Voices in the Fog

If you are in Montreal tonight, I strongly encourage you to head over to O Patro Vys for the sublime musical experience offered by Moondata’s LABproject series.

The LABproject series is the project that best expresses the concepts that govern Moondata. Based around ideas of collaboration & open-minded approaches to the creative process, it is presented as a monthly event to which artists are invited to participate in a live, improvised concert that has musicians, visuals artists and DJs performing together in a ‘very special one-time only performance’. With a line-up that changes from month to month, many of the participants meet and work together for the first time on the day of the show.

As is the case with many open-ended experiments in music-making, the music ranges in influence - from jazz to psych-rock, electronica, IDM, to music actuelle or pop, at any given show. With energy focused on composition as well as interpretation the listener is treated in turn to cohesive musical themes interspersed with barrier- free exploration. This unique approach that melds improvisation and composition makes the performances dynamic and highly exciting for the musicians and audiences alike.

Can’t make it? Subscribe to their podcast or get their CD, available for purchase in the store section of the Moondata website and at a number of music outlets that they list online. T’cha Dunlevy of The Gazette had this to say about it:

An ever-changing, deftly curated configuration of Montreal musicians has been thrown together every month or so for the past two years, usually at cool Mount Royal Ave. club O Patro Vys. Culled from recordings of those nights, this LABprojects debut captures the spontaneity, creativity and surprising success of the idea. From free jazz to ambient, Middle Eastern trance to dreamy pop, it’s free-form music, made from scratch on the spot. In all, a whopping 46 musicians take part in these 14 songs over 70 minutes, among them members of bands big and small on the city’s music map. But more than just concept art, this disc holds moments of beauty, fun and funk while, for the most part, avoiding wanky improv traps.

Here’s the low down on tonight’s show:

MOONDATA PRODUCTIONS:
LABproject #32Saturday November 18
O Patro Vys
356 Mont-Royal Est.
21h30

curated by:
Jason Sharp (Mobius) - baritone sax/laptop
and featuring:
Josh Zubot (Crouched Head) - violin/laptop
Andres Vial (Tempus Fugit) - keyboards
Matt Lederman (Moondata) - guitar
Adrian Vedady (Gods of Taste) - bass
Jahsun (Kalmunity) - drums
Pat McGee (Stars) – Drums

Credit Jason Sharp for putting together an all-star line-up for the 32nd edition of LABprojects. Mr. Sharp, originally from Edmonton, has been playing in all sorts of scenes since moving to Montreal. He has appeared in numerous local festivals including the L’Off festival, Montreal Funk and Soul festival, Suoni per il Popolo, the Montreal Reggae Festival, as well as jazz festivals across the country. He has provided electro-acoustic soundtracks for multiple contemporary dance choreographers and credits these sound explorations as a major influence for his acoustic music.

For this edition of LABprojects, Jason has taken members of his Mobius project and combined them with other members of various jazz and funk working ensembles. Andres Vial (of The Null Set, Pest 5000, Squarewaves & Tempus Fugit) lays in on a number of keyboards, Josh Zubot/Crouched Head plays double-duty on violin and warped beats and electronics, while Kalmunity’s Jahsun and Stars’ Pat McGee will brew up a fierce drum groove. Adrian Vedady is currently THE go-to double bassist in the city, while Moondata’s own Matt Lederman will shift roles from conductor to participant in what is sure to be a heady and exhilarating meeting of musical minds.

Moondata Productions’ LABprojects series is in its 4th year of bringing Montreal talent together for unique collaborations. Since 2003, LABprojects has played host to over 100 Montreal musicians, DJs and VJs. Members of Montreal’s electronic music community (Sixtoo, Kid Koala, P-Love, Killa-Jewel), indie music scene (Patrick Watson, Elizabeth Powell, members of Donkeys, Unicorns, Besnard Lakes, Stars) soul funk collectives (Ark of Infinity, Kalmunity), jazz groups (Joshua Rager, Miles Perkins, Jim & Chet Doxas, members of IKS) and improv instrumental circles (Sam Shalabi, Harris Newman, Torngat, Bell Orchestre) have all graced the stage at O Patro Vys in a variety of formations. The music has ranged from sonic explosions to hauntingly beautiful moods, from upbeat grooves to minimal ambient textures. Regardless of the lineup, this “deftly curated” series has consistently amazing results.