FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2010 WHO: People Project CD Release! Canada-Mexico's bi-national band, People Project, fuse folk and funk on "Natural" disc WHERE: Nathan Phillips Square, "Tasty Thursdays" Events, Toronto WHEN: Thursday, July 22 , Noon--2pm COST: Free public event [Toronto ON] What happens when a group of players drops the notion of borders to merge talent from Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, and Trinidad to play an innovative musical hybrid of funk, hip-hop, calypso, and Afro-Brazilian --- sung in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese no less?! What happens is People Project and their new disc, "Natural"! While co-founders Philippe Lafreniere from Canada (Souljazz) and Gabriel Bronfman from Mexico (Quem, Resorte), take the spirit of world music and advance the cross-cultural and musical ante, it’s quickly apparent that it doesn’t matter where the band members are from – indeed the thousands of miles which divide the songwriting duo are rendered meaningless and only to serve to reinforce the magic of artistic collaboration and intercultural exchange. Unlike a band who may specialize in multiple genres, People Project is instantly distinguished by their ability to apply myriad influences concurrently. The sound they’ve birthed is entirely their own. A cursory tour across Natural’s 13 tracks reveals a wide-ranging degree of grooves identifying a true mélange – all the more innovative for its progressive, multicultural – yet borderless – stance. "Ciudad" – a song reminiscent of writer Bronfman’s Latin American roots, adds a solid worldbeat groove to the jazzy allure of Souljazz sax powerhouse, Steve Patterson. Or the Caribbean-spiced “Las Calles”, featuring Drew Gonsavles’ (Kobo Town) vocals and Pierre Chrétien’s (Souljazz) prominent keyboards, as Lafreniere adds percussive push. The seductive "Sabado" with its South American swing or the more complex “7am” quickly get under your skin while the lively Manu Chao cover, "Mr. Bobby (Hey Bobby Marley)", deftly merges jazz to reggae in near-pop proportions, while remaining loyal to their collective allegiances. A strong jazz sense fires many of these compositions, yet Latin, Jamaican and African influences are present without ever sounding contrived or unnatural. Surprisingly subtle yet wholly soulful, People Project is a product of the heart – each player is driven by an all-encompassing love – and hope – for humanity, as reinforced by their highly personal and philosophical lyrics. People Project is by the people, for the people – and in celebration of people everywhere. The sincerity of their efforts to build bridges – creatively and otherwise – is the reason why this music matters. It's also the reason why it sounds so great – ringing true and "natural" for a brave new world. Uniting an array of international friends, instruments and influences, these troubadours travel the highways and byways of afrobeat, blues, jazz and funk. Intercultural, multilingual and cosmopolitan!" Festival de Jazz de Montreal "...une entreprise bicéphale fondée par des musiciens de talent et d'éxperience." Le Voir, Ottawa "The group manages to tour and create music without letting their geographical positioning burden them. Rather than a roadblock, People Project have used it to their advantage, turning their music into a multicultural experience, singing in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese." Ottawa Xpress "Ce soir, ce sera la première fois qu'ils interpreteront leur titre phare "people" sur l'hexagone!" Radio Nova, Paris WHO: People Project -- "Natural" CD Release! WHERE: Nathan Phillips Square - "Tasty Thursdays" Events Toronto TIX/INFO: Free Public Event http://www.toronto.ca/special_events BAND BIO: http://www.peopleproject.ca PHOTOS: http://www.sonicbids.com/peopleproject MP3'S: http://www.myspace.com/peopleproject PUBLICITY: Lisa Weitz LW Communications lw@lwcommunications.ca http://www.lwcommunications.ca 416-624-3466 (office) 416-846-6877 (cell) February 2nd 2010   Big Shout-Out to Verbigracia!   Big shout out to the Verbigracia Agency who hooked us up with some great interviews and press while in Mexico for the CD Release back in November '09.  We'll have this article below from MusicLife Magazine up and translated soon:   Other News:   We're still working on the website, ironing out some of the details and hope to have the entire page translated in several languages.  We're also currently applying to Canadian Summer Festivals with hopes of heading out West in July/August 2010.  Stay Tuned! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 16th 2010   Putting together our team...   On July 1st, 2009, we released our second album 'natural' at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.  Since then, we have toured Canada and Mexico, inaugurating the Museum of Contemporary Art in Mexico City and getting Multicultural Album of the Week on the Government of Mexico's Official Website.  We've recently received the Career Development Grant on behalf of the Canada Council for the Arts and putting together our team with Management Consultant Derek Andrews (Global Café), Marketing Consultant Heather Kelly (HKC Marketing), and the Verbigracia agency out of Mexico. We'll be returning to Mexico in May for a short tour and we are currently planning for summer festival dates in Canada.      Working on a video...   We're also working on a video for 'les mots' with a new friend, Nicolas Chirokoff.  For more on his work,  please check out www.2tintas.com.mx.     Check out the myspace...   We're just getting started on our website so in the meantime, please check out our myspace for more details on the group, upcoming concerts, and more.

New Album 'natural' NOW AVAILABLE!   Get the People Project Press-Kit and Tech Rider HERE!

 

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