Photo by Justin Hall
He was facing off against better-known acts Amelia Curran and The Novaks, but Carbonear percussionist and composer Curtis Andrews took home the Atlantis Music Prize last night for his album of “world jazz niceness,” The Offering of Curtis Andrews.
Surprising, uplifting, and spontaneous, Andrews’ first album of original music is the result of a long musical journey, which included studies abroad in the villages and cities of Ghana, India, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It’s a wide collection of styles and intricate patterns, carefully constructed with the help of a host of talented local band-mates, including bassist Josh Ward (of Hey Rosetta!) and trumpeter Patrick Boyle.
An inventive and energetic drummer, Andrews has played in many bands in the capital city of St. John’s, most notably lately with the popular 11-piece reggae/funk/party band the Idlers.
Andrews’ win brings to light a strong love of avant-garde percussion in Newfoundland and Labrador. His album is dedicated to the memories of Don Wherry (founder of the Sound Symposium) and John Wyre (one of the founding members of the world renowned percussion ensemble NEXUS) two of Andrews’ percussionist mentors, both highly influential in Newfoundland’s contemporary musical history.
The Atlantis Music Prize, patterned on the Canada-wide Polaris Music Prize, is given annually to the best full-length album from Newfoundland and Labrador, judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales. 2009 marks the second year the Atlantis Music Prize has been awarded.
An independent panel of 40 journalists, musicians, and people recognized for their knowledge and appreciation of local music submitted their top picks for the best album released between November 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009. The winning album was decided by a group of six selected jurors and announced to a packed gala show on Thursday, December 17th at The Rock House on George Street, in St. John’s.
The winner received a $1,000 gift certificate for the independent Newfoundland music store, Reid Music.
The Atlantis Music Prize Short List:
Amelia Curran - Hunter, Hunter (www.ameliacurran.com)
Chris Kirby - Vampire Hotel (www.chriskirbyonline.com)
The Class War Kids - Reflection! Rage! Rebellion! (www.myspace.com/theclasswarkids)
Curtis Andrews - The Offering of Curtis Andrews (www.curtisandrews.ca)
The Dardanelles - The Dardanelles (www.myspace.com/dardanellesmusic)
Errand Boy - Cape Disappointment (www.myspace.com/errandboy)
Kujo - Kujo (www.myspace.com/kujotherockband)
Map to Temenos - O! Sweet Guillotine (www.myspace.com/maptotemenos)
The Novaks - Things Fall Apart (www.thenovaks.ca)
The Once - The Once (www.theonce.ca)
Quick facts about the Atlantis Music Prize:
- St. John’s alternative publication The Scope organizes this award. (www.thescope.ca)
- The 2008 winner was St. John’s band Mercy, The Sexton - Another Month. (www.mercythesexton.com)
- The name of the prize is inspired by the graphic novel Atlantis, created by eccentric Newfoundland and Labrador businessman Geoff Stirling. (www.captainatlantis.com)
Quick quotes about The Offering of Curtis Andrews:
“Engaging, uplifting and warmly human.” - Exclaim! (http://tinyurl.com/y9w9ksf)
“A rich multi-cultural banquet.” - The Wholenote (http://tinyurl.com/lr4ets)
“Andrews delivers an eclectic, jazzy and rich international musical palette” - Percussive Notes (http://tinyurl.com/ycbjck7)
For more information, please contact: Elling Lien, editor of The Scope. (709) 726-8466 elling@thescope.ca. www.atlantismusicprize.ca
2009 Atlantis Music Prize Short List announced today
For immediate release:
St. John’s, NL (December 3, 2009)
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Atlantis Music Prize Short List was revealed today.
The award, patterned on the Canada-wide Polaris Music Prize, is given annually to the best full-length album from Newfoundland and Labrador, judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales. This is the second year the Atlantis Music Prize has been awarded, and the winner of the award will receive a $1,000 credit at locally-owned music store, Reid Music.
Fourty local music experts (journalists, bloggers, radio hosts, musicians and other known lovers of local music) made up the jury who voted. A grand jury of 6 are discussing the Short List now, and will cast their votes soon. Those votes will decide the winning album, which will be announced at the Atlantis Music Prize gala, which will be held on December 17th at The Rock House on George Street, in St. John’s.
The Short List, in alphabetical order:
Amelia Curran - Hunter, Hunter (www.ameliacurran.com)
Chris Kirby - Vampire Hotel (www.chriskirbyonline.com)
The Class War Kids - Reflection! Rage! Rebellion! (www.myspace.com/theclasswarkids)
Curtis Andrews - The Offering of Curtis Andrews (www.curtisandrews.ca)
The Dardanelles - The Dardanelles (www.myspace.com/dardanellesmusic)
Errand Boy - Cape Disappointment (www.myspace.com/errandboy)
Kujo - Kujo (www.myspace.com/kujotherockband)
Map to Temenos - O! Sweet Guillotine (www.myspace.com/maptotemenos)
The Novaks - Things Fall Apart (www.thenovaks.ca)
The Once - The Once (www.theonce.ca)
Quick facts about the Atlantis Music Prize:
- St. John’s alternative publication The Scope organizes this award. (www.thescope.ca)
- The 2008 winner was St. John’s band Mercy, The Sexton - Another Month. (www.mercythesexton.com)
- The name of the prize is inspired by the graphic novel Atlantis, created by eccentric Newfoundland and Labrador businessman Geoff Stirling. (www.captainatlantis.com)
For more information, please contact: Elling Lien, editor of The Scope. (709) 726-8466 elling@thescope.ca. www.atlantismusicprize.ca
Amelia Curran - Hunter, Hunter
—
Chris Kirby - Vampire Hotel
—
Curtis Andrews - The Offering of Curtis Andrews
—
The Class War Kids - Reflection! Rage! Rebellion!
—
The Dardanelles - The Dardanelles
—
Errand Boy - Cape Disappointment
—
Kujo - Kujo
—
Map to Temenos - O! Sweet Guillotine
—
The Novaks - Things Fall Apart
—
The Once - s/t
THE ATLANTIS MUSIC PRIZE: Winner Announced for Newfoundland and Labrador’s Music Award Inspired by Polaris Music Prize
St. John’s, NL (Friday, December 5, 2008)
They were up against nationally-known acts Hey Rosetta! and Duane Andrews, but St. John’s band Mercy, The Sexton went home last night with the first ever Atlantis Music Prize for their album Another Month.
Formed by brothers Luke and Duncan Major in 2007, Mercy, The Sexton are a pop group with New Wave and 70s punk influences. The album was produced in St. John’s by Jody Richardson (Thomas Trio and the Red Albino, Fur Packed Action, The Pathological Lovers). It was mixed by Craig McConnell and mastered by Tim Branton.
Like the Polaris Music Awards for Canada, the Atlantis Music Prize is a juried award judged on artistic merit, without regard to genre or sales. An independent panel of more than 30 journalists, musicians, and people recognized for their knowledge and appreciation of local music submitted their top picks for the best album released between November 2007 and 2008. The winning album was decided by a group of six selected jurors and announced to a packed gala show on Thursday, December 4th at the Rock House in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
The winners received a $1,000 gift certificate for the Newfoundland-based music chain Music City.
“We’re a small music community, but we’re a prolific one,” says Atlantis coordinator Elling Lien and editor of St. John’s alt-weekly The Scope. “The list of nominees is a testament to the diversity of the local music scene right now.”
The Newfoundland and Labrador albums shortlisted for the annual critic’s prize were revealed in early November.
The 10 nominees (in alphabetical order):
AE Bridger - I Am A Ghostly Leech
(http://www.myspace.com/aebridger)
Duane Andrews - Raindrops
(http://www.duaneandrews.ca/)
Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart, and on through your blood)
(http://www.heyrosetta.com/)
Idlers - Corner
(http://idlers.ca/)
Mercy, The Sexton - Another Month
(http://www.myspace.com/mercythesexton)
Narrows - Narrows
(http://myspace.com/narrowsmusic)
Slippery Rabbits - La Marée Noire
(http://www.myspace.com/cheriepyne)
The Human Soundtrack - Organs For Sale
(http://www.humansoundtrack.net/)
The Satans - Renovabis Faciem Terrae
(http://www.myspace.com/satanscommathe)
Victor Lewis - Good Intentions
(http://www.myspace.com/victorlewis)
-30-
For media inquiries, please contact:
Elling Lien, editor of The Scope — elling@atlantismusicprize.ca
To recognize the top three nominees for this year’s Atlantis Music Prize, we commissioned three local designers to make posters for each of the bands. Each poster was printed in large format and presented to the group at a ceremony at The Rock House in St. John’s.
The top three albums (alphabetical order):
Designed by Mark Bennett (mark@atlantismusicprize.ca)
Designed by Alex Pierson (alex@atlantismusicprize.ca)
Designed by Jud Haynes (jud@atlantismusicprize.ca)
AE Bridger
I Am A Ghostly Leech
myspace.com/aebridger
Duane Andrews
Raindrops
www.duaneandrews.ca
Hey Rosetta!
Into Your Lungs…
www.heyrosetta.com
Idlers
Corner
www.idlers.ca
Mercy, The Sexton
Another Month
www.mercythesexton.com
Narrows
s/t
myspace.com/narrowsmusic
Slippery Rabbits
La Marée Noire
www.myspace.com/cheriepyne
The Human Soundtrack
Organs For Sale
humansoundtrack.net
[MISSING CD ART]
The Satans
Renovabis Faciem Terrae
myspace.com/satanscommathe
Victor Lewis
Good Intentions
myspace.com/victorlewis
