Author Archives: Todd

Dadawa in Vancouver: mesmirizing Asian world music

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Dadawa in Vancouver: mesmerizing Asian world music


Dadawa recieves her flowers after an exhuberant ovation at the Chan Centre – photo Todd Wong

Dadawa put on a mesmerizing show last night at the Chan Centre.  Part Bjork – part Enya – part new age – Chinese traditional, it was definitely contemporary world music.

The first half consisted of songs that were almost meditative.  The musicians and back up singers were all dressed in white.  After five minutes, Dadawa came out to join them,  choosing to sit on a small raised platform in the front centre of the stage area.  I have often seen this setup for tabla players.  She crouched  and started swaying with the music, then singing in Chinese. 

This was definitely not traditional Chinese music – but it wasn't contemporary canto-pop either.  Dadawa was drawing on the many musical influences of her life's journey and creating a unique presentation of her creativity.  Sometimes the chanting evoked the sounds of Canadian First Nations, sometimes the lyricism was melodic like Asian folk songs. 

The second half featured an extended set of individual solos, as Dadawa called out each band member by name.  For people expecting more of Dadawa, this must have been disappointing.  But it really demonstrated the incredible musicianship of her band.  Featured sitarist and instrumentalist Andrew Kim told  me that the band had only rehearsed for 10 days prior to the concert. 

For an encore, Dadawa apologized to the audience that she didn't have anything else prepared… but decided to improvise on one of her songs.  The musicians joined in to develop a foundation upon which Dadawa created a vocal scat.  Very cool – just like watching jazz musicians who know their stuff.


Todd Wong, Dadawa and Andrew Kim pose for a picture at the post-concert reception – photo by Diana Stewart Imbert on Todd's camera

I was very surprised to learn that her band was full of Canadians including vituoso erhu player George Gao from Toronto.  During the second half, Dadawa was joined by Vancouver area musician Andrew Kim.  I have known Andrew since about 2002, when I first met him performing solo at the library for Asian Heritage Month, and soon after when he joined the band Brave Waves with Joe McDonald.  Andrew has perfored many times at Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and even was on the Gung Haggis dragon boat entry in Vancouver's first ever St. Patrick's Day Parade.



2004 Brave WavesAndrew Kim and Joe McDonald in Vancouver's first ever St. Patrick's Day Parade – photo Ray Shum 2004 St. Patrick's Day Parade 

Click here for a backgrounder about Dadawa

James Erlandsen: 2007 honourary drummer for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team

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James Erlandsen: 2007 honourary drummer for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team

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James Erlandsen is the 2007 honourary drummer for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team – photo courtesy of Aynsley Meldrum

For
2007, our honourary drummer is James Erlandsen.  James is presently
undergoing medical treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  James
has no siblings, so it’s pretty challenging to find a matching Eurasian
donor for a bone marrow transplant.

James' great-grandfather Chen Sing emigrated to Canada in 1885, paid the
head tax, worked on the CPR line until his head tax debt was repaid,
and then was one of the first Chinese pioneers in the Nicola Valley
region of B.C. James' great uncles George Sing and Ernie Sing served in
WWII.

On the other side of James' family, his grandfather Edmund
Erlandsen emigrated from Norway as a young man. I've been told that
Edmund taught himself the carpentry trade from a book, at a time when
his English was very limited.

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Gung
haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team paddled at Lotus Sports Club's Bill
Alley Memorial dragon boat reggatta on May 19th – photo Sean Kingsley

When I first met James at the St. Paul's Hospital on
May 7th, I gave him a Gung Haggis team shirt and invited him to come
out to paddle with us when he gets better.  I also hope to share with
him my own experiences of being a successful cancer survivor. 

The
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team annually hosts a Robbie Burns
Chinese New Year dinner to celebrate BC's pioneer cultures of Scots and
Chinese, as well as many inter-cultural topics and events.  Our entire
dragonboat team gives its  encouragement for James’ return to health,
and to also help raise awareness for the need for Eurasian bone marrow
donors.    We have 3 Eurasian paddlers on the team… and 3 Caucasian/Asian
Canadian couples!  Very Gung Haggis! 

And James' cousin Hillary Wong has just joined the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.

Oh…
and I discovered that James and I both went to Carson Graham high school in North
Vancouver, and we were both students at Simon Fraser where James was
diagnosed with leukemia at age 23, while I was diagnosed with a germ
cell tumor at age 29.  Wow!!!  too many coincidences…

In years past the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has had honourary drummers, steersperson and paddlers.  This is to highlight the person's contributions to society, or a worthy cause.

The first honourary steersperson was architect Joe Wai, who designed the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens which has the mission statement of “building bridges.”  Joe is also my elder paternal cousin, and I have always claimed him as one of my early role models.

Community activist and former city councilor Ellen Woodsworth was our honourary drummer for the “Gung Haggis Fat Choy float entry” for the 2005 St. Patrick's Day parade.  Ellen loves the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners!

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Ellen Woodsworth (honourary drummer) and Margaret Gallagher (honourary) paddler join GHFC paddler/steers Dave Samis in the 2005 St. Patrick's Day Parade – photo Todd Wong

CBC broadcaster Margaret Gallagher describes herself as Chi-rish (Chinese and Irish ancestry), and is involved in many intercultural activities in the Vancouver arts community, and has supported Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner events many times.  Margaret was an honourary paddler for the 2005 St. Patrick's Day parade.

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Joy Kogawa receives her team jersey from paddlers Dan Seto and Gail Thomson – photo Todd Wong

Joy Kogawa was our honourary drummer for 2006.  She is one of Canada's most important writers, the author of Obasan, Naomi's Road and The Rain Ascends.  I am one of the leaders of Kogawa House Comittee, as we strove to successfully save Joy's childhood home from demolition.  It was this same house that her family was removed from because of the internment of Japanese Canadians during WW2, and that she wrote about in her award winning books.

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I think I will have to give James a Terry Fox loonie… Terry was an 18 year old student at SFU when he diagnosed with his cancer.

James Erlandsen wrote today at 8:54pm

Hey Todd,

I would be honored to become the honourary drummer for your dragon boat team. Sorry I haven't responded sooner, I've been without my computer for the last few days while at the hospital.
Thanks for everything, and talk to you later.

James

 
Todd Wong wrote back today at 9:25pm

Most Excellent Dude!!!

We hope to do two major things with this honourary position:

1) lift your spirits so you can handle anything, conquer anything and give you goals to look forward to;

2) help raise continued awareness for a matching bone marrow donor for YOU!


How to help James:

Bone Marrow Donors
Needed

 

23-year-old James Lee Erlandsen, who was
recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, requests your
assistance.  James requires a Bone
Marrow Transplant, but has not been able to find a suitable donor.  He is of Asian and European parentage,
and the best chances for a match would be from donors of similarly mixed
ancestry.

 

If you are a healthy individual between the
ages of 17-50, and particularly if you are of mixed heritage, please consider
registering with Canadian Blood Services' Bone Marrow Donor
Registry.

 

Individuals can submit their information
online, and they will be contacted by Canadian Blood
Services.

 

http://www.blood.ca/registry

 

1-888-2-DONATE

 

Please share this
information with others in your circle who might be potential bone marrow
registrants.
 
Thank you for
your willingness to help
James.

DADAWA is playing at the Chan Centre to wrap up the explorASIAN festival

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DADAWA is playing at the Chan Centre to wrap up the explorASIAN festival

Dadawa
is an internationally recognized musical performer that only a
few  people are aware of in Vancouver.  She has currently
been an artist in residence at UBC.  explorASIAN executive director Don Montgomery has been telling me stoked he is that Dadawa is performing in Vancouver.

The Chan Centre has really gone all out to bring in interesting
cross-cultural and inter-cultural artists to create a wonderful program
this year.  This should definitely be a show to watch this week!


Following information from www.explorasian.org

Tickets: $28 / $48 / $88-includes post concert reception with Dadawa and her band



Ticketmaster by phone at 604.280.3311 or www.ticketmaster.ca (plus service charges)

Chan Centre Ticket Office (in person only)



Group
tickets (10+) are available for only $20/person. (Regular price is
$28/person) Please quote the promo code “sevendays” when ordering from
Ticketmaster (standard ticketmaster fees apply) or purchase in person
at the Chan Centre. Limited quantity of group tickets are available.



Complimentary parking offered to all concert guests. Please use the Rose Garden parkade adjacent to the Chan Centre.






The 2007 explorASIAN Grand Finale Concert with International World Music Artist DADAWA (Zhu Zheqin 朱哲琴)




May 31, 2007 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, University of British Columbia




Enjoy
a delightful evening of contemporary world music blended with the
traditional sounds of Pan Asia featuring international world music
artist DADAWA, presented by explorASIAN, the Chan Centre, and the Alma
Mater Society of UBC.




This concert is also a fundraiser for the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, presenters of the explorASIAN Festival.




Dadawa
(Zhu Zheqin 朱哲琴), is the first contemporary Chinese diva to achieve
worldwide stardom. Dadawa is a native of Changsha, Hunan. She has
traveled China and the world extensively as both a musician and
adventurer. She is considered to be the pioneer “indie” artist in
China, having independently produced her music, videos and films for
over a decade, and an ambassador of contemporary music from China.

REVIEW: Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre's Sketch-Off Competition

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REVIEW: Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre's Sketch-Off Competition

Harvey
Liu attended this year's annual Sketch-Off Competion, hosted by
Vancouver Asian Comedy Theatre.  Here is his review – special to
www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com

Each year, Vancouver
Asian Canadian Theatre offers an “Annual SketchOff* Competition.” Now for those
of you who are wondering what this is, just try and imagine Russel Peters x 6,
minus the brown, mixed in some yellow, and voila! (groups of Asian comedians,
in case you didn’t catch my drift) . For some background
information, VACT was made to promote and increase Asian
actors on stage, and what better way to do this than with laughter?

This years’
SketchOff* performance was my first, I must admit, but it surely will not be my
last. Two performances were held this year on May 18th and 19th,
and with team names as SLANT EYED PEAS, LICK THE WAX TADPOLE, SFUU MAN CHU, THE
YANGTZERS, BANANADRAMA, and DISORIENTAL, I find it hard to
believe that anybody would want to miss out.

Throughout my entire life (19 looong years), I have never
EVER seen an Asian comedian. Maybe it’s cause I was in Canada most my life, but
still! 

All 6 teams were given 2 weeks to come up with their skits,
and boy o boy was I amazed at some of the absurd yet hilarious jokes that were
brought out of nowhere. They weren’t all original, but hey, they still did the
trick, cause my chin was bruised from laughter by the end of the night.

Most of the jokes incorporated Asian aspects such as hygiene
issues (eww…), stereotypical Chinese accents, STRONGLY over-emphasized Chinese
accents (hehe, fork… f-o-o-r-k…. f-o-o-k…. f-u-o-k… f-u-u-k… :P), and many
more. But best of all, everything that they did had a Western spin on it (like…
white style chinese comedy).

I would go on… but you guys can catch another showing of something
similar if you’re interested.

I HAD A BLAST, well, almost a blast… cause I went late and
got a shitty seat on the side where I couldn’t see everything… and I bought a 2
hour parking pass, but the show went on for 2.5hours and I got a $40 dollar
fine… SO, if you go early, and pay for 3 horus worth of parking, than I can
guarantee you (in spirit), that you’ll have a blast!