Annabelle Chvostek - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Annabelle Chvostek is one of the proofs of Canadaâ€™s continuing ability to turn out superb songwriters in the fifth decade of the singer-songwriter phenomenon. She first took the stage when she was seven years old and has never left it. The talented child who performed in La Boheme for the Canadian Opera Company grew up in Toronto surrounded by music- mom played, dad played, everybody sang. The precocious child became an equally precocious teen, touring in a childrenâ€™s theatre troupe, singing and dancing about everything from the Brazilian rainforest to US freedom pioneer Harriet Tubman, and acquiring skills in multiple instruments (guitar, violin, mandolin, percussion). Montreal in the nineties led her to the further shores of experimental music production, dance, art and theatre and her introduction as a performing songwriting. Somewhere amidst the bubbling stew of old-time country, electro-acoustic, East European roots, jazz and pop a strong musical personality was forged- captured on 3 independent CDs of original work. Then came two and a half years with the Wailinâ€™ Jennyâ€™s, touring from Australia to Spain and critical and public acclaim for her songs like Devilâ€™s Paintbrush Road that topped the folk charts in 2006. In February of 2007 Annabelle gave her final performance with the Jennys and returned to her solo career. Her new CD, entitled Resilience, produced by Roma Baran (Laurie Anderson) and Vivian Stoll (Isis) is due out in spring 2008.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/19/2006
Band Website: annabelle.org
Band Members: Video directed and animated by Glenn Gear Annabelle sings with her lovely friend Rose Polenzani, covering a Mason Jennings tune. Annabelle Chvostek plays with some incredibly fine musicians in various formations, depending on the occasion. The current power trio consists of JÃ©rÃ©mie Jones on bass and Tony Spina on drums.
Order a copy of Resilience

Download Resilience on IndyKazoo

Order a copy of Burned My Ass

Burned My Ass on Itunes
Water on Itunes

Influences: my mom
and this is my mom's hero, Pete Seeger :
Sounds Like: "...a unique blend of weathered character and lilting ebb and flow."
Deanna Radford, Herizons
"Fiercely talented... Chvostek has a sultry voice you can't and won't forget."
Suzy Malik, Xtra, Toronto
"Chvosteks songs are a deep drink. Her vocal range is spectacular, and her playfulness is very evident. ...the melodic splendour of Jane Siberry or a jazzy Ani Difranco."
Fish Piss, Montreal
"mesmerizing... incredibly poetic..."
Anna Maria Stjarnell, Luna KafÃ©, Norway
"Annabelle doesnt fake the folk. She freaks it."
Tcha Dunlevy, The Montreal Gazette
"Annabelle made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."
"stunning free form folk..." "she can do everything, and does."
The Hour, Montreal
Record Label: Massive Quantities of Good Vibes
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Star Phoenix Review

Chvostek sensational soloCam Fuller and Bill Robertson, The StarPhoenixPublished: Thursday, April 24, 2008 The Wailin' Jennys' loss is the world's gain. Annabelle Chvostek, who replaced Cara Luft in t...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:01:00 PST

It’s coming!

Slowly but surely, this record in the making is unfolding. We are close. Roma, Viv and I are giving loving attention to every note played. Saturday night we laid out the developing mixes, burned 'e...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:18:00 PST

Copper Thunderbird (March 14, 1932December 4, 2007), Fly In Joy

I just heard the announcement on the radio that Norval Morrisseau, the medicine painter, is dead today. Flying in blissful light I hope. It's rare for me to hear news like that and get shivers all ove...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:55:00 PST

2008 Touring Plans Evolve

I'm working on a record. What an incredible process. What amazing people I'm getting to work with. Life is good.In terms of hitting the road, that will start in earnest in March. First I'll get my fil...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:27:00 PST

La Sala Lhasa

2 nights in a row at La Sala Rossa. I love home.Last night I sat in with Penny Lang and Ken Whitely, did a little mini set in between these two icons of Canadian folk, got to do some very fun harmoni...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:39:00 PST

Mission and Making it to Montana

Mission Folk Fest was delightful. Highlights for me were the workshop stage shared with other former Jenny, Cara Luft, as well as magnificent Penny Lang and the rowdy crew of Outlaw Social. It was hil...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:35:00 PST

And Then What Happened?

Wow. A lot is going on. A LOT!!!!!!Okay, I'm heading to Mission this weekend, I'm so excited to be out there for a bit, back in the flow. I'm full into production on the record, it started last week...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:59:00 PST

Swallow

So, I always wanted a video for swallow. Tried hard, almost got there, but there were roadblocks. Then one day, out of the blue, a DVD arrived in the mail. A swallow video was meant to be! Sandor W...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:15:00 PST

Celtic Connections and the Cash Legacy

Sunday night we played the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with such an incredible line-up of people coming together in musical collaboration. It was the Transatlantic session for the closing night of the...
Posted by Annabelle Chvostek on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 04:56:00 PST