2024-01-17
Trio teams up for Mahone Bay concert
Mahone Bay - Multi-instrumentalist and singer Doug Tielli is headed to Mahone Bay Saturday January 20 at 3 p.m. at St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
"Doug's music is mesmerising and ethereal, with roots from many different styles and sounds, thanks to his wide musical curiosity. I am delighted that he will be joined in concert by two fantastic Nova-Scotian performers, saxophonist Nicola Miller and bassist Nick D'Amato," said Janelle Lucyk, artistic and administrator for Musique Royale, host of the concert.
Instrument-wise for this concert Tielli said, D'Amato will play his upright acoustic bass; Miller will be on her alto saxophone, as well as a few flute pieces and perhaps some clarinet; Tielli said he will be playing guitar and singing and there is a "chance that I will pull out my trombone."
Tielli, who is living in Toronto has a wide range of musical abilities, playing trombone, guitar, piano, cello, banjo and the tuba. Music-wise, he likes to fuze many different styles. All of the songs that he will be performing will be originals.
"I feel like I bring a lot of different styles and then I synthesize them and apply them feelings or ideas that I want to express in songs or composition," he said. "My favourite thing to do is what makes sense at any moment. Sometimes it's playing Bach cello suites on the trombone, because that's what makes sense."
For this concert there will be some British folk music kind of an influence with some country, a bit of bluegrass and a touch of jazz and soul music infused, "and a little bit of freedom to be playful with a few inporvisatory comments as well."
Tielli grew up in a musical family with a couple of older brothers playing in bands and played in stage bands and orchestras in school while continuing his creative music making. He attended York University where he met an "influential teacher' who introduced him to improvised music "and that really shifted my trajectory."
He ended up moving to downtown Toronto and connected with experimental musicians and was "making a lot of very strange music for a long time."
Along with playing and writing songs, he has been working with a vocal coach for the past decade and has, for about 20 years taught guitar, piano, banjo, voice, and trombone.
Since 2011, Tielli has released five solo recordings: swan sky sea squirrel, Keresley, Truth and Elseness, Reflection Affection (1) and (2). He has toured Canada, the U.S., the UK, and Europe.
He has performed and recorded with such renowned musicians as Marshall Allen, Owen Pallett, Amy Millan, John Oswald, Evan Parker, The Constantines, Rheostatics, Baby Dee, Devon Sproule, Jennifer Castle, Tom Brousseau, and has had chamber works performed by Arraymusic, Contact Contemporary Music, and Neither/Nor. He has been part of projects including The Silt, Drumheller, The Reveries, and The Imaginary Brass Band.
Teaming up with him is Miller who he has collaborated with before and has known for about 20 years. D'Amato he just met this summer while in Mahone Bay working with Miller.
"Nicola has multi-instrumental abilities that really add different textures to the songs and Nick is very flexible and solid and has a nice way of playing," Tielli commented.
"These songs that we're playing are going to sound familiar, but in ways that are also new. It's not totally unexpected music, but it's music that make sense, but also novel at the same time,"
Musique Royale is a provincewide music presenter in Nova Scotia. Since its founding in 1985, Musique Royale has brought world class music to venues of architectural and historic significance across the province. Hear symphony orchestras and chorus' in beautiful churches and salon-style events, with children-friendly shows encompassing jazz, world, classical, and more. Also, from June to September our Summer Festival features early music in beautiful and historic venues across Nova Scotia.
