Upcoming Sarah Slean Covers with Art of Time Ensemble Revealed

Sarah has picked 12 of her favourite songs that have been arranged for her to sing with the Art of Time Ensemble. This songbook concert is a follow up to her first songbook she performed with them that would later become the album, Black Flowers.

Below is a the songs that have been mentioned that she will be covering with some added information. Scroll past the list if you choose not to be spoiled and would like other info on the concerts.

1. Ruth Lowe (I’ll Never Smile Again)
Sarah played a cover of this song at the 2003 Inauguration of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and on CBC Play.

2. Leonard Cohen (A Thousand Kisses Deep)
Sarah has played songbooks and other shows paying tribute to Leonard Cohen but might be her first time taking on this song. In the first Canadian Songbook Sarah played with the Art of Time Ensemble she played Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye. Other Cohen covers include I'm Your Man, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Everybody Knows and Hallelujah (with Tomi Swick)

3. Joni Mitchell (Little Green)
Like covering Cohen, Sarah has covered Joni Mitchell songs on many occasions but this maybe the first time she is doing this song. In 2007 Phil Dryer who composed arrangements of Joni's songs "Both Sides Now", "Woodstock", "Free Man in Paris" and "All I Want" as part of a concert Sarah did with the CBC Radio Orchestra. Phil Dryer is doing an arrangement for this concert and had made an arrangement for Sarah's first songbook with the Art of Time too. Other covers Sarah has done of Joni include Case Of You (2000) and Magdalene Laundries (2005 with Ron Sexsmith)

4. Blue Rodeo (Bad Timing)
Sarah sang with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo at this year's Junos and she has joined on them on the stage in years past.

5. Björk (Joga)
This was one of the first artists mentioned when this concert was announced over a year ago. This appears to be the first time Sarah has attempted a Björk cover.

6. Kurt Weill (Lost In The Stars)
Sarah played at a songbook series to Kurt Weill at the 2008 Canwest Music Festival.

7. Jacques Brel (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

8. Queen (The Show Must Go On)
Sarah is holding true to her word playing a Queen cover as it was requested on tour back in 2005 and promised to be played someday.

9. David Gray (Shine)
Sarah confirmed this song via Twitter today. She had previously tweeted about attending his concert and Royal Wood has toured opening for him. She also purchased his song Please Forgive Me.

10. Judee Sill (Kiss)
Sarah confirmed via iTunes Ping that she will be playing this song for the concert.

11. PJ Harvey (?)
Early descriptions of the concert had mentioned a PJ Harvey cover. Sarah has mentioned interviews about her collecting PJ Harvey's music and enjoying the rhythm in it.

12. Cole Porter (?)
Cole Porter was another artist mentioned in early announcements of this concert. In the 2005 film Sarah acted in, Black Flowers, she sang Cole Porter's song Love for Sale.

The first 9 songs where mentioned in a recent media release to promote the concert. There is a chance that some the songs selected may have changed and other songs could have been added.

The night also features a new instrumental suite by composer Jonathan Goldsmith who is producing the second half of Sarah's double album Land and Sea.

The Art of Time Ensemble will also be announcing their upcoming season at this show. For the last few season Sarah has been involved in at least one show with them.

Tickets for these shows is limited but seats are still available in the front rows. More information can be found here including a listing of musicians and arranges for this concert.  There has been no word yet if CBC will be recording this Art of Time concert or if the concert will be produced into an album like it has been the last 2 seasons.

Past Concerts at Hugh's Room

It appears that Sarah may have played in a tribute concert to Burt Bacharach last month at Hugh's Room in Toronto.

Sarah's name is not listed on the event flyer but is listed on the Hugh's Room event page.

"Singers Lori Cullen, Serafin, Coco Love Alcorn, Kathryn Rose, Kurt Swinghammer, and David Matheson join forces for one night to celebrate this rich sonic world. They’ll be interpreting timeless classics such as Close To You, I Say A Little Prayer, The Look Of Love, and Always Something There To Remind Me, and they’ll be backed up by an accomplished band comprised of Jann Arden, Ron Sexmith, and Sarah Slean alumni."

Last time Sarah played Hugh's Room was a benefit concert for Green Peace.  It happened to fall around the same time of the G20 summit in Toronto.  A review of that concert has been posted here:

Sarah covered Joni Mitchell's Woodstock once again.  Sarah also accompanied a 7 year old girl in what was described as very moving performance.  There was some indication that Greenpeace Canada may post a video of the act at some point.

Sarah to play Hugh's Room for Greenpeace

A few days prior to playing her Canada Day concert at Harboufront, Sarah will be one of the performers at a special concert at Hugh's Room on June 28th.  The concert starts at 8:30 with tickets being $22 advanced and $25 at door.

"Greenpeace Canada is proud to announce that Hugh's Room is the preferred venue for the Toronto release of Amchitka, the 1970 concert that launched Greenpeace, Margo and Michael Timmins, Sarah Slean, Barbara Lynch, Jory Nash and others, including special guests, will join host Mia Sheard, Monday, June 28, to celebrate this seminal concert by Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Phil Ochs that raised funds to float the first Greenpeace mission to Amchitka. This beautifully remastered two-disc live CD recording with a 48-page booklet is available exclusively through Greenpeace at www.amchitka-concert.com and will be tabled at the show. 

All funds from the CD sales will go to Greenpeace.
http://www.amchitka-concert.com/blog/"

Information taken from the Facebook event page and Hugh's Room official calender.  This appearance has not been confirmed on Sarah's official site at the time of publishing.

This event takes place on the Monday following the G-20 summit.

Hear Sarah Cover Joni on CBC Radio 2 (Online)

Update: The Great Candian Songbook concert is now featured on the CBC Radio 2 website:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/singleConcert.html?20070502cndsb

Archive:
Earlier this month Sarah took the stage with CBC Radio Orchestra to where she played four songs in tribute to Joni Mitchell. CBC Radio 2 has the show set to broadcast on May 2, 2007 as part of Canada Live.

"The Great Canadian Songbook

April 15, 2007
Chan Centre at UBC

Alain Trudel, conductor
Veda Hille, vocalist
Sarah Slean, vocalist
Ron Sexsmith, vocalist
Marc Déry, vocalist

Four Great Canadian Songwriters: Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Buffy St. Marie and Serge Fiori. Four Great Canadian Singers: Sarah Slean, Ron Sexsmith, Veda Hille and Marc Déry. Four Great Canadian Composer/Arrangers: Phil Dwyer, Glenn Buhr, Giorgio Magnanensi and Alain Trudel."

source: CBC Onstage

The CBC Radio 2 blog posted the songs Sarah covered for the night:

Joni Mitchell sung by Sarah Slean arranged by Phil Dwyer:
"Both Sides Now", "Woodstock", "Free Man in Paris", "All I Want"

Phil Dwyer who did the arranging appears to be also working on Sarah's upcoming tribute to Canadian artists with the May 10/11, 2007 Art of Time Ensemble concerts.