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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , D ec em be r 1 7, 2 01 0 3 2 Artscene By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Every song has a story behind it, so when Toronto tenor John McDermott performs a pair of Christmas concerts in Oakville fea- turing holiday classics, he will tell a story about each. McDermotts Oakville concerts are the penultimate showing of his Christmas tour, which began in early November. The pair of concerts take place Tuesday, Dec. 21 with shows at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Theres a story almost before every song, he said. I tell you where it came from, who wrote it, what surrounded that particular piece. People will get an educa- tion. The music in the concert will be about 80 per cent seasonal, while the other portion will feature other music, including tunes off his latest album, Journeys. Theres a nice mix of some other stuff, he said. He added that the non-Christmas music flows well with the concert because of its story-telling portion. The album talks about my family and my family is a very intricate part of this tour, of this concert, of this show. There are stories within that recording that reflect my fami- ly. The concert will feature well-known Christmas music such as Ill Be Home for Christmas, O Holy Night, Old Tin Star, Ave Maria and many others. Its new arrangements on some old pieces plus some old stuff we havent done in a while, he said. On stage, McDermott wont be alone. Joining him are Torontos jazz musician Dan Hill, who has frequented Oakville with his performances before, and 21-year-old Rosie Mackenzie, a BC-based fiddler, step dancer and harmony vocalist. Hill will perform his own set, which includes story telling, while Mackenzie will perform both solo and by backing McDermott on stage. The tenor said it was a great opportunity to work with Hill. Ive always loved his stuff and it turns out he likes our stuff so when I asked him if he wanted to join us in a few shows it was a no brainer, he said. The chemistry of the show and the band and the audience, it all fits. McDermott has also had a chance to see Mackenzie perform in the past and was excited to have her in his show. Shes an up and coming talent so with a lot of great musicians around her, like the ones we have, theres a great chance to see her musicality grow and expand and do dif- ferent things, he said. Shes just a fabulous fiddler. In all, McDermott said he hopes people have a good time at the family friendly Christmas show. Its a really fun evening, he said. Its a family show. Its a nice way to get out with the kids. The kids are going to love it and the parents will love it. It will put them right into the Christmas spirit. Furthermore, a portion of the proceeds from his latest albums sales will be donated to McDermott House Canada, which will provide palliative care to veterans, military personnel, first responders, their families and community patients in Torontos Sunnybrook Hospital. The newly-renovated wing of the hospital was named after McDermott for his contributions, both financial and more. Its a place that needs support and needs to be changed and needs to be brought up to world standards and the families that go into these places have given us a guidance on what is needed, he said. He said this funding will provide things such as increased care and privacy to patients, and a place for their loved ones to sleep so they dont have to sleep on a chair. For him, it was an important issue because hes had family and friends go through pal- liative care. McDermott House has already operated in the United States since 1995, where it provides transitional housing to homeless veterans in Washington, D.C. In November the musician was awarded with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation by the minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, for his work with veterans. Tickets to the shows are $50 or $45 for seniors. The centre is located at 130 Navy St. For more information and tickets, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca. Famed tenor to help get people in Christmas mood MAKING IT MERRY: Famed Canadian tenor John McDermott will be making things merry for his listeners at his Christmas concert at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Tuesday. SUBMITTED PHOTO