6x CFMA winners/3x JUNO nominees Sultans of String bring their revved up roots and global grooves to Bez Arts on Dec 4th!
Led by Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient and fiddler Chris McKhool, Sultans of String are an “energetic and exciting band with talent to burn!” (Maverick Magazine UK). Thrilling their audiences with their genre-hopping passport of Celtic reels, Django-jazz, Flamenco and Middle Eastern rhythms, Sultans of String celebrate musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity. Fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar, while bass and nyckelharpa lay down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.
Together they tell stories of Canada through live music, such as the wild horses of Sable Island, Luna the orca off the West coast, a sunrise in the Arctic Circle’s Auyuittuq Park and more!
McKhool (Jesse Cook, Pavlo) comes by global roots music through deep ties to his ancestry – his father’s name would have been pronounced Makhoul in ancestral Kfirmishki Lebanon, and his Cairo-born mother happened to play piano, teach classical theory and feed her young son as much music instruction as she did Middle Eastern cuisine. From there, the powerful violinist developed a taste for multi-genre string sounds and found a like-minded crew of all-world enthusiasts. When McKhool first heard the rumba rhythm of founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté (Jesse Cook), their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the dynamic duo grew, featuring such amazing musical friends as in-the-pocket bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk) and the virtuosic nyckelharpa playing of Saskia Tomkins (Celtic music consultant for the Broadway hit Come From Away).
Equally at home in a concert hall, folk and jazz club or festival setting, the Sultans have gigged at JUNOfest, the legendary club Birdland in New York, Celtic Connections Festival (Glasgow) and London’s Trafalgar Square. They have sold out Koerner Hall three times and performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. They have played live on CBC’s Canada Live, BBC Radio, BBC TV, Irish National Radio, and the syndicated World Café, Woodsongs, and SiriusXM in Washington. Sultans of String’s musicianship and versatility are also showcased in collaborations with such diverse luminaries as Paddy Moloney & The Chieftains, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Richard Bona (Paul Simon), Alex Cuba, Béla Fleck, Crystal Shawanda & Ken Whiteley. Their most recent collaboration “Walking Through The Fire” features the outstanding artistry of Indigenous artists across Turtle Island including Dr. Duke Redbird, Shannon Thunderbird, Marc Meriläinen and more, earning them 3 CFMA nominations and the Cannes World Film Festival win for their Film rendition, earning Best Musical Film and Best Soundtrack.
“Dazzles with inventiveness!”
Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine, UK
“Chris McKhool and the boys are fantastic!"
Bob Ezrin (Producer, Pink Floyd. Peter Gabriel)
“Your set was sensational. Loved it.”
(The Late) Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)
“Sultans of String are one of Canada’s hottest musical exports, dynamically embodying their homeland’s values of tolerance and respect for diverse cultures.“
Celtic Connections, Glasgow UK
Events
Bez is an intimate live performance venue which hosts some of the most notable artists from all around North America and beyond. With an inspiring sense of community, the warmth of great sound and the close personal engagement with the artists, Bez offers a unique and inviting atmosphere for enjoying live performances.
Classes
Dance, Comedy Improv, Gospel Choir, Acting... Whether you have had years of formal training or you're beginning your arts journey, our studio is the place to build on your technique in the best ways possible and love it! Our staff are here to equip you in whatever you want to pursue (dance styles include ballet, hiphop, tap, jazz, contemporary, ballroom or break). Try a few or focus on a couple, it's your choice! AND are now highlighting ADULT CLASSES (recitals are optional and there’s no dress codes).
Post-Secondary Training in Dance, Acting and Music
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