerAmony
CerAmony
The band name, CerAmony (in which the A is represented by a sacred ceremonial tent) came to Pakesso upon waking up from a dream one day. Both members agreed that it was a perfect name in the universal aspect that every race, religion and creed have ceremonies. The logo was designed by Pakesso’s sister (and Matthew’s wife) Natazia Mukash. Unshakeable and unwavering, CerAmony’s ambitions have since been aimed at a global appeal. This pride and message can also be shared with CerAmony’s brothers and sisters from other indigenous nations worldwide. CerAmony’s music is designed for the masses. From arena anthems like “Looks Like Change (To Me)” and “Our Guns,” to the light-hearted songs like “Live Again” and “Round N’ Round,” the band’s sound isn’t rooted in one genre, but is spread across many. It is this variety that brings together not only fans of all genres, but from all walks of life. And when a band can excite a crowd of many coloured spirits and have them sing with one voice, then they have truly achieved what all ceremonies are designed to do; Unify.04 – Shine Alive – CerAmony – clip
Independent
Derek Miller Derek Miller with Double Trouble
Derek Miller with Double Trouble
Guitarist and singer/songwriter Derek Miller is a journeyman musician with eclectic taste and a knack for roots inflected rock. Miller became interested in music in his early teens, and by the late ‘90s had not only toured with iconic Canadian vocalist Buffy Sainte-Marie. Derek’s next album Derek Miller with Double Trouble takes us to the heart of Native Americana romanticism. It uses vintage tones and aesthetics of ‘50s rock and roll with a modern twist, telling the story of a mythical man who has a blind moment of insanity and the events that got him to that point. The development in his newest recordings describe in a metaphoric way, the trials and tribulations of the artist. “The album is my attempt to create the feeling I got from soul, blues and country records I have listened to. Hillbilly Soul with some Mohawk swagger.” Derek Miller is a dynamic performer, whether you catch him live or are listening to his studio albums, you can get a real sense of an artist striving for the pursuit of perfection in his work and life.03 – Stoned for Days – Derek Miller – clip
Rising Sun
Eagle & Hawk The Great Unknown
The Great Unknown
One listen to Eagle & Hawk’s distinctive sound and you’ll be hooked. By blending inspired vision with musical talent, Eagle & Hawk have created a progressive style of ‘rock’ steeped in roots, fusion, and solid songwriting that continues to earn fans – and loads of fanfare – worldwide. Eagle & Hawk’s music takes the lead in defining the genre of contemporary Indigenous music. Envisioning a sound that fused modern music styles with traditional elements, guitarist and bandleader Vince Fontaine founded Eagle & Hawk in 1994. The journey took the band from Winnipeg, MB, to stages in European capitals where they blasted onto the scene with a powerful force. Eagle & Hawk are best known for live shows that are energizing, interactive, and simply irresistible. The front man on stage is lead vocalist Jay Bodner, whose rich voice and charm has captivated audiences from coast to coast in Canada, across Europe, and throughout the U.S. Rounding out the band is drummer Marty Chapman, bass player Lawrence “Spatch” Mulhall and traditional singer Ray “Coco” Stevenson. Eagle & Hawk have a full symphony repertoire of their music, which they have performed several times with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.07 – Watersong – Eagle & Hawk – clip
Stressed Street*Fontana North/Universal
Joey Stylez The Black Star
The Black Star
Right from an early age, Joseph Laplante was attracted to music. Born in Saskatchewan, his first spoken language was Cree. As a child, Laplante always attended pow wows, joining in and singing with the older drum groups. His hunger to perform, and love for the spotlight was a clear foreshadow of his future endeavors. Raised in a low income, single-mothered family, Laplante faced the same adversities as many Aboriginal youth; exposed to violence, drugs, alcohol. As the eldest son of nine children, he had no value for life and was caught up in the viscous cycle which he knew best. However, after losing many family and friends, Laplante refused to become another tragic statistic. Music was the gateway to separate himself from the destructive path otherwise ahead. Laplante left home, moving from city to city to chase his dreams. Upon returning to his native land years later, Joseph was determined to bring mainstream attention to Native Americans. By creating a unique fashion, sound and look, Joey used his “stylez” to captivate a wide audience. With continued hard work, Stylez strives to destroy negative stereotypes, enlighten society of current misconceptions and empower Native Americans to reach their full potential.12 – Kool Runnin – Joey Stylez – clip
Ojiji
Little Hawk Vigilance
Vigilance
Music can motivate. Music can inspire. Music can change the world. Blending a folk/roots approach with sounds and instrumentation of traditional First Nation musical understandings, Little Hawk forges a remarkably compelling musical style with lyrics that will linger long after the song has ended. The songs of Little Hawk will echo in your soul, take root in your heart. This is music as it should be, music that dares us to think. Little Hawk’s first two album releases, 1492-1975 and Home And Native Land, garnered a number of accolades including a JUNO nomination, three Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and two Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards. Little Hawk’s latest release Vigilance is a powerful, far reaching collection of songs that promises to continue to push boundaries, offer hope, and ask questions.03 – $13,000 – Little Hawk – clip
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04 – Miles and Years – Del Barber – clip
01 – Be A Man – Justin Rutledge – clip
01 – Something Beautiful – Lynn Miles – clip
01 – Lass Vicious – Old Man Luedecke – clip
03 – Travellin’ Shoes – Ruth Moody – clip
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO
Independent
Del Barber Love Songs For The Last Twenty
Love Songs For The Last Twenty
Born and raised on the Canadian prairies, Del Barber has found a new home on stage, winning audiences across Canada and the U.S. with raw talent and ample doses of charm. With wide eyed ambition and work ethic second to none, in two short years Barber has released two full length records and found the time to tour coast to coast and back again, playing well over 300 dates everywhere from Halifax to Albuquerque. At 27 years old, Barber’s road tested collection of tunes are just beginning to make their mark on Canada’s competitive roots scene. With the release of his sophomore record Love Songs For The Last Twenty, Barber has transformed from an almost unknown singer-songwriter into an artist in demand. Hitting the well trodden stages of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Barber’s latest record has been met with critical praise and has found its home on college radio charts across the country. Named as Winnipeg’s finest songwriter by CKUW veteran Darren Day and and quoted as having “That Woody Guthrie Wanderlust” by Mitch Podolak of Home Routes, Barber is the latest young songwriter to emerge from the fertile musical breeding grounds of Winnipeg, MB.04 – Miles and Years – Del Barber – clip
Six Shooter*Warner
Justin Rutledge The Early Widows
The Early Widows
Rutledge’s following has flourished from the loyal local fans and media he attracted from his year-long residency at Toronto’s Cameron House in 2004, to international recognition and respect. Signed to Six Shooter Records, Justin Rutledge’s albums garner impressive amounts of critical acclaim. Between his debut, No Never Alone (2005), his sophomore release, The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park (2006) and third album, Man Descending (2008), Rutledge has earned a JUNO Award nomination, a Galaxy Rising Star Award, countless year-end critics’ picks, the title of Toronto’s Best Local Songwriter (NOW Magazine), a spot on the 2008 and 2010 Polaris Prize long-lists and several Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. Justin has shared the stage with artists such as Blue Rodeo, Dolly Parton, Martha Wainwright and Great Lake Swimmers. Rutledge’s forthcoming album, The Early Widows, which was released in 2010 on Six Shooter Records, came from a collaboration with Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient) for an upcoming theatre work based on Ondaatje’s novel Divisadero.01 – Be A Man – Justin Rutledge – clip
High Romance*True North
Lynn Miles Fall For Beauty
Fall For Beauty
Lynn Miles is one of Canada’s most accomplished singer-songwriters. With seven albums to her credit, the winner of multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, and a 2003 JUNO Award for Roots & Traditional Solo Album of the Year, she has certainly found her strength over time. Through a career that has seen her move from Ottawa to Los Angeles and back again, with stops in Nashville and Austin, she has always written music with unbridled feeling and vulnerability. Miles has consistently been unflinching in putting herself out there. With her eighth studio offering Fall For Beauty, the voice of her experience has truly elevated her songwriting to its richest depth of emotion. While her melodies undulate between traditional country and folk roots, on Fall For Beauty, it’s her sensitivity to the world around her that pours itself directly into Miles’ music to make it stand out.01 – Something Beautiful – Lynn Miles – clip
Black Hen*Fontana North
Old Man Luedecke My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs
My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs
My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs is the follow up to Old Man Luedecke’s JUNO Award-winning album, Proof Of Love. Recorded largely “live off the floor” in Vancouver, the album brings a unique band sound to Old Man Luedecke’s timeless material. Bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien is featured on every song. This recording once again pairs Old Man Luedecke with award-winning producer Steve Dawson, who has produced all three of his releases so far. Old Man Luedecke has become a major concert draw in Canada, and has begun touring in Europe and the U.S., performing at clubs, concerts and festivals. It features all new original material, plus a cover of the classic Willie P. Bennett song “Caney Fork River.” Old Man Luedecke will support this release with tour dates worldwide, both as a solo performer and with a band.01 – Lass Vicious – Old Man Luedecke – clip
Mighty Wren*Independent
Ruth Moody The Garden
The Garden
Ruth Moody is a JUNO Award-winning songwriter from Winnipeg, MB. Founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin’ Jennys and former lead singer of the Canadian roots band Scruj MacDuhk (later becoming The Duhks), she has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous critically-acclaimed albums, and has appeared more than a dozen times on the U.S. radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Ruth was a finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition and was recognized by the International Songwriting Competition for her song “One Voice,” which has been covered by countless artists. In July 2010, Ruth released her highly-anticipated solo album The Garden on Red House Records. Produced by JUNO Award nominee David Travers-Smith and featuring an all-star cast including Kevin Breit, Luke Doucet, Crooked Still, and a guest appearance by The Wailin’ Jennys, it has been met with high praise from critics: “In an era of hard-edged production, this is a soft, pretty recording that wears well with many, many listenings” – Sing Out! “Her seductive soprano is pure joy” – Huffington Post. She is currently touring both solo and with The Wailin’ Jennys.03 – Travellin’ Shoes – Ruth Moody – clip
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01 – Closer – Chic Camine – clip
10 – Horses – Dala – clip
02 – Octobre 1837 – Le Vent Du Nord – clip
02 – Ours Truly – The Creaking Tree String Quartet – clip
07 – Somtimes I Think I Can Fly – The Marigolds – clip
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP
Independent*Select
Chic Gamine City City
City City
In 2007, four women travelled halfway across the continent to stand together with one man for the very first time in a Montréal basement, throw together some songs in a home recording studio, and make a demo. It was the start of a journey that, in less than two years, would take five musicians from that fateful basement to Canada’s top stages, critics’ ‘Best of’ lists, and beyond. The furious pace of this musical momentum is the first hint that Chic Gamine is not quite like the others. This is not your grandpa’s vocal music. All five members pen stories about the beautiful longings of life, tied up by ribbons of exquisite four-part harmonies and Doaud’s flashes of just-right drumming. Call it music for a band where all the parts just happen to be played by voices and, no matter how those vocals rise and fall, the feeling of their movement, the pull in the ribcage, the tingle in the spine, remains the same. Call it pop-vox ‘n ‘roll. Or just call it Chic Gamine, and leave it at that.01 – Closer – Chic Camine – clip
Campus*Universal
Dala Girls from the North Country- Dala Live in Concert
Girls from the North Country- Dala Live in Concert
Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala have come a long way in a short time. The two best friends, who met in their high school music class and wrote their first song together in 2002, have since performed at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall a total of seven times. Darlings of the Canadian music scene, Dala are now poised to bring their fresh brand of neo-folk music to the world. “Dala can sing! What beautiful flights of melody and harmony, reminiscent of the Everly Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, Emmylou Harris and associates; though Dala can trade a melody line and leave one wondering who is taking the lead and simply leave one behind when the harmonies kick in” – Peterborough Examiner. Dala have toured across Canada six times, opening for artists such as Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane, Matthew Good, Stuart McLean of the CBC’s Vinyl Café and most recently, Chantal Kreviazuk. They have released five albums and a live DVD, Girls from the North Country- Dala Live in Concert.10 – Horses – Dala – clip
Borealis*Universal
Le Vent du Nord La part du feu
La part du feu
Since its inception in August 2002, Le Vent du Nord have been enjoying rocketing success. They have received several prestigious awards, including a JUNO Award. The band is now one of the most-loved Québec folk outfits throughout the world. The group’s current line-up consists of singers/multi-instrumentalists Nicolas Boulerice, Simon Beaudry, Olivier Demers, and Réjean Brunet. Some of their songs come from traditional folk repertoire, while others are original compositions. On stage, these four friends achieve peaks of happiness they eagerly share with any and all audiences. Le Vend du Nord know how to deliver music that will move any crowd – to their feet and in their hearts! This is undoubtedly music of the here and now.02 – Octobre 1837 – Le Vent Du Nord – clip
Independent*Outside
The Creaking Tree String Quartet Sundogs
Sundogs
String-band music has long been a staple of Americana. While the four members of Toronto’s Creaking Tree String Quartet pay homage to that tradition, they refuse to be bound by it. Instead, the technically dazzling outfit uses fingerboards to leap stylistic boundaries and fuse intricate styles. The result is an intellectual and yet deeply moving sound that’s a true Canadian original: jazz forms sliding over a rootsy bluegrass base, with flashes of chamber music, reverence and avant-garde experimentation. The group’s third album, The Soundtrack, was produced by Grammy winner and Nashville veteran Bil VornDick and was nominated for a 2009 JUNO Award, and received two Canadian Folk Music Awards for Best Instrumentalists and Pushing The Boundaries.02 – Ours Truly – The Creaking Tree String Quartet – clip
Independent*Outside
The Marigolds That’s the State I’m In
That’s the State I’m In
The Marigolds are a roots-music ensemble of award-winning singer-songwriters: Suzie Vinnick, Gwen Swick and Caitlin Hanford. Their original compositions combine the timeless and classic genres of traditional country and bluegrass, Appalachian ballads, country and electric blues with rockin’ grooves and soulful, angelic harmonies. They deliver with skill and grace. Instrumentally the line-up features Gwen Swick on electric bass, Caitlin Hanford on rhythm guitar and Suzie Vinnick on lead guitar. The Marigolds are accompanied by versatile drummer and percussionist Randall Coryell. On their sophomore release, “That’s the State I’m In,” the Marigolds are joined by JUNO Award-winning Steve Dawson, as producer and contributing musician. All of the songs were written or co-written by Gwen, Suzie and Caitlin. The songs travel an inspired journey through lost love, found love, redemption and optimism and feature soaring harmonies, gorgeous melodies and sublime grooves. Through festivals, radio airplay and concert venues, the past several years have witnessed the joy audiences have found in the Marigolds’ music and, thus, their rise in the Canadian roots music arena. The Marigolds were recently nominated for Vocal Group of the Year for the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Awards.07 – Somtimes I Think I Can Fly – The Marigolds – clip
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02 – Where’s the Blues Taking Me_ – Fathead – clip
03 – Dew On The Roses – Harry Manx – clip
01 – Hot As A Pistol – Jim Byrnes – clip
01 – Daddy’s Little Girl – The Johnny Max Band – clip
01 – Nobody Can Turn Me Around – Sojourners – clip
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Electro-Fi*Outside
FATHEAD Where’s The Blues Taking Me
Where’s The Blues Taking Me
Fathead may be the best blues and roots band to come out of Canada since Ronnie Hawkins hired the future-band to become his backup group, The Hawks, in the mid-1950s. An ultra-tight ensemble, Fathead brings together some of the country’s most respected musicians to create an energetic blend of funk, soul and rockin’ blues. Real Blues magazine referred to the group’s harp and guitar-dominated sound as “one of those rare, much sought after, but seldom achieved, chemical/spiritual reactions that happens when all the right ingredients come together: talent, personality, humour, united vision and a little bit of hoodoo/voodoo.” The Toronto Star praised “If the blues were a sports league, Fathead would be the equivalent of an all-star team,” FATHEAD’s latest CD WHERE’S THE BLUES TAKING ME is the crown jewel in the band’s seven CD catalogue thus far and creates a fresh sound that is immediately recognizable as their own. This show-stopping group has previously been awarded two JUNO Awards. They have a ball wherever they play and it shows!02 – Where’s the Blues Taking Me_ – Fathead – clip
Dog My Cat*SRI
Harry Manx Bread And Buddha
Bread And Buddha
Harry Manx has been dubbed an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. He forged this distinctive style under a rigorous five-year tutelage with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in India. Bhatt is the inventor of the 20-stringed Mohan Veena, which has become Harry’s signature instrument. Manx’s Indo-blues hybrid is a direct byproduct of the nomadic life he has led. Born on the Isle of Man, Manx spent his childhood in Canada and left in his teens to live in Europe, Japan, India and Brazil. He is a prolific artist, releasing 10 albums in a 10-year span. Manx has received six Maple Blues Awards, five JUNO Award nominations, the Canadian Folk Music Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s Great Canadian Blues Award for 2007. Blend Indian folk melodies with slide guitar blues, add a sprinkle of gospel and some compelling grooves and you’ll get Manx’s unique “mysticssippi” flavour. It’s one that is hard to resist, easy to digest and keeps audiences coming back for more.03 – Dew On The Roses – Harry Manx – clip
Black Hen*Fontana North
Jim Byrnes Everywhere West
Everywhere West
Jim Byrnes’ fourth album for Black Hen Music, finds Jim collaborating once again with producer Steve Dawson. Jim and Steve have worked together on all of his award-winning albums in the last decade. Jim’s bluesiest album in years Everywhere West includes raw and stripped-down takes on classic material and some originals by Jim himself. While he has been focussing on gospel-oriented blues for his last two albums (the JUNO Award-winning House of Refuge and 2008’s My Walking Stick), Everywhere West brings him back to the music of his youth, with some of the greatest performances of his career on songs by Jimmy Reed, Lowell Folsom, The Mississippi Sheiks, Tampa Red and many more. Jim and Steve’s collaborations have resulted in three JUNO Award nominations, a JUNO Award win, as well as many awards at the Western Canadian Music Awards, The Canadian Indie Awards, The Maple Blues Awards, and the Canadian Folk Music Awards.01 – Hot As A Pistol – Jim Byrnes – clip
Pour Soul*Independent
The Johnny Max Band It’s A Long Road
It’s A Long Road
To listen to Johnny Max tell it, and to watch Johnny Max present it, you understand very quickly that there’s more to creating great music than simply performing a first-rate piece of music well. It’s much more all encompassing than that. Johnny’s take includes engaging the audience, making his show accessible. He wants to more than simply feed off the audience, he looks to make them part of the experience. And he does so with his good natured wit. Johnny’s music doesn’t always follow conventional Blues lines. Rather than be confined to the traditional 12 bar influenced forms, this veteran of the musical wars favours substance rather than convention. Reasoning that “it’s all Blues”, Max opts for the feeling in what he characterizes as “music to move your groove by”.01 – Daddy’s Little Girl – The Johnny Max Band – clip
Black Hen*Fontana North
The Sojourners The Sojourners
The Sojourners
The Sojourners return with their second album in two years. Produced once again by JUNO Award-winning producer Steve Dawson, their new self-titled album The Sojourners packs more energy and excitement into their recordings than ever before.01 – Nobody Can Turn Me Around – Sojourners – clip
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06 – Move Me – Article One – clip
04 – How Am I Supposed to Breathe – Greg Sczebel – clip
06 – Avalanche – Manafest – clip
04 – There is a Way – Newworldson – clip
01 – The Saving One – Starfield – clip
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Independent*David C. Cook
Article One Clarity
Clarity
Article One is a violin-pop-rock group from London, ON. They have performed across North America and Australia and have toured with Newsboys, Starfield, Superchick, etc. They desire to serve the church and they hope that their new album Clarity will be a musical and spiritual blessing to believers worldwide.06 – Move Me – Article One – clip
Soultone*Fontana North
Greg Sczebel Love & the Lack Thereof
Love & the Lack Thereof
Greg Sczebel is not just your average twenty-something “soul” singer. If anything, he’s the exact opposite. Or maybe he’s just trying his darndest to bring the soul back to popular music – like when Chuck, Stevie, Mick, Freddie and The King of Pop reigned on the Hit Parade. This is the type of artist Greg Sczebel aspires to be, and the type of music he works relentlessly at creating. Intently staying independent for the past eight years (despite interest from major U.S. labels), Sczebel chose to pursue longevity over instant fame and determined to build a career the old fashioned way – through hard work and innovative music. And this decision has paid off. He’s received national and international recognition, including a JUNO Award, WCMA, and three awards from Yoko Ono and David Sonenberg’s esteemed John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Sczebel has performed numerous times with Paul Brandt, Michael Bublé, David Foster and most recently, was chosen to write and record with Los Angeles producer, Toby Gad, who’s credits include writing and producing Beyonce’s smash hit, “If I Were a Boy”. Sczebel’s new release, Love & the Lack Thereof, is currently available at music stores nationwide.04 – How Am I Supposed to Breathe – Greg Sczebel – clip
Manafest*Fontana North
Manafest The Chase
The Chase
Over the past seven years, Chris Greenwood has used the moniker Manafest to organically build his fan base playing hundreds of shows on three continents. In 2006, Manafest released Glory from which the rock anthem “Impossible,” featuring Thousand Foot Krutch’s Trevor McNevan, became a global hit. This release dramatically increased his record sales five times over. In 2008, Manafest followed up with Citizens Activ, which catapulted to success garnering multiple TV placements and presence in the U.S. and internationally. After three records that received international acclaim including huge success in Japan, JUNO Award nominee Manafest (aka Chris Greenwood) returns to partner with BEC Recordings for his latest release, The Chase. This fourth studio project is Manafest’s most aggressive and sonically evolved record to date. The Chase is produced by Adam Messinger (Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, The Cab) and features eleven tracks of gritty guitars, aggressive rhymes fusing rock and rap styles.06 – Avalanche – Manafest – clip
InPop* David C. Cook/EMI
Newworldson Newworldson
Newworldson
Since signing with Inpop Records in 2007, Newworldson has garnered two JUNO Award nominations for Gospel Album of The Year and 18 GMA Canada Covenant Award nominations, including two wins for Roots Album of The Year and one each in the categories of Best New Artist and Group of the Year. The band claimed a No. 1 music video on the Gospel Music Channel with “Working Man,” while earning a guest spot on newsboys’ wildly popular “GO” tour, as well as invitations to headline festivals in Australia, Germany, Holland and Sweden. Its national debut, Salvation Station, additionally elicited unanimous critical acclaim, hailed as GRAMMY-worthy by industry trade publication Christian Retailing and praised by AllMusic.com as “one of 2008’s most enjoyable, well-written albums.” The band’s sophomore self-titled project was released February 2010, producing Newworldson’s first radio hit, “There Is A Way,” which topped the Canadian Christian Radio Charts and peaked at No. 2 on the Radio & Records Christian AC Monitored & Indicator charts.04 – There is a Way – Newworldson – clip
Sparrow*David C. Cook/EMI
Starfield The Saving One
The Saving One
Canadian worship band, Starfield, has spent the last 10 years partnering with churches and ministries, leading students and congregations in passionate and energetic worship. They released their self-titled major label debut in 2004, followed by Beauty in the Broken (2006), I Will Go (2008) and The Saving One (2010). Starfield-penned songs like “Filled With Your Glory,” “Son of God,” and “Reign In Us” are sung in church services every weekend all over the world. Starfield is the best-selling Christian band in Canada and are expanding their following in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Europe with yearly concert tours and conference appearances. Ministry partnerships with the Billy Graham Association, Dare2Share, and Youth Specialties have helped Starfield grow beyond the confines of the music industry and more directly into partnerships with the local Church.01 – The Saving One – Starfield – clip
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02 – Fajar – Elage Diouf – clip
01 – Bogota by Bus – Jesse Cook – clip
01 – Gakondo – Mighty Popo – clip
09 – Doce Meses – Pacifika – clip
02 – Soy Panamericano – Roberto Lopez Project – clip
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)
Tacca*Unidisc
Élage Diouf Aksil
Aksil
Après sept ans d’absence sur la scène de la musique du monde, Élage Diouf nous présente son premier projet solo. Intitulé Aksil – mot wolof qui signifie ouverture, bienvenue, entrez – cet album est principalement composé d’œuvres interprétées en wolof, sa langue maternelle. Élage porte sur Aksil les chapeaux de chanteur, auteur, interprète, musicien et réalisateur. Il s’y entoure également de ses amis, parmi lesquels on peut compter Jean Leloup, Mike Sawatski (Les Colocs), Jenny Salgado (Muzion), Anastasia Fiedman, Guy Kaye et Alain Bergé, pour créer un album de musique du monde authentique et ouvert sur la diversité, représentatif de son riche parcours musical.02 – Fajar – Elage Diouf – clip
Coach House*EMI
Jesse Cook The Rumba Foundation
The Rumba Foundation
In 2001 Cook won his first JUNO Award in the Best Instrumental Album of the Year category for Free Fall. Again, he was nominated in 2008 for two JUNO Awards for his 2007 release Frontiers (World Music Album of the Year) and for the incredible DVD One Night at the Metropolis (Music DVD of the Year), which captures a spectacular concert during the 2006 Montréal Jazz Festival. International demand for Jesse has risen dramatically over the last year. In 2008, Cook travelled extensively performing at the Singapore Sun Festival, headlining the Dubai Jazz Festival, selling out a performance in Kuala Lumpur and performing in London and Dublin. 2009 has already seen Cook play in Poland, with plans to perform in Italy, Malta and Turkey later this year and return to London, Dublin and Poland!01 – Bogota by Bus – Jesse Cook – clip
Tamba*Independent
Mighty Popo Gakondo
Gakondo
You could say that the Mighty Popo is a Rwandan/Burundian refugee/survivor whose music is steeped in African tradition, but you’d hardly be getting at the whole story of one of Canada’s greatest respected musicians, or account for his effortless musicality as a member of the 2004 JUNO Award-winning African Guitar Summit. He’s received kudos for his genre-busting solo work, and his highlight performance at the Canadian edition of Bob Geldof’s international Live 8 concerts (one of the few chosen for EMI’s Live 8 DVD). His latest album Gakondo, means origins or tradition, and on this album Popo has taken a journey to his Rwandan roots. Three ancient musical expressions intertwine to create the sound of the country of a thousand hills. Long ago, Intwatwa songs of the Batwa people mixed with powerful rhythmic Bahutu soundscapes and Batutsi pastoral melodies to form one dynamic musical tradition. Mighty Popo is someone to watch – in Canada and around the world.01 – Gakondo – Mighty Popo – clip
Six Degrees*Universal
Pacifika Supermagique
Supermagique
For a generation of musicians that has now grown up with world music, a truly global pop music was just a matter of time. And for the trio Pacifika, “eventually” means now. The trio’s debut album, 2008’s Asuncion, introduced their artful blend of indie rock, bossa nova, Afropop, and dub production. With the new Supermagique, Pacifika have refined that sound – a multilingual, listener-friendly music that marries languid Latin rhythms to a deep dance groove, and offers a high-gloss sheen with some surprisingly sharp edges. Pacifika’s global fusion works precisely because it is not a fusion. There is no sense of trying to blend one thing with another; this is the work of three musicians, coming from Peruvian, North American, and Barbadian families, for whom rock, Latin, Caribbean, hip hop, and jazz are all part of a single international musical language – a kind of musical Esperanto. Singer Silvana Kane is from Peru; guitarist Adam Popowitz is from Canada; bassist Toby Peter grew up in Barbados. Using Vancouver as a base, they have created music that reflects their shared interests in Western pop and the traditions of South America, West Africa, and the Far East.09 – Doce Meses – Pacifika – clip
Curura*Select
Roberto López Project Soy Panamericano
Soy Panamericano
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Roberto moved to Montréal to pursue his studies in Jazz performance and composition at Concordia University. After playing with many diverse artists, he created the Roberto López Project in the Fall 2005, a polycultural orchestra presenting his original compositions. With two albums under the belt, acclaimed critics and many shows, Roberto takes us through some adventurous fusions of tradition and modernity, in what he describes as Nu-Afro-Latin. The project captures the essence of traditional Latin rhythms in an urban and contemporary environment, encompassing styles such as Cumbia-Funk, Urban-Mambo, Latin-Soul, Colombian Currulao, Colombian Porro Pelayero, and 70’s Salsa Dura… all mixed in the unique Lopezian style. Band members include talented musicians and singers from various parts of the Americas (Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba, Mexico, Québec and New-Brunswick). Awarded the prestigious Artiste Révélation Radio-Canada 2010-2011, nominated Best World Music Album at the GAMIQ (Quebec Indie Awards) and World Music Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. The album has been on the Top 10 charts in university and community radio stations across Canada, Colombia and Spain, hitting the No. 1 position several times.02 – Soy Panamericano – Roberto Lopez Project – clip
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13 – We Used To Wait – Arcade Fire – clip
02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire- clip
01 – Cha-Ching – Hedley – clip
08 – Perfect – Hedley – clip
06 – Hitchhiker – Neil Young – clip
02 – I Believe In You – Black Dub – clip
08 – Secret – Seal – clip
02 – Bring Me To Life – Katherine Jenkins – clip
02 – Captive – Sarah Harmer – clip
03 – New Loneliness – Sarah Harmer – clip
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SLAIGHT MUSIC)
Sonovox*F.A.B.
Arcade Fire (co-producer Markus Dravs) “Ready To Start” , “We Used To Wait – THE SUBURBS – Arcade Fire
“Ready To Start” , “We Used To Wait – THE SUBURBS – Arcade Fire
The suburbs have always spawned poets who flee to the world’s great cities. Montréal’s Arcade Fire, however, return to the landscapes of their youth and return with The Suburbs: songs that draw on themes of loss and renewal, of drawing inspiration from scarcity, of generations past and future, of responsibility and maturity, of hoping that something pure can last. The Suburbs, like its namesake, revels in open space, reflections on long drives, and contemplating possibilities. Lyrics decrying wasted time, arms folded tight, and cities with no children, are set to sparse pop, icy new wave epics, anthemetic punk and lush balladry — all delivered with a breadth and beauty that expands the palette of a band that has never settled for the easy route out of town.13 – We Used To Wait – Arcade Fire – clip
02 – Ready To Start – Arcade Fire- clip
Universal
Brian Howes “Cha-Ching” , “Perfect” – THE SHOW MUST GO – Hedley
“Cha-Ching” , “Perfect” – THE SHOW MUST GO – Hedley
Songwriter-singer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, A&R professional and studio owner – the Vancouver-based Brian Howes’ name crops up repeatedly as a writer and producer on massive hit recordings by Hinder, Daughtry, David Cook, Puddle of Mudd, Boys Like Girls and Hedley, among others. In 2007 Brian won a JUNO Award for Producer of the Year. Howes produced Hedley’s 2009 hit “Perfect” and the penned/produced hits “Cha-Ching” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” Howes looks forward to adding to his impressive resume with more exciting projects.01 – Cha-Ching – Hedley – clip
08 – Perfect – Hedley – clip
Reprise*WEA, Jive*Sony
Daniel Lanois “Hitchhiker”– LE NOISE Neil Young, “I Believe in You” BLACK DUB – Black Dub
“Hitchhiker”– LE NOISE Neil Young, “I Believe in You” BLACK DUB – Black Dub
One of the most distinctive and celebrated producers of his time, Daniel Lanois is also a gifted composer and solo artist; whether performing his own material or helming records for the likes of U2, Bob Dylan, and Peter Gabriel, the hallmarks of his singular aesthetic remained the same. Noted for his unparalleled atmospheric sensibilities, Lanois pursued emotional honesty over technical perfection, relying on vintage equipment and unorthodox studio methods to achieve a signature sound both viscerally powerful and intricately beautiful. He was born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Québec; his French-Canadian family was firmly rooted in music, with his mother a singer and both his father and grandfather noted for their prowess on the violin. Following his parents’ 1963 separation, Lanois and his mother moved to the English-speaking suburbs of Hamilton, ON; there he learned to play guitar, and with his brother, Robert, began making primitive home recordings on a cheap cassette player. In 1970, the siblings purchased a four-track machine, setting up a recording studio in the laundry room of their home and offering their services to local bands for a 60-cent fee.06 – Hitchhiker – Neil Young – clip
02 – I Believe In You – Black Dub – clip
Warner Bros.*Warner, Reprise/143*Warner
David Foster “Bring Me To Life” BELIEVE- Katherine Jenkins, “Secret” – COMMITMENT – Seal
“Bring Me To Life” BELIEVE- Katherine Jenkins, “Secret” – COMMITMENT – Seal
To say that everything David Foster touches turns to gold — and usually platinum — would be an understatement. This stunningly talented producer and songwriter is a 15-time Grammy Award winner with an unprecedented 44 nominations, a recipient of seven JUNO Awards, an Emmy Award in 2004 and a three-time Oscar nominee, all over the course of four extraordinarily successful decades. In 2007 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He has worked with the biggest and best talents in the music industry, including Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Céline Dion, Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Madonna, N’Sync, The Corrs, Natalie Cole, and many more. The good news for the music industry and his followers is that he’s just getting started.08 – Secret – Seal – clip
02 – Bring Me To Life – Katherine Jenkins – clip
Cold Snap*Universal
Gavin Brown & Sarah Harmer “Captive” , “New Loneliness” OH LITTLE FIRE – Sarah Harmer
“Captive” , “New Loneliness” OH LITTLE FIRE – Sarah Harmer
Gavin “Golden” Brown is a Canadian musician and record producer. He has produced material for Three Days Grace, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Midway State, Billy Talent, Cancer Bats, Thornley, The Reason, The Tea Party, Danny Michel, Out of Your Mouth, Ryan Malcolm, Sarah Harmer, and Stereos. Brown also plays drums, bass and guitar, and has appeared on recordings by Big Sugar, Hayden, Crash Vegas, Skydiggers, Spookey Ruben, Jim Cuddy, Phleg Camp, Betty Moon, Andrew Walker and Lifelike Weeds. Some of his projects have gone gold and platinum in both Canada and the U.S. He was also awarded the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year JUNO Award in 2004, for the Billy Talent and Three Days Grace albums.02 – Captive – Sarah Harmer – clip
03 – New Loneliness – Sarah Harmer – clip
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03 – Vinicius – Jayme Stone – clip
02 – Cold Outside – Ruth Moody – clip
02 – On A Bright May Morning – McKennitt, Loreena – clip
01 – Midnight Train to Georgia – David Clayton-Thomas – clip
04 – Life Won’t Wait – Ozzy Osbourne – clip
01 – Let It Die – Ozzy Osbourne – clip
07 – Late Bloomer – Sarah Harmer – clip
02 – Captive – Sarah Harmer – clip
02 – Break – Three Days Grace – clip
01 – What Do You Got_ – Bon Jovi – clip
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Redhouse*Outside, Independent*Outside
David Travers-Smith “Cold Outside” THE GARDEN-Ruth Moody, “Vinicius” ROOM OF WONDERS – Jayme Stone
“Cold Outside” THE GARDEN-Ruth Moody, “Vinicius” ROOM OF WONDERS – Jayme Stone
David Travers-Smith is a Toronto-based producer/engineer and musician. He has produced and/or engineered recordings for numerous artists including The Wailin’ Jennys, Jane Siberry, Oh Susanna, Oliver Schroer, Luke Doucet, Jayme Stone, Jim Byrnes, Kevin Breit and many more. Recordings he has produced and/or engineered have garnered 26 JUNO Award nominations, including eight wins. Additionally, projects in which he has had a major role have won awards at The Maple Blues, Western Canadian Music, American Folk Alliance, American Indie Music, Canadian Folk Music and East Coast Music Awards. He was nominated as Engineer of the Year at the 2007 JUNO Awards for his work on The Wailin’ Jennys Firecracker CD. In 2009, two CDs he produced and/or engineered have won JUNO Awards: Jayme Stone’s Africa to Appalachia and Old Man Luedecke’s Proof of Love; and he was nominated for Producer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2009. His work has been featured in the publications EQMag, Recording Magazine and Canadian Musician and he has toured extensively as a trumpet player with Jane Siberry and Oliver Schroer.03 – Vinicius – Jayme Stone – clip
02 – Cold Outside – Ruth Moody – clip
Quinlan Road*Universal, Antoinette*Universal
Jeff Wolpert “On A Bright May Morning” THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY – Loreena McKennitt, “Midnight Train to Georgia” SOUL BALLADS – David Clayton-Thomas
“On A Bright May Morning” THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY – Loreena McKennitt, “Midnight Train to Georgia” SOUL BALLADS – David Clayton-Thomas
A multi-award winning engineer, mixer, producer, editor and educator, Wolpert has recorded some of the biggest names in today’s music industry, in addition to a successful career working in film and television.02 – On A Bright May Morning – McKennitt, Loreena – clip
01 – Midnight Train to Georgia – David Clayton-Thomas – clip
Epic*Sony
Kevin Churko “Let It Die” , “Life Won’t Wait” SCREAM – Ozzy Osbourne
“Let It Die” , “Life Won’t Wait” SCREAM – Ozzy Osbourne
After spending years in Switzerland under the tutelage of world-renowned producer, Mutt Lange, Kevin Churko has emerged as one of the music industry’s leading engineers/producers in his own right. Canadian-bred but currently residing in Las Vegas where he works out of his private studio, “The Hideout,” Churko has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Shania Twain, Ringo Starr, Britney Spears and The Corrs and Hinder. He also co-wrote and co-produced Ozzy Osbourne’s latest two albums, Black Rain and Scream, which produced two U.S. Rock No. 1 singles.04 – Life Won’t Wait – Ozzy Osbourne – clip
01 – Let It Die – Ozzy Osbourne – clip
Cold Snap*Universal
Lenny De Rose “Captive” , “Late Bloomers” OH LITTLE FIRE – Sarah Harmer
“Captive” , “Late Bloomers” OH LITTLE FIRE – Sarah Harmer
Lenny DeRose is a veteran studio engineer and music producer who has been credited on several recordings dating back to the early 1980s. As an engineer, he has been credited for his work on several motion picture soundtracks, including Naked in New York and 9½ Weeks, among others. DeRose has been nominated for several JUNO Awards for his work, and has produced every recording released by The Philosopher Kings. In 1995, he received the Recording Engineer of the Year award for his work with the band.07 – Late Bloomer – Sarah Harmer – clip
02 – Captive – Sarah Harmer – clip
Island*Universal , Jive*Sony
Mike Plotnikoff “What Do You Got?” GREATEST HITS: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION – Bon Jovi , “Break” LIFE STARTS NOW – Life Starts Now
“What Do You Got?” GREATEST HITS: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION – Bon Jovi , “Break” LIFE STARTS NOW – Life Starts Now
Producer/mixer/engineer Mike Plotnikoff has had a hand in some of the biggest and most important rock albums of the past two decades. Mike began his career engineering albums from seminal rock bands like Aerosmith, Van Halen, Kiss and the Scorpions. But it wasn’t long before Mike took on the role of mixer as well, mixing albums for The Cranberries, Delerium, Yes and Motley Crue. In the early 2000’s Mike began engineering and mixing projects with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson, starting with the breakout album, Satellite, from P.O.D. The collaboration between Benson and Plotnikoff has since lead to some of the most successful albums of the past decade including albums by Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Papa Roach, Flyleaf, All American Rejects, My Chemical Romance, Theory of A Deadman and Three Days Grace. As Mike’s career has progressed he has also come into his own producing albums by Drowning Pool, Noise Therapy and the hugely successful album 15, by Buck Cherry.02 – Break – Three Days Grace – clip
01 – What Do You Got_ – Bon Jovi – clip
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Vincent Morisset describes his work as “cinematic interactivity.” Filmmaker, programmer, inventor, Vincent is looking for new ways to tell stories (interactive videos, Bicolorama, PianoAnimations, etc.). Creativity Magazine, Shots and Boards all selected Vincent in its 2008 directors to watch list. Vincent is considered as a pioneer in interactive music videos. For the album The Suburbs, Vincent developed the Synchronised Artwork concept. Pushing the possibilities of digital artwork into new territories with contextual visuals, hyperlinks and synchronised lyrics. Vincent was nominated twice for JUNO Awards, for Music Video of the Year (Neon Bible) and Music DVD of the year (MIROIR NOIR).
Caroline Robert
Caroline Robert is a graphic designer and illustrator from Lyon. She moved to Montreal in 2007 to study etching. In 2008, Caroline presented Faits du meme bois, a solo exhibition at Illustre Gallery. She also worked for music artists: Arcade Fire, Sigur Ros, Jean Leloup, Emilie Simon, Louis Lortie and Avec Pas d’casque. She designed the artwork for Arcade Fire’s MIROIR NOIR, and The Suburbs, including eight different covers. Caroline is currently working on Spike Jonze’s upcoming project.
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Land of Talk*Secret City/EMI
Corri-Lynn Tetz (Art Director) Cloak and Cipher LAND OF TALK
Cloak and Cipher LAND OF TALK
Art Director Corri-Lynn Tetz grew up inspired by tornados, wood paneling, horses and heavy metal ballads. She received a diploma of Art and Design from Red Deer College and later moved to Vancouver, BC, to receive a BFA from Emily Carr College. After several shows at the Bjornson Kajiwara Gallery Corri-Lynn relocated to Montréal where she currently lives and works. Her paintings have been featured in the Magenta foundations publication, Carte Blanche and can be seen on the cover of the Besnard Lakes’ Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse, as well as their most recent release Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night. Her work has also been included in several albums for A Silver Mount Zion and most visibly, the front and back covers of Land of Talk’s recent release Cloak and Cipher. Aside from painting, Corri-Lynn can now also be seen on stage performing back-up vocals alongside Land of Talk’s Elizabeth Powell.
EMI
Graeme Patterson (Art Director) New Inheritors WINTERSLEEP
New Inheritors WINTERSLEEP
Originating from Saskatoon, now living in Halifax Graeme Patterson’s practice stems from a self developed approach to creating stop-motion animation. This “do it yourself” method is consistent in all facets of his production. Since graduating from NSCAD in 2002, his projects can be described as sculptural installations consisting of video, robotics, audio, music, and some interactive components. Generally he works in miniature using a 1:10 scale which originates from childhood. His installations attempt to bring the viewer in to the world of play Graeme exists in while creating his stop-motion animations. From 2004- 2007 he created a large body of work entitled “Woodrow.” This 10-piece installation encompasses all aspects of his practice. All of his work is based on personal memories and life experience with a mix of fantasy and surrealism. Currently Graeme is working towards another 3-4 year project focusing on finding and renewing his ties with a long lost friend from his childhood. Much like “Woodrow” Graeme will be travelling and plans to take temporary residence in Japan to create connections between his memories and reality.
Hand Drawn Dracula*Outside
James Mejia (Art Director/Designer/Illustrator) Mutant Message BY DIVINE RIGHT
Mutant Message BY DIVINE RIGHT
James Mejia is a Toronto-based artist/designer. He has worked with many diverse independent and major label artists including Feist, Great Big Sea, Ron Sexsmith, Hawksley Workman, Greg Keelor, Luke Doucet, Great Lake Swimmers, Wintersleep and Holy F**k. James received a 2006 JUNO Award nomination for CD Artwork Design Of The Year, won a 2006 COAST Award for Best Album Artwork, and won The 7th Annual REELWORLD Film Festival Award for Best Music Video 2007 (Wintersleep’s Jaws of Life). Centered around the psychedelic song writing of Jose Contreras, By Divine Right’s line-up was ever evolving. Ranging between tight pop perfection and all-out noise hysteria, the line up bolstered the talent of some later year musical crusaders such as Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning and Feist, members of The Meligrove Band, and Holy F**k’s Brian Borcherdt. Mutant Message is By Divine Right’s first new record in five years and is quite possibly their best yet.
Arts & Crafts*EMI
Justin Peroff, Robyn Kotyk & Joe McKay (Art Directors/Designers); Jimmy Collins & Elisabeth Chicoine (Photographers) Forgiveness Rock Record Vinyl Box Set
Forgiveness Rock Record Vinyl Box Set
The artwork for Broken Social Scene’s Forgiveness Rock Record was largely the creation of drummer Justin Peroff, who worked closely with California-based artist and friend Joe McKay to develop the collage featured on the cover, an expression of unity and change inspired by global thinking. Justin then brought the artwork to Canada where he and Arts & Crafts in-house designer Robyn Kotyk collaborated on creating the custom box set, which consists of seven beautifully coloured 10-inch vinyl pieces, each holding two songs from the record. Justin has always played a prominent role in developing the BSS aesthetic and artwork for the albums, and working with the JUNO Award-nominated Kotyk, helped to create a must-have item for BSS fans around the world. Visually, texturally and sonically vibrant, the Forgiveness Rock Record vinyl box set is a tremendous accomplishment in the creation of an item that is at once overwhelmingly captivating to the eye and unquestionably compelling to the ear.
Sonovox*F.A.B.
Vincent Morisset (Art Director) Caroline Robert (Designer); Gabriel Jones (Photographer) The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE
The Suburbs ARCADE FIRE
Vincent MorissetVincent Morisset describes his work as “cinematic interactivity.” Filmmaker, programmer, inventor, Vincent is looking for new ways to tell stories (interactive videos, Bicolorama, PianoAnimations, etc.). Creativity Magazine, Shots and Boards all selected Vincent in its 2008 directors to watch list. Vincent is considered as a pioneer in interactive music videos. For the album The Suburbs, Vincent developed the Synchronised Artwork concept. Pushing the possibilities of digital artwork into new territories with contextual visuals, hyperlinks and synchronised lyrics. Vincent was nominated twice for JUNO Awards, for Music Video of the Year (Neon Bible) and Music DVD of the year (MIROIR NOIR).
Caroline Robert
Caroline Robert is a graphic designer and illustrator from Lyon. She moved to Montreal in 2007 to study etching. In 2008, Caroline presented Faits du meme bois, a solo exhibition at Illustre Gallery. She also worked for music artists: Arcade Fire, Sigur Ros, Jean Leloup, Emilie Simon, Louis Lortie and Avec Pas d’casque. She designed the artwork for Arcade Fire’s MIROIR NOIR, and The Suburbs, including eight different covers. Caroline is currently working on Spike Jonze’s upcoming project.
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VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY VEVO)
Arts & Crafts*EMI
Adam Makarenko & Alan Poon (Makapoon) BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE Forced to Love
Forced to Love
Makapoon consists of one part Adam Makarenko, one part Alan Poon, a semi-sweet elixir known for its powerful aroma and ability to cause temporary psychosis and/or hysteria. To be consumed in small doses. Makarenko and Poon formed the directing duo known as Makapoon in 2010. They both got into making music videos back in 2008, when Poon directed a stop-motion music video for the Bowerbirds for a song called “In Our Talons.” For the Bowerbirds video, Makarenko hand-crafted all the sets and was the cinematographer. A few years later, Makarenko was approached by the band Zeus, who were fascinated by his photography. They asked him to make a music video for them. Makarenko invited Poon on board and it was at this point they formed Makapoon.
Tacca*Unidisc
Benjamin Lussier ARIEL Chargez!
Chargez!
2007, lorsqu’Ariel Coulombe découvre à tour de rôle quatre musiciens qui sortent de l’ordinaire. Il voit en eux tous les éléments qui correspondent à l’idéal du groupe de musique qu’il cherche à créer depuis un bon moment. Ariel s’inscrit à l’édition 2009 des Francouvertes et remporte la première place après avoir occupé le premier rang du classement du début à la fin, un précédent dans l’histoire du concours. Dans la foulée de cette grande victoire, Ariel signe une entente avec Tacca Musique pour la production et la mise en marché de son premier album et une entente avec Audiogram Spectacles pour les spectacles. En 2009, Ariel offre une série de prestations lors de différents événements : Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, M pour Montréal, Nuit blanche sur tableau noir et Coup de coeur francophone. À l’automne, la pièce Chargez! attire l’attention des radios et effectue une entrée officielle dans les palmarès. Pour son premier opus, Après le crime, Ariel choisit de confier la réalisation à Gus van Go. Ensemble ils cristallisent ce savant mélange de stoner rock, de glam rock et de new wave que le groupe concoctait jusque-là sur les planches.
Last Gang*Universal
Christopher Mills METRIC Collect Call
Collect Call
Christopher Mills is best known for his video work for Modest Mouse, The Tragically Hip, The Secret Machines, and Interpol–combining live action with animation in a style he describes as, “Rumpled Country Art Doctor Antiques Lover Who Thinks Out Of The Box Yet Imagines Vast Worlds Inside It.” In addition to music videos and commercials, Christopher has created visual work for the Art Gallery of Ontario as well as for The Tragically Hip’s stadium concert tour in 2005. He created and directed, “Macroscopic,” a 47-minute experimental documentary about The Tragically Hip that was included in their 20-year retrospective, Hipeponymous, released in late 2005. Christopher has received many awards for his music video work, including a JUNO Award for 2008 Video of the Year for Blue Rodeo’s “C’mon” and Best Breakthrough Video for Modest Mouses’ “Float On” in 2004. His 2006 mixed-media commercial for Hewlett-Packard, called :Crazy Town,” was his first U.S. commercial. Christopher lives in Toronto.
Universal
Kyle Davison HEDLEY Perfect
Perfect
Kyle Davison began his career photographing birds for the Huber-Penrose Field Naturalist Birding Club of South Western Ontario. His candid nest shots of the Plumbeous Vireo caught the attention of Dr. Ronald Belnick Sr., an avid bird watcher and father of the now deceased Ronald Belnick Jr., then drummer for controversial death metal band My Dad Secretly Fu*ks Birds. Ronald Sr. reached out to Kyle via birdingpal.com and asked if he would photograph and direct a music video for his son’s band. The track was called “I Wear Giant Bird Costumes So Dad Will Pay Attention To Me.” Kyle agreed. Unfortunately the video was terrible and ruined the band before they could get started. Kyle continues to make music videos.
WEA*Warner
Michael Maxxis BILLY TALENT Saint Veronika
Saint Veronika
The 2010 MuchMusic Director of the Year, Michael Maxxis has made a quick and commanding insurgence into the music video scene with his original, raw, and purist style. His passion for shooting on film and achieving visual effects in camera has created an identity that stands on its own. Recent credits include videos for Billy Talent, Hot Hot Heat, Three Days Grace, Alexisonfire, Ours, P.O.D., Jimmy Gnecco, Cradle of Filth, and The Heavy. Michael has also achieved international critical acclaim with his short film Steak and Milk which has screened at festivals around the world. Steak and Milk was followed by 8 for Infinity, starring Jimmy Gnecco and David Carradine. 8 for Infinity will be hitting the festival circuit in 2011.
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MUSIC DVD OF THE YEAR
Shadow Shows/Rhombus Media/Arts & Crafts*Alliance
Bruce McDonald Dany M. Chiasson, Niv Fichman, Noah Segal, Amy Paquette BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE This Movie is Broken
This Movie is Broken
One of Canada’s pre-eminent cult fimmakers, Bruce McDonald is infamous for his comment that he’d buy “a big chunk of hash” with the money he won at the Toronto International Film Festival for his debut feature Roadkill. Anyone who’s seen one of his films knows that he wasn’t joking. Roadkill was followed by the other two films in his Road Trilogy, Hard Core Logo and Highway 61. In between executive producing and directing the television series Twitch City and directing for shows like Queer as Folk, Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Tournament and This is Wonderland, McDonald also directed the films Dance Me Outside, Picture Claire, Claire’s Hat, The Love Crimes of Gillian Guess, The Tracey Fragments, Pontypool and This Movie is Broken. His most recent film, Trigger, premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.
WEA*Warner
Christopher Mills Nick Blasko, Geoff McLean, Christopher Mills BUCK 65 The Lost Tapes
The Lost Tapes
Christopher Mills is best known for his video work for Modest Mouse, The Tragically Hip, The Secret Machines, and Interpol–combining live action with animation in a style he describes as, “Rumpled Country Art Doctor Antiques Lover Who Thinks Out Of The Box Yet Imagines Vast Worlds Inside It.” In addition to music videos and commercials, Christopher has created visual work for the Art Gallery of Ontario as well as for The Tragically Hip’s stadium concert tour in 2005. He created and directed, “Macroscopic,” a 47-minute experimental documentary about The Tragically Hip that was included in their 20-year retrospective, Hipeponymous, released in late 2005. Christopher has received many awards for his music video work, including a JUNO Award for 2008 Video of the Year for Blue Rodeo’s “C’mon” and Best Breakthrough Video for Modest Mouses’ “Float On” in 2004. His 2006 mixed-media commercial for Hewlett-Packard, called: Crazy Town,” was his first U.S. commercial. Christopher lives in Toronto.
Columbia*Sony
Jean Lamoureux, Julie Snyder CELINE DION Céline-Tournée Mondiale Taking Chances Le Spectacle
Céline-Tournée Mondiale Taking Chances Le Spectacle
Celine -Tournee Mondiale Taking Chances Le Spectacle is the exclusive French version filmed live in Québec. The U.S. edition features only her English language songs, performed throughout all of North America. La Tournee Mondiale Taking Chances Le Spectacle, showcases Céline’s inspiring dedication to creating a stage experience like no other. The DVD/CD offers another chance to experience the magical event, this time from a vantage point unparalleled by any ticket
Naxos
Jeremy Tusz, Tom Beghin, Martha De Francisco, Wieslaw Woszczyk TOM BEGHIN The Virtual Haydn
The Virtual Haydn
Jeremy Tusz is a Montréal-based recording engineer, editor, and video producer specializing in classical music. He splits his time between CD/SACD/BluRay Audio album production, and promotional and educational video production for musicians and record labels. The Virtual Haydn (Playing the Room) is his first full-length documentary on a screenplay by Robert J. Litz. Jeremy works with artists and groups such as Lara St. John, Jens Lindemann, Alain Lefèvre, Angèle Dubeau, Kent Nagano and l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, The National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Les Violons du Roi, l’Ensemble Caprice, and The Knights. His work can be heard on recordings for labels such as Analekta, Ancalagon, Azica, Marquis Classics, Naxos, Sony Classical, Virgin Classics, and XXI. He has credits on 10 JUNO Award-nominated recordings (three wins), a MIDEM-nominated recording, an Echo Klassik-winning recording, and many ADISQ-nominated and winning recordings. Jeremy has a background in violin and viola performance and is a graduate of the McGill University Schulich School of Music Masters of Music in Sound Recording program (2006).
Alliance
Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Pegi Cecconi, Noah Segal, Shelley Nott, John Virant RUSH Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage
Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage
Rush is one of rock’s most influential bands, ranking third for most gold and platinum albums behind The Beatles and Rolling Stones. But despite having legions of devoted fans and being revered by generations of musicians, they have been ignored by critics and continually overlooked by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with some of today’s most respected rock artists, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage explores the 40-year career and phenomenon behind what could be the world’s biggest cult band.
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01 – Odessa – Caribou – clip
07 – Never Stop – Chilly Gonzales – clip
02 – Celestica – Crystal Castles – clip
03 – Latin America – Holy Fuck – clip
04 – 90′s Backyard – Poirier – clip
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Caribou Merge*F.A.B.
Caribou Swim
Swim
Swim is Caribou’s masterpiece and the record Dan Snaith has wanted to bring to fruition for as long as he has been making music. Snaith has been a leading figure in electronic music over the past decade. A mathematics scholar and ingenious multi-instrumentalist/composer, he surprised critics and fans with 2007’s Andorra, a brilliant, electro-tinged pop breakthrough. After the startling infectiousness of Andorra, Swim is a more complex, multi-layered affair—rife with fascinating rhythms, instrumentation, and vocals that become more alluring with each listen. “This is the record I’m most proud of because it’s the most ‘me’ in the way things sound; I feel like I have my own vocabulary now,” says Snaith. “So much of contemporary music is soaked in referencing this or that. I wanted people to put the record on and not be able to say, ‘This sounds like so-and-so.’ I want people to say, ‘This sounds like Dan!’ It’s what everybody wants—to have their fingerprint on the music they’re making. I feel like I’ve achieved that to a greater extent than I have in the past, and that’s exciting.”01 – Odessa – Caribou – clip
Arts & Crafts*EMI
Chilly Gonzales Ivory Towers
Ivory Towers
The question Who is Chilly Gonzales? elicits various answers: Berlin underground prankster rapper, workaholic Grammy-nominated producer, melancholic piano virtuoso or Guinness World Record holder. And now: Ivory Tower writer, composer, actor and producer. Gonzales left Canada for Berlin in 1998. Daft Punk, Bjork remixes did him well, but it wasn’t enough. So on to Paris, and collaborations with Feist on her Let It Die and The Reminder. Solo Piano then became Gonzales’ own best-selling album, introducing him to an audience that actually buys music. The piano pieces were used in films too, but to fully satisfy his insatiable ambition, only one thing was left to do and he did it: Gonzales broke he Guinness World Record for longest solo concert with 27 hours of piano. But Gonzales didn’t stop there. Most recently, his track “Never Stop” from the new album Ivory Tower, was chosen as the music for Apple’s worldwide iPad campaign.07 – Never Stop – Chilly Gonzales – clip
Last Gang*Universal
Crystal Castles Crystal Castles (II)
Crystal Castles (II)
Crystal Castles is an experimental electronic music band from Toronto, ON, consisting of producer Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known for their chaotic live shows and their lo-fi home productions. The duo have released many vinyl EPs between 2006–2007 and also two eponymous albums, in 2008 and 2010 respectively. The band’s debut album was included in the “Top 50 Greatest Albums of the Decade” by NME Magazine, at number 39. The band’s second album, also titled Crystal Castles but known as Crystal Castles II, was in 2010. An early mix of the album leaked reached No. 1 on various electronic music charts worldwide.02 – Celestica – Crystal Castles – clip
Lights Music*Universal
Holy Fuck Latin
Latin
Six years ago, Graham Walsh and Brian Borcherdt started Holy Fuck, a chaotic live celebration of lo-fi noise and casio-driven rock. With a rotating rhythm section of close friends and multi-talented players, they were called “Toronto’s evil super group.” One of their first shows, at Pop Montréal, New York-based MC, and ex-Antipop Consortium member Beans was so impressed with their unique take on electronic music that he invited them to Coachella as his backing band. A heavy hitting live act, with a devoted audience of cultish fans and new comers drawn by their reputation, they’ve toured with Do Make Say Think, !!!, Clinic, Wolf Parade, Cornelius, Metric, MIA, A Place To Bury Strangers and Mouse on Mars. They’ve also made appearances at renowned festivals like Vegoose, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Montréal Jazz, SXSW, and CMJ. Sequestering themselves in a converted barn in Northern Ontario, Latin, produced by member Graham Walsh and mixed by Dave Newfeld (BSS) and Paul Epworth (Adele), showcases their permanent touring line up. Drummer Schulz and bass player McQuaid provide a complex rhythm foundation that at times feels like an invisible hand leading you through a dark hedge maze.03 – Latin America – Holy Fuck – clip
Ninja Tune*Outside
Poirier Running High
Running High
Drawing from a wide range of tropical riddims and urban electro, the power of Montréal-based DJ/producer Poirier’s bass blasts through any flimsy attempt to classify his music. Pinpointing the bits and pieces of dancehall beats, soca energy and electronic intensity is futile in the face of Poirier’s dance-driven creativity and air horn-worthy excitement. Signed to Ninja Tune, this is a man who just understands what works in the dance.04 – 90′s Backyard – Poirier – clip
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