Allison Crowe - A Musical Feast - at Bianca's, St. John's NL May 9, 2009

Join Allison Crowe and Bianca's for A Musical Feast - Saturday, May 9

Allison Crowe brings her band to Bianca's (171 Water Street, St. John's) on Saturday, May 9 for "A Musical Feast" ~ a fun and exciting blend of cuisine and music 'for all senses'. The internationally-acclaimed vocalist and pianist will be joined by Billie Woods (guitar), Dave Baird (bass) and Laurent Boucher (percussion). Expect overtones of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, The Beatles, jazz and Broadway. It's a joyous sound that one music critic describes as 'Elton John meets Edith Piaf'. For this event, Head Chef Peter LaPier and the rest of Bianca's culinary team are planning a special dinner menu. For details and reservations call Bianca's at (709) 726-9016.

This week the Chicago Tribune newspaper named the "5 best versions of Cohen's 'Hallelujah' " and counter-culture blog MIX listed the top "non-shills" in the music business. Allison Crowe is the only artist to make it onto both lists. Being ranked alongside Leonard Cohen, John Cale, Jeff Buckley and kd lang for her transcendent, single/first-take, recording of "Hallelujah", and lining up alongside Ani DiFranco, Janis Ian, Trent Reznor, Radiohead and others for her integrity, is emblematic of Crowe's unique success.

She launched her own record label, Rubenesque Records Ltd., in 2003 and approaches music very differently to the industry standard of recent decades. The Canadian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist shows you don't need to "play the game". You simply need to make great music. And you need to mean it.

"In a world of copycats and wannabes in the singer-songwriter field, Crowe is a true original and is playing in a league of her own", writes Tom Mureika. In this latest concert review penned for Westcoaster.ca, Mureika, a writer for All Music Guide, describes Crowe as an "astonishingly gifted artist" with "a dynamic stage presence - she is at once commanding and enrapturing." He adds: "Crowe is easily the most talented singer-songwriter to burst on the scene in quite some time... There were even times when her compositions came across like a modern day Carole King."

"Her unique stylings, incredible range of delivery, songwriting chops and knack for interpreting cover tunes sets her apart from her peers". The review notes that the "sensational" Allison Crowe "resides out of Newfoundland, though her music is universal and timeless".

AMG/Westcoaster.ca's Mureika is reporting on a sound heard coast-to-coast and 'round the world live, on the internet and mp3 players everywhere, on Rogers, ATV, and CHUM television, the BBC, CBC, CFBX radio and more. "Ever wonder what it would have been like to listen to a gifted singer/songwriter from Saskatchewan in a small, intimate hall before she became Joni Mitchell? Don't fret the missed opportunity. There's no need to turn back the clock. Check out Allison Crowe..." says Robert Reid in The Record (Canada). Veteran WGTE/NPR (USA) host Ross Hocker calls a performance by Crowe "the most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life".

Crowe's friend, poet Benedict Hynes observes that her "Hallelujah" video on YouTube has been viewed by 3.4 million people - more than six times the population of her home province. Jeffrey Pitcher, Artistic Director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador has worked with Crowe on TNL's "Sexy and Dangerous" production in Corner Brook for two years running. He says: "Allison is a force to be reckoned with in Corner Brook and Newfoundland. The fact that she chooses to live here is nothing short of astonishing and I believe it's because her talent and drive transcends all borders. She sings and her voice tells me I'm not in Newfoundland - I'm in Allison's heart. No matter where she is in this world, that voice, that conviction, it crosses all borders. She's one of those rare artists that fits into any culture, any community because she is who she is - an incredible talent."

Allison Crowe is home this month for shows in St. John's and Corner Brook before she embarks on her next international concert tour - a string of dates that take her quartet to Edinburgh, London, Aachen, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Prague, Vienna and other European cultural capitals this May and June.

This coming Saturday night, join Allison Crowe for "A Musical Feast" at Bianca's where the motto "creativity means not copying" fits, both, the kitchen and the concert. Bianca's offers an all-inclusive three-course menu plus show package ($90). For the special dinner/concert reservations contact Bianca's @ 709-726-9016. (Please note that gift cards purchased at Costco cannot be used for this special promotion.) Concert-only tickets ($20) are available at Fred's Records (198 Duckworth - 709-753-9191). Music starts at 9 pm.

For online info visit http://www.biancas.net + http://www.allisoncrowe.com

Official Website: http://www.allisoncrowe.com