Album Notes

Harry Manx has been putting his own personal spin on the blues for some time now, serving up his distinctive and hypnotic brew of Eastern and Western sounds to audiences worldwide. Combining the sensuality of traditional blues with transcendent Eastern sounds has become his trademark.

It’s in a live setting that this bridge between “heavenly” India and “earthy” American blues is most effectively built. As Harry says, “ My goal has always been to draw the audience as deep as possible into the music.”

CBC Producer Todd Fraracci collected a unique array of musicians for a special concert event entitled “Heaven and Earth – Harry Manx and Friends” at the Glenn Gould Studio in March of 2007 to further explore this delicate balance. Matching the eclectic influences on Harry’s music, he is joined here by a dazzling array of musicians that perfectly complement his style, allowing the music to successfully venture all over the world map. Previously recorded material is presented with added dimensions, producing new revelations that occur with each listen.

Never before has this configuration of musicians been captured live; “Live at the Glenn Gould” represents the best of their one-of-a-kind collaboration. This is Harry as he is best digested, serving the musical palate of his devoted audience.

The Players are:
Harry Manx, vocals, 6-string guitar, lap slide guitar, banjo, mohan veena

Kevin Breit, guitars, mandolin
Kevin is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist of endless creativity, amazing versatility and virtuostic technique. He has recorded with everyone from Cassandra Wilson to k.d lang and Norah Jones. Kevin also leads his own groups, the Sisters Euclid and Folk Alarm.

Steve Marriner, harmonica
Widely recognized as one of Canada’s premiere harmonica players, Steve is a ten year blues veteran at the age of 24 He has performed at festivals, concert halls and clubs in Canada, the U.S.A., the UK and Australia with Harry. He has also appeared on a number of recordings including those of Harry Manx, J.W. Jones Blues Band, The Junk Yard Dogs and Big Daddy G.

Samidha Joglekar, vocals
Samidha began her vocal training in Western Classical music at the age of ten. She developed a deep appreciation for Hindustani vocal music soon after and has studied with many Indian master vocalists. Samidha’s background in cross-cultural experimentation makes her singing a vital contribution to this performance. She is a featured vocalist with the Canadian world/fusion music ensemble Tasa.

Ravi Naimpally, tabla
Ravi began his study of tabla under the guidance of his uncle in Mumbai, India. After gaining a solid foundation in Hindustani classical music, Ravi has gone on to explore numerous world music traditions, including Iranian music, Turkish and Macedonian music, world-jazz and New Music. Ravi has also performed and recorded with Loreena McKennit. He is currently the leader/composer of the world music ensemble Tasa.

George Koller, bass, dilruba
George Koller has accumulated hundreds of wildly diverse performing and recording credits in his expansive musical career: The Shuffle Demons, Phil Woods, Peter Gabriel, Holly Cole, Ian Tyson, to name only a few. His playing of various Indian stringed has been featured in motion pictures on recordings by Loreena McKennitt, Jane Siberry and Bruce Cockburn.