4 septembre 2022
11:30 am | Scène Québecor
Okto Echo
Transcestral
A hymn to celebrate life, Transcestral expresses the common perpetual quest for harmony between man and nature, drawing inspiration from the sacred music and dance of Sufi and Aboriginal traditions in Canada. An original creation of Oktoecho, the concert brings together musicians, singers and poets known for their unique expression and commitment. Joséphine Bacon (Innu poet), Anouar Barrada (Sufi singer), Nina Segalowitz (Inuit throat singer) and powwow singers Buffalo Hat Singers, Moe Clark (Métis singer), Barbara Diabo (mohawk dancer) and Tanya Evanson (whilring dervish), gather around artistic director Katia Makdissi-Warren to celebrate this shared memory.
BIOGRAPHY
Oktoecho guides the listener into a sonic world brimming with hope, aspiration, and lyricism found in the exceptional encounter between Middle Eastern, North American Aboriginal and the Western musical expressions. Under the artistic direction of composer, Katia Makdissi-Warren and Inuit throat singer Lydia Etok, Oktoecho explores a musical landscape and musical sounds through original compositions. In Canada, Oktoecho performs at events such as: First Peoples Festival (Festival Présence Autochtone), Arabe World Festival of Montreal (Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal), Festival Sefarad de Montréal, International des Musiques Sacrées de Québec, The Montreal OFF Jazz Festival (OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal), The Montreal Jewish Music Festival (Festival de Musique Juive de Montréal), Festival des Traditions du Monde in Sherbrooke, Koerner Hall in Toronto, Sound of Dragon in Vancouver. Internationally, the ensemble has toured in Morocco (2017) with Les Violons du Roy in Spain (2013) and has also performed at the prestigious Beiteddin Festival in Lebanon. CDs/recordings: Zeugma (2003); Oktoécho (2009); La 5e route bleue (2010); Burj Khalifa Dubai (March 2012 – United Arab Emirates); Saimaniq (2018), creation around Inuit throat songs; Transcestral (2022). Seven soundtracks for documentaries (Quebec, France, Winnipeg, Korea, TedX Beirout, the Singapore Museum, and the soundtrack for the permanent exhibition of the tallest Khalifa Tower in Dubai). A variable geometry ensemble (3 to 30 musicians), Oktoécho has been in residence at the Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic since 2010. He has been nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Award and the OPUS Awards on several occasions. In 2019, the Saimaniq CD won the OPUS Award for Best Music CD in the World and the ensemble was awarded the OPUS Award for Inclusion and Diversity in 2020.
