Canadian Juno Award recipients and blues and world musicians Tri-Continental return to B.C. for 14 dates this fall.

Tri-Continental is a collaborative evolution that fuses the talents of three wonderful guitar-players, singers and songwriters. There are no musical boundaries present in this one-of-a-kind blues/folk/world music mélange. Bill Bourne, Lester Quitzau and Madagascar Slim present a truly unique and critically acclaimed sound that is soulful and present, intense and atmospheric.

Bourne is a grand improviser; Quitzau kidnaps the blues and takes it to new dimensions; and Slim’s fascination with tradition and evolution keeps him on the leading edge as promoter of a new sound – the Malagasy blues.

They will be performing at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The trio was the vision of Hugo Rampen, former Artistic Director of the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, when he first heard Bourne and Slim at a guitar fest in Toronto. Rampen knew they had something special and suggested a third guitar slinger could add another unique dimension to the music. Enter the smooth, soulful blues and jazz improvisations from Lester Quitzau, and the Tri-Continental journey began.

Tri-Continental debuted at the 1999 Salmon Arm Festival when it was held during the beginning of autumn at Okanagan College. That show is remembered by many and still talked about as one of the most remarkable performances some had ever seen. The trio went on to receive a Juno award in 2000 for their debut album, completed three successful European tours and recorded three albums on the Tradition and Moderne label in Bremen, Germany between 2001 and 2004.

Since their last Canadian tour in 2007, each artist has continued to remain active in the music scene.

Bourne, Quitzau and Slim are in their own rights well-recognized and respected artists with successful solo careers. They are indeed major players in the Canadian roots music industry who have individually and collectively received four Juno awards and 10 nominations.

Bill Bourne was raised in a musical family in rural Alberta and is the recipient of multiple Juno awards and has received international acclaim for his recordings and live performances. A mainstay on the global roots scene, life on the road is reflected in Bill’s music – powerful rhythms and soulful songs steeped in World Beat, Blues, Cajun, Celtic, Folk, Flamenco, Latin, Funk, Poetry and more.

Lester Quitzau of Dutch / Danish descent, plays soulful acoustic electric folk, blues and roots music. With an understated mastery and grace, the Juno award winning musician explores the space between the notes, as much as the notes themselves. Lester’s musical roots run so deep he can craft a musical cloth that quilts together ringing peals of West African-sounding guitar with the feel of free-form jazz, threaded through with unmistakable strands of gutbucket blues.

Madagascar Slim, born Randriamananjara Radofa Besata Longin in Antananaviro, Madagascar received a Juno for his debut solo album “Omnisource” and is a wonderful example of a truly bi cultural artist. An expert in the popular “Salegy” dance style featuring intricate fingerpicking patterns, his life was changed forever when he found the music of Jimi Hendrix. He has been inflicted with the blues virus ever since.

Tri-Continental is an engagement between these musicians and friends built on artistic respect and a deep passion for, and knowledge of the blues. This is clearly evident in the music they create, where sharing and curiosity has led them on a fascinating musical exploration resulting in a beautiful, infectious sound where blues, world, Celtic, folk, flamenco and African rhythms fuse into one. Accentuated by sweet vocal harmonies and imaginative guitar playing, Tri-Continental’s global blues and roots music is a testament to faith, dreams, talent, and friendship.

As Tri-Continental embarks on another era in their distinguished careers in Canadian music, the emphasis is to reach out to more communities and attract new audiences. New songs will complement a selection of tunes from their four previous albums and all three members are looking forward to being back on the road together. This tour will record four of the concerts with selections being considered on a new album expected for release in 2017.

It is a unique experience each time Bill Bourne, Lester Quitzau and Madagascar Slim join their talents and do what they love. Since their last tour, they have also given precious time to embrace life including marriage, farming, teaching, studying, digging deeper in to their craft and, have taken the time necessary to reflect on the loss of a loved one. This autumn, Tri-Continental will stir up their roots on a musical journey while staying true to the songs that define them.

Tri-Continental continues to keep growing musically, challenging each other to do different things than they would individually, and letting music be their common ground and inspiration. Bourne, Quitzau and Slim will be keeping it wide open and alive, captivating true believers and new audiences with their splendid musicianship, relaxed manner and wonderful music.

Tri-Continental is back – bringing joy and great music to everyone they meet.

Tri-Continental acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.

Tickets for the Cranbrook show can be purchased online at keycitytheatre.com.

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