http://www.thestar.com/article/440850
These songs are our songs, O Canada
TheStar.com - entertainment - These songs are our songs, O Canada
June 11, 2008
Martin Knelman
We've grown so used to the Great American Songbook it comes as a happy surprise to discover many great songs were written by artists born north of the border.
Luminato scored big points Monday by creating a whole evening at Massey Hall of Canadian songs. The concept: a new generation of performers paid tribute to songwriters of our past, with enough great moments to warrant a sequel at next year's festival.
Through a neat twist, a number of artists onstage were already featured in other Luminato events which made the evening a bonding ritual – one reason the packed house loved this event.
And through another twist, two of the greatest living Canadian singer-songwriters in our history – Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell – happened to be making high-profile appearances in Toronto this week, even though they have lived in Los Angeles for decades.
Eventually some of the thrilling talent in the lineup made the evening soar, but there were rough patches along the way.
The night began on a shaky, perplexing note when Molly Johnson sang the weirdest version I've ever heard of "I'll Never Smile Again," that classic written almost 70 years ago by Ruth Lowe. Yes, it's a poignant song, but Johnson made it suicidal, and breathed the words heavily rather than singing them.
Things didn't get much better when Dan Zanes paid underwhelming tribute to Ian & Sylvia with two songs, one written by each of them: "You Were On My Mind" and "Someday Soon."
Karen David offered samples of Bryan Adams ("When You Love Someone"), Joni Mitchell ("Come In From the Cold") and Shirley Eikhard ("Something to Talk About.") David may be the perfect front person for Roots, but she came across as a bar singer.
During the first half-hour, the band seemed so loud you couldn't make out the words even if you already knew them. This may have been caused by mic problems.
Luckily Luke Doucet came along and roused us from our stupor with lively versions of Robbie Robertson's "Ophelia" and Bruce Cockburn's "Wondering Where the Lions Are."
Emcees Kim Stockwood and Damhnait Doyle, who kept things moving all night with entertaining patter, took centre stage to sing Leonard Cohen's "Ain't No Cure for Love" – even while Cohen was giving the last of his four amazing Toronto concerts just blocks away at the Sony Centre.
Juno-winning Alex Cuba closed the first half of the show with Gordon Lightfoot's "In the Early Morning Rain" and an exquisite Spanish version of Blue Rodeo's "Bad Timing."
After intermission, pianist Marika Bournaki dazzled the crowd with "Papillon" and "O Canada."
Nikki Yanofsky, that 14-year-old bundle of excess, redeemed herself with a sweet take on Mitchell's "The Circle Game" after a blast-you-out-of-your-seat "Big Yellow Taxi" that seemed more assault than tribute.
Mikel Rouse, the New Yorker whose trilogy of chamber operas is running in rep all through Luminato, provided one of the high points with an unforgettably wonderful performance of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon."
Danny Michel somehow found a way to make Paul Anka's "My Way" sound fresh.
Ron Sexsmith provided the ultimate tribute. When he did "Song for a Winter's Night," the nuances made him sound like Lightfoot. With "Sisters of Mercy" he morphed into Cohen. And even singing Gene MacLellan's "Snowbird" I swear he sounded almost like Anne Murray.
By the time Stockwood and Doyle wrapped things up on an upbeat gospel note with MacLellan's "Put Your Hand in the Hand," the crowd was high – mellow, festive and patriotic.
Play it again, Luminato.
mknelman@thestar.ca
These songs are our songs, O Canada
