Ensemble Constellation and Guests
A global and era-spanning musical journey of discovery.
The music of Montreal-based Ensemble Constellation blends traditions from Africa, Iran and Baroque music. For this special collaboration, two of the group’s members, Deo Munyakazi, a Rwandan musician renowned for his mastery of the inanga, a traditional zither from Africa, and Reza Abaee, originally from Iran, who plays the fiddle ghaychak, will be featured.
Joining the Ensemble Constellation performers are Vancouver-based, West African guitar virtuoso and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo and Vancouver string trio Ensemble Absinthe. Comprising violinist Edgar Bridwell, violist Martina Smazal and Anne Duranceau on contrabass, Ensemble Absinthe’s unusual addition of the contrabass rather than a string trio’s typical cello adds unexpected contrast to the rich, fluid sounds of the violin and viola.
Together, Ensemble Constellation, Alpha Yaya Diallo and Ensemble Absinthe will journey through time and around world, building bridges with performances of original and arranged music and deeply expressive improvisations.
This concert is part of North Shore Jazz (June 19-28), and is presented by BlueShore at CapU and Le Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver, in partnership with Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
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