LOVED THIS! Don’t pull up early on this video. Take it to the finish line. (Un Cygene La Nuit = A Swan At Night).
Yes. Yes. Yes. I agree. She stopped me in my tracks:
Every now and then a singer comes along with such an unusual approach to her voice that the Canadian folk scene stops in its tracks to make space for something they didn’t know they were missing. Darkly theatrical and deep-voiced, Toronto-raised, Montreal- and Paris-based trilingual (English, French and Spanish) singer Alejandra Ribera is such a performer. (Source: nowtoronto.com)
A bit of Edit Piaf. A bit of Tom Waits. A bit of Joan Armatrading:
Ribera was born to an Argentine waiter and a Scottish actress and raised in Toronto. Her wildly bizarre vocal range and eclectic writing style have led to comparisons stretching from Edith Piaf to Tom Waits to Joan Armatrading. Growing up, Alejandra studied violin, viola and classical choral music. As a teenager her habit of sneaking into cabaret bars and her obsession with greats such as Mercedes Sosa, Odetta and Jimmy Scott began to shape the distinctly unique vocal style she would later apply to her own compositions. After abandoning York University’s Vocal Jazz program after only four days, she headed off to Europe to study energy healing. “Yeah, I dropped out of school to study with a witch doctor in the mountains of Slovakia … it seemed like a good idea at the time… ” she chuckles, “but this is where it lead me, so I think it was an important detour.” Unable to deny the call of music she returned to Canada, this time to build her career as a gifted singer/songwriter. (Source: alejandraribera.com)
Alejandra Ribera’s new album released February 4, 2014: La boca (Canadian store). Her previous album Navigator, Navigateher can be found here.
Live & Learn 
Delightfully haunting voice and music, David – a great band of musos, to be sure.
A wonderful lunchtime listen. 🙂
Jes’ chillin’
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Lunch time down under. Friday night jes’ chillin’ time in our world. It all works. Have a great weekend.
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I love your Friday nights….this was so relaxing! Perfection.
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Thank you. I loved this tune too…
On Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 8:12 PM, lead.learn.live. wrote:
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Another Sarah McLachlin. On my! How beautiful. I loved the performance. Simply Awesome!
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Hmmmm, on same playing field, perhaps a Fresher Sarah?
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Of course, but it did remind me of my favourite singer. Canadian also!
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Of course!
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Amazing … You really uncover the gems, David … Loved this …
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Thanks Keith. I had same reaction. Amazing.
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yes to all. way beyond the pale.
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🙂 !
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Canadian? Maybe but to me sounds so French, very French to me. Elegant – splendid and quite old world. Thanks, David.
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Come on Frank. Don’t let the Quebecois here you say that there are no French Canadians. That’s heresy in those parts. She is splendid. Good to hear from you. It’s been a long time. Hope you are well. Dave
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The emotion of Piaf with a gorgeous unique musical quality. Wonderful on a Friday evening, but just as lovely on a Saturday morning after a week on the road.
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Yes Mimi. All that. Thanks.
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Wow. Can’t you just hear her and Damien Rice as a duet?
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Yes! I’m a huge Damien Rice fan too…they’d make a great combo
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I love the smoky, quavering quality of her voice. Immediately transports me to a tiny subterranean bar on the Left Bank. Downloading album now–another winner, pal. Thank you! 🙂
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Smoky, quavering. Yes. What is the Left Bank? (Am I embarrassing myself again by asking the question?)
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The Left Bank is the southern side of the Seine in Paris–it’s where the artsy, intellectual types like to congregate– smoking, drinking and thinking great thoughts. 😉 I highly recommend adding a visit to your bucket list. 🙂
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OMG. Of course it is in Paris. Of course it is. And of course you’ve been there. Some day friend. Some day.
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There’s no doubt in my mind, pal, and with any lucky, you’ll chronicle your visit for those of us back here in the States. 🙂
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Oh boy.
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I’ve never regretted following your instructions to watch something to the end. Where DO you find these gems, David?
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Awwww, thanks Todd. This one was a gem…I agree.
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