Sultans of String
Encyclopedia
Sultans of String are an instrumental
music group based in Toronto
, Ontario
, combining elements of Spanish
flamenco
, Arabic folk
, Cuban
rhythms, and French
Manouche Gypsy-jazz. The group's leader Chris McKhool
is a well known Canadian musician, and has received numerous awards for his work.
and Kevin Laliberté began performing together in 2004, seeing potential in the combination of McKhool's six-stringed violin and Laliberté's flamenco guitar
. The shared joy in their complex rhythms and melodies translated well to the stage, and they soon began recording and touring with a full band.
guest contributors include:
(also nominated for Ensemble of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries)
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
music group based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, combining elements of Spanish
Music of Spain
The Music of Spain has a long history and has played an important part in the development of western music. It has had a particularly strong influence upon Latin American music. The music of Spain is often associated abroad with traditions like flamenco and the classical guitar but Spanish music...
flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
, Arabic folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, Cuban
Music of Cuba
The Caribbean island of Cuba has developed a wide range of creolized musical styles, based on its cultural origins in Europe and Africa. Since the 19th century its music has been hugely popular and influential throughout the world...
rhythms, and French
Music of France
France has a wide variety of indigenous folk music, as well as styles played by immigrants from Africa, Latin America and Asia. In the field of classical music, France has produced a number of legendary composers, while modern pop music has seen the rise of popular French hip hop, techno/funk,...
Manouche Gypsy-jazz. The group's leader Chris McKhool
Chris McKhool
Chris McKhool, born November 18, 1968 in Ottawa, Ontario, is a Canadian violinist, guitarist, composer, producer and singer-songwriter. He has received numerous awards for his work, including a Juno Award nomination for his 2008 children's album, Fiddlefire! - Background :Raised in a musical...
is a well known Canadian musician, and has received numerous awards for his work.
History
Founding members Chris McKhoolChris McKhool
Chris McKhool, born November 18, 1968 in Ottawa, Ontario, is a Canadian violinist, guitarist, composer, producer and singer-songwriter. He has received numerous awards for his work, including a Juno Award nomination for his 2008 children's album, Fiddlefire! - Background :Raised in a musical...
and Kevin Laliberté began performing together in 2004, seeing potential in the combination of McKhool's six-stringed violin and Laliberté's flamenco guitar
Flamenco guitar
A flamenco guitar is a guitar similar to a classical guitar. Flamenco guitar also refers to toque, the guitar-playing part of the art of Flamenco.-Brief history:...
. The shared joy in their complex rhythms and melodies translated well to the stage, and they soon began recording and touring with a full band.
Members
- Chris McKhoolChris McKhoolChris McKhool, born November 18, 1968 in Ottawa, Ontario, is a Canadian violinist, guitarist, composer, producer and singer-songwriter. He has received numerous awards for his work, including a Juno Award nomination for his 2008 children's album, Fiddlefire! - Background :Raised in a musical...
(Club Django, Jesse CookJesse CookJesse Cook is a Toronto-based guitarist, born in Paris to Canadian parents. Like other guitarists of his style of music, he incorporates funky jazz, latin & world music into his playing. Cook is also well known for the energy of his live shows. He has contributed to the Afro Celt Sound System album...
, Pavlo) - six-stringed violin - Kevin Laliberté (Jesse CookJesse CookJesse Cook is a Toronto-based guitarist, born in Paris to Canadian parents. Like other guitarists of his style of music, he incorporates funky jazz, latin & world music into his playing. Cook is also well known for the energy of his live shows. He has contributed to the Afro Celt Sound System album...
, the ChieftainsThe ChieftainsThe Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
) - flamenco guitar - Eddie Paton (Robert Michaels) - flamenco guitar
- Drew Birston (Chantal KreviazukChantal KreviazukChantal Jennifer Kreviazuk is a Canadian singer-songwriter of the adult contemporary music genre. She is also a classically trained pianist, and can play the guitar.-Albums:...
) - bass - Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba, Parachute Club) - percussion
guest contributors include:
- David Woodhead (Stan RogersStan RogersStanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing...
, Loreena McKennittLoreena McKennittLoreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...
) - bass - Alberto SuarezAlberto SuárezAlberto Suárez Santos is a Spanish footballer who plays as a forward.-Football career:Suárez spent the vast majority of his career in Segunda División B or lower...
- percussion - Bassam Bishara - oudOudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
- Amanda Martinez - vocals
- Ken Whiteley – mandolin
- Ernie Tollar – flute, neyNeyThe ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
, sax - Maryem TollarMaryem TollarMaryem Tollar , is a Toronto based singer who primarily sings Arabic songs. She played with her own band called Mernie!.Born in Cairo, Maryem went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with her parents when she was 1 in 1969...
- vocals
Awards and nominations
Sultans of String have been nominated for numerous awards, including:- 2011 International Acoustic Music Awards Finalist – Instrumental
- 2011 Independent Music Award Finalist – Instrumental Album – Yalla Yalla!
- 2011 Independent Music Award Finalist – World Beat Album – Yalla Yalla!
- 2011 ISC International Songwriting CompetitionInternational Songwriting CompetitionThe International Songwriting Competition is an annual song contest based in Nashville, TN, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of...
Finalist- ”Auyuittuq Sunrise” in the Instrumental category - 2011 ISC International Songwriting CompetitionInternational Songwriting CompetitionThe International Songwriting Competition is an annual song contest based in Nashville, TN, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of...
Finalist- ”Gardens Of Lebanon” in the World Music category - 2010 JUNO AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
Nominees for Yalla Yalla! – Instrumental Album of the Year - 2010 Canadian Independent Music Awards nominees- Favourite World Artist/Group
- 2009 International Songwriting CompetitionInternational Songwriting CompetitionThe International Songwriting Competition is an annual song contest based in Nashville, TN, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of...
(ISC) winners – Instrumental - 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award triple nominee with Sultans winning Instrumental Group of the Year
(also nominated for Ensemble of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries)
- 2009 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Award Winner- Best Toronto World CD
- 2009 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Award Winner- Artist of the Year
- Luna CD hit #1 across Canada on Top Ten national radio charts – “International” & ” World/Folk” categories
- 2008 International Songwriting CompetitionInternational Songwriting CompetitionThe International Songwriting Competition is an annual song contest based in Nashville, TN, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of...
Winner (ISC) – Instrumental - 2008 Festivals & Events Ontario- Best Variety Act
- 2008 Canadian Independent Music Awards Finalists- Favourite World Music Band
- 2008 International Independent Music Awards Finalists- Best World Fusion Song
- 2007 Musique du Monde Award
- 2007 Canadian Folk Music Award nominees – Best Instrumentalist Group
- 2007 Ontario Independent Music Award winner- Best Song & Best Instrumental
- 2007 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Award Winner- Best Latin Jazz Group
- 2007 Toronto Independent Music AwardsToronto Independent Music Awards- About the Toronto Independent Music Awards: :Toronto Independent Music Awards, otherwise known as the TIMAs, is an independent awards ceremony, showcase series and seminar founded in 2004 by Daniela Oliva. The concept evolved out of a desire to support independent musicians and bring together the...
nominees – World Music Category