Arranger

Cyndi Lauper, John Mellencamp, Duncan Sheik Find A Musical Outlet

GRAMMY winners are successfully crossing over from the concert stage to the Broadway stage NICK KREWEN GRAMMYS MAY 15, 2017 GRAMMY.com When the musical “Kinky Boots” captured six Tony Awards in June, including wins for Best Musical and Best Original Score Written For The Theatre, its composer was a familiar name to pop music fans: Cyndi Lauper. It was the GRAMMY winner’s first foray into this new discipline, but she’s…


Canadian composer Mychael Danna scores another hit with Life of Pi

Toronto composer takes no shortcuts when writing music for movies Canadian Mychael Danna is nominated for a Golden Globe for best original score for his work on Ang Lee film Life of Pi. “There’s something really wonderful about being the musical interpreter of a film,” he says. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Jan 02 2013   When it comes to writing music for movies, Mychael…


Acclaimed musician Gary Burton on his partners through life, including Chick Corea

Gary Burton, vibraphonist and more, hits Koerner Hall on Dec. 5. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Dec 05 2012 Gary Burton and Chick Corea have proven to be one of jazz music’s more enduring partnerships. Including 1972’s introductory Crystal Silence, the American vibraphone-and-piano duo has recorded seven albums together and netted themselves five Grammy Awards, as they’ve explored everything from fusion and chamber music to…


Chilly Gonzales deserves a warm reception at Toronto show

He’s better known as a collaborator with Feist, Drake, Peaches and Tiga, but Chilly Gonzales is an accomplished performer in his own right. Chilly Gonzales’s background is classical but he considers himself pop. “I want to be a man of my time,” he says. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Nov 07 2012 Chilly Gonzales is so prolific, it’s a surprise he’s not more of a…


The Monks’ Bad Habits hard to break

An anomalous punk hit in Canada gets a loving tribute at the Horseshoe. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Jul 25 2012 “Nice legs, shame about her face.” If you’re old enough to remember those lyrics, you’ll recall that circa 1979-1980 there was a band named The Monks that owned Canadian Top 40 radio for a spell with the novel ditty “Drugs In My Pocket.” The…