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Friday May 1 &
Saturday May 2, both at 8 PM
$49.50 (includes CD)
Call 416-872-4255 or online at www.roythomson.com
or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
Michael is an amazing boogie-woogie and jazz pianist and in
more recent years, vocalist who’s taking the concert stage by
storm. After a successful appearance last year, he’s back for
two nights at Glenn Gould Studio on May 1 and 2 at 8 PM.
Lovelight, his latest recording, documents the musician's
latest incarnation in a decade-long professional career.
The handsome, boyish keyboard wonder still tears up the piano on
a series of fleet-fingered, eclectic instrumentals. Yet the
Toronto-based Kaeshammer has toiled tirelessly on his craft,
resulting in Lovelight. The sixth album of his career and
second for Alert, it represents his best work yet, and it is one
with which Michael is thrilled. "This is the album that most
sounds like me, playing, singing and songwriting wise. I am so
happy with every single song," he says. The bright and
optimistic vibe of the record mirrors his current outlook on
life. "Where I am in my life is totally reflected here. This
one is all about love and being happy, and most of the songs
have an upbeat feel. My last album (2007’s acclaimed and
Juno-nominated Days Like These) was a little darker."
To record Lovelight, Kaeshammer and producer/co-writer
Ron Lopata (Jacksoul, Tomi Swick) set up shop in Toronto’s Drive
Shed studio, along with Michael’s live rhythm section, noted
Toronto players Marc Rogers (bass) and Mark McLean (drums). Tia
Brazda adds smooth vocals to the beguiling duet, "Give You My
Heart." Another weapon in Michael Kaeshammer’s formidable
arsenal is his prowess as a performer. He loves to engage his
audience, and his natural and quick-witted sense of humour is a
real crowd-pleaser. Michael’s onstage charm has helped him
become an in-demand entertainer across North America and Europe
(soon to tour China), and has won over the audiences of artists
as musically varied as Holly Cole, Harry Manx, Colin James, and
Anne Murray. Michael has shared cross-Canada tours with all of
them, and he singles out a 40 date trek with Anne Murray as a
real confidence boost. To Kaeshammer, "being onstage is about
hanging out with people, having a conversation. I just love it.
I don’t want my audience to all be jazz fans or piano fans. I
want people who want to hang out with me. You can really open
yourself up onstage, and that’s like a high for me." A committed
road warrior, he just can’t wait to get back out on tour to play
the new songs of which he is so justifiably proud.
The broad stylistic range of the songs to which Michael gives
fresh life mirror his open-minded, open-eared approach to music.
Growing up in Germany, he first studied classical piano, before,
at age 13, falling passionately in love with the boogie-woogie
and stride piano playing styles of the likes of Albert Ammons,
Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, Pinetop Smith and Fats Waller.
His near-instant mastery of the form soon had him performing in
clubs, concerts and festivals all over Germany. Later exposure
to the sounds of New Orleans and artists like Professor Longhair
and James Booker also made an indelible impression. In his own
recorded work, Michael is not afraid to tackle jazz or blues
classics or a contemporary pop tune, and artists he has covered
range from Willie Dixon, Duke Ellington and Nina Simone to Jimmy
Cliff and Sting. For more information, please visit
www.michaelkaeshammer.com.
Sponsored by XM Satellite Radio at Glenn Gould Studio
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