PrettyInScarlett

I braved yesterday evening's wintry blast for a new gig experience courtesy of Improvising Musicians of Ottawa/Outawais (IMOO) and Umi Cafe . A quick note on Umi Cafe - my first visit impressions are of a well-liked local cozy cafe: lots of fair trade options (plus tasty cookies) and open mic nights. My initial impression of IMOO (via their website and Facebook page) was of an open-mic style with extras but it seems that their regular events are much more 'small gigs with a twist'. IMOO's Facebook promo enticed me to attend Concert #42. A trumpet-led trio? Sounds fun. Titanium Trio, comprising Lina Allemano , Rob Clutton and Nick Fraser (trumpet/music writer, electric bass and drums respectively) played 2 very interesting half-hour sets in front of 20-odd people, plus a few random customers who came in for coffee and were intrigued enough to stay. Whilst the style of music played by Titanium Trio isn't my usual bent, it was fun listening, from the melodic lin...

The combined efforts of Ottawa Xpress and the National Arts Centre Facebook feed took us out on a wintry Tuesday night to the 'pay what you can' showing of 2 Pianos 4 Hands , currently at the NAC English Theatre and being performed by creators Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. In spite of the show's 15-year history, this has somehow managed to stay off my radar until now. No matter - it's brilliant. 2 Pianos 4 Hands is the story of a dream, maybe elusive, maybe achievable, told through the experiences of two boys growing up with the piano. A good crowd had turned up for the evening, and were hooked straight away with Dykstra and Greenblatt's silent humour opener and the incredibly funny series of impersonations, all illustrated with a wide range of classical and pop repertoire, from Liszt's Mephisto Waltz and Great Balls of Fire to J. S. Bach's Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep may safely graze). Experience in music not required - the story is u...