I have a great fondness for latin music, cultures and language.   My trip to Peru in 2007 rekindled my interest.  Spending all weekend surrounded by it, immersed in it, got me fired up again.  How can it not, the music is infectious, in such a good way.

Samba dancers

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I’m not going to begin to attempt to name all the dance and entertainment groups and what country they come from or represent (I’ll leave the Festival site to do that for you), but I can tell you I was not at a loss for what to photograph once in two days.   It was a frenzy of swirling silk skirts, sequins and feathers, fast and fancy footwork, smooth and seductive guitar rhythms, and top it off with great food from the vendors.  A feast for the eyes, ears and soul.

I am amazed at the tango's intricate footwork

Usukuma leading Salsaddiction dancers in Rueda de Casino

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If you missed it this year, make sure you make a point of going next year.  These are just a small sample of some of the images I captured.  To see a larger gallery click on the photo of the guitar below to start the slide show.   If you want to see all 500+ or order prints click on any of the other images to go to the ordering site, or this link to my portfolio.

Click on this image to the start slideshow

Links

Edmonton Latin Festival

Salsaddiction

Capoeira Academy

The parade ended at Churchill Square where the festivities continued and one could partake in Caribbean food, which we did, and watch dancers perform on the stage. We even saw Miss Cariwest 2009 being interviewed.

To see more photos press play below.

About 35 photographers (amateurs, hobbyists and pros) met at the Shaw conference center and embarked on a 2 hour walk through the inner city area, ending finally at Churchill Square. Many different angles were taken of the same subjects along the way and it was interesting to compare how each photographer’s view was slightly different than the next.

Each photographer was then allowed to submit up to two images for the contest. Jason was given the unenviable job of selecting one winning image from among the entries. He announced the winner today and it was Darlene’s image of the Gibson Block below.

This photograph will now go on to represent the walk #2 in the world wide competition for the overall winner for the day.

This is the group photo done at the start of the walk – can you find Darlene? Front row, light blue top and a ball cap.

To see more of Darlene’s images of the walk, please play the slide show below.

My fiance formerfatguy did live Twitter updates throughout the performance. We were seated with our backs to the concrete wall in a section with others doing the same, so none of the other symphony patrons were disturbed or even knew it was happening.

I grew up being exposed to classical music through family friends and I myself starting attending things like the ESO, Edmonton Opera and the Citadel in my early adult years. But many have had little or not exposure to this type of thing. So I think it’s great that the ESO is thinking outside the box to get new people to their performances.

We were treated very well as their guests with invitations to join the corporate champagne reception prior to the show. We were also encouraged to bring guests with us so we brought two guests – my mother and the student from Beijing that lives with us as he goes to University. He is also a musician and had never been to a western or classical event such as the ESO, so we wanted him to have that experience before he leaves to go back to China at the end of this month. He said it was “different” and he really enjoyed it. I watched him during the performance and many times he was sitting forward with his chin rested in his hands, watching and listening intently.

The ESO itself has a blog and we were interviewed afterwards for their You Tube channel as well. Very progressive! I don’t know if other arts venues and performers are utilizing today’s social marketing as well as the ESO is but I’d highly suggest it. There was a lot of “buzz” about what we were doing last night and the Tweeters had many interested replies and comments to their Tweets.

The performance itself was most enjoyable. I find the ESO’s conductor William Eddins a pleasure to watch and his MC interjections are informative, light and often quite witty. On this night it was the Lighter Classics and we heard from 4 guest performers/soloists.

Elizabeth Faulkner is a local musician who played her first solo performance with the ESO on the flute and piccolo. She did a fabulous job!

Keri Lynn Zwicker honored us with her harp playing abilities and even played one that was locally made from carbon fiber and is collapsible. She’s been an outdoor performer at the Fringe, with the band the Chieftans, and has played with the ESO as harpist as well as Saskatoon and Regina’s symphonies as well. She sang for us as well, a haunting Celtic tune that left the audience wanting more and Eddins pondering why they were also so sad.

Michael Massey on piano joined us after intermission for a piano concerto. He has been with the ESO for over 25 years and was inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame for his work and contributions through the Youth Orchestra here in Edmonton. Eddins said of him during his introduction – that as a conductor and pianist himself he shutters when he has to take on a new orchestra if the pianist is like this (he puts up his hands and demonstrates limp, wimpy wrists and hands) but he said the first time he saw Mr. Massey play he “laid it down” and he knew all would be well here.

The last featured performer was Raymond Baril on saxophone. Again Eddins said he fears putting in a musical piece that features the sax because if you don’t have a good soloist it can sound like a wounded dog – again he said we have nothing to worry about here. He was right, the piece Mr. Baril performed was perfect.

For the last piece of the evening Eddins handing over conducting duties to Mr. Massey who is also very capable in that realm, stating he was “taking the last piece off” due to him having been there since 6am and he was TIRED.

Overall I found the ESO experience very positive for all who attended (at least in our little group). I myself like the big bold pieces such as the William Tell Overture and the BRITTEN march which was right before intermission last night. But I find that pieces like songs from the movie Catch Me If You Can were extremely well done and I don’t recall ever seeing an orchestra snap their fingers. It was almost jazzlike and very enjoyable. One other blogger said it was very Gilbert and Sullivan like too.

So, something for everyone – if you haven’t been to the ESO I encourage you to try it. This year on April 2nd they did a FREE concert to launch the 2009-2010 season information and ticket sales. Eddins made sure to tell us about their unprecedented TWO FOR ONE seasons tickets special for all new subscribers for the upcoming season.

This piece is very jazzy, me likey!

Now we have the pleasure of hearing the premiere performance of a composition by a young man in high school here in Edmonton. He is sponsored by the ESO and Telus through the Young Composers Project. His name is Roydon Tse and he is only 17 years old. He has studied violin and piano in Hong Kong where he was born, England and now here in Edmonton. This piece is called “Remembrances” and I suspect this will be the first of many we hear of from this prodigy. Awe inspiring, history in the making today.

And now, PJ Perry is back with a medley of Charlie Parker tunes. Which are ROCKIN’ by the way! Conductor Robert Bernhardt just announced “that was HOT!” so I was right about that one.

I can’t remember seeing such a wide range of ages at an arts event as this maybe ever. There are senior’s all the way down to tiny babes in arms, and all are finding something to enjoy. I’m sure this current set is taking those back to the “good old days” and the kids seem to love the marches and upbeat works.

The show is almost coming to a close now with one piece left, is 4:11pm. The 20th Field Regiment from the Royal Canadian Artillery will take us out with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” by firing off 3 howitzers. Wow that was loud and I so was NOT ready for that. Now people all around us are ringing bells as part of the piece. Those guns fired as part of the percussion was pretty spectacular, can’t do that the Winspear! A great end to a great concert, thanks ESO for allowing me to blog about it!

I am not a music critic or expert by any means, but a fan – yes! I suggest if you haven’t ever experienced the ESO that you get out and do so! They will do it all over again next summer with Symphony under the Sky, but you don’t have to wait until then to see PJ Perry and hear some great jazz if that’s up your alley. He’ll be back on November 11th with the ESO at the Winspear. They have a great program from September to May and sampler packs for beginners. Partake and enjoy!

2:45pm we are now into the Hockey Night in Canada theme song – or the soon to be old one. I think he’s going to play a new version that the ESO plans on submitting to CBC for their contest. Or maybe some locally written ones. A friend of mine actually wrote one and sent me to a link to his version on the CBC site to vote for, which I did of course.

Yup I was right! A friend of the conductor’s named John Estacio, who has indeed written a composition for the contest, is now on stage. Well we just heard his entry and I hate to say it, but Keith – you got tough competition cause it was good! You can all go read about it on the CBC site here – vote and hear his song here.

Here is my buddy’s version if you want to go hear his too – good luck guys! The Cup – by Keith Stacey Rowe

I forgot to mention that the ESO members are all wearing sweat shirts and black pants – instead of their usual tuxedo and tails. Much more fitting in this setting.

Intermission – stay tuned for more . . .

1:20pm, the performance is to start at 2pm so we arrived early to get parking, which we secured no problem. We are on the grass in the “blanket” section in the shade. Is a bit cool, but pretty bearable.

1:55pm I have now obtained a Veggie dog from Fat Franks, couldn’t resist. There are lots of food choices and many people are indulging and enjoying a picnic in the park.

The performance was introduced shortly after 2pm, and two retiring members of the ESO were recognized for 30 and 35 years of service respectively – each having been with the symphony for over half of its 57 year span. We all stood and sang “O Canada” and “God Save the Queen”, which I surprisingly knew the words to. Guess all those years of singing it in elementary school burned it into my brain forever.

The conductor Robert Bernhardt explained that the first piece listed in the program will not be performed due to technical difficulties and that all the other pieces will be – but not in any order resembling the program. This is a much lighter version of the ESO that one sees at the Winspear or during the classics. There is a whimsical feel to it and many families are here with children that are possibly being exposed to the symphony for the first time. What a great introduction for them to this art form.

The first piece was a march that was very fun and had everyone clapping along immediately. The next two were a bit more unknown, one being described as obscure – but both enjoyable none the less.

Saint Bailey’s Rag started out with When the Saints Come Marching in and is a medley of sorts of seemingly southern ragtime music. Having been to New Orleans, I can relate to this music’s hip beat. The kids next to me were hopping in their seats and grooving along with it, balloons in hand.

Now on stage is the solo saxophonist P.J. Perry, who is a local Edmontontian. By researching his bio online I find that he won a juno award for best jazz recording in 1993. Here he goes . . .

Night of Artists is a spectacular event that I participate in each spring. This year it is being held at the Trans Alta Arts Barn in Old Strathcona. You can visit the official Night of Artists web site for more information. If you wish to purchase tickets – I have limited quantities for Saturday the 26th and some for the 27th – at the discounted rate of $20, about $8 less than from the box office (after taxes and fees).

Tickets can be paid for by Paypal and sent to you by mail, or by cash and picked up from me in person. Please contact me for more information or to let me know how many tickets you want and for what night.

I haven’t been to the Winspear in quite some time, nor the Citadel and I’m thrilled to have the pleasure to attend both this week. On Wednesday I went to the Citadel’s production of Beauty and the Beast, with my fabulous friend Melanie who was gracious enough to give me her husband’s extra ticket. That performance was magnificent.

Right now there is a fellow making some announcements. He started by telling us about “After thoughts” in the lobby after the show, and proceeded to introduce none other than, us in the blogger room. The concert maestro was just introduced, Bill Eddins. And we’re off and blogging . . .

I sit here in the dark and feel an odd connection to the ESO this week. I have only just recently gotten in touch with an old friend, Eliza, that I grew up with from about age 6 to graduation. As many people do, we lost touch but through the magic of Facebook have reconnected. Her mother and father played with a quartet in the 80′s and her father, Harlen Green, played lead flute and piccolo with the ESO. I was saddened to learn he was ill and this past week passed away. So this experience and this music is very timely and brings me back – WAY back. I feel a deep connection, through music tonight, with past times and very dear old friends. I’m grateful to have been chosen to write about it tonight.

Berstein’s West Side Story

We are currently indulging in the sweet sounds of Berstein’s West Side Story. They have definitely given it life and a jazzy feel. The music takes me away to a love story, the streets. To exciting times. The violin’s song is gentle . . . and now a change of pace, to shake it up. Fight scene, turmoil, anger. The xylophone chimes in sporadically. Heavy drums, minor keys . . . now silence and gentle again.

Flutes! This is for Harlen Green. His memory is here in this building, with these people. He lives on with his legacy.

When I go to the symphony I like to hear it, not see it. I close my eyes and let the music enter my soul. I let it take me away to wherever it leads. The piece that I remember the most is the William Tell Overture, which I heard them perform years ago.

Oddly the first row of seats are empty, as are the first few on each side. I can imagine the sound might be a bit overwhelming up that close. Perhaps not the best seats in the house in this case.

The maestro, conductor Bill Eddins, is very animated and clearly he loves his job. I am all about the passion. I have to follow mine, photography, and admire others that do the same. His passion comes through in the music he is leading. It is spirited, energetic, as is he. I feel as if I should be in a dusty, dirty old theatre at an off Broadway production of West Side Story. The first piece of music ends and a standing ovation erupts. The orchestra graciously receives it.

What will be next for the encore? The second piece is from Porgy and Bess.