News

April 3, 2006

Napoleon’s new CD Miyôskamin bridges musical worlds

Recently nominated for Vancouver Island Music Awards 2006 Album of the Year

"Napoleon is the finest songwriter in Canada who has yet to have the CBC make a documentary about him."

— Dave Lennam, Shaw TV, Victoria

Cree/Dene song-maker Art Napoleon (aka Travelling Sun) has just released his long awaited second CD and you can bet your granny’s bannock that the rave reviews are on their way. What sets Napoleon apart from other First Nation song-makers is his ability to incorporate contemporary elements and styles without subduing the spirit of real traditional music. This is not an easy task given that traditional songs have their own structure, patterns, rhythms and vocal techniques quite different from Western approaches. Napoleon’s new album Miyôskamin is a wonderful example of this cross-cultural fusion as many of the songs are performed in his Cree language and are built around traditional song structures. The album also offers folkie-country roots songs performed in English for a nice balance. Judging by his varied choice of tunes and arrangements it is obvious that Napoleon was thinking about more than one audience. Multicultural listeners who appreciate acoustic roots and traditional music with meaning will love it. Miyôskamin is a bridging of musical worlds. The resulting sounds are genuine, fresh and yes, even sacred. Produced with Zak Cohen, guests on the new CD include Sandy Scofield, fiddler Calvin Cairns, Spirit of the West bassist Tobin Frank and blues troubadour Ken Hamm.

The Miyôskamin CD Release Concert is scheduled for 8 PM on Saturday April 15th at the Gibson Auditorium in Victoria BC with opening act Sandy Scofield. Admission by donation & partial proceeds will be made toward Camosun College’s First Nation Student Emergency Fund.