Singer wows the crowd

Page 5

Singer Wayne Lavallee has opened for talented artists such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, Susan Aglukark and Kashtin. But on March 12, he was the main event for a standing-room only crowd at Vancouver's The Media Club. It was Lavallee's CD-release concert.

Lavallee opened with the album's title track Green Dress, arguably the best song on the 12-track CD. He refers to it as his "Indian love song," which he wrote for his wife, Michelle.

The song begins with a young boy's crush on a girl who is playing in the park: "Let me tell you about an Indian girl with a green dress on, she wore bold dark glasses and her name was, well, you don't need to know her name..."

Fast forward a few years and the Indian girl has grown into a young woman. "It's intertribal time, now's my chance. I think I'll go and ask the girl with the green dress for a dance. I thought to myself if I could impress you, I would dance you a Fancy and a Crow Hop just for you."

While his voice is proof enough that Lavallee is one talented artist, he also writes all of his material and plays acoustic guitar on each track. His unique vocal style doesn't fit the confines of any one genre-he truly is in a league of his own.

The album's second track, Heartland, which is sung in Cree, is particularly captivating, as Lavallee explained that he didn't grow up with his language, but is now learning and embracing it.

In Sacred Journey, which also incorporates Cree chanting, Lavallee talks of going down to the lodge to "help repair our tattered souls." He sings: "In that sacred circle of friends, sometimes it's hard letting go, of the pain, the shame, the misguided blame, of someone out there we all know. My brothers and sister stand next to me, telling me 'you're not alone..."

The singer-songwriter from the Metis Nation was born in Vancouver and raised in Surrey, and has been playing guitar since he was five years old, long before he received his first nomination for best rock album at the 2000 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

Lavallee has no qualms about confronting historical wrongs that befell Aboriginal people.

In the fast-tempo Caught up in a Jam, Lavallee sings, "Columbus sailed the ocean blue you know, only thing he brought was murder and disease."

The album is produced by Kevin Kane (Grapes of Wrath) and features Juno award winner Jesse Zubot, Steve Dawson, renowned guitarist David Sinclair, Matt Brain on drums, percussion by Shawn Soucy and additional vocals by Shakti Hayes.

While his CD is powerful and reveals his remarkable talent, Lavallee gives his optimal performance in person-he's truly in his element in front of a crowd.

Opening for Lavallee was 10-year-old guitarist Danny Sveinson, who would later in the week open for Colin James at the Commodore Ballroom (the youngest performer to ever play there).

Once the young talent had warmed up the crowd, Paula Toledo took the stage, boasting all-original material and a powerfully sweet voice.

Toledo's passion for song was evident in the way she conquered each and every note that passed her lips. Her octal range was showcased best in Warrior, which appears on her self-titled, five-track CD.