Zav RT
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Zav RT

Calgary, Alberta, Canada | INDIE

Calgary, Alberta, Canada | INDIE
Band Folk Celtic

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"Music That Smiles at You"

"Reach" is a charming and friendly album, it is music that smiles at you. Jaime's fiddle is front and centre, supported by guitars, mandolins and other more exotic fare. But the strong voice of Jaime's fiddle is never obscured. And there is a really great range of music, including many of Jaime's fine compositions. It is a beautiful balance between old and new. This album should delight music lovers in general, and fiddle fans in particular, for many years. - Oliver Schroer, Musician, Vancouver BC


"Sonic Landscapes from Across Canada"

Jaime RT is a great example of what is emerging in the West Coast Canadian music scene these days. Jaime RT, fiddler and viola player, has immersed herself in the Celtic music idiom and is now known for her fiddle teaching across the country influencing young fiddle players. "Reach", her first CD release, shows her effortless ability to stretch the boundaries of traditional fiddle music. The sounds of various landscapes travel through while listening to this recording, from West Coast Canada to Quebec, up to the Maritimes and East Coast Canada. It even reaches artistic heights with examples of Scotland and Ireland. Her personal note and sensibility are also shown on some of the most gorgeous melodies ever heard, such as "Stella & Sophie" and "Leaving". This is a recording that is heartfelt, soulful, creative, groovy, and also hauntingly beautiful. She is not afraid to REACH out and touch someone with her music. Jaime involves some of the best West Coast musicians to join her on her journey of artful music making. Even the artwork is indicative of what Jiame is all about. I hope this is one of Jaime's many CD projects to come out of the Canadian West Coast! - Pierre Schryer, Canadian Celtic Fiddler, Ontario


"Artistic Sparkplug"

Artistic sparkplug Jaime RT hosts one of the best summer fiddle camps going.
- Calvin Cairns, Fiddler & Musician, Victoria BC


"Compelling Composition"

Reach, the debut recording of Canadian fiddler Jaime RT, features a number of well-known Canadian players: John Reishman, Adrian Dolan, Glen Manders, Andy Hillhouse and fellow fiddler Oliver Schroer. Reach showcases Jaime RT's fiddling as well as her compelling composition skills. The tunes are well arranged and give RT a chance to highlight her ability on both the fiddle and viola. Her writing style is a mixture of modern Celtic and Bluegrass with a bit of Indian tabla thrown into the mix. Many tracks feature multi-layered fiddle and viola parts, which give the album a certain richness but this effect also exposes a bit of stiffness in the phrasing of the melodies. The album has a few stand out tunes such as Dragonfly, Skittles at Buckly Bay & Mischief in the Garden and Les Patates Brulles medley, a fine tribute to Emile Benoit which features some melody playing by Dolan & Hillhouse.
By Dan Campbell - Dan Campbell, Penguin Eggs, Summer 2005


"Jaime RT at Folk on the Rocks"

Notes from the bow and fiddle of Jaime RT feel timeless. Even when she's writing her own, new songs, they tap into a bubbling stream of history, or lift off a branch of the great green tree of Celtic tradition. Her airy jigs are enchantments of swirling skirts and calls to the faeries sneaking around the perimeter of the celebration.

To give life to such spirits takes a deft and loving touch, and Jaime's fiddling truly has it. She writes of daily things - dragonflies anmd cats, the setting sun and hitting the road, kids and friends of days gone by - with a refreshing simplicity that goes straight to the heart. Disarmed, she's opened you to your own complexity. - Lee Selleck, Artistic Director, Folk on the Rocks


"Energy, Enthusiasm & Talent"

Jaime RT has just released her debut CD REACH.

The recording has an exceptional production with all the acoustic instruments being reproduced in pristine glory. Kudos to producer Jordy Sharp.

This is the kind of disk you like to play on a rainy Sunday. When you just want to kick back for an hour with a warm beverage and listen to some good tunes.

I met Jaime about three years ago, in the most unlikely place, Forth Smith, NWT. She was an instructor at a youth fiddle camp hosted by Strings Across the Sky, www.stringsacrossthesky.ca/ . I was blown away by her energy and enthusiasm. She is the type of performer that can't stay still. I had the pleasure of having her perform on a couple of tracks on my own CD "Ambiance". Even in the studio she bounces and dances around when she plays.

Happily, her CD REACH, reproduces all the energy of her live performances.

Skittles at Buckley Bay & Mischief in the Garden opens with an "Orange Blossom Special" style of lick and machine-gun-like mandolin and fiddle.

On Hardiman the Fiddler & Lisa McQueens, Adrian Dolan's (The Bills), warm sounding accordion is like a big hug. Victoria musician Niel Golden played the Tabla superbly. The tabla might seem to be an unusual instrument for this style of music but it resulted in a joyous fusion of rhythms and melody.

On Butterfly & The Talking Cat, Ken Hall gives the song a jazz style guitar feel. John Reischman added the sweet mandolin melody.

Twenty Seven is my favorite song on the CD with its unusual time signature and lilting accordion in the background. Congratulations to Jaime for Reaching out and exploring this more avant-garde music style.

The CD features: Oliver Schroer - Five String Violin; John Reischman - Mandolin
Adrian Dolan - Accordion; Glen Manders - Bass; Andy Hillhouse - Guitar
Ken Hall - Guitar; Niel Golden - Tabla; Paula Kiffner- Cello; Calvin Cairns - Feet

I highly recommend that you go see Jaime RT if she is playing in your area. Until then... buy her CD, "It's the next best thing"
- Cosmic Debris Music Magazine


"Tuned Air Hospitality Embraced"

...Showing the full range of an islandpaloosa-type variety event, Jaime RT combined with Andy Hillhouse (of Mad Pudding fame) to kick out some original northwest celtic-style jigs on fiddle and guitar. Who would think guitar could be used to fill in for a Bodhran?

Along with Jaime RT's lush sweeping "Big Tree Medley" and some fern tendril complexity in "Twenty Seven", the islander offered a glistening Arctic Landscape with "Falling White" and some summer flitter wonder in "Dragonfly".

Hillhouse also shared a haunting version of Richard Thompson's lamenting love song "Beeswing" that was etched into memories with his honest performance...

- Gulf Islands Driftwood, Dec 7 2005


"Reach Album bears folk fiddle fruit"

...Drawing on a background playing with Kettle of Fish, Song of the Isles, and the Gruff, her own music is intensely personal and aims to weave the listener into the fabric of her life...while her music is infused with traditional folk elements, it's not confined by standard conventions.
Her fingers dance around jigs like nobody's business...
- Gulf Islands Driftwood, Dec 22, 2004


"Songwriter Takes Own Advice"

Also joining him is rising star fiddler Jaime RT from Saltspring Island, B.C.
"I actually got her on recommendation," said Keelaghan.
"I've had a very close association over the years with Oliver Schroer," who was too busy to tour.
"I asked him if there was anyone from his coterie of young fiddlers that he has worked with and trained and mentored over the years, if there was anybody that was particularly ready to go out on a long road trip and he didn't hesitate; he just said Jaime. An amazing player, extremely well trained, and very playful, very funny, very dry sense of humour."
McMillan will play bass and mandolin, and Jaime will play fiddle and piano. - Saskatoon


Discography

-Jaime RT & Andy Hillhouse "SPARK", Dog My Cat Records, released April 2007, distributd by Fusion3.

-Jaime RT "Reach", Dog My Cat Records 2005 (distributed by Fusion3). Nominated for 2005 Canadian Folk Music Awards, best solo instrumental album, and a 2006 Western Canadian Music Award (outstanding instrumental recording).

-Pacific Music Sampler: CelticFest Vancouver, Celtic West (Skittles at Buckley Bay, Jaime RT).

-Radio airplay: Quantum Curry, Forest Ridge, Skittles at Buckley Bay, Butterfly/Talking Cat, Les Patates Brulees/Reel de la Pistroli/A Potato for Emile, Dragonfly, As the Sun Was Setting, Stella & Sophie, Cahoots/Joyce of Chocolate

Photos

Bio

Zav RT is an innovative, spunky violist and composer who is putting the sound of West Coast Folk on the international map. Andy Hillhouse sings like an angel and plays guitar with creative depth and groove. Together, they create exceptionally evocative original acoustic music, infused with life and emotion.

RT and Hillhouse have recorded a stunning new album “Spark” on the Dog My Cat Record label; the album features the original music of RT and Hillhouse, and the rich sound of the Jaime's 5 string “fiddola” paired with Hillhouse's unique guitar style. RT's debut album “Reach” and the duo album “Spark” have both received Canadian Folk Music Award Nominations, great reviews, and are favourites of CBC Radio.

“What I like most about both Reach and Spark is their originality. I like the tunes, the arrangements, the sound of the fiddola... Spark is too modest a title for this blazing collection of fine melodies; a conflagration of great tunes.” Roman Tacik, Regina's Might Shores

Zav also tours internationally playing fiddola and keys with Canadian folk legend James Keelaghan, and has shared the stage with Liz Carrol, Martin Hayes, Alasdair Fraser, Oliver Schroer, Daniel Lapp, Pierre Schryer, Colin Adjun, Catriona MacDonald, Jerry Holland, and Yves Lambert. Her original writing is winning international composing accolades, and her music has been featured on several films and radio stations around the globe, including CBC's Vinyl Cafe and the theme song for CBC 2's North by Northwest.

“Her own music is intensely personal and aims to weave the listener into the fabric of life...while her music is infused with traditional folk elements, it's not confined by standard conventions.” The Gulf Islands Driftwood

Zav RT is not only a dynamic performer but also loves to share music with kids, through teaching and school shows.  She is often found treking with fiddle teaching traditional fiddling in the Northwest Territories, or enthusiastically working her magic at fiddle camps.  Fiddleworks is her non-profit society, dedicated to sharing the joy of music, building life skills and developing community through innovative fiddle education and music camps. She hosts one of the West Coast's most successful fiddle camps, now in it's 12th year with over 150 participants. RT is passionate & fun.

Together, Zav & Daniel create music that moves your feet or your soul.  Guaranteed.