THUNDER BAY – Entertainment – Canada’s high octane string slingers, Sultans of String, bring their revved up roots-jazz-worldbeat mash-up to Thunder Bay hotspot, Finlandia Hall, September 27!
Known for dizzying music jams, poly-rhythms and raucous riffs, the Sultans of String sound can’t be pinned down — it’s Sable Island meets the Silk Road, with detours through the Gypsy-Jazz coffeehouses of Eastern Europe, next an East Coast Kitchen Party, then over to the bustling markets of Cuba! Fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.
Since forming 7 years ago, Sultans of String have been on a meteoric rise with an astonishing number of awards and accolades in tow, including a JUNO nomination, 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards, 1st place in the ISC (out of 15,000 entries), plus invitations to play with such legendary artists as The Chieftains and David Bromberg. The Chieftains’ very own Paddy Moloney guests on their new Symphony! CD.
Sultans of String are represented in the US by acclaimed promoter and former A&R man, Dave Wilkes (Joan Baez, Jerry Jeff Walker, Bela Fleck). “I have worked with numerous top ten chart songs and #1 Pop Billboard and Country music hits”, Wilkes says. “In all that time, I have not worked with composers more talented than Chris McKhool and Kevin Laliberté from Sultans of String. Not only are they a superb writing team, they are also amazing arrangers & musicians. Symphony! is a gigantic leap forward.”
Sultans of String are led by 6-string violinist McKhool (Jesse Cook, Pavlo) who grew up in a Lebanese-Egyptian (Makhoul) house bursting with music and diversity. Growing up, Chris was fed a steady diet of delicious musicality alongside Middle Eastern cuisine and violin lessons.
When McKhool first heard founding guitarist Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the duo has grown, featuring such amazing musical friends as bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk), Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba), as well as special guests such as folk-pop darlings, Dala, and The Chieftains’ Paddy Moloney.
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WHEN: Saturday, September 27, 8:00pm
WHERE: Finlandia Hall, 314 Bay St, Thunder Bay (pres. by Sleeping Giant Folk Society)
INFO/TIX: $25 adv and for SGFMS members at door / $30 non-members 807-344-0654
BAND WEB:
www.sultansofstring.com
