Time: 8 p.m.

 Tickets: $20 members, $25 non-members

 Sultans of String: http://www.sultansofstring.com

 On Sat Feb 11, raucous world-roots string wizards, 2x CFMA winners & JUNO nominees, Sultans of String, are releasing MOVE, a spicy stew of Gypsy jazz, Spanish flamenco, Global roots, and Cuban rhythms at The Wolf’s Den!

 

“Canada’s ambassadors of musical diversity” include 6-string violinist Chris McKhool (Pavlo), guitar czar Kevin Laliberté (Jesse Cook, guested on tour with The Chieftains), bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk, Amanda Martinez), and the jaw dropping talent of Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba, Parachute Club)!

 

Seamlessly traversing diverse themes of heart, place and tradition, fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funk bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.

 

Since their formation only 5 years ago, Sultans of String have been riding a wave of success, from their debut CD, "Luna", and 2nd offering, "Yalla Yalla", both hitting # 1 on world/international music charts in Canada, to their triple Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, winning Instrumental Group of the Year.

In the past year alone, they've acquired a JUNO nomination, representation from acclaimed promoter David Wilkes (Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Jerry Jeff Walker), and booking representation in the US, UK and Australia.  They also took home 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries) and placed as finalists for two 2011 International Independent Music Awards.

 

The band’s new and 3rd CD, MOVE can only be thought of as a perfect hat-trick, presenting, once again, an exhilarating celebration of world music styles.

 

“Canada is a real meeting places of musical influences from around the world” says bandleader/violinst McKhool.  “At the same time, as a band we try to tell uniquely Canadian stories, putting forth our vision of the world as one family.”  Chris’ paternal Makhoul grandparents immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in the early 1900s, and his Egyptian-born mother, an accomplished pianist, also has paternal Lebanese ancestry.  “Growing up, I was taught the values of tolerance, respect for all peoples and celebration of culture.”

McKhool’s unbridled passion for exploring the rhythms and melodies has led him to the far corners of the world, incorporating instruments and styles everywhere he went.

 Phrasant John of Tandava http://www.tandava.com/

PRASHANT JOHN - flutes, vocals, guitar, cumbus

Born in Lahore and raised in Bangladesh, Tandava's founder Prashant Michael John has performed and collaborated with musicians in India, Bangladesh, S.E. Asia and North America in genres from folk, rock, and jazz to world music. His evolving compositions, while influenced by Indian, Pakistani and Bengali music, combine the styles and instrumentation of a variety of cultures. Prashant also performs and records internationally with his trio Lehera with members Prakash Sontakke and Karthik.Subramaniam, and with Real World Studios recording artist, Nitya Das Baul. In Canada, he records and collaborates with musicians in different genres. He has studied Carnatic theory and rhythm with K. Rajarangan, Carnatic flute with Shankar Rao, African Fula flute with Bailo Bah, Baul music with the Bauls of Bengal, and Jazz with teachers from the Berklee School of Music.