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24th Festival de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville

2007 Edition (May 17 - 21, 2007)

  • Programming

    CONCERTSfimav2007
    MARILYN CRISPELL / LOTTE ANKER / ANDREW CYRILLE / MARK HELIAS
    USA, Denmark — World Premiere
    CORKESTRA
    Holland — North American Premiere
    JEAN-FRANÇOIS LAPORTE
    «Waves»
    Quebec — North American Premiere
    MICHAEL SNOW / ALAN LICHT / AKI ONDA
    Canada, USA, Japan — Quebec Premiere
    THERESA TRANSISTOR
    Quebec
    JOHN ZORN SOLO
    USA
    MELVINS
    USA
    KOENJI HYAKKEI
    Japan — North American Premiere
    JASON KAHN / TOMAS KORBER / NORBERT MÖSLANG / GÜNTER MÜLLER / CHRISTIAN WEBER
    «Signal Quintet»
    Switzerland — North American Premiere
    VICTORIAVILLE MATIÈRE SONORE
    Quebec, Canada, USA, Spain — World Premiere
    LARRY PEACOCK
    Germany — North American Premiere
    CARLA BOZULICH
    «Evangelista»
    USA, Quebec
    ACID MOTHERS GONG
    Australia, England, USA, Japan — North American Premiere
    MAGIK MARKERS
    USA
    QUASAR / ALEXANDRE BURTON / JULIEN ROY
    Quebec — World Premiere
    ANTHONY BRAXTON DIAMOND CURTAIN WALL TRIO
    USA — Canadian Premiere
    FINE KWIATKOWSKI / HANS TAMMEN
    Germany — Quebec Premiere
    STEVIE WISHART / CHRISTOF KURZMANN / WERNER DAFELDECKER
    England, Austria — World Premiere
    ANTHONY BRAXTON 12(+1) TET
    USA — Canadian Premiere
    FOND OF TIGERS
    Canada — Quebec Premiere
    JOANE HÉTU
    «Filature»
    Quebec
    KEVIN BLECHDOM / EUGENE CHADBOURNE
    USA — North American Premiere
    DANIEL MENCHE
    USA
    KEIJI HAINO / MERZBOW
    «Kikuri»
    Japan — North American Premiere
  • Photos Report

    All photos by Martin Morissette

    Marilyn Crispell, Lotte AnkerMarilynCrispell
    Andrew Cyrille, Mark Helias
    USA, Denmark
    World Premiere
    «Dès lors, qu’importe s’il se lançait dans un magma sonore complètement free ou dans de douces envolées mélodiques, le quatuor brillait.»
    Le Soleil, vendredi 18 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle
    «On pouvait dénoter une belle complicité... . Les amateurs, qu’ils soient connaisseurs ou non, ont su apprécier la prestation.»
    La Nouvelle, vendredi 18 mai 2007, Manon Toupin
    «... each player contributed phrases to suggest a theme that never quite played out, then moved into a more spirited, note-rich number driven by strong, pinpoint drumming. The music then shifted in tone and style, reflecting each player’s compositional personality — from Ankers’s Northern European feeling for space to Crispell’s pianistic passion with flourishes from the Cecil Taylor school.»
    The Gazette, samedi 19 mai 2007, Irwin Block

    Read more about the artists...
    Lotte Anker
    Marilyn Crispell
    Mark Helias


    CorkestraCorkestra
    Holland
    North American Premiere
    «Projet d’ascendance jazz sans l’être vraiment, cette formation se voulait d’abord un nonette en trois par trois
    (...) il faut absolument souligner la qualité des musiciens qui accompagnent Fuhler.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture

    Read more about the artists...
    Cor Fuhler
    Anne La Berge


    Jean-François LaporteJean francois Laporte
    «Waves»
    Quebec
    North American Premiere
    «Pourtant, il s’agit bien de sons acoustiques à 100% et là réside l’aspect le plus frappant de Waves, une œuvre qui ouvre les yeux (et les oreilles) sur les possibilités de résonances toutes simples.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture
     

    Michael Snow, Alan Licht, Aki OndaMichaelShow
    Canada, USA, Japan
    Quebec Premiere
    «But perhaps what made the set so interesting was, above all, the audience’ awareness that many of the sounds being produced by Snow, Licht and Onda were as new to the artists as to the audience. Improvisation as texture, not as rhythm, melody or fixed form.»
    All About Jazz, vendredi 18 mai 2007, John Kelman
    «Michael Snow adore l’improvisation. Ce qu’il apprécie le plus, c’est de trouver de nouveaux sons, d’amener son public dans un autre univers, de lui permettre de vivre l’inédit.»
    La Tribune, Sherbrooke, samedi 19 mai 2007, Yanick Poisson

    Read more about the artists...
    Aki Onda


    Theresa TransistorTheresaTransitor
    Quebec
    «... avec une performance subtile et réfléchie, mariant le travail à l’ordinateur, l’échantillonnage
    et la création de sonorités en direct, à l’aide de petits objets.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture
    «Location, or the point from which the sound emerged amoungst the speakers surrounding the audience, was just as important as the sound itself. Another uncompromising set on what would turn out to be a challenging day all around.»
    All About Jazz, vendredi 18 mai 2007, John Kelman

    Read more about the artists...
    Christian Calon


    John Zorn SoloJohnZornSolo
    USA
    «Just when you were convinced you’d seen / heard it all, Zorn continued to demonstrate how much more
    can be done with a single acoustic instrument. .... Again, a breathtaking virtuoso performance yet by no means short on humor.»
    All About Jazz, vendredi 18 mai 2007, John Kelman
    «D’entrée de jeu, il a proposé la pièce de résistance. Celle qui valait à elle seule le déplacement.
    C’était littéralement à la naissance d’une pièce, au propre comme au figuré, à laquelle on assistait.»
    Le Soleil, samedi 19 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle
    «Secundo, il faut souligner l’intervention du New-Yorkais John Zorn en solo, fait rare pour ce musicien plus que prolifique.
    Les ruses du souffleur sont innombrables, ses références le sont tout autant.»
    La Presse, mardi 22 mai 2007, Alain Brunet
    «(...) Zorn launched into an awesome display of superior technique and a wealth of ideas,
    pouring out the music in what seemed like non-stop hyperventilating.»
    The Gazette, mardi 22 mai 2007, Irwin Block

    MelvinsMelvins
    USA
    «Aside from the added power, the arrangements focused plenty of attention on Crover and Willis, who played in staggeringly taut unison but also worked through arrangements almost orchestrally Wagenerian in scope»
    All About Jazz, vendredi 18 mai 2007, John Kelman
    «... Mais il y a plus que l’esbroufe. La cohésion de l’ensemble, son sens de l’humour à travers des touches country, le jeu efficace d’Osborne à la six cordes ou encore le traitement numérique des instruments, batteries comprises, on fait de ce spectacle attendu un succès.»
    Le Soleil, dimanche 20 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle

    En savoir plus sur les artistes...
    Melvins


    Koenji HyakkeiKoenjiHyakkei
    Japan
    North American Premiere
    «The over over-the-top complexity of the music was played at breakneck speed with elements of hardcore, prog, jazz and opera all playing slap and tickle with each other. The highlight was just watching one of the drummers around, Yoshida, take us all to school!»
    Montreal Mirror, vendredi 18 mai 2007, Johnson Cummins
    «Heureuses découvertes. Koenji Hyakkei, groupe du virtuose Tastsuya Yoshida, (...). Voilà une vigoureuse torréfaction de styles: rock hardcore, rock progressif, musique contemporaine, jazz fusion.»
    La Presse, mardi 22 mai 2007, Alain Brunet

    Read more about the artists...
    Koenjihyakkei
    Kengo Sakamoto


    Jason Kahn, Tomas KorberJasonKahn
    Norbert Möslang, Günter Müller, Christian Weber
    «Signal Quintet»
    Switzerland
    North American Premiere
    «Regardless of whether or not this collective made music by conventional definition, it demonstrated that beauty can, indeed, be found in the most unexpected of places. In what has already been a strong year for the festival, this performance will, no doubt, go down as one of its best.»
    All About Jazz, samedi 19 mai 2007, John Kelman

    Read more about the artists...
    Jason Kahn
    Tomas Korber
    Norbert Möslang
    Christian Weber


    Victoriaville Matière SonoreVictoriaville matiereSonore
    Quebec, Canada, USA, Spain
    World Premiere
    «Huit artistes, dirigés par Francisco López, sont venus, tour à tour, proposer une sculpture sonore en quadriphonie. À travers mille et un bidouillages, ils inséraient ou traitaient des échantillons sonores captés en ville. Franchement intéressant.»
    Le Soleil, dimanche 20 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle

    Read more about the artists...
    Aimé Dontigny
    Louis Dufort
    Steve Heimbecker
    Francisco López
    Tomas Phillips


    Larry PeacockLarry peacock
    Germany
    North American Premiere
    «... le cabaret berlinois Larry Peacock nous transportait au carrefour de la parodie, du militantisme féministe, de l’expérimentation et du surréalisme. ... Cette aventure indescriptible a rappelé combien les shows pluridisciplinaires apportent un vent de fraîcheur au FIMAV.»
    Le Soleil, dimanche 20 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle

    Read more about the artists...
    Sabine Ercklentz
    Andrea Neumann


    Carla BozulichCarlaBozulich
    «Evangelista»
    USA, Quebec
    «La chanteuse américaine a défendu le superbe mélange de post-rock, de country alternatif et d’expérimentations sonores qu’est son album Evangelista.»
    Le Soleil, dimanche 20 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle
    «Saturday, I was able to see what would prove to be the biggest surprise of the festival for me, ex-Geraldine Fibber Carla Bozulich.(...) Flanked by members of hometowners from Lotusland and Silver Mt. Zion, Bozulich played with dynamics and inserted a great sense of spirit and depth to her lyrics of despair.»
    Montreal Mirror, jeudi 24 mai 2007, Johnson Cummins

    Read more about the artists...
    Carla Bozulich


    Acid Mothers GongAcidMothersGong
    Australia, England, USA, Japan
    North American Premiere
    «Gracieuseté de la formation composite Acid Mothers Gong, le concert principal de la soirée de samedi aurait pu s’enliser dans un psychédélisme vaseux. Bien au contraire, on a pu assister à un généreux continuum de rock improvisé.»
    La Presse, mardi 22 mai 2007, Alain Brunet

    Read more about the artists...
    Acid Mothers Temple
    Gong


    Magik MarkersMagikMarkers
    USA
    «Les concerts de Magik Markers ne laissent pas indifférent. Vous serez d’ailleurs sans doute brassés et interpellés. Du bruit à ressentir d’abord, à méditer ensuite.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture

    Read more about the artists...
    Magik Markers

     

    Quasar, Alexandre Burton, Julien RoyQuasar
    Quebec
    World Premiere
    «Quasar, c’est le sax dans tous ses états. Improvisé, bruitiste, mélodique. Aussi éclatées soient ses performances, le cœur y côtoie toujours la tête...»
    Le Soleil, samedi 19 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle

    Read more about the artists...
    Alexandre Burton
    Quasar
    Julien Roy


    Anthony Braxton Diamond Curtain Wall TrioAnthonyBraxton
    USA
    Canadian Premiere
    «Braxton’s writing hardly fits the definition “jazz” by narrow, or even broad, criteria; it’s more “new music” that provides its players considerable freedom in making choices that go beyond soling. As expected, Braxton’s Diamond Curtain Wall Trio was another highlight of FIMAV, ...»
    All About Jazz, dimanche 20 mai 2007, John Kelman

    Read more about the artists...
    Anthony Braxton
    Taylor Ho Bynum
    Mary Halvorson


    Fine KwiatkowskiFineKwiatkowski
    Hans Tammen
    Germany
    Quebec Premiere
    «Le contraste entre machines (guitare électrique, ordinateur) et corps humain, ..., s’amenuise à mesure que se développe ce duo envoûtant Il ne s’agit pas de réagir aux sons ou aux mouvements de l’autre, mais bien de filer deux discours parallèles, qui se croisent parfois, mais qui s’accompagnent toujours.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture

    Read more about the artists...
    Fine Kwiatkowski
    Hans Tammen


    Stevie WishartStevieWishart
    Christof Kurzmann
    Werner Dafeldecker
    England, Austria
    World Premiere
    «On a pu entendre Stevie Whishart et sa vielle à roue, dont elle n’hésite pas à explorer toutes les parties pour en faire sortir la sonorité. Alors, de la vielle à roue, jusqu’à l’ordinateur, en passant par la contrebasse, la prestation couvrait une large époque musicale.»
    La Nouvelle, lundi 21 mai 2007, Manon Toupin

    Anthony Braxton 12(+1) TetAnthonyBraxton121
    USA
    Canadian Premiere
    «One of the most compelling aspects of the performance was that, despite the obvious challenge of the composition, Anthony Braxton 12(+1)tet was having a lot of fun. It should be no surprise that Braxton’s 12(+1)tet performance was another festival highlight, made all the more so because of the clear camaraderie and sense of adventure shared by everyone in this innovative exploratory ensemble.»
    All About Jazz, dimanche 20 mai 2007, John Kelman

    Read more about the artists...
    Taylor Ho Bynum - Andrew Raffo Dewar - James Fei - Mary Halvorson

    Steve Lehman - Nicole Mitchell - Jessica Pavone - Reut Regev


    Fond of TigersFondOfTigers
    Canada
    Quebec Premiere
    «Fort de ses cinq ans d’existence, l’ensemble peut maintenant s’appuyer sur une synergie et une télépathie internes impressionnantes, qui permettent à ses membres de sauter à pieds joints d’une improvisation collective à un thème enlevant sans coup férir»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture

    Read more about the artists...
    Fond of Tigers


    Joane HétuJoaneHetu Filature
    «Filature»
    Quebec
    «Tenant à la fois du rock, de la chanson, de l’atmosphère et du canevas d’improvisation, l’œuvre signale un nouveau sommet dans la carrière de cette artiste singulière.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture

    Read more about the artists...
    Eugene Chadbourne


    Kevin BlechdomKevinBlechdom
    Eugene Chadbourne
    USA
    North American Premiere
    «First, Chadbourne proved a remarkably talented banjoist.... Blechdom took a more supportive role on banjo, but turned out to be a surprisingly good pianist. And both had strong voices capable of clean power and gritty raunch.»
    All About Jazz, lundi 21 mai 2007, John Kelman
     

    Daniel MencheDanielMenche
    USA
    «La musique de Menche est composée de sons. Point. Les sources sonores importent peu. Ces sons, dépouillés de leurs signifiants, deviennent malléables à souhait. Menche les sculpte sous nos oreilles...»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture

    Read more about the artists...
    Daniel Menche


    Keiji HainoKeijiHaino Merzbow
    Merzbow
    «Kikuri»

    Japan
    North American Premiere

    Read more about the artists...
    Merzbow

  • Closing Words

    A Look Back on the 24th FIMAV 2007
    A great artistic diversity was the heart of the 24th FIMAV. Several musical currents were featured in this edition: jazz, rock, noise, electroacoustics and multimedia, all delivered in an uncanny atmosphere.

    Approximately 5,000 people immersed themselves in these musical riches, i.e. the same number as last year. In addition to maintaining our audience, we are renewing it and lowering the age average. We have also noticed that a large part of our new audience changes from one evening to the next, with the music genres featured.

    This year’s artistic programming included a higher jazz ratio than in 2006, with performances from renown artists: Marilyn Crispell, opening the festival with her quartet; the Dutch ensemble Corkestra, brilliantly directed by Cor Fuhler; John Zorn walking on the stage of the Cinéma Laurier to deliver a solo performance worthy of his 30+ years of experience. And then there was Anthony Braxton, back with two projects; first up in the afternoon was his Diamond Curtain Wall Trio, followed in the evening by the contemporary jazz of his 12(+1) tet. The sax player led his band with considerable freedom and commanding savoir-faire, winning over many an audience member.

    Several unusual concerts put the audience in a different context this year: Jean-François Laporte presenting his Waves project in the Cégep’s staircase; Theresa Transistor’s electroacoustic concert given with the audience surrounding the musicians; Victoriaville Matière Sonore’s relay work in the middle of the Colisée; Fine Kwiatkowski & Hans Tammen’s dance/music performance; the cabaret theatre of Larry Peacock, a comical yet serious reflection on women’s place in experimental music; and let us not forget the political / activist / humoristic / virtuosic duo of Kevin Blechdom & Eugene Chadbourne, whose performance ended on a gunfight scene worthy of Charlie Chaplin’s best films!

    On the multimedia front, Joane Hétu’s Filature paired rock song, minimalism and improvisation with Pierre Hébert’s live computer animation. There was also a concert by the quasar saxophone quartet, during which Alexandre Burton & Julien Roy were extracting visuals and manipulating sound matter. Both of these Quebecois concerts sleekly opened the FIMAV 2007 to new media.

    Rock and noise fans also got what they came for. Generous and bold, the Melvins literally swept the crowd off its feet on Friday night. The next day, it was Acid Mothers Gong’s turn to deliver a generous continuum of improvised rock. Koenji Hyakkei, the group of virtuoso drummer Tatsuya Yoshida was a pleasant discovery, with its fusion of fast-paced rock and the female vocals of Aki Kubota. In the same vein, the Vancouver-based band Fond of Tigers turned in a complex performance where progressive rock and New York-style avant-jazz were intertwined. With her Evangelista project, Carla Bozulich and her musicians captivated the audience. Carla moved us all with her breathtakingly deep and unique alternative rock.

    Looking back at this year’s electronic and electroacoustic performances, what is striking is the friendly way acoustic instruments meddled with laptops and other electronic gadgetry, particularly in the mixed concerts by Michael Snow / Alan Licht / Aki Onda, Jason Kahn’s Signal Quintet, and Stevie Wishart / Christof Kurzmann / Werner Dafeldecker. Positive cohabitation seems to be gaining between these two major currents in creative music, all for the benefit of the fans.

    Finally, our passionate noise audience got treated to an emotion-filled closing concert, with Daniel Menche’s unusual performance and the meeting between two Japanoise giants, Keiji Haino & Merzbow.

    Eclectic, surprising and moving, the line-up of the 24th Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville allowed us once again to promote intensity-filled musical diversity. Thank you all, artists, partners and spectators! Your passion and support are what allows the FIMAV’s team to focus now on the 25th edition.

    Our next rendezvous in Victoriaville will take place from May 15 to 19, 2008, to celebrate 25 years of amazing musical discoveries!

    The FIMAV Team
  • What They Say

    What they say
    «Ce qu’il faut surtout retenir des deux noms à l’affiche, c’est que, malgré leur personnalités musicales très fortes, ce sont des collaborateurs aguerris, gage d’un événement à ne pas manquer.»
    Programme du FIMAV 2007, François Couture
    «AVENTURE SONORE. Le FIMAV, rendez-vous annuel des musiques aventureuses, est de retour à Victoriaville avec, comme chaque fois, ses promesses, ses attentes et ses surprises. (...), John Zorn repasse par Victo, mais fin seul; le chef de file de la musique actuelle en solo, c’est du très rarement vu.»
    Voir, Montréal-Québec-Mauricie, jeudi 10 mai 2007, Réjean Beaucage
    «Toujours à l’avant-garde de la musique, le Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV) s’ouvre demain. Pour sa 24e tenue, on y propose une programmation éclatée et inspirante rassemblant les grandes sphères de la musique actuelle.»
    Le Devoir, mercredi 16 mai 2007, Patrick Caux
    «L’extrême gauche de la culture rock fera acte de présence au FIMAV à l’instar des férus de jazz contemporain, d’improvisation électronique ou de bruitisme éclairé. Jusqu’à lundi, c’est buffet à volonté à Victoriaville.»
    La Presse, jeudi 17 mai 2007, Alain Brunet
    «Du jazz au rock, des installations sonores au noise le 24e Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville met de l’avant une programmation éclatée. Comme s’ils avaient voulu en témoigner à leur façon, Marilyn Crispell et ses trois comparses ont lancé l’événement, hier, en déployant une riche palette de couleurs.»
    Le Soleil, vendredi 18 mai 2007, Nicolas Houle
    «The evening began with an elegant post-bop quartet and ended with a man standing on a chair, swinging a contraption on a string to produce drone-like-tones. Welcome to the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville, the celebration of the bold and the untried — now in its 24th season.»
    The Gazette, samedi 19 mai 2007, Irwin Block
    «Ils (Quasar) considèrent le FIMAV comme la plaque tournante de la musique d’improvisation et une référence en matière à l’échelle internationale.»
    La Tribune, Sherbrooke, lundi 21 mai 2007, Yanick Poisson
    «Most notably, the overall festival attendance has been consistent over the past three years at about 5,000 people. That may seem like a small number, but for a festival this eclectic, located in a rural Quebec town... it’s a remarkable feat. There was a significant cross-section of age groups at all the shows, with bands like Acid Mothers Gong attracting everyone from twenty-somethings to gray- and no-hairs.»
    All About Jazz, lundi 21 mai 2007, John Kelman
    «Au cours de ce long week-end consacré aux musiques d’avant-garde, on aura observé le même éclectisme préconisé par le FIMAV depuis la fin des années 90: rock d’avant-garde, jazz contemporain, électroacoustiques, improvisations électroniques. Voilà donc une année dans «les normes» de Victo, ...»
    La Presse, mardi 22 mai 2007, Alain Brunet
    «(...) and I’m already counting down days until next year’s Festival (...). With 24 years of progressive programming under their belts, the machine is definitely well-oiled and its world-renowned reputation only further galvanized. Best of all were crowds that perfectly reflected the eclectic spirit of the fest.»
    Montreal Mirror, jeudi 24 mai 2007, Johnson Cummins