Biography
"With her beatifully pure voice and insightful songwriting, ElizaBeth Hill mesmerized Imperial Theatre's 2007-2008 'Voices of Canada' Series audience. A wonderful entertainer!", Ralph MacLean, Imperial Theatre, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
ElizaBeth Hill is a lyricist with an intuitive touch. She has bent the strings and built her craft through years spent in Nashville's toughest songwriting circles. This, along with her arresting vocals is what always stirs the audience into wanting to hear more, especially when accompanied further to her acoustic guitar by multi-instrumentalist Darrin Schott; and bassist Steve Clark. The mixture of strings and voices meld into an acoustic experience with drummer Darren Jamieson, also from Six Nations Grand River.
A singer-songwriter and storyteller from the Six Nations of Grand River territory near Brantford, Ontario, she is a gifted and experienced artist whose concert performances entertain and inspire audiences everywhere. ElizaBeth is versatile and can perform solo (accompanying herself on acoustic guitar),or with an ensemble of musicians and accompaniment. ElizaBeth's songs are candid portraits with cultural impact where laughter and tears are common. With her dry wit and contemporary writing, there is a depth to ElizaBeth's music and personality that gives her audiences musical memories they can keep forever.
ElizaBeth is a Mohawk. One of the original nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Mohawk people are known as the People of the Flint. ElizaBeth is known for her honest and gentle manner in helping others. Her traditional Indian name refers to singing, and her use of music in helping one move along one's personal path in life is a unique and exhilirating experience. The roots of her music have grown in traditional country, and been schooled in the Nashville songwriting scene for more than a decade, and is steeped for a lifetime in her Iroquoian culture.
ElizaBeth has recorded two independent releases When the Spirit Moves Me (1993) and Love That Strong (1999) which features an amazing duet with the legendary John Hiatt. When the Spirit Moves Me is an acoustic album which features lovely three-part harmonies and the much-requested song Steelworking Man. The CD Love That Strong received great acclaim while exposing the strength of heart, voice and song that is always experienced in ElizaBeth's performances. Love That Strong was nominated for Best Aboriginal Recording at the 2000 Juno Awards. She was nominated for "Best Female Artist" and "Best Producer" at the 2001 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
ElizaBeth has four tracks (two songs and two stories) on Legends-I Am An Eagle, an EMI/First Nations release in Canada, and also available on MCA/Curb Records in the US. She also was part of the CD Hearts of the Nation - Aboriginal Women's Voices in the Studio (1999 Sweetgrass Records) which received a 1999 Juno Nomination.
She has received high acclaim for her performances at folk music festivals, she has recorded for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and has appeared on CTV, as well as City TV's Breakfast Television in Toronto. Through the years, ElizaBeth has performed with various artists and writers such as Buffy Ste. Marie, Susan Jacks, Willie Dunn, Ian Tamblyn, and Amy Sky,
As testament to her versatility, you could find ElizaBeth facilitating vocal expression in workshops for all ages, or providing the vocal training and coaching for the first Aboriginal Dance Opera "Bones" which premiered in August 2001 at the Eric Harvey Theatre in Banff, Alberta. ElizaBeth has composed and recorded for dance theatre and film. She recently released a CD in the Mohawk language "Peacemaker's Lullaby" which premiered at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts (Brantford) in February 2005.
She has scored music for independent film maker Shelley Niro whose film "The Shirt" was featured at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
"Her aboriginal spin on the forceful, folksy tradition suggests Buffy Sainte Marie, but also Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell and other roots divas." Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star
"With a country pedigree honed in Nashville, Hill's music is accented by many influences, including blues, folk and rock. Her melodious speaking voice transforms into expressive vocals--sounding just a bit like Emmylou Harris--warmed onstage by an honest and pretentious manner."
The Brantford Expositor
"You'll tingle all over and the soaring voice of ElizaBeth Hill will stay with you long after its over." Toronto World Arts Scene
Brief Description of Live Show
ElizaBeth Hill’s performances feature original songs in contemporary arrangements with guitar, bass, and percussion. The original material content ranges from compositions in the Mohawk language, to contemporary singer/songwriter drawing on elements of folk, country, and blues. Stories, personal experiences, and insights are often woven into the introductions of the songs.
ElizaBeth is very active in the development of Aboriginal (First Nations) music in Canada. In addition to her music, she is an accomplished storyteller. She is experienced in working in schools from a concert with a Q&A session, to a week long residency (mostly in Northern communities).
In a Festival setting, ElizaBeth can present storytelling, voice, and composition workshops, in addition to her performance of original songs.
ElizaBeth’s songs and stories inspire enthusiastic audience participation.
Instrumentation
ElizaBeth Hill - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
Darrin Jamieson - drums, percussion, guitar, vocals
Steve Clark - bass
Darrin Schott - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals
Discography
When the Spirit Moves Me (Music Masters 1993)
Legends, I Am An Eagle (First Nations/EMI 1995)
Aboriginal Women's Voices in the Studio (Sweetgrass Records 1997)
Love that Strong (Music Masters 1999)
Peacmaker's Lullaby (Music Masters 2005)
Links
| http://www.iandavies.com |