THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL (Directed by Lee Won tae)

One of my favourite films ever!

Murder abounds in the city of Cheoman. Tae-suk, a no-nonsense policeman knows these brutal killings are the work of a serial killer. His force doesn’t buy it. The gangster, Dong-soo (marvellously played by Don Lee) is himself attacked, but he survives the stab wounds. He joins forces with Tae-suk, but both are extremely weary of the other. One wants revenge for the stabbing in any horrid way he can conjure; the other wants to find the killer and bring him to justice via the courts.  Full of intrigue and suspense, the two hunters for the killer called K are on the war path. 

This action-packed non-stop witty film is a plot pleaser that has all the twists and corrupt turns one expects in Korea these days. Dynamic in dialogue, character and crime, this film is a blockbuster classic. This was my Fantasia thriller favourite.  Interesting that Sylvester Stallone will be playing the part of Dong-soo; also interesting that Dong-soo did not make it in the United States, so he returned to South Korea where he made it big time.

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THE PURITY OF VENGEANCE (Directed by Christoffer Boe) *****

     A great plot based on one of the worst moments in Danish history the sterilization of women considered to be troubled, defective and then some. It happened in the early 20^th- century and ended by government decree in 1967. The plot puts two unlikely partners together, one Muslim – the other born in Denmark. The tall Muslim partner is about to be promoted and it would seem his partner does not care. Their names are Carl and Assad. When they encounter a gruesome scene of four skeletons, trapped behind a wall -- all seated at a table with jars holding some of their innards a huge can of worms are opened and the story opens on past events that slowly reveal the true story about how these skeletons got there. Based on the best-selling novel this film, the highest-grossing in Denmark’s history shows an ugly side to the Scandinavian state hailed as a modern-day utopia by most. It’s a skeleton that has come out of this country’s closet –so to speak.

SHOOTING THE MAFIA (Directed by Kim Longinotto) *****

SHOOTING THE MAFIA (Directed by Kim Longinotto) *****

This compelling documentary shines a great lens on the Scilian photojournalist, Letizia Battaglia. Once an actress,  she marches to her own drum. She is fierce, brave, honest and warm like the heat of Palermo where she lives. A gifted photographer, Italy’s first female to hold the lens up up, she tackles mafia crime, bringing murderous mafia members to justice. She left an oppressive marriage to begin her career in 1971 while raising three daughters, she found herself in a swarm of machismo powerful men, but never cowered, preserving her vibrant values to seek justice.

 It was very moving to have archival testimony from two of Palermo’s greatest brave judges, but one was gunned down: Giovanni Falcone; the other blown up: Paolo Borsellino.

She is really the first female to fight against brutality in he country, using her lens. Viva the individualists who put everything on the line for freedom and justice. Is it any wonder, her lovers were young men!

ASTRONAUT (Directed by Shelagh Mcleod) *****

The best film ever to grace Fantasia since its inception 23 years ago in its genre. It is so intelligent and sensitive.When an old retired geological engineer discovers there’s a contest on inviting people ages 20 to 60, to go to space in the first ever commercial launch, Angus is visually on board. His dream has been to go to space. He is obsessed with it in fact. 

This film is certainly about dreams, but it is also about transcending family problems and never giving up on anything. Richard Dryfuss was brilliant s Angus. I cried at the end. Touching, funny and oh so real, this is the film that pretty makes all other films in this festival look like films. Astronaut overcame any contrived look, pretensions and obstacles. and took us to the stars.

                                       ________________________

ALAN PARSON'S NIGHT TO SHINE - THE SECRET IS OUT

Concert Review
July 4th, Salle Wilfred Laurier, Place des Arts

It was a spectacular sound and light show with all the fury and fabulous fuzzy sounds one would expect from Alan Parson's intricate engineering and compositions colliding and intercepting in a confluence of appealing melodies. The seven musicians were beyond compare; the vocals were outstanding -- as exciting as the instrumentation. 

The brilliant band: lead singer, P.J. Olsson, guitarist Jeff Kollman, keyboardist, Dan Tracey, bass guitarist, Guy Erez, vocalist and saxophonist, Todd Cooper, drummer, Donny Thompson Sonic sensations -- each and everyone of them.

The opening number off his  latest album, "Secrets" referenced the galaxy. Indeed the entire concert seemed to reflect endless time and the mystery of it all.
"Time forever, time gone. Time is flowing like a river. Who knows where we shall meet again?" This was a line from one song , and it seemed to be the poignant anthem for the concert.
 Parsons sang three songs. His child-like voice is soft and gentle as are the lyrics. He sang about no regrets,  love and  the confluence of lives with time flowing as heard in  Miracles -- a track on   "Secrets".
Limelight gave us the copiously powerful vocals with  these emboldening lyrics: 
"Nothing's gonna change my mind, Limelight shining on me, telling the world who I am ".
 One loudly brash song offered this defiant lyric: "I wouldn't care what you do; I wouldn't want to be you." There is a pugnacious punch in many of his instrumental arrangements and in the lyrics too.
Parsons, himself was loudly bolstered by the instrumental collective saxophone, bassist,  three guitars, drums, and keyboard -- all plugged in and super loud. 
One stunning instrumental featured ghoulish flavours and vibrational sound effects.  It seemed to emulate the cacophony and chaos of the world. It was mesmerizing and the crowd went nuts at the end.
One of the two lead singers sung a moving song whose lyrics resonated with everyone:: "If it's getting hard to face everyday, don't let it show; though it's getting hard to take what they say, just let it go."
 The band played non-stop for over well over an hour. the stamina and musical prowess of the artists awesomely engaged us with the signature sounds that  can only be made by the great Alan Parsons. I wish the lyrics had been up on a super, as often the instruments drowned out many lyrics. I also wish Parsons had enlightened the audience more about his new album. Sadly when the members of the band were introduced at various times, it was very difficult to hear their names. The instrumentals were overstated but the talking was very understated. Still, it was a gorgeous cluster of Parson's signature sounds whose intricate compositions hold their own secrets that only geniuses can unravel.
Parsons is a quiet man; his music is where we hear  speaks and the whole world hears.

Read more about the Jazz Fest HERE

 





           

Alan Parsons Jazz Fest Press Conference, July 3rd

                 Alan Parsons

Interviewer, Nicolas Tittley (right) Alan Parson (left)

 It's been fifteen years since the release of the last album by this engineering.producer/composer (he calls the latter"doodling" on the piano, and then things). Clearly, this new album has its own nostalgic vintage flavour. Taking over a year to make, "Secrets" is really a call to the past, but but uses all kind of new tech equipment housed in his recently build California studio (whose grounds are graced by the avocados he grows).

Parsons highlighted the collaboration on the album. Jason Mraz joins parsons in the soft-rock ballad, "Miracle". Amazingly, he has never met Mraz.
"It was all done by the internet, revealed parson. "Jason recorded his vocals in Dallas while I listened in Santa Barbara and we sent files back and forth, resulting in this song".

Parsons also added the same way of working was done for the track "Sometimes" with Lou Gramm, the original front runner for the band, Foreigner. The great Steve Hackett plays guitar
 He said one of his favourite tracks was "One Note Symphony" which is sung on a single note,. parsons said the song is a kind of anthem for the moon landing. It makes a strong musical reference to the scientific principle that the universe has a frequency of 7.83 hurts. "We're going to perform this song at Cocoa Beach which is very near the Kennedy Space Centre. The lyrics have a  space-age vibe. Finally this genius composer has just received his first Grammy award. he's been nominated 13 times,  it's about time he got the Grammy. What was revealed in this press conference was the other aspects to Parson's passion. He loves magic. "I got a deck of cards when I was nine years old and began to do magic. I have a big magic collection. I am very involved in  this art." His album "Secrets" has its own kind of magic and mystery; he pointed that out. When asked how he views science (the engineering part of him) with magic he quoted from  Arthur C. Clarke: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable form magic." he stated that the some pieces on the  11-track album are referencing magic: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, le Soiree Fantastique and Miracle.

Parsons is a flautist, guitarist, pianist of most genres, bassist and more. Nothing about the man who has worked with just about every iconic band on earth can surprise us - or can it? It's a secret we want to hear that is now resounding around the world.

myself with Alan Parsons

Catch his concert tonight at Salle Wilfred Laurier at Place des Arts at 7:30 pm.


Concert Review
It was a spectacular sound and light show with all the fury and fabulous fuzzy sounds one would expect from Alan Parson's intricate engineering and compositions colliding and intercepting in a confluence of appealing melodies. The seven musicians were beyond compare, and the vocals were outstanding.
 The opening number off his  latest album, "Secrets" referenced the galaxy. Indeed the entire concert seemed to reflect endless time and the mystery of it all.
"Time forever, time gone. Time is flowing like a river. Who knows where we shall meet again?" This was a line from one song, and it seemed to be the poignant anthem for the concert.
 Parsons sang three songs. His child-like voice is soft and gentle as are the lyrics. He sang about no regrets,  love and  the confluence of lives with time flowing as heard in  Miracles -- a track on   "Secrets".
Limelight gave us the copiously powerful vocals with  these emboldening lyrics: 
"Nothing's gonna change my mind, Limelight shining on me, telling the world who I am ".
 One loudly brash song offered this lyric: "I wouldn't care what you do; I wouldn't want to be you." There is defiance in his instrumental arrangements and in lyrics too.
His  band featured two extraordinary singers,  a brilliant guitarist along with tow other guitars playing, Including Parson, himself -- loudly bolstered by saxophone, bassist,  three guitars, drums, and keyboard -- all plugged in and super loud. 
One stunning instrumental featured ghoulish flavours and vibrational sound effects.  It seemed to emulate the cacophony and chaos of the world. It was mesmerizing and the crowd went nuts at the end.
One of the two lead singers sung a moving song whose lyrics resonated with everyone: "If it's getting hard to face everyday, don't let it show; though it's getting hard to take what they say, just let it go."
 The band played non-stop for over well over an hour. the stamina and musical prowess of the artists awesomely engaged us with the signature sounds that  can only be made by the great Alan Parsons. I wish the lyrics had been up on a super, as often the instruments drowned out many lyrics. I also wish Parsons had enlightened the audience more about his new album. Sadly when the members of the band were introduced at various times, it was very difficult to hear their names. The instrumentals were overstated but the talking was very understated. Still, it was a gorgeous cluster of Parson's signature sounds whose intricate compositions held their own secrets that only geniuses can unravel.
Parsons is a quiet man; his music is where we hear his most influential voice.

Read more about the Jazz Fest HERE

          

Le Grand Bal (Directed by Letetitia Carton) ***

A darling documentary that puts the lens on one of France's biggest events, People from all over the country come together to dance, take workshops, perform and share personal stories now liberated dance.

 It takes place 165 miles south of Paris in an idyllic setting. The music is splendid. You'll want to join the massive amount of ordinary folk who travel to enjoy this remarkable event. 





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International Festival of Jazz Explodes Stunningly

International Musicians Make their Mark

Montreal's International Jazz Fest  celebrates its 40th years by dazzling audiences with iconic world-class international artists. There are fifty indoor concerts in 11 different venues in and around the Quartier du Spectacles. Seventeen countries are represented in the VIP line-up of  solo artists and groups, including legendary musical masters and up-and-coming artists  for the audience to discover. The styles are eclectic, innovative, and some -- reassuringly familiar. The palette is as colourful as Montreal itself. 

                                                downtown concert venues

             For programming, concert locations and tickets, visit the website

                                         www.montrealjazzfest.com

Verdun Now on the Musical Map!

This year, there’s some pretty exciting news for jazz genre lovers about the International Festival of Jazz. The festival has enlargened its sphere of performance venue as it brings fabulous live concerts to Verdun. Wellington Street explodes into a hot bed of jazz fest enjoyment, with performances by great local musicians whose talents can finally be appreciated by the Verdun crowd of festival fans. No more having to go downtown to hear great local artists.

“The idea was, if you don’t want to come to the Jazz Fest, the Jazz Fest will come to you,” said Laurent Saulnier, Vice President of Programming for the festival.

Verdun is not just celebrating its first on-site Jazz Fest concerts, but it's now also home to the first satellite set-up for the festival.

Saulnier also highlighted the total local aspect to this year’s festival, He noted that making local artists and areas the focal point this year “just made sense”. 

Crowds enjoying artists performing in Verdun

   

Webster and 5 for Trio

Wow! This French rap artist delivers the gritty goods with passion and authenticity. His themes are about love, xenophobia, racism and everyday oppression. His band plays to perfection with rhythms that punch Webster's messages.

 DJ Fade Wizard

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SESQUIALTERA

This six-piece band is delightfully unique in the waltz music it brashly performs. Its vintage spin fires up the rhythms and sounds of the world, mixing Columbia pasillo and Brazilian chorro in waltz beat that brings nostalgia to anyone dancing feet. The brass band's  leader, Aurelien Tomasi plays a passionate clarinet like there's no tomorrow. Tuba, trombone and tympani make it all sparkle.

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Photo credit for the following photos: Edward Acheampong

Linda May Han Ho Quintet

Linda May Han Ho Quintet brought ecstatic joy to Verdun audiences. Born in Malaysia, raised in Australia and living now in New York, she play bass and composes. She's currently the bassist for the Pat Matheny quartet. A fascinating musician, she just finished her 4th album, Walk Against the Wind. It's a masterpiece.

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                 Downtown outdoors concerts: a review of two

Eric Truffaz Quartet

Eric Truffaz blows that trumpet, and the world stops to listen

Jazz trumpeter  Eric Turfazz  lit up Place des Festivals blowing his trumpet to titillate while treating us all to his compositions from his landmrk album, Bending New Corners. Truffaz should change his name to Truejazz, because his trumpet playing merits to blast into his name. The concert included  his friends who added their own taut twist. We enjoyed them all: guest rapper NYA, and long-time musical companions: bassist Marcello Guiliani, drummer  Marc Erbetta and pianist Benoit Corboz              
                                    
                                                        ________________________

Mississippi Heat

The name says it all. This  blues powerhouse gang gets the Afro-American beat into a Mississippi heat wave that embraces all the down-south flavours you can imagine. The band hails from Chicago but their  soulful appeal is world-wide. Songwriter and harmonica player Pierre Lacoque is a god.

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 Read about the press conference with Alan Parsons and my review of his concert.

 https://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.com/2019/07/parsons-pressconference-july-3-rd.html#.XR85A497nIU

https://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.com/2019/07/alan-parsons-night-to-shine.html#.XR845o97nIU