Tone Poems The Canadiana Suite!!! READ ON FOR ALL DETAILS. James Ehnes (violin), Robi Botos (piano), Mike Downes (bass), Kristian Alexandrov (drums)….superstars who all defy conventional description. These are simply artists of the highest order. Featuring Oscar Peterson’s iconic ‘Canadiana Suite’ as a starting point, all other compositions on this recording are intended to be a musical and geographic love letter to Canada in particular. Music has the power to create imagery and emotion without words as we offer this to you as an instrumental gift. This recording will go into wider circulation through other streaming services soon, but those of you who see this first will get an idea of the passion that went into the project. Recorded AND filmed live in a private residence in Calgary, the sound was captured by two of the greatest audio engineers in the world: Richard King and James Clemens-Seeley (…go to the Google to check them out!!!). There will be a Dolby Atmos audio and video release coming shortly.

Further, the spectacular Canadian composers Christine Jensen, Allan Gilliland, Mike, Downes, Robi Botos and Kristian Alexandrov are also featured with original compositions not only for this recording but also as an hommage to the country.

Program notes below. As a special note, the legendary Canadiana Suite (expertly arranged by my great friend saxophonist and composer Jeff Antoniuk) is also offered as an uninterrupted 30’ sound file intended to be heard in one sitting to truly experience the musical cross country train journey that Oscar originally imagined.

Tone Poems The Canadiana Suite

James Ehnes-Violin
Jens Lindemann-Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Robi Botos-Piano
Kristian Alexandrov-Drums
Mike Downes-Bass

1. Ballad to the East Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
2. Laurentide Waltz Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
3. Place St. Henri Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
4. Hogtown Blues Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
5. Blues of the Prairies Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
6. Wheatland Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
7. March Past Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
8. Land of the Misty Giants Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Antoniuk)
9. Prayer (Kristian Alexandrov-piano) Kristian Alexandrov
10. Sea Fever Christine Jensen
11. Thorns to Stars Mike Downes
12. Stranger on the Prairie Allan Gilliland
13. Emmanuel Robi Botos
14. Hymn to Freedom Oscar Peterson (arr. J. Lindemann)

Producers: Jens Lindemann, Richard King
Executive Producer: Larry Fichtner
Recording Engineers: Richard King, James Clemens-Seeley
Recorded: August 24-27, 2022
Label: Riverdale Classics
Special thanks to the National Music Centre in Calgary and the Banff Centre

This recording was created as a collection of musical tone poems describing different regions of our great country. Oscar Peterson’s iconic Canadiana Suite started this entire artistic journey. His composition from 1964 is an 8-movement journey across Canada starting in the Maritimes and ending on the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Ballad to the East feels like the sun risingabove the Atlantic Ocean. Oscar himself envisioned these provinces of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
and Newfoundland first through paintings and it was the color ‘blue’ that most inspired him.

Laurentide Waltz is a musical picture of water skiers (or even snow skiers) gliding effortlessly back and forth on the lakes and mountains of the Laurentian region of Quebec.

Place St. Henri is the neighborhood of Montreal that Oscar grew up in and its crazy hustle was typical of that area of town which was renowned for active clubs, a host of interesting shops and a wide ranging immigrant community all living together.

Hogtown Blues is an homage to Toronto and the title is actually a nickname for the city. The simple melody outlined in the opening is then re-orchestrated with an incredibly harmony that is anything BUT a basic 12 bar blues. Hogtown has always been known for it’s economic dynamism and business work ethic but the complex blues harmony is also a musical picture of the city’s expansion.

Blues of the Prairies is most easily identified by it’s loping bass line which I have always equated with ranchers and cowboys who live to ride and work with horses and cattle. It may also be suggested that western Canadians know how to play the blues because they understand what -35 feels like during winter.

Wheatland most epitomizes the great provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta which are renowned for flowing fields of grain and the melody evokes beautiful images of agriculture swaying gently and consistently in the breeze.

March Past is an hommage to the world famous Calgary Stampede. The music’s speed and virtuosity is an image of the sheer fun that takes place once a year when locals gear up and visitors from around the globe come together for sheer joy with parades, fun and seemingly endless entertainment.

Land of the Misty Giants is a portrait of stunning coast of British Columbia and the massive trees which seem to come directly out of the ocean becoming the towering growths that they are. Musically, it is a reminder of the incredible natural beauty not only of the Rockies but also of this great nation and the Canadiana Suite seems to end with an appropriate setting of the sun into the Pacific ocean.

Prayer was written by Canadian pianist/drummer Kristian Alexandrov. It is a simple and hauntingly beautiful tune which I havealways equated with the hope of an even better life that all immigrants wish for when coming to Canada….
something that both Kristian and I can relate to on a personal level.

Christine Jensen wrote the beautiful song Sea Fever as a tribute to her own roots growing up on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo. Beginning with an evocative melody by James Ehnes on violin, the tune seems to wash over the listener with changing dynamics, colors and the ebb and flow of the ocean itself.

Thorns to Stars is a composition by bass player and composer Mike Downes. It was crafted while in the contemplative state that many Canadians have experienced in lake country all across the nation where natural vegetation and forest seen during the day gives way to the bursting beauty of stars at night. No city lights to disturb and just a dreamlike musical and personal atmosphere captured by this piece.

Stranger on the Prairie was composed by noted Canadian composer Allan Gilliland as the second movement of a concerto written for famed Canadian clarinetist James Campbell. The tune is treated here with a bluesy 12/8 groove which evokes images of the solitary nature of western cowboys and ranchers who proudly live surrounded by vast acres of pasture.

Emmanuel is a composition written by Robi Botos on the day that Oscar Peterson died. Emmanuel was Oscar’s middle name and Robi was not only very close friends with Oscar, he also embodies the musical legacy of this Canadian jazz giant who was revered around the globe.

This musical tone poem ends with Hymn to Freedom, one of the most powerful tunes ever written by the inimitable Oscar Peterson. It is a cry to bring people together and embodies the inclusive nature of the true Canadian spirit.

-Jens Lindemann

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