FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHO ‘n’ WHAT: Sultans of String release “Symphony!”
BAND WEB: http://www.sultansofstring.com; https://www.facebook.com/sultansofstring; https://twitter.com/sultansofstring
QUICK STREAM: http://www.sultansofstring.com/listen
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/user/sultansofstring
____________________________________________________________
On September 17, 2013, JUNO Award nominees, 2x CFMA & ISC winners, Sultans of String, release their raucous roots-world symphonic mash-up, simply and perfectly titled, “Symphony!”.
Known for dizzying roots music jams, poly-rhythms and revved up riffs, the Sultans of String sound can’t be pinned down — it’s Sable Island meets the Silk Road, with detours through the Gypsy-Jazz coffeehouses of Eastern Europe, next an East Coast Kitchen Party, then over to the majestic Arctic and bustling markets of Lebanon.
Fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar while funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic mastery meets with a symphony of sound, deepened by world rhythms that inspire whole audiences to get up and dance.
Kicking things off as a dynamic duo playing tiny cafes in 2007, this fiercely talented and hardworking indie act has been on a meteoric rise, with an astonishing number of awards and accolades in tow. Invitations to play world stages and with such legendary artists as The Chieftains and David Bromberg are recent highlights. The Chieftains’ very own Paddy Moloney also appears on “Symphony!”.
“Symphony!” is distributed on SONY/RED through Red River Entertainment. Bob Frank, chairman of Red River (former President of Koch/EI Entertainment) states, “We welcome the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s most innovative groups and look forward to expanding their music and footprint in the US”.
Sultans of String are also represented in the US by acclaimed promoter David Wilkes (Koch Records, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck). “I have worked with numerous top ten chart songs and #1 Pop Billboard and Country music hits”, Wilkes says. “In all that time, I have not worked with composers more talented than Chris McKhool and Kevin Laliberté from Sultans of String. Not only are they a superb writing team, they are also amazing arrangers & musicians. “Symphony!” is a gigantic leap forward.”
The band is led by 6-string violinist Chris McKhool (Jesse Cook, Pavlo) who grew up in a Lebanese-Egyptian (Makhoul) house bursting with music and diversity. Growing up, Chris was fed a steady diet of delicious musicality alongside Middle Eastern cuisine and violin lessons.
When McKhool first heard founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. From this rich foundation, the dynamic duo has grown, featuring such amazing musical friends as 2nd guitarist Eddie Paton (Robert Michaels), bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk, Amanda Martinez), and Cuban percussionist Chendy Leon (Parachute Club, Alex Cuba), as well as special guests such as Palestinian oud master Bassam Bishara, folk-pop darlings Dala, The Chieftains’ Paddy Moloney, ukulele giant James Hill, and others.
Classically-schooled McKhool thought “why stop there?” With “Symphony!”, Sultans of String have brought the glorious and majestic sound of a full orchestra to their feisty roots-world compositions, to create the ultimate crossover concert and recording.
Due to astronomical costs, orchestral CDs are rarely recorded on Canadian soil, but in such faraway places as Russia or Prague. “But our Canadian musicians are the best on the planet” McKhool asserts, “so we put together an all-star orchestra comprised of our favourite players from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, Canadian Ballet Orchestra, all with no label support. We are super proud of what we achieved.”
— 30 —
TOUR SCHEDULE
Sept 21 – Lake House Music, East Lansing MI
Sept 22 – Nighttown, Cleveland OH
Oct 5 – Performing with Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Peterborough ON
Oct 11 – Festival Place, Edmonton, AB
Oct 12 – Nickelodeon Music Club, Calgary, AB
Oct 19 – Bancroft Village Playhouse, Bancroft ON
Nov 1 – Registry Theatre, Kitchener, ON
Nov 3 – Mapleview House Concerts, Markdale ON
Nov 7 – Abilene Lounge, Rochester, NY
Nov 10 – The Black Sheep, Wakefield QC
Nov 15 – Nelson Odeon, Nelson, NY
Nov 16 – Oswego Music Hall, Oswego, NY
Nov 17 – Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo NY
Dec 1 – Koerner Hall – Symphony CD Release, Toronto ON
Dec 4 – Sculler’s Jazz Club, Boston MA
Dec 5 – Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD
Dec 6 – Joe’s Pub, New York NY
Dec 7 – Building 24 Live, Reading PA
Dec 8 – Bridge Street Live, Collinsville CT
2014
Jan 11 – Matapa Music, Hamilton ON
Jan 18 – Mary Webb Centre, Highgate, ON
Jan 19 – Private Concert, Mississauga, ON
Jan 29 – Capitol Theatre, Nelson BC
Jan 30 – Creston Concert Society, Creston, BC
Feb 1 – Performing with Symphony of the Kootenays, Cranbrook, BC
Feb 2 – Performing with Symphony of the Kootenays, Cranbrook, BC
Feb 4 – Creekside Theatre, Lake Country BC
Feb 5 – Roundhouse Theatre, McBride, BC
Feb 7-8 – Performing with Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Kamloops, BC
Feb 22 – Performing with Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, Sudbury ON
Mar 22 – Performing with Northumberland Symphony Orchestra, Cobourg ON
Apr 2 – House About Tonight, Spotsylvania VA
Apr 3 – Strand Theater, Waynesville NC
Apr 4 – Carrboro Arts Center, Carrboro NC
Apr 5 – The White Horse, Black Mountain NC
Apr 6 – BK House Concerts, Asheville NC
Apr 11 – Ten Pound Fiddle Concert Series, East Lansing, MI
Apr 26 – Performing with Niagara Symphony Orchestra, ON, Family Show
Apr 27 – Performing with Niagara Symphony Orchestra POPS concert
May 4 – great music series to be announced shortly
May 11 – Minnesota Orchestra, Young People’s Concert
May 16-18 – Trails Tales Tunes Festival, Norris Point Gros Morne National
Park, NL
May 31 – Heartland Concerts at Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road,
Greece, NY
Jun 13 – Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora ON
Jul 18/19 – Stewart Park Festival, Perth ON
Aug 1-3 – Blue Skies Folk Festival, Clarendon ON
Oct 2/3 – with a Symphony in Chicago, details tba
WHAT FOLKS SAY ABOUT THE SULTANS…
“Kings of the strings!” — METRO Toronto
“Sultans of String are one of Canada’s hottest new musical exports, dynamically embodying their homeland’s values of tolerance and respect for diverse cultures. … they weave a gorgeously-hued tapestry of Folk, Spanish, Arabic, Latin, French and gypsy strands.” — Celtic Connections Festival, UK
“Love those Sultans of String!” — CBC Radio, “Fresh Air”
“Simply brilliant!” — 3NRG 99.3FM, Australia
“Strunz and Farah meets a Cuban rhythm and horn section? First Canada impresses us with the depth of their cabaret scene now they blow us away with the depth of their world beat scene. Simply a killer set worthy of all the award recognition it’s been grabbing for the recording and the band. Everything you could want not put out on the Nonesuch Explorer Series. A real culture clash that harbors no border wars, contemporary world beat and contemporary instrumental fans can only go wrong if they ignore this set. Killer stuff throughout.” — Midwest Record
“Sultans of String seem to be hoovering up Canadian awards and nominations like a Dyson on speed — a joyful melting pot of jazz, flamenco, folk, and indeed anything else that takes their fancy… this is the sort of band and music that would rip up any festival in the country.” — Maverick Magazine
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• 2013 ISC International Songwriting Competition Finalist – Instrumental
• 2013 SiriusXM Canadian Indie Awards nominees – World Group of the Year
• 2013 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (Chris McKhool)
• 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards winners– World Music Group of the Year
• 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees – Instrumental Group of the Year
• 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees – Pushing The Boundaries
• 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees – Producer of the Year (Chris
McKhool)
• 2012 OCFF Songs of the Heart Winner
• 2012 Festivals & Events-Entertainer of The Year
• 2011 Ontario Contact – Artist of the Year
• 2011 International Acoustic Music Awards Finalist – Instrumental
• 2011 Independent Music Award Finalist – Instrumental Album
• 2011 Independent Music Award Finalist – World Beat Album
• 2011 ISC International Songwriting Competition Finalist – Instrumental
• 2011 ISC International Songwriting Competition Finalist – World Music
• 2010 JUNO Nominees – “Instrumental Album of the Year”
• 2010 International Songwriting Contest 1st Place Winners – Instrumental
• 2010 Indie Awards Nominees – Favorite World Artist/Group
• 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award winner – Instrumental Group of the Year
• 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award nominees – Ensemble of the Year
• 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award nominees – Pushing The Boundaries
____________________________________________________________
Sultans of String gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council,
Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, FACTOR, RCM, NOW Magazine,
Classical 96.3, Small World Music, Long & McQuade
Bodacious Copy 