News

To receive info on future shows and special events, or to send a personal message to Karen Young, please e-mail her at: ursh@sympatico.ca
February 2010 — Karen going philharmonic — Complicity: between jazz and classical music, between the black and white of bass and voice duo and the full pallette of an orchestra, between orchestrator/conductor Marc Bélanger and arranger/singer Karen Young, two composers of very different backgrounds and musical experience, but the same love of the awesome variety of musical expression. This concert is a real treat for both of them. Accompanied by the Drummondville Symphonic Orchestra, Karen gets to sing some of her songs and arrangements from over the years and Marc gets to orchestrate and conduct a concert of rare and adventurous music, usually performed in more intimate settings. No Haydn or Beethoven here. The orchestra will take on the joyous swing of Count Basie, excerpts from Karen's two original jazz albums, Nice Work if You Can Get it and La Couleur du Vent, and from her medieval oratorio Canticum Canticorum, a couple of standards, Vince Mendoza style, classic Gershwin, a taste of Impressionism, with two original pieces by Marc. Featured guest artist is contrabassist Normand Guilbeault. Only one night! Tuesday March 9th 2010, at the Centre Culturel de Drummondville.   Karen Young et Marc Bélanger
 
Mai 2009 — Launch of Electro-Beatniks — Karen Young's and Eric Auclair's album Electro-Beatniks will be launched on May 5th at the Savoy (Metropolis). Inspired by the Beat Generation and the Freaks that followed them, these "21st century beatniks" deliver engaged poetry, lit up with jazz and folk influences in a unique blend of acoustic and electronic textures. Electro-Beatniks is a provocative electro-folk-jazz journey through the music of words and the poetry of sound. For more info, see discography.  
 
February 2009 — Sold out — Karen Young's Choral Universe, with the Choeur de chambre Tactus, directed by François A. Ouimet, and the English Montreal School Board senior choir, directed by Patricia Abbott, held at the St. Luc Presbytarian Church, is sold out. A third concert is scheduled on April 5th at the historic Church de la Visitation on Gouin East blvd. Free passes will be available at the Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic on March 21st. For more information, visit the link Shows.  
 
January 2009 — Karen is awarded a two-year career grant from CALQ — This is a tremendous news from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec to start the year as Karen will be able to conduct her next big project: a second oratorio in the style of Canticum Canticorum. More to come!  
 
December 2008 — New Year's Eve with Michel Faubert — Karen ends a successful year 2008 with Michel Faubert and his guests. Listen to the show — a real party! — on Espace Musique de Radio-Canada (FM 100,7) on December 31st, 4pm to 8pm.  
 
November 2008 — A FELIX AWARD FOR AME, CORPS ET DESIR ! — Ame, corps et desir, was awarded a FELIX (Quebec equivalent of Grammy award) by ADISQ as Best album — classic vocal. For more info onthe album and to listen to MP3 samples, visit the Discography link or click here.  
 
October 2008 — A MUSICAL JOURNEY TO MEDIEVAL EUROPE — Karen Young takes us on another medieval journey, here with medieval specialists Rebecca Bain (voice and medieval fiddle) and Catherine Herrmann (voice and dulcimer), and traditional Turkish music specialist Ismail Fencioglu (oud and voice). A European journey from east to west, from Turkey, Zagreb, Cyprus, and Italy to Aquitaine, Catalonia and Northern Castilla. A quest for the most beautiful pilgrim songs and sacred songs of the monasteries, from the 11th to the 15th centuries. Created for the Quebec Festival of Sacred Music, this special concert is scheduled for October 24th at the St. Roch Church in Quebec city. For more information on the musicians of this project, click here.  
 
September 2008 — ÂME, CORPS ET DESIR EARNS A FELIX NOMINATION — Karen Young' most recent album, Ame, corps et desir, has been nominated by ADISQ for a FELIX (Quebec equivalent of Grammy award) as Best album — classic vocal.  
 
August 2008 — A LAST GOODBYE TO EVAL — August saw the passing of a dear friend and teacher, Eval Manigat. He spent many years in Montreal. I remember his 25th anniversary of musicmaking here. All the people he had played with were there and together we performed a show of his great projects over the years. Everyone loved Eval and wanted to show him, the Maestro, how much we appreciated his energy, his generosity and his musicality; and how much we had learned in our musical moments with him.

Then there was that party sending him off back to Haiti to start his school, something he had dreamed of for many years. He wanted so much to give back to Haiti and its young musicians there. I do not know how far he got. Money, or the lack of it, so often gets in the way of dreams.

Today, August 17, will be our last goodbye to Eval, to his life of dedication to music and friendship. We will try to follow to the end.

Watch and listen to Eval on Youtube

  
 
July 2008 — DISTINGUISHED JAZZ MUSICIANS FORM NEW TRIO — The legendary voice of Karen Young, Sylvain Provost's flowing guitar, and the grooving bass of Normand Guilbeault. This is a welcome reunion of three acclaimed Quebec Jazz figures who propose an exclusive repertoire of Jazz standards, from Oliver Nelson to Charles Mingus. The premiere was held on July 7th in Quebec city at the elegant Resto-Club Largo. The trio will debut in Montreal on September 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25 at Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, 1254 MacKay street.