PUTNEY — Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project present Quebecois duo Yann Falquet & Pascal Gemme, plus Newfoundland/New England solo balladeer Keith Murphy, for an evening of traditional songs in French and English as well as highly crafted, traditional fiddle music at Next Stage on Friday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m.
According to a news release, the pairing of Falquet and Gemme with Murphy offers “a rare breadth of musical ground,” from Keith's beautifully spare solo songs with elegant guitar accompaniment to the breathtaking level of musical interplay between Yann and Pascal. This twin bill also offers a unique and long awaited chance for these three musicians to explore some musical collaborations based on their shared passion for the music of Quebec.
Falquet and Gemme started their musical journey 20 years ago, busking on the streets of Montreal. They have since played more than a thousand shows in 20 countries with the Quebecois trio “Genticorum,” and they return as a duo to present an intimate show based on the close musical bond forged by years of touring together.
Pascal's fiddling, Yann's guitar accompaniment, and the duo's vast repertoire of traditional songs and tunes are all presented with elegance and effortless musicianship.
Over the years, Keith Murphy has shaped the sound of a dozen musical collaborations, from the ground breaking trio “Nightingale,” the Boston-based fiddle extravaganza “Childsplay,” and his work with master singer Tony Barrand to his forceful presence in several dance bands. Murphy's voice has often helped define those sounds. In his solo project, he focuses on a rich mix of songs and ballads from his native Newfoundland as well as New England, his adopted home these last 20 years.
An accomplished composer and arranger in the realm of traditional music, theater, and film, Murphy is a faculty member of the Brattleboro Music Center and the founder and artistic director of the BMC's Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival in Brattleboro.