The Charlotte Street Arts Centre is humming with new sounds provided by artists-in-residence Joel LeBlanc and Evan Shaw. Musicians and the general public are invited to join LeBlanc and Shaw in open door rehearsals, called Hard)s(core, in the CSAC Auditorium throughout May, June and early July. Participants will be led in a shared exploration of a series of new, inclusive compositions – pieces that are open enough for anyone to play regardless of technical ability or background. At the end of the residency, there will be a concert for the public in the CSAC Auditorium.
All are welcome to participate! Just bring along any instrument, electronics, oddities, voice, etc. on any (or every) Thursday from 7-9pm, starting May 9, 2013. Participation is free! If interested or for more information, please call Joel LeBlanc at 476-1034 or 455-1172, or email lebja@nbnet.nb.ca.
Multi instrumentalist and composer, LeBlanc toured North America and Europe from 1997-2009 with the roots trio, Hot Toddy. He has performed at major international festivals in the blues, jazz and folk such as Newport Folk Festival (NY), Blue Balls (Lucern), Montreal Jazz Festival and Vancouver Jazz Festival as well as opening for luminaries Bill Frisell and Dolly Parton. Composition and improvised music are his current pursuits. Locally, he directs the Overtime Community Improv Choir, co-curates Surgery Series and is a CIRCUIT presenter/performer – a national organization for developing venues for touring improvisors.
Evan Shaw has been performing, composing and teaching music for over 20 years and holds a Master of Music degree from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Shaw has performed at the Guelph International Jazz Festival, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, L’Off Festival de Jazz (Montreal), and the Banff International Jazz Workshop. He currently teaches saxophone privately and has taught master classes, courses and workshops at Trent University, St. Francis Xavier University, UNB and at public schools throughout the Maritimes.