Musicians tune up to support new Syrian residents

You would be hard pressed to find a concert featuring a more diverse selection of music than Friday's Concert for Hope, being held to raise money for a local group sponsoring two Syrian refugee families.

Friday's show, being held at Glad Tidings Tabernacle, boasts a mix of classical, jazz, blues, country and rock music from some of Sudbury's most talented and well-known performers.

It features a classical opera performance by Irmgard Hechler and Darquise Poulin, plus local Hugh Jazz, The Welcome Matt and The Bluez Brotherz.

“Concert For Hope features an outstanding lineup of local talent who have come together with one common goal: supporting Sudbury Project Hope and its effort to relocate and support two refugee families,” said Jeffrey Burton, event organizer, in a news release. “Concert for Hope promises something for every musical taste from classical to jazz, blues and rock.”

On the bill are the Bluez Brotherz Showband and Revue, a frequent performer for good causes, including Blues for Food, which helps the city's hungry and homeless.

Vic Theriault said the 10-piece ban got involved thanks to a friendship between Burton and Rod Bazinet, the other Bluez Brother.

"He asked us to play," Theriault said. "We believe in helping the cause of new immigrants coming to Canada, fleeing war zones. We're in full support of it."

The full 10-piece band will be performing, which includes a four-piece horn section.

"The Syrians that are being sponsored are going to be there,” he said. “So it's a welcome for them. It's not only a fundraiser, but it's a meet-and-greet welcome, sort of. A welcome to Canada, and welcome to Sudbury. And we'll show them a divergent style of music."

On the classical bill, soprano Irmgard Hechler and vocalist Darquise Poulin will be accompanied by pianist Marie Ng-Au.

Hechler performed with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra for the first time in 2002. That same year, she received strong reviews for her concert performances with the Brandenburg Concert Orchestra in Berlin, as well as her concert at the St. Nickolaus Cathedral for their 500th anniversary in Gundelsheim, Germany. She and Poulin will perform duets as well as solos.

Hugh Jazz will bring some live, gypsy jazz to the stage, to “transport you to the romantic period of the early 20th century,” is how the group was described before its appearance at the Jazz Sudbury Festival last year.

“Hugh Jazz performs live gypsy jazz in the 'le jazz hot' style of Paris, with jazz standards made famous by artists such as Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Relive the golden period of jazz through the post-prohibition era deftly executed by Jean-Paul Gignac, fiddle; Eric Plangger, guitar; Christopher Dardick, drums; and Will Himsl, vocals."

Rounding out the show will be a performance by the aptly named group, The Welcome Matt, featuring the husband and wife duo of Sarah (former Craig) and Jim Matt.

Their sound combines Sarah's jazz background and Jim's country sounds, creating a set described as “Cajun bluegrass with a touch of blues."

Jim Gordon, on of the founds of Sudbury Project Hope, said he was blown away by the generosity of the performers in support of the cause.

"They're doing it for nothing, if you can believe that," Gordon said. "And Glad Tidings isn't charging us.

"It's a wonderful lineup. The artists here in Sudbury have really stepped up. These groups are known throughout the province for their professionalism ... This show is going to rock."

Concert for Hope:
Who: Performances by Irmgard Hechler and Darquise Poulin, plus local Hugh Jazz, The Welcome Matt and The Bluez Brotherz.
What: Fundraiser for groups sponsoring refugee families from Syria.
When: Friday, doors open at 7 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m.
Where: Glad Tidings Church, 1101 Regent St.
Tickets: Are $25 each, and can be purchased at these Greater Sudbury Library locations: Main, South, New Sudbury and Copper Cliff, or go to www.sudburyprojecthope.com to buy online.