"most creative vocalist in Cdn free improv." S.Broomer.T.O. Life Mag - Tena Palmer - news

pre-production

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Surprised (or am I? really?)to find the samples from the E. coast recording sessions, fit to a T, the songs in tempos chosen in Reykjavik, 6 mo. later. The rhythms of beach rocks, birdsong and waves, work in perfect sync with the spirit and tempos of the song written on either side of this Atlantic Ocean.

Lately, I am doing regular gigs with AIMT collaborators.... and love it every time. So many great, interesting musicians in the hood'.

Enjoying the possibility of hooking up with Icelandic musicians, Matthias Hemstock and Johann Johannsson, in TO in May. . Just spent 10 days in studio with Matti adn Hilmar J. in Rvk.. and happy with the fruits of our playtime. Matti has great ears and got good sounds, the best raw material.

Walking wee Buck and his buddy, Rotweiller Red in burgeoning spring weather reminds me of living in the Netherlands. Last Easter, was Paskafri ( pron: pow ska- free)in Rvk.... Lang Fostudag i Frikirku....then London and NS.

This Easter, it's pascoa,(pron: pawsh quoi) in Portugal Square.... with Red and Bucky..and samples and cd to edit.

Been enjoying some gigs in galleries and some tasteful corporate events, had a great Mar 17th gig at the Rex with 10tanturc-rooknicvic

Performances in the works:

Duo with Marilyn Lerner in Russia next year (tba),

Spring Icelandic collaboratons in N. America

Touring new cd in Fall.

there is so much new growth and opportunity this spring. Hope to see you soon, in whatever place you dwell.

bless, bless,

Tena

Heim/ Iceland /Home

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800

only a short note to say how delighted ( down to my bones) i am, to be back in my old home town of Reykjavik, recording the next cd with my dear friends, percussionist, Matthias Hemstock (Johann Johannsson ) and guitarist Hilmar Jensson ( Alas No Axis, Tyft, ).....after some pre-production today's first recordings went beautifully. I am a happy gal with happy pals. As we all agree, it's about time!
...but then, isn't everything?
love to all.
especially Buck E. Baudoux, my new puppy, being so well cared-for back in the Annex.

happy holidays

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Thanks to everyone who's visiting this page. I am grateful for your support and thanks for listening to the music, and coming out to shows.
Last one this year, will be with my Halifax Improvising Pals..H.I.P., wha?

Thanks to the Canada Council and all the other arts councils in this country for supporting those who work toward non-commercial goals.

Thanks to all family and friends for love, listening and lodgings. I am ever indebted to you always.

Thanks to JoAnn MacKay and Terry for taking such excellent care of my new Xmas pup, Buck E. Baudoux.
Thanks to all my pals world wide, for their love,support and understanding - We'll see each other soon.
Best wishes to all
and to all....
Lighten UP
be happy
seek joy
be well.

from the Hills of Loch Katrine

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Log time no see...
on the road by the sea
little i-net for me
yesterday, my birthdeee...
with my peeps; family

keeping good company
with me Uncle, Lenny
Colleen, Buster, Nicky

Ma's gone bionic
with a new pace maker
so I'm pickin' in the Gonish for a bit, watchful of the old gal; re-fitteded for speed and needing frequent friendly reminders to chill while healing and re-attaining mach speed.
Mahoney's is like bath water, and the eagles are fewer this year, over the river.
Head to Parrsboro to wrangle free improvisers (a contradiction ? ) with some great pals of the musical and theatrical persuasions....planning a beach-fire clam-bake for a 'nother birthday bash wit da family of artists I also love so well!
teach in the AM - write and dig clams in the aft.... sing and carouse in the eve... sounds like a good gig!

Love to all ! & enjoy the sweet tail of summer: gardens and berries yielding fat delight
the Mackerel are running on Cape George and thanks to the fishing skills of Blaine Mattie I go home to my favourite meal today.
John Prine's at the Cohen... and all is right with the world.
Looking forward to Iceland and recording this new material there in the fall.... after fresh sounds and perspective of this treasured summer in me auld sod''...this is some of the most beautiful country and I have been spoiled to have lived well on each coast and in between.

Love to Gene and Lori having B'days today!
Chat again when I can.
Bless bless,
T.

Port Williams, NS

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

After 2 weeks on the Island at the Dorphanage, snorkelling every other day....following a skate along the sand... Did you know they use their hind basal fins like feet? left, right, left, right....? Until you get too close, then the frilling wings take over and they scoot!...Big crabs, lobster ( which I DID NOT steal from the local fisherfolk! who were kind enough to front us a few - upon my arrival. It's an old habit from my annual return from Reykjavik for sun and the end of June's "lobsterpalooza".
Starfish on the rocks and moonfish in the sand...Birdsong, agian reminding me how we humans are amateurs when it comes to music.
Recording and writing in this place comes naturally. Wonderful cousins & new & old friends from years past.

Sad goodbyes to cousin Estee Mason, another singer in the clan and a brilliant woman. I was a month too late to meet-up with my hero, Everett Baudoux whom I had been so anxious to visit again and interview....too late! Gone at 90yrs... and lived each day with a greater sense of wonder than most 7 yr olds I know.
Last Tuesday, my dear old friend, Bill Forbes finished mowing his lawn, laid on the couch with his hands behind his head... The RCMP found him that way when he failed to show at the Ship's Company Theatre in Parrsboro.... I was headed there to visit many pals, with whom I have acted and performed over the years. Bill & I worked together in a play in P.E.I. & Peace River, AL in '83. Bill was such a good man, great kind friend and a wonderful actor writer and artist. We shall miss him dearly.

Now on the Fundy shore in the Annapolis Valley.. a shore I discover now for the first time...~! What paradise! Thanks to dear friends and family, agian, for the lifts & cottage & gracious hospitality and excellent good laughs & jams.
Learning more than expected about family and the nature of friendship... Learning to relax more. Remembering how essential is the sea to my general health... mental, emotional, physical....
Never saw so many hummingbirds at once...! A dozen at a time & more!
Rocks to climb & for the sea to crash upon.... then the kindest folks with humour to spare and lots to share!
Still spend most of the days writing, recording.. playing guitar late at night and jamming with the neighbors...
Wish you all the best summer ever!!
peace!

Seven Strands of Sound

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Wonderful end to an intense week of rehearsal with such divine company
at the compser's residency for the Ottawa Jazz Festival; wonderful, diverse music!
Playing at the same time as Wayne Shorter - ( who, by all reliable reports is sounding more deeply clear, in all musical ways.
Still, had a full house and the tunes are still ringing in my head as I write from my brother's place in NS....
Am now working on a composing project and a walk in the foggy dawn around this beautiful neighborhood; so symphonic with bird song!... even owls.. A murder of 5 crows followed me for an hour ( i held a crow feather... maybe they weren't amused? ..or followed the scuffing singer sotto voce.... )
A fine start to 6 wks of writing music to rec, w/ hilmar and matti in Rvk. in Aug.
Off to the Ard. to meet dear ones!
Codfish cakes, beans, & the best tea in town, here I come!

too too long

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

hi everyone
apologies for such an absence !
Taking a wee break from fiinishing up a commission for 7 Strands of Sound, the composer's residency at the Ottawa Jazz Festival with:
Andy Milne and Benoit Delbecq-pianos, Petr Cancura - reeds & mandolin, Isaiah Ceccarelli- perc & drums, Pierre-Yves Martel- viola da gamba, Michael Occhipinti - guitar.
What fun with friends, old and new... haven't seen Benoit since 2000 in Hfx.. and Andy, since we lived in Mtl... ages ago!

After that, off to NS for July to work on a new writing project, many thanks to the Can. Council for the Arts... I was the top rated applicant in my category and feel blessed to have the freedom that comes with funding. I will compose - sample sounds - voices - swim in the sea and write some more....
then, off to Reykjavik to collaborate with dear hearts, Hilmar Jensson and Matthias Hemstock ( both touring now with amazing bands) .. creating new pieces with the sound samples and gigging at the Icelandic jazz fest at the end of Aug.... It will be heavenly to work, with my kindred buddies again and of course, see my heart's other home and all the dear friends.... do some riding, diving, perhaps and get to the north to be with my second family in Akureyri.
Well, there's my break-time.. back to the composing!~
C'mon out to the gig Jul. 2 at the N.A.C. 4th stage 9 PM

Dessert, for me, is a roots workshop with old pal and former bandmate from Little Thicket, Vince Halfhide, Petr C. and others.... 1 PM Jul. 3rd - And IT'S FREE!!
see you on the trail.
Happy Canada Day!~

Rob Frayne and Friends Celebrate Christmas ”˜08

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Saturday, Dec. 20, 7:30 (doors open at 7:00), reception to follow
First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Avenue
tickets at door $20/$15 seniors, students
Info: 613 715-9648, frayne568@aol.com

After a four-year holiday from jazz gigs, local saxman and composer Rob Frayne has realized that music is fun. Bringing together some serious musical talent to play and sing, he has selected and written some jazz tunes. He has also taken the liberty to arrange a few Christmas songs.

On this gig, he is reuniting with Chelsea Bridge collaborator and singer Tena Palmer for what promises to be an interesting mix of old and new. New York City jazzmeisters Gordon Webster, on piano, and Petr Cancura, on tenor sax, will anchor the band, while local singer/songwriters Megan Jerome, Shannon Smith, Jeremy Sills as well as singer Martine Courage, along with some of their kids, will round out the band’s festive sounds.

Ho Ho Ho! Some carols will be sung.

Starring:
Tena Palmer (TO) voice
Gordon Webster (NYC) piano
Petr Cancura (NYC) tenor sax, clarinet, mandolin
Rob Frayne (Westboro) tenor sax, bass clarinet

Also featuring:
Martine Courage (the West) voice
Megan Jerome (Planet Coffee) voice, accordion
Shannon Smith (Weatherfield) voice

Introducing: Scott, Marielle and Abbey, voices
Special guest: Jeremy Sills, singing bowls

The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa is located on 30 Cleary Avenue in the West End of Ottawa about a kilometer east of the intersection of Woodroffe Ave. and Richmond Road (turn N. on cleary off Richmond). The tall spire is visible from Richmond Road and the Ottawa River Parkway.

Duo concert with composer/classical guitarist, Roddy Ellias Nov. 23rd, First Unitarian Church, 30 Cleary Ave, Ottawa

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

We do them rarely enough and so many folks are asking when the next one will be... so I'm extra grateful to series programmer, Jane Perry, for inviting us!
The performance will include a mix of our favourite pieces from each of our original songbooks, as well as some beauties from other sources which we both find inspiring. Roddy's pieces include chamber-jazz or what I consider contemporary (he)art song, with such elegant and moving lyrics by the great Ottawa poet, Sandra Nicholls.( Whose books of poetry I highly reccommend.)
Rod and I have toured, recorded & performed various repertoires in our long association... two of my favourites, Roddy & Sandra's, 'Too Far', and my yet to be released, 'North Atlantic Ocean' - (written on a 5 day freighter voyage from Reykjavik to Rotterdam). These 2 songs were performed with an 8 pc international ensemble - in a live CBC broadcast from Neptune Theatre at the Halifax Jazz fest....
We'l also be indulging in pure fun, blowing & swinging on Gershwin's "Cheek to Cheek", coddling a lovely, heart-melting country waltz, " When I Think of Angels", by my dear ginger friend, Kristjan Kristjansson ( one of Iceland's brightest singing /songwriting stars.)There will be new compositions by both of us as well... so world-premiers are imminent. In Roddy's words: "I like the idea of keeping it simple and eclectic. A wise old bird once told me it doesn't matter what tunes you do, it's how you do them! We'll ... move the audience, have fun, make majic!!! I'm really looking forward to it."

"Me too, ka-Roddy!"

9th annual 416 Toronto Creative Improvisers Festival

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Tuesday, November 4 to Friday, November 7

At the Tranzac 292 Brunswick

Tuesday, Nov. 4 9 p.m.

Eclectricity

The Woodchoppers Association

The Water Gears (Avi Granite — guitar; Lina Allemano — trumpet; Peter Lutek — reeds; Scott Peterson — bass)

Cawthray-Palmer (Chris Cawthray — percussion; Tena Palmer — voice)

This was a huge delight; the duo with C.C. on Tues. and a reunion with our victo-riousville 7-tet on fridee niiiight!
Highlights for me:
Water Gears - Lina Rocks! as does the whole band. Singing Anafi with Chris' psychic percussion accompaniment and the feeling of entrancement by the listeners.... Thena piece of 9 minutes singing with whales & Chris... which really felt like a live trialogue....the interplay and melodicism of cetaceans! Holy Blowhole, Ahab!

Wednesday, Nov. 5 9 p.m.

Voice Over

Paul Dutton Group (Paul Dutton, Christine Duncan, Nobuo Kubota, W. Mark Sutherland — voices; Parmela Attariwala — violin; Tomasz Krakowiak — drums; Aidan Closs — guitar)

Thursday, Nov. 6 9 p.m.

Abstract Instinct host David Dacks (CIUT-FM, Exclaim)

Nilan Perera Unit (Nilan Perera — guitar, effects; Aaron Lumley — bass; Dan Gaucher — drums)

Job Cain (Jeremy Strachan — reeds; Jason Hay — reeds; Aaron Lumley — bass; Gregg Brennan — drums)

Gravitons (Mani Mansinani — drums; Jill Lucie Aston — electric guitar)

Friday, Nov. 7 9 p.m.

Sonic Soirée

The Book of Gnomes (Ben Bowen — brass, keyboards, metallophone; Nick Zubeck — guitar, lap steel, effects; James Castle — bass, loops; Marshall Bureau — drums, percussion)

EAR-CAM (Glen Hall — woodwinds, electroacoustics; Tena Palmer — voice; Rob Clutton — bass; Mike Hansen — turntables; Bruce Cassidy — electronic valve instrument (EVI); James Bailey — amplified objects, fretless guitar; Chris Cawthray — percussion)

EAR-CAM shone brightly with Bruce Cassidy's amazing groove, astonishing sound choices and lively ingenuity. And I love the ever surprizing - witty palette of sonic textures provided by Mike and James... Chris, Rob and the dramatic bits with our leader, Glen, on Dutch Schultz's Last Words and Goodbye, Hiroshima, Almogordo, Bikini Atoll, ...
thanks to the many friends who came out; new and old and their kind response to our work. It feels so good to know how the music is recieved.
Hope to see you at the Bent Folk series at Somewhere There, (Jan/Feb.) curated by James Bailey.. my set will probably be in Jan. so come back for updates & please sign the guest book & mailing list! Love to hear from you.!!

Oh! and one more thing: Big welcome to Georgia the GEM, first child of my long time dear pal, Geordie and mom, Lisa. Beautiful beautiful child!
Love to all!