Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: black walnut
Date: 19 Jun 08 - 01:13 PM

Pierre Schryer told me last night that it was Oliver's birthday yesterday. I don't know how Ollie is doing right now but I hope that he had some happiness in his day yesterday.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: black walnut
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 10:48 PM

No - I didn't see Jamie at Ollie's concert - but there were a lot of people so when you said that, it didn't twig. I didn't see everybody, that's for sure. Sorry if I sounded at all brusk above - I was only using capital letters to try to get people attention as they skimmed through postings, to let them know that there had been an error.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his..
From: evansakes
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 05:56 AM

Apologising for not realising that link was for an earlier concert.

It had been bothering me how Jaime had managed to get from Toronto to Carlisle in less than 12 hours....I'm assuming she wasn't in attendance at last week's concert?

Gerry

ps I wasn't suggesting for a minute that Jaime is an "Oliver clone". She acknowledged his influence and his role as a mentor figure. Their music is quite different....

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: black walnut
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:44 PM

The link that was posted to the CBC podcast of the 'Oliver Tribute Concert' was NOT the same one I am referring to here. The tribute concerts (2 nights in a row) took place several weeks ago. Oliver did play at the tribute concerts but mostly they were comprised of OTHER performers playing Oliver's music. The Tribute concert was fantastic and the CBC condensed version, with interviews of friends interspersed throughout, is definitely worth a listen.

That said, "Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his Tour of This Planet" was a different concert altogether and in a different venue, too - and it took place just last week - June 5. This concert was recorded and filmed and parts of it will be, I'm told, included in an upcoming documentary of Oliver's journey with leukemia.

(Oh and yes Jamie RT is a wonderful fiddler. We are hosting her and Andy Hillhouse at our place for a house concert in the fall. We first heard Jamie when she opened for James Keeleghan at Hugh's Room last year and were blown away. She is not an Oliver clone - but was influenced by him to be sure.).

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: Polite Guest
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:35 AM

Jamie RT myspace

Andy Hillhouse myspace

James Keelaghan myspace

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his..
From: evansakes
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 02:12 PM

Yes, we had one of Oliver's protegés (Jaime RT) at TwickFolk on Sunday evening. A wonderful night's music it was too (shame only around twenty of us were in attendance).

Jaime was actually at the concert in Toronto on Thursday. Goodness knows how she managed to get from there to her first UK tour gig in Carlisle on Friday evening....I should've asked her! On Sunday she spoke from the stage about Oliver and his influence. Meanwhile her touring partner Andy Hillhouse (from Mad Pudding and the McDades) sang a brand new song he'd written for Oliver. In the interval we listened to Oliver's playing on James Keelaghan's 'Home' album and raised a glass to him.

The spirit of Oliver Schroer will certainly live on through the music and playing of Jaime (and I'm sure many others like her).

Jaime will actually be back at TwickFolk in less than a month when she hooks up with James Keelaghan for his latest UK tour. Hopefully we'll have a few more in the audience that night.

The irony is we probably wouldn't even have heard of Jaime if she hadn't stepped into Oliver's (sizable) shoes to become James' fiddle accompanist on his 2007 UK tour.

Gerry

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 12:02 AM

Thanks for the link Polite Guest, I could not make it but a couple of friends at least were there, I will give it a listen when I get a chance.
The link should credit CBC though, not the BBC, wrong side of the pond as they say.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: Polite Guest
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 12:18 PM

And here, for the many of us who missed it, is that very concert:

BBC Radio 2 - Oliver Schroer Concert

With thanks to Gerry, from Twickenham Folk Club for kindly passing the link on to me.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: black walnut
Date: 08 Jun 08 - 02:51 PM

W-O, Yes, that is why I chose to call this thread a Review. I wanted to "review" the concert in particular, to let people know about the concert who couldn't be there themselves, and to ask if there were some there who I didn't recognize or didn't see.   You are absolutely correct. Oliver is very much with us. Thank you for that reminder. And thank you for submitting the blue clickie! There is a lot to be explored there - photos, sound clips, stories, movies....GO THERE!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: Peace
Date: 08 Jun 08 - 12:34 PM

Read it a few days back. Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. He is one brave dude.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 01:37 PM

bw, I think it feels a little weird posting to this thread cause one is tempted to fall into "obit mode", yet Oli is still very much alive so that's not really appropriate. He may not have much time, but it's clear he ain't done yet.

Anyone who would like to learn more about this beyond-remarkable musician should spend some time at oliverschroer.com....start with the note at the left and click on "read more"...you better have some time available.

W-O

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 09:22 AM

Wish I could have been there. Oli's an inspiration. Had the privilege and pleasure of sharing the stage with him a few times when he led or joined the Blue Skies Festival square dance band--that's always a good time but those were the best!

What a great way to go out, and we will all miss him but cherish the memories--fantastic player, composer, teacher, and person.

All the best Oliver. We'll keep hearing you play forever.

Bill Cameron

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper on sig-o's computer
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 04:53 PM

I'm glad to hear the concert was a success. What a tragedy. I first met Oliver at the folk alliance conference in Calgary. What a great musician and nice guy, was my first impression.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: black walnut
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 03:29 PM

He did not want his last concert to be tearful - and for the most part, it was not. Oliver showed strength, passion, virtuosity - and love for every note, from beginning to end. He wanted this concert to be a time of joy and sharing in a community of friends, and it was.

Oliver was not a candidate for a bone marrow transplant. If he had had one, said one of his nurses, it was very unlikely that it would have worked for him, and it would have caused him much pain in the end. As it is, without the transplant, he is feeling at this point somewhat weaker and tired, but he says that he felt the same about 2 months ago, at which point he didn't even know if he'd still be with us by concert date.   He is thankful for the amount of writing and producing he has been able to do from hospital. The staff and other patients have been blessed to hear him play!

When we were all leaving the concert, the whole dark sky was flashing with lightning and low rumblings of thunder. It was as if the Creator was saying Thank you, Oliver, I heard you!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his..
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 03:00 PM

In spirit only. God bless the man. I hope he's comfortable given the circumstances.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: Review: Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his...
From: black walnut
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 02:54 PM

Last night I was one of the sold-out audience for the much anticipated "Oliver Schroer's Last Concert on his Tour of This Planet!", held at Trinity-St.Paul's Church in downtown Toronto Canada.

Oliver - possibly the most intelligent, creative, prolific, inovative fiddler of our time - is dying of leukemia. He doesn't know if he has days or weeks or months ahead of him here. He does know that there is no more treatment available to him, and that from his hospital bed he will be creating and producing and playing music, as well as continuing to build meaningful relationships with those around him, for as long as time gives him strength.

There are no words big enough to describe last night's concert. Oliver led us through a journey of old and new tunes, sometimes solo, sometimes with musician friends, one with a dancer. The night ended with all of us singing and whistling along on the final song!   

I am interested to know what other Mudcatters were at the concert. Perhaps one of you can add to what I have said, and maybe tell about what drew you to attend.

~b.w.