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| Art Napoleon: Miyoskamin Art Napoleon (aka Travelling Sun) is a recognized cultural educator and faith-keeper from the boreal foothills of Northeastern BC. This former Chief is a gifted songwriter and one heck of a storyteller with an uncanny ability to improvise and meaningfully engage his audiences. His new CD Miyoskamin is an acoustic blend of traditional and contemporary tunes…no electric instruments save for some bass and occasional drum kit. These rare songs are built on Indigenous rhythms and fused with a variety of North American acoustic roots arrangements. Picture a cross-cultural jam between Cree ceremonial singers on their moose-hide drums and some leftist- outlaw cowboys with their dusty mandolins, fiddles and guitars. Produced by Zak Cohen and Art Napoleon, guests on the new CD include Sandy Scofield, fiddler Calvin Cairns, Spirit of the West bassist Tobin Frank and blues troubadour Ken Hamm. With influences that draw from country, roots-rock and traditional woodland Cree sounds, Napoleon is a riveting solo performer who has traveled widely, sharing his powerful songs, mystical chants and down-to-earth wit and charm. His material is both deeply moving and humorous. Napoleon was awarded the Telefilm-APTN Award for best Aboriginal production at the Banff Television Festival in 2002 for the children’s TV show, Cree for Kids, an educational show featuring original Cree songs and lessons. He has been featured on many radio and television programs including Basic Black, Zed TV, Dead Dog Cafe, The CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival and CBC’s Roundup with Tetsuro Shigematsu. Napoleon has been a mainstay on the Western Canadian folk festival circuit for the past 15 years. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |