Basia Bulat’s Montreal jazz fest show comes with strings attached

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Basia Bulat’s live performance on the Montreal Worldwide Jazz Pageant on Friday stands out as the solely time followers right here get to see the Montreal-based singer-songwriter taking part in the songs from her newest album, The Backyard, with a string quartet. The album, which got here out in February, options Bulat reinterpreting songs from her 5 earlier studio collections of folk-flavoured rootsy pop, with a gaggle of string gamers.

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When she takes the stage at Théâtre Maisonneuve, there shall be eight musicians, together with herself.

“That is the primary time we’re doing the songs along with the string quartet and a band, type of like a brilliant band,” Bulat mentioned from Prince Edward Island, the place she was vacationing along with her husband and 15-month-old daughter. “This group was put collectively particularly for the jazz fest. I’m actually enthusiastic about it. It’s going to be particular.”

The Backyard was recorded in Montreal in November and December 2020, with Bulat and Mark Lawson (who has labored with Arcade Hearth and Beirut) producing, and showcasing string preparations from Owen Pallett, Paul Frith and Zou Zou Robidoux. Bulat says the string-quartet album was a novel alternative to revisit songs she had written years earlier. The format was two violins, cello and viola, they usually added bass, guitar and piano on a few tracks. However principally it’s simply strings and her distinctive voice.

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“It was fascinating as a result of I’d been doing a couple of exhibits with a string quartet and I used to be considering, ‘That is actually cool,’ ” mentioned Bulat. “It’s like painters doing research of the identical factor time and again. I used to be listening to Willie Nelson loads, and he’s an actual reinterpreter. And I discovered this one LP of his, I felt prefer it had fallen by way of the cracks of time and area, and he was redoing a few of his personal songs, and different songs that I’d heard him do completely different variations of. He’s an incredible interpreter. Dolly Parton is, too. Quite a lot of jazz artists do this, too. And since I used to be going by way of so many transitions, it appeared like the proper time to do it.

“After I’m writing a tune, I feeI like I’m answerable for every thing and it’s definitive. That’s why I named this album after the tune The Backyard. I like the thought of those songs having completely different levels and seasons — like you’ll be able to nurture a tune and it’ll have several types of blossoms at completely different occasions and completely different eras. A few of it’s out of your management. I used to be a lot youthful once I wrote I Was a Daughter. I sing it and it has a unique that means now, a few years later, now that I’ve my very own daughter.

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“I keep in mind studying an interview with Lou Reed and he mentioned he had no concept what his songs are about. The journalist was deciphering that he was simply being troublesome, however being in that place myself, we expect we all know all about our songs, however they’re at all times revealing one thing new over time.”

Bulat, who hails from Etobicoke, Ont., moved to Montreal in 2014 and shortly fell in love along with her new hometown.

“I’m at all times overwhelmed by how a lot town has executed for me,” she mentioned.

She determined to maneuver as a result of, “one, I had a damaged coronary heart and Montreal is a superb place to recover from a damaged coronary heart. Two, I’d already made a lot music right here and it appeared foolish to not chase or at the very least observe the place my inspiration saved getting fulfilled. The town simply brings so many songs to me. I’ve written so many songs right here. It was simply instinct.

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“One thing resonates very well right here once I’m strolling the streets. I get a superb feeling. There’s Mile Finish and the parks and the canal and the mountain. There’s isn’t a Montreal sound, however there’s a spirit. There’s a bravery. I really feel like Montreal is at all times pushing it. I’m at all times impressed by it. I stroll right into a present wherever within the metropolis and I’m impressed by folks taking part in.”

AT A GLANCE

Basia Bulat performs Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m. at Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts, in a double invoice with Serpentwithfeet, as a part of the Montreal Worldwide Jazz Pageant. For extra data, see montrealjazzfest.com.

bkelly@postmedia.com

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