Album Notes

A premiere collector's edition of the eclectic LIFESTYLES series for the intrepid adventurer and discerning audiophile.

Presented by an international cast of artists from Canada, Europe, USA, the United Kingdom, South America, Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Asia, this is a special compilation of HIGH DEFINITION stereophonic recordings of live performances between April and June 2009 ... with no overdubs.

These high definition live recordings are best experienced in a dimly-lit room with minimal visual distraction or with eyes closed ... and your favourite libation in hand.

Put on your headphones and find yourself seated with the musicians in the orchestra. You can almost touch every intimate breath from the vocal artist an arm's length in front of you. You can almost see every nuance and expression on the faces of each instrumentalist around you.

RECORDING EQUIPMENT used to document these live performances include some of the finest high-end audio gear such as Roland VS-2480CD workstations, Genelec 8040A monitors, Sony MDR 7509 headphones, Monster Power Conditioner PRO 2500 and Blue Kiwi quad cables; vintage microphones like the limited edition AKG C 414 LTD, Neumann TLM 49 and TLM 103; the world's quietest microphones, the Rode NT1-A and NT2-A; specialty microphones such as the Audix D-6, Earthworks high definition SR30 matched pair, Blue Baby Bottle, Blueberry, CAD E-300, Sontronics SIGMA and Royer's flagship, the R-121; a broad selection of high quality tube and solid state preamps such as the Universal Audio Solo 610, Rupert Neve Portico 5016, Mackie Onyx 800R, Focusrite OctoPre LE and Presonus Digimax FS.

Net proceeds from the sale of this album will be donated to disaster and poverty relief programs managed by international aid agencies such as UNICEF, World Vision, Oxfam, CARE, Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross in less developed communities outside Canada.

Enjoy!



* * * * *


BOUTIQUE ORCHESTRAS FEATURED

Sheraton Cadwell Orchestra (www.sheratoncadwell.com)
Casablanca Orchestra (www.clubcasablanca.ca)
Philips Westin Orchestra (www.philipswestin.com)
Wyndham Regency Orchestra (www.wyndhamregency.com)
Toronto Starlight Orchestra (www.starlightorchestra.ca)
Orchestra Copacabana (www.atthecopa.ca)



* * * * *



CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

VOCALISTS

Laila Plamondon
Susanna Yanivker
Lisa Levy
KALYA
Rick Levine
Lisa Budd
Al Raposo

MUSICIANS

Dhimiter Hotova
Nadia Younan
Gale Bassett
Ricci Balogh
Chris Nicholl
Vaado Sarapuu
Saha Lee
Chris Ludlow
George Fan
Salomon Ponte
Mayuko Araki
Afiz Suleymanov
Liborio Lomonaco
Nick Nasturzio
Andrew Chong
Jesse Malone
Bernard Wexler
Michael Tenno
Kysen Leo
David King
Takeshi Naoi
Yuki Kitamura
Brent Harasym
Alan Vincent
Nobuaki Seki
Christon Jones
Karl Silveira
Thomas Nagy
Martin Kuwawi
Kenny Simon
Ernest Fong
Jungwoo Choi
Neil Tatay
Susanne Maziarz
Denis Kugappi
Chester Manoharan
Paul O'Connell
Frant Sant
Brian Kruschel
Norris Graham
Andrew Ferguson
Dan Picillo
Raffaele Stanghi
Carlos Skinfill



* * * * *





"Your vocal stars are glamorous,
chic & hip ... what a treat!"
- Olivier Francone



"It takes a really good band to get the
Mayor up to dance the twist!"
- Hazel McCallion



"I've seen the rest ... you're the best!"
- Richard Cohen



"Your track record of recorded work
is utterly impressive ... wow!"
- Julio Hernandez



"I loved your performance ...
it was professional and entertaining!"
- Joanne Wheatley


"You have both style and substance."
- Jim Stanley


"Awesome! There was hardly any room left on the dance floor ...
with thousands more watching your show
from all around the amphitheatre!"
- Tim Reidt



"Charming and delightful ... we enjoyed every tune!"
- Maria & Ron Oliveira



"The orchestra sounds like swingers
having a time of their lives!"
- John Liddle



"Of all the big bands I know, yours is the most classy and professional ...
your toe-tapping programming, slick presentation and
remarkable cast of singers put you way ahead of everyone else."
- Jeff Lorenzo




"You guys are good ... very, very good!"
- Rick Petrocelli


"Open yourself to the sounds of this fine ensemble ...
they are a must at any event or occasion."
- Denis Mastromonaco



"Your vocal artists are sensational!"
- Michel Saunders



"The songs you play are so different from the other
big bands that perform here ... your international
musicians make such beautiful music!"
- Erica Klein



"Our guests were thrilled with your performances!"
- Sheryl McKean


"What a fabulous repertoire ...
we enjoyed every song!"
- Michelle & Michael Pratt



"There is something special and beautiful
about your boutique big bands ... and
the good work you do for charity."
- Wendy Evans



"First class entertainment!"
- Alex Chavez



"Your professional orchestras are in
large measure responsible for the
renaissance of big bands in Canada."
- Pete Chapman



"We all had a fantastic evening ... dancing to
great music of the orchestra!"
- Susanne Adamczyk



"From the many positive comments we have received ...
it's clear that your contribution helped to ensure the event
was successful and memorable for all involved."
- Eva Liebermann



"I have seen many shows at this venue ...
yours is one of the few I really truly enjoyed!"
- Alan O'Connell



"Your performers have a great deal of flair and finese."
- Dennis Cole



"I am so happy to see the orchestra perform again."
- Rafik Mankarios



"Solid 5-star performances!"
- Rick Stewart



"We just could not stop dancing!"
- Pam Murray



""Excellent show! It does not get better than this ...
a top notch orchestra with musicians from all over the world,
fabulous singers and a great time dancing under the stars
on a perfect summer evening."
- Marty Stapleton



"Many we knew were asking for a CD
of EVERY SONG your band played
... this CD only has some of them.
Can we have more, please?"
- Jean Anderson



"I thoroughly enjoyed the polished presentations
of your vocalists and orchestra!"
- Mike Brown



"We had many compliments ... thrilled by
the music that night and everyone had
a lot of fun!"
- Alessandra Palombo


"What a superb concert ... I stayed right till the end!"
- Phil Warren


"I've heard a lot of good things about your orchestra,
so I came out to listen ... you know, you fellows
are REALLY very good!"
- Jim Fernandez



"My husband and I played your CD over and over ...
and we are truly enjoying it!"
- Sharon Warnas



"... greatly enjoyed and we would be very pleased
if you would come back again!"
- Mary-Louise Wilson



"We have seen many bands. Only a few sound good
but they do not look good. Your orchestra is one
of the very best ... it sounds good and it also looks good!"
- Phil & Jane Richardson



"Your show was polished and refined ...
we were thoroughly entertained!"
- Linda Berton



"You will always be considered and
recommended highly by us."
- Mara Jansons





* * * * *