Oliver Schroer

Subject: Oliver Schroer
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 03:30 PM

Just in case some people haven't yet heard Oliver's music I thought I'd pass it on...

Oliver Schroer

I saw him play last year when he came over with James Keelaghan and he was breathtaking! He's very tall with huge hands, and as James said, his fiddle looks so tiny in comparison...but his music is just beautiful!

James had to sit down when Oliver played 'Field of Stars', for no other reason than it 'took him to another place' and he had to close his eyes...

When Oliver finished the room was absolutely still, not a sound to be heard for a few minutes.....

So..if ever you get the chance, go and see him play..

And read all about his CD which he recorded himself on the El Camino Trail, which he walked with his wife and some friends. In his backpack he had his recording equipment and his fiddle and he stopped off at every church he could, along the way, no matter if it was the tiniest chapel or the biggest cathedral. He just went inside and played...sometimes in front of people, sometimes..just on his own...in front of God.

It's a CD well worth getting.

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 05:59 PM

Weird. As I scanned down the list of threads I was listening to Oliver Schroer And The Stewed Tomatoes. Another worthy listen. Thanks for the heads up about the El Camino Trail cd.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 06:58 PM

Oliver is a genius. He pushes the envelope every which way but knows his musical roots inside and out. His recordings are worth listening to again and again but if you every get a chance to hear him live do not miss it.

Unfortunately Oliver is very ill. There are 2 benefit concerts for him next week at HUGH'ROOM in Toronto - with some of Canada's finest performing. I've copied below from the H.R. website - down below discusses his illness in more detail:

OLIFIDDLE
A GRAND MUSICAL CELEBRATION & FUNDRAISER

TUESDAY JUNE 19, 2007
Host - Shelagh Rogers
(CBC's 'Sounds Like Canada')
featuring

Sharlene Wallace
Don Ross
Ian Bell & Anne Lederman
Holmes Hooke
Steafan Hannigan with Saskia
Stephen Fearing

Set 2
Betty & The Bobs
Sahra Featherstone
Brent Titcomb
Stewed Tomatoes
James Keelaghan

w/ Mark Duggan: percussion

* * * *

THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2007
Host - Stuart McLean (CBC's 'Vinyl Cafe')

Set 1
Sandy MacIntyre
John Herberman
Liam Titcomb
Teresa Doyle
James Keelaghan

Set 2
Michael Wrycraft
Anne Lindsay
Bobby Watt
Jesse Cook
Brian Pickell
Don Ross

w/ Ravi Naimpally:­ tabla, percussion

Tickets are going fast for this two-night tribute to
and benefit for, Oliver Schroer – a much-loved
fiddler across Canada. Oliver is currently
battling leukemia and has chosen to return
to Toronto for his intensive treatment in
order to be near his family and large
circle of friends.

This promises to be two of the most star-studded
evenings in a very long time, that are both to
celebrate his remarkable musical career, to date,
and also to raise funds to help Oliver get through
a difficult health crisis since he will likely be
unable to work for many months to come. One
of the major reasons we are coming together is
to raise awareness for the donor bank, which
in Oliver's case could be the life saver. In the
past the only way to donate bone marrow was
a very painful experience for donors - these
days it is a similar procedure to giving blood
except the filtered blood is returned to the
blood donor! Coincidentally, the week
of June 10 is National Blood Week.

***************

I'll be there on the 21st.
~b.w.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: Mooh
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 07:03 AM

b.w. Thanks for the update and news, as sad as it is. Sorry to hear about Oliver's illness, but happy and hopeful that something good will come of the benefit.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 07:20 AM

Thoughts and prayers going out to Oliver and his family.

Here's some very good news though about leukaemia treatment, from a young lady who knows all about it, and who last year had a bone marrow transplant herself. She is now doing very, very well and is back on the road touring and being told off by her doctor for working too hard.

So over to Anna Esselmont from Uiscedwr. Her story is in her blogs on their Myspace page.

ANNA of UISCEDWR

And I'm sure that we all hope, very much, that Oliver will soon have a similar story to tell.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: GUEST,Eye Lander
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 08:13 AM

I saw Oliver when he was supporting James in 2001/2, they came to the Island and played at our lovely little theatre at Quay Arts. Their music was haunting, my friend and I bought several of there cd's between us I was so impresed with Oliver that I sent one cd to Mike Harding who was also impressed enough to play a track on his programme. Saw them again at Llantrisant folk club last year - just brilliant.

Jillie

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: KeithofChester
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 08:20 AM

I saw Oliver with James Keelaghan in the UK last year. A fine musician indeed. A couple of months back James explained that Oliver wasn't very well and that was why he wasn't with him during this year's tour.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 09:32 AM

I had a few voice lessons in a space that Oliver helped to paint. Every wall was a piece of art - wild, colourful, and free!

Oliver played fiddle on the film versions of "Angels in America" and "Lemony Snickett".

Here's a list of people he's performed with:

Jerry Alfred Bob Becker Ian Bell David Bradstreet Kevin Breit Greg Brown October Browne Rebecca Campbell Jesse Cook Colin Cripps Kate Crossan Carlos del Junco Teresa Doyle Stephen Fearing George Fox Don Freed Lenny Gallant Filippo Gambetta Bill Garrett Michele George Eve Goldberg Great Big Sea Michael Grey Jack Grunsky MarieLynn Hammond Harbord Trio Melanie Harrold Holmes Hooke Jorane Maria Kalaneimi Connie Kaldor James Keelaghan Enoch Kent Kiva Andrea Koziol Jeff Lang Daniel Lapp Grit Laskin Jani Lauzon Anne Lederman Jenny Lester Linda Tillery & CHC Anne Lindsay Liu Fang Lo'Jo Oscar Lopez Donal Lunny Laurel MacDonald Natalie MacMaster Mad Pudding Barry Mann Michael Manring Harry Manx Loreena McKennitt Stuart McLean (Vinyl Café) Paul Mills Modabo Ray Montford Norouet Ojnab Rob Piltch Quartette Radio Nomad Rare Air Steve Riley Garnet Rogers Don Ross Sabir Sisters Trichy Sankaran Karen Savoca Eddie Schwartz Tracy Schywarz Sandy Scofield Sharon, Lois & Bram Amy Sky Cedric Smith Stewed Tomatoes Andy Stochansky Swamperella Kurt Swinghammer Taxi Chain The Afronubians The Arrogant Worms The Be Good Tanyas The Bill Hilly Band The Skydiggers The Wyrd Sisters Thomas Handy Trio Brent Titcomb Art Turner Sylvia Tyson Valdy Glen Velez Charlene Wallace Sneezy Waters Bobby Watt Jimmy Webb Katherine Wheatley Ken Whitely A. Frank Willis

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: Mick Tems
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 11:31 AM

I was there at Llantrisant, Eye Lander, and I talked to Oliver - what a fabulous night! I was looking forward to seeing Oliver again at the Beyond The Border festival at St Donats Castle, Vale Of Glamorgan, in July 2007. BtB is a wonderful international storytelling festival, laced with beautiful music. Oliver is still on the guestlist on BtB's website, so perhaps word hasn't got out to David Ambrose, the festival director.

Oliver, here's wishing you well again. You certainly are one of the best, a pure genius.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 11:37 AM

saw him perform and took some classes with him at the Sunshine Coast fiddle festival. Great musician, he has a special fiddle with an extra string C. Wishing him well.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 12:35 PM

It's a 5 string violin, isn't it petr? Smart, like Don Ross' 7 string guitar.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 04:06 PM

Sorry to hear Oliver is ill. I met him in Calgary at the folk alliance, when he was playing with Bobby Watt. He came in to an "anything vaguely celtoid jam" in the after hours playing and did some nice medleys of tunes with Margaret and me. Nice man. My best wishes for him.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 18 Jun 07 - 10:01 PM

The 2 nights were so sold out that they've added another Oli Night at Hugh's Room. Wednesday June 20 - with Jeff Goodes hosting. Another terrific lineup. Check out the Hugh's Room website. Oliver is one of the most brilliant and creative musicians on the planet. If you can, if you're in the Toronto area - go! It's going to be great music for an excellent cause.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: Mick Tems
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 04:59 AM

Beyond The Border has just removed Oliver's name from the artists' list - a very great shame. There must be something the festival can give to him, just a small tribute.

http://www.beyondtheborder.com/performers.htm (sorry, but I'm blue-clicky challenged again.)

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: GUEST,With Pleasure
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 09:00 AM

Beyond The Border

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: GUEST,Annon
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 03:26 PM

Olifiddle
3 Nights for Oliver Schroer
Music & Silent Auction

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 05:01 PM

Thanks, Annon.
~b.w.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 11:19 AM

I went to the concert last night. The energy and talent and caring were all there in droves. It was an astounding night. Oliver talked to us from the hospital with the cell phone up to the mic. It was a very special evening.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Oliver Schroer
From: black walnut
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 01:44 PM

A few of the many interesting things about Oli (from his website):

Schroer has composed over 1,000 pieces and has recorded eight CDs of his own compositions.

Oliver has also produced eleven albums for the Somerset label, two of which have gone Gold. Of the roughly thirty albums Oliver has produced, eight have been nominated for a Juno Award (Canadian equivalent of a Grammy). He has also done soundtrack work. Schroer's playing can be heard on the award winning television series Angels in America and on Lemony Snickett, a Series of Unfortunate Events.
Oliver Schroer is currently promoting his new CD - Camino, a live recording from his 1,000km walk along the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain.

.........

Last night one of the hosts told some trivia about Oli. For instance, he started on country guitar before he picked up the violin, and after only a year of playing the fiddle he entered the Shelburne Fiddle Championships. He and the violin were made for each other.

~b.w.