Joshua Lebofsky: Press/Reviews

Lennon smiles on local artist
Prize in songwriting contest. Joshua Lebofsky takes world-music category
BERNARD PERUSSE, The Gazette
Published: Wednesday, September 26

Montreal musician Joshua Lebofsky has won a grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. His rhythmic, mostly instrumental composition The Briss, which mixes world beat, funk and jazz, took top honours in the world-music category.

Lebofsky, 46, was among 12 winners in the contest's first session, and the only Canadian to be recognized. Other honourees were chosen in such categories as country, electronic, children's music, rock, pop, jazz and gospel.

The Briss comes from Lebofsky's indie release Play a Little Prayer, his second album. Among the prizes he receives are $5,000 in studio equipment and $500 in gift certificates.
The attachment of the Lennon name to the honour will not only be a marketing help - Lebofsky said he gets to place the famous Lennon self-portrait logo on his disc - but there's an emotional significance. "It means a lot of things," the keyboard player and composer said in a telephone interview yesterday, expressing admiration for the late Beatle's catalogue. "Obviously, the Lennon-McCartney songbook is a big deal."

The contest's second session, which closes Dec. 15, will also yield 12 grand prize recipients. The dozen winners from each session then go head to head in an online battle, where the public will decide who gets the final nod in his or her respective category. If Lebofsky beats the world-music winner from Session 2, he becomes a 2007 Lennon Award winner in the world-music category. The Lennon Award winners will all compete for the Maxell Song of the Year prize, which will be announced next July.

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, which is endorsed by Yoko Ono, is an international competition that began in 1997. Entries from both amateurs and professionals are judged by a committee that includes Al Jarreau, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend and Bob Weir.

For more information, go to www.jlsc.com. For more on Joshua Lebofsky, visit www. joshualebofsky.ca.

bperusse@thegazette.canwest.com

Joshua Lebofsky honoré pour
The Briss
2007-10-05


L’auteur-compositeur-interprète Joshua Lebofsky décroche un grand prix au John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Musicien de renom, le multi-instrumentiste et interprète montréalais Joshua Lebofsky s’est vu attribué, le 1er septembre dernier dans le cadre du John Lennon Songwriting Contest, le premier prix de la catégorie Meilleure chanson de musique du monde pour son titre The Briss.

Extrait de Play A Little Prayer, album indépendant rassemblant dix chansons abordant le thème de la prière, The Briss est un savant amalgame de jazz et de musique du monde. Empruntant ses bases à un chant traditionnel pygmée de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, la pièce met de l’avant un groove funk rappelant ceux du Godfather of Soul, sur lequel plane la voix profonde de Lebofsky ainsi qu’un pétillant solo de trombone, exécuté avec maîtrise par l’instrumentiste Muhammed Abdul Al Khabyr.

Seul Canadien honoré lors de cette compétition internationale tenue récemment à New York — dont les juges étaient The Veronicas, D12, Al Jarreau, Bob Weir, Lyfe Jennings, Matt Pinfield, Jesse Harris, John Legend, Fergie de The Black Eyed Peas, The Bacon Brothers, Ken Komisar et Jake Hill —, Joshua Lebofsky a notamment partagé les planches, au cours des dernières années, avec Michel Pagliaro, Éric Lapointe et Kim Richardson, en plus d’avoir offert des prestations, seul ou accompagné de l’ensemble Tchaka (Eval Manigat), en France, en Belgique, en Italie, en Allemagne, à Singapour et ailleurs au Canada et aux États-Unis.

www.joshualebofsky.ca
www.jlsc.com

coming

coming

Joshua Lebofsky: Play a Little Prayer
(self-released)

Canadian singer/pianist Joshua Lebofsky apparently gets around. His first email arrived from Dubai. Then his album arrived, packing inspiration, he says, from "prayers both sacred and secular" from sources including West African, Native American, and Judeo-Christian traditions. It's a lot he has bitten off, but not too much to chew.

The opener, "Cecil's Psalm," give credit to Cameroon, and serves as a jazzy invocation: "Oh Lord, open up my lips / I'll sing thy praise." More obviously African is "The Briss" from Ivory Coast, with insistent djembes, vocal harmonies, and a sizzling trombone solo sneaking into the mix. The first real taste of Lebofsky's voice comes on his bold reinterpretation of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," which takes on a sparse soulfulness well suited to his gravely-but-crisp tones. Lots of other flavors too, from the jazz-funk of "Demon Dance" to the slow "Nearer My God to Thee," on which Lebofsky shows off the more flexible gospel side of his voice. "Funeral Song" claims Native American roots, but sounds rather more like not-so-mournful jazz.

If you think sacred equals stuffy (or preachy), Lebofsky's ability to transform sacred songs may give you second thoughts. Or no thoughts at all, if you just sit back and soak in the inspiration.

- - -

Joshua Lebofsky may not be a household name but if you're into Quebecois music, chances are you've heard the richly talented keyboardist backing up the likes of Michel Pagliaro and Eric Lapointe. He also rounded up other top sidemen for a totally unique self-produced CD called Play a Little Prayer, nifty world-beat tunes based on sacred and spiritual texts. In a world dominated by warmongers, the album comes as both balm and inspiration. Lebofsky previews his work Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. at Quai des Brumes, 4481 St. Denis St., 514-499-0467.

rodriguez.music@gmail.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006

Segue

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CD Cut 1 - 'Cecil's Psalm'
Joshua Lebofsky
Control SOCAN
elijCD 02 www.joshualebofsky.ca
Joshua Lebofsky - 'Play a Little Prayer'
7:15
(Joshua's piano, Tony Albino's drums, Jerry De Villiers Jr.'s guitar team with the round-like vocals of Manu Pele, and Dessy Di Lauro on this song of praise based on a Cameroon folk song and words from the Old Testament)

CD Reviews:

Joshua Lebofsky

www.joshualebofsky.ca

Canadian pianist/vocalist and composer Joshua Lebofsky has conjured up a pallet table blend of musical styles. His jazz-influenced piano is at the center of the musical exploration. His CD "Play a little prayer" offers up ten compositions based on themes of prayers. The re-working of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" casts the song in a pretty Memphis-Gospel groove. The song is stretched out and allowed to flow and build. The oddly-titled, "The Briss" puts forth a more intense, minor-keyed jam. Doumbeks and North African vocal chants lead the way and then when you least expect it a trombone comes out and plays a solo. Joshua drew inspiration from North and West African, Native North American and Judeo-Christian teachings, both sacred and secular, the music reflects a rich blend of world music influences. This is also evidnet of "Cecil's Psalm" which multi-lingual vocal chants together creating a hypnotic patchwork of sound.

Joshua has spent many years performing and recording with many other artists in the Canadian music scene as well as international artists. He was able to call on a wide variety of musicians to help bring his vision of Jazz-influenced World music to life.

Dear Joshua;

My name is Alan Roy Scott, one of the co-founders of the "Unisong"
International Song Contest. Although you may be aware by now that you have won 4th Prize in the Jazz category with your very modern and interesting Jazz instrumental song "The Briss", I wanted to still contact you and offer my personal......... Congratulations!!!!!
.
Although as co-founder I am not directly involved in the judging process,
I do get to hear all the winners before they are announced and so I must tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed the whole conceptual vison and execution you had for htis track. Well played and produced to boot. In fact, as a veteran 25 year songwriter myself (see my bio on our home page) in addition to overseeing "Unisong" as one spoke of my own career wheel, the highest compliment I can pay you is to say I wish I'd written it myself. And coming in 4th in one of our more popular categories in recent times, with over 400 entries in that category alone in this current edition, was surely no small feat either. I hope you can take that fact as the creative validation of your obvious talent it is meant to be and let it resonate for a while.
If you go to our website at www.unisong.com you will see your song and photo prominently featured and that as 4th Prize winner, your song can be listened to right on our site. Plus there's a link to your website if you gave us one. Please feel free to utilize this victory any way you wish in your own promotion efforts now and in the future. Over the last 11 years I am proud to say we have built up a pretty good reputation that should be of some value to you when listed or mentioned.

In closing, let me just say thank you again for your talent and support
of Unisong. We take great pride in what this annual competition offers and stands for in being "created by songwriters….for songwriters." And the personal touch is something we try to never forget about in dealing with our entrants.
Cordially; ALAN ROY SCOTT/UNISONG I.S.C.

Café Méliès vol. 4 : 5 à 7

Philippe Renaud

La Presse

Collaboration spéciale


Les compilations du Café Méliès, sous la direction artistique du DJ Stéphane Cocke, deviennent de plus en plus intéressantes. De produit dérivé d'endroit branché évoquant le succès des compils Buddah Bar et autres débits de boisson/resto où il fait bon se faire voir, celles du Café Méliès deviennent de petites niches à découvertes, à versions exclusives, toujours sur le ton " viens, je t'offre un vermouth-lichi ". On s'y love sans dénouer sa cravate, avec l'assurance cependant qu'à travers les grooves langoureux qui font la marque Méliès, plusieurs morceaux capteront notre attention. Le quatrième volume se démarque par la somme des nouveaux talents qu'on y découvre: le jazz-pop planant, orchestré par des voix, de Joshua Lebofsky (Cecil's Psalm), le mix de DJ Ram du titre Bitter de la chanteuse Marcia Seebaran, et plusieurs autres. Parmi les noms qui sonnent des cloches, Ramachandra Borcar (encore), avec un mix inédit de The Hand That Lost, un remix de la chanson Les Averses de Stefie Shock, Deadbeat, Gaïa... Tout cool, très bon.

__________________________________________
* * * 1/2
ÉLECTRO. Artistes variés, Café Méliès vol. 4, Select

+ : Les nouveautés, les exclusivités
- : Prévisible dans la facture sonore

... from freely impromptu works like Dubious Distinction to more stable moods like Odeto, with Joshua Lebofsky's vocals highlighting a Latin ballad setting.

MEDIA RELEASE
Montreal, April 8, 2003

The National Theatre School of Canada presents

The Beggar's Opera

April 29 to May 3 at the Monument-National

The 2003 graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada is proud to present its final production of the season, John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, directed by Richard Greenblatt, from April 29 to May 3, 2003, in the Monument-National’s Ludger-Duvernay Theatre.

Debuting in London in 1728, The Beggar’s Opera has played just about everywhere in the English-speaking world and established a new genre, the "ballad opera". Despite its grim reality, it is a comedy — a period romp and a gritty satire of politics and social conventions. Teeming with mischief, malice, love and lust, John Gay's acclaimed musical play provoked censorship in Britain and serves as a hilarious parable for our time.

With characters drawn from London's criminal underworld, including a nicely shaded array of pickpockets, cutthroats, receivers of stolen property, corrupt jailers, and women of easy virtue, The Beggar’s Opera is a story in 3 acts revolving around a highwayman, the women who love him, their respective families and assorted characters all set to song, dance, and musical accompaniment.

Guest director Richard Greenblatt is one of Canada’s most prolific actors, writers and directors. During the course of his 29-year career he has directed over 75 productions, mostly original works produced across Canada. He was Resident Director of Young People's Theatre, Deputy Artistic Director of the Canadian Stage Company and Director of the Hour Co. He has also been the recipient of four Dora Mavor Moore Awards, two Chalmers Awards, and countless other nominations

The Beggar’s Opera features the original score arranged and adapted by musical director, John Millard. Millard, also a Dora Mavor Moore Award winner, is a Toronto based composer, known nationally and internationally for his groups The Polka Dogs and Happy Day. He has composed scores for the CBC, NFB, The National Ballet and many of Canada’s major theatre companies. He is pleased to be collaborating with acclaimed Montreal pianist Joshua Lebofsky.

The public performances of the NTS’s graduating class are a tradition and a rite of passage. They represent the final stage of training for many of Canada’s future actors, playwrights, directors, designers and production personnel. Everything seen on stage, and all that goes on behind the scenes, is created by the students under the guidance of professional guest directors.