Allison Crowe's Victoria Tidings w. Bob Benvenuti December 4, 2010

Musical Tidings of Comfort and Joy - Allison Crowe w. Bob Benvenuti - Saturday, Dec. 4 @ Fairfield United Church

“Music for the season and all time” – Allison Crowe and special guest Bob Benvenuti bring festive fun to warm body and soul with their “Tidings” concert at Fairfield United Church (1303 Fairfield Road, at Moss St.), Saturday, December 4 at 8:00 pm (Doors: 7:30 pm).

Tidings stirs together traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. "The Yuletide find of the year," says The Record. "Be prepared to be amazed," chimes ChristmasReviews.com

It also brings some aid to a pair of Victoria's tireless community-service agencies: Artemis Place and HepCBC.

Artemis, under a range of banners, for decades has been delivering an integrated counseling and educational program which provides a meaningful alternative to traditional school for at-risk girls. Artemis Place provides a sanctuary where girls are able to work on completing their high school while learning critical life skills in conflict resolution, and in building self esteem and successful relationships. As Lisa Ellis, Artemis' Executive Director, explains, they are in the unique business of tapping into the potential of the most at-risk girls in our community and helping them to transform their lives.

HepCBC, Tidings other partner in Victoria, strives to support those who are directly and indirectly affected by Hepatitis C. Dedicated to Hep C education and prevention for more than a decade, this non-profit society works to ensure that the public is aware of the existence and transmission methods of Hepatitis C and people know how and where to get tested. HepCBC is grateful to both individual donors as well as groups for enabling it to carry on with its mission.

Bob Benvenuti opens this night of music with a big voice that mines deep - the way Joe Cocker and Van Morrison reach you. A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Benvenuti has gone back to the origins of his musical career. He has spent the past twenty years as lead vocalist in various bands throughout Canada, in the classic R&B and Soul flavour. Now after a two year hiatus in Canada's Arctic, Bob returns to British Columbia and his roots, as a solo acoustic performer with powerful and soulful song interpretations, delivered with the intimacy of the singer/songwriter tradition.

Following intermission, the Victoria Tidings concert resumes with a full set from Allison Crowe. The Nanaimo-born musician who now lives on both of Canada’s coasts, has gained a tremendous international fan base by following an independent path – outside the confines and compromises of the corporate record industry.

Along with releasing seven albums/CDs containing original song-writing of a singular range and quality, this century Allison Crowe has earned a reputation for her gorgeous voice, and unique ability to viscerally communicate emotion without sentimentality.

Crowe’s honest approach serves well, too, in making her, not only an uniquely exciting songwriter and live performer, combining voice, piano and guitar, but, at the same time, a peerless interpreter of a most varied songbook.

Upon returning to Canada, following her most recent European concert dates, earlier this month, popular Leonard-Cohen-centric blog, “1 Heck of a Guy”, commented:

"Allison, whose covers include not only outstanding versions of Joni Mitchell’s 'River' and 'A Case of You,' Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah,' 'The Beatles’ 'In My Life' and 'Let It Be,' Lennon’s 'Imagine,' and Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time,' but also the most provocative and seductive (forgive me, Aretha) take I’ve heard on Ronnie Shannon’s 'I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You).' And, I stand by my conviction that Allison Crowe is the best thing to happen to 'Me And Bobby McGee' since Janis Joplin changed Kristofferson’s lyrics."

No doubt several of these much-loved interpretations will ring in the Tidings concert mix this joyful Winter’s eve – joining Crowe’s fresh takes on such seasonal classics as “The First Noel”, “Silent Night”, and “O Holy Night”.

Tickets @: @: Lyle’s Place (770 Yates); Larsen Music (1833 Cook Street); Ivy’s Bookshop (2188 Oak Bay Ave.); and online in Allison's Box Office http://www.allisoncrowe.com/shoptickets.html ~ $20 General/ $15 Students & Seniors advance ($22/$17 door)

More info @: http://www.allisoncrowe.com + http://www.reverbnation.com/bobbybsoloacoustic +
http://www.artemisplace.org + http://www.hepcbc.ca

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