Articles By David Dacks
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Features
A Tribe Called Red The Halluci Nation Is Real Published Sep 21, 2016"A Tribe Called Red is a constant surprise with what we're able to accomplish," Bear Witness says. "If you look at our history, we just want...
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Reviews
A Tribe Called Red We Are the Halluci Nation Published Sep 19, 2016A Tribe Called Red's musical evolution has been nothing short of incredible. We Are the Halluci Nation comes three years after Nation II Nat...
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Features
An Essential Guide to Ornette Coleman Published Jul 28, 2015How does one measure a lasting impact on music? Someone whose influence lasts a decade or even a generation? What does "an impact on music"...
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Reviews
Then and Now: Toronto Nightlife History By Denise Benson Published Jul 22, 2015Mixing: this is what drives club culture. No concept appears more often in Then and Now: Toronto Nightlife History, Denise Benson's vital hi...
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Reviews
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens Metropolis, Montreal QC, July 1 Published Jul 02, 2015Naomi Shelton and her Gospel Queens were the first half of a double dip of Daptone Records artists at Metropolis, opening for the ferociousl...
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Reviews
Nels Cline & Julian Lage Gesu, Montreal QC, July 1 Published Jul 02, 2015The Jedi and Padawan? More like Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin and Obi-Wan are pretty evenly matched, although no limbs were chopped off a...
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Reviews
Joyce Moreno Club Soda, Montreal QC, June 30 Published Jul 02, 2015Brazilian guitarist and vocalist Joyce Moreno is approaching 50 years in show business — long enough to be intimately connected to the...
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Reviews
Snarky Puppy Metropolis, Montreal QC, June 30 Published Jul 02, 2015What is the jazz equivalent to "poptimism"? Jazz festivals have answered this question poorly: it's pretty easy to spot who the designated c...
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Reviews
Erykah Badu Salle Wilfred Pelletier, Montreal QC, June 29 Published Jun 30, 2015It doesn't get any better than this. Most artists would be cowed by the grandeur of Montreal's largest concert hall, yet the sheer size and...
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Reviews
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque Scene TD, Montreal QC, June 29 Published Jun 30, 2015Soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett has played just about every conceivable jazz-friendly surface in the world, from tiny clubs to soft seat th...
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Reviews
Robert Glasper Trio Monument-National, Montreal QC, June 28 Published Jun 29, 2015The last time I caught up with Robert Glasper at the Montreal Jazz Festival was five years ago. So much has changed for him since then. Most...
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News
Exclaim!'s 2014 in Lists: Four Reasons Tanya Tagaq Broke Through in 2014 Published Dec 18, 2014The sublime Tanya Tagaq should be on anyone's short list of 2014's most noteworthy Canadian musicians. Over the course of five electrifying...
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Features
The Magnetic Appeal of Quantic Published Jul 29, 2014Funk/soul/tropical beat conceptualist and renowned record collector, Will Holland, aka Quantic, recently released a career highlight among h...
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Reviews
Sly and Robbie / Burning Spear Metropolis, Montreal QC, July 1 Published Jul 02, 2014It's hard to overstate the influence of Sly and Robbie not only on reggae music in the studio but onstage. Pretty much every single reggae b...
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Reviews
Bombino Club Soda, Montreal QC, July 1 Published Jul 02, 2014Omara "Bombino" Moctar has travelled far from his home in northern Niger over the past five years; this isn't even his first swing through t...
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Reviews
Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion Theatre Maisonneuve, Montreal QC, June 30 Published Jul 02, 2014I have to admit I had a bit of morbid curiosity about this show. The legendarily irascible Ginger Baker has often expressed admiration for j...
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Reviews
Dr. Lonnie Smith Octet Gesu, Montreal QC, June 30 Published Jul 02, 2014Hammond organ soul jazz guru Dr. Lonnie Smith has frequented the Montreal Jazz fest, but he pulled out all the (organ) stops with his new oc...
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Reviews
Quantic Club Soda, Montreal QC, June 29 Published Jun 30, 2014Will Holland (a.k.a. Quantic) has pursued an interesting career path in developing his personal brand of tropical funk electronics. Having b...
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Reviews
Jack De Johnette, Ravi Coltrane & Matt Garrison Theatre Jean Duceppe, Montreal QC, June 29 Published Jun 30, 2014This is a jazz festival dream gig — the children of two of the John Coltrane Quartet meet with one of the bright young stars of the '6...
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Reviews
Concha Buika Theatre Maisonneuve, Montreal QC, June 29 Published Jun 30, 2014"I don't use filters when I'm in front of you" declared Spanish singer Concha Buika to the audience, before joking that her mother comes to...