Calgareal: A Two-City Collective Blending Diverse Musical Traditions
Jeremy Gignoux offers a candid assessment when asked about the logistics of managing Calgareal, an eight-piece musical collective with members split between Calgary and Montreal. "The short answer is that it doesn't work," says the violinist, prompting laughter from his bandmates during a recent interview with Postmedia after a Calgary rehearsal. While partly joking, Gignoux acknowledges the genuine challenges of coordinating a group across such distances, though arts grants help cover the costs of travel and regular gatherings.
Geographical Distance as Creative Dynamic
Despite the logistical hurdles, the physical and cultural separation between Calgary and Montreal has become integral to Calgareal's identity. Gignoux conceived the collective in 2020 after relocating from Montreal to Calgary, driven by a desire to reconnect with former musical collaborators. "I used to live in Montreal, ten years ago now," Gignoux explains. "I had lots of great musician friends and when I moved to Calgary, I missed them. So, one of the reasons I wanted to make this band was to play with them again."
He also saw an opportunity to bridge perceived political and cultural divides between the two cities. "Montreal and Calgary are often portrayed as very opposite, politically, especially. So I thought it would be fun to make a link between the two cities," Gignoux adds.
Showcasing at Canadian Folk Music Awards
The Calgary contingent recently rehearsed for a Friday performance at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, held at the Bella Concert Hall. This event is one of four concerts associated with the awards, with prizes distributed between performances. Calgareal is nominated for the Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries award for their debut album, Vanishing Points, competing against four other acts. The Friday showcase, titled Folk Forward, highlights "the diverse multi-genre showcase of contemporary folk voices and boundary-pushing artistry."
Eight Multi-Instrumentalists Blending Traditions
Calgareal comprises eight versatile musicians, each bringing distinct influences to the collective sound. The Calgary members include:
- Jeremy Gignoux on violin and viola
- Classically-trained violinist and vocalist FOONYAP
- Ginger Beef's Jiajia Li on flutes and dizi
- Jazz drummer Robin Tufts
The Montreal contingent features:
- Aurelien Tomasi on clarinet and saxophones
- Mathieu Langlois on flamenco guitar and saxophones
- Hugo Blouin on double bass
- Sebastien Leblanc on guitars, caval, and tilinca
Fusion of Global Musical Elements
While not performing at Saturday's Traditional and Global Roots showcase, Calgareal embodies the international influences celebrated in Canada's folk scene. The collective seamlessly incorporates diverse traditions—from Celtic and flamenco to Acadian and Chinese folk music—reflecting the genre's increasingly borderless nature. Additionally, members infuse classical, jazz, and improvisational elements into their compositions.
"One of the elements of the band that I think is really strong is that everybody is a player who plays a lot of different forms and styles of music," says drummer Robin Tufts. "Jiajia plays Chinese music, but she is also a great improviser and a great jazz player. Jeremy has traditional Acadian and fiddle tunes roots, but he also plays country music, folk music, and jazz and everything."
Tufts emphasizes the collective's organic creative process: "Everyone in the band contributes. We've got flamenco elements, we've got Bulgarian elements and jazz elements. It was never considered that we were creating a folk band. We made music, and we found out that the ever-expanding folk audience accepts this music and so does the ever-expanding jazz audience. Everybody in the band brought music that they wrote."
This collaborative approach allows Calgareal to transcend conventional genre boundaries, creating a unique sonic tapestry that resonates with diverse audiences. The collective's ability to harmonize disparate musical traditions while navigating the practical challenges of a two-city operation underscores their innovative spirit and commitment to artistic exploration.
