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I Am A Diamond
Kate McGarrigle - photo by Kevin Head circa 1980
The Kate Tribute Concert at Massey Hall was a resounding success. Some are saying it’s the best of the 3 Tributes. I’d have to agree. Of course it would have been even better had Kate floated onto the stage and picked up a banjo. At least she left us her songs. Rufus and Martha were the most charming and gracious of hosts and they sang like archangels. All the musical guests* more than did justice to her work as each successive one revealed yet another facet of the beautiful diamond that is Kate. The platinum band was exquisite. Thanks to all the fans for the wonderfully warm Toronto reception. The press was generous and overwhelming. Check for youtube postings of the event. Special thanks to Jörn Weisbrodt and Luminato, and producers Joe Boyd, Teddy Wainwright and Catherine Steinmann and the sound and stage crews. The concert was a benefit for the Kate McGarrigle Fund for Sarcoma Research, a charity she started 2 yrs. prior to her death.
While in the Queen City, I did a lunchtime Illumination chat with 2 old friends, Michael Ondaatje and Thom Mennier, piano, & surprise guest Lily Lanken, vox. The focus was Kate and creativity. The audience was very appreciative and Thom finally performed his lovely, crazy Gardencourt Waltz composed for Martha and Brad’s nuptials back in Sept 2007 for which he got a standing ovation. He’ll have to record it soon. As soon as it ended I went straight to Ben McNally’s and bought Michael O.’s latest The Cat’s Table which I highly recommend. Sat night at the Hub Rufus gave a fabulous concert featuring songs from his new CD Out of the Game. He’s in the middle of a World Tour. His show was preceded by the Rufus W. Songbook, an homage to his work. His songs are so tuneful and accessible and the renditions by a multitude of very talented Toronto artists were terrific. On Sun. some of us lucky folk got to see the 4.5 hr long Einstein on the Beach, mothballed for the last 20 yrs. Why? It was stunning and it holds up well. Wed night was the screening of Lian Lunson’s filmed homage to Kate, Sing Me the Songs That Say I Love You, part bio part live concert (NY Tribute), occasionally joyous but pretty grief-stricken and a bit voyeuristic but Kate was a big fan of Grey Gardens, so..
Campbell Hendery, the St Urbain Oarsman (or in his own words ‘I am a Diamond Taxi’**) not only ferried instruments and Daddy Dane up river but most graciously opened his Sheraton digs+balcony with waterfall and birch forest view to late-night revellers. Thanks Campbie and thanks to Linda Read for making sure we all had fun. Cleo Seminic-Zifkin very kindly cared for Arcangelo bringing him to rehearsals, parks and the big show. Arc thanks you Cleo. Maybe one day he’ll write you a song like Paul Anka did about his babysitter.
On our way home yesterday we heard the awful news about the collapsed stage at Downsview Park. Our hearts go out to the family of the unfortunate stagehand who died and to those injured. Those stagehands, roadies, and techs choose this business because they love the music. The work is hard and schedules killing. The musicians work like hell too. I hope Radiohead can make up the concert at a later date and on a secure stage.
** longtime Montreal cab company.
* Rufus Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
Bruce Cockburn
Peggy Seeger
Calum MacColl
Emmmylou Harris
Krystle Warren
Ron Sexsmith
Teddy Thompson
Robert Charlebois
Chaim Tannenbaum
Ariel Engel
Andrew Wightman
Amy Millan
Kevin Drew
Jane Siberry
Mary Margaret O’Hara
Lily Lanken
Anna McGarrigle
Jane McGarrigle
Sylvan Lanken
Dane Lanken
Joel Zifkin
Brad Albetta
Thomas Bartlett
Michel Pepin
Michelle Joseph
Anna Catherine Dow
Michele Mercure
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The What Four and Friends at Sala Rossa, Montreal – April 23 2012, 7.30p.m.
Two of the W4, Peter Weldon and Jack Nissenson were, along with Kate and Anna, The Mountain City Four, active from 1963 to 1970. They do a wide variety of music from old Jimmy Rodgers tunes, Blind Willie Johnson blues to British Isles folk. Hope you can make it!
what4 on youtube
what4 on facebook
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Kate to be honoured at Toronto’s Luminato Festival – June 15, 2012
Another tribute to Kate is in the works this time as part of the prestigious Luminato Festival in Toronto. See you all then!
KATE MCGARRIGLE TRIBUTE
p.s. I would like to credit the photog. but I don’t know who that is. Kate always played the AD accordion on Complainte.
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Curtain Call by Roma Baran
Today Jan 18 2012 marks the 2nd year of Kate’s passing. Roma Baran sent this* today.
*Thinking about things McGarrigle.
Just put an older piece to an iphone video of the bedroom in long island.
much love,
r
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2 years
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Sincere Condolences
Sincere condolences to Madonna Badger and family on the tragic loss of her three young daughters and her parents in a house fire early Christmas day in Stamford Conn.
Madonna Badger is a generous contributor to the Kate McGarrigle Fund for Sarcoma Research and was present at the 2011 Wainwright/McGarrigle Xmas concert in aid of the fund Dec 15 at Town Hall.
Our hearts are with her and with the father of the little girls.
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Happy Holidays from Santa Banana
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teddybear stand-in for turkey
The other day Kathleen Weldon, who’s illustrating a 6-page cookbook of Kate’s Xmas dinner recipes written by Martha for the charity loot bags, needed someone to pose trussing a turkey. We looked around the apt. and all we could find was Arcangelo’s teddybear. Don’t cry Arc, we didn’t poke any holes in him. Reminds me of this line from Kate’s Barbie Doll song ..’every doll was working, some with dustpans and some with brooms.’
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‘Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais.’ Rufus sings Serge Gainsbourg.
Rufus Wainwright sings ‘Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais.’ My magnificent obsession.
Tags: je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais, lulu gainsbourg, rufus wainwright, serge gainsbourg
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Dr. Philip Wong
During the MUHC’s annual awards dinner held this past week at Montreal’s Sofitel, Dr. Philip Wong was awarded a fellowship from the Kate McGarrigle Fund / Cedars Foundation of the MUHC. Dr. Wong is in his 2nd year of a sabbatical during which he is doing research into sarcoma at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital. Congratulations Philip..
Tags: cedars foundation, dr. philip wong, kate mcgarrigle fund, muhc, princess margaret hospital, sarcoma
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