ECLECTIC, ELECTRIC
Poet-musician does it all
It’s a telling thing that C.R. Avery supplies his promotional photos all in crisp black-and-white images, just one shot tinted blue. A fullcolour photo could only hint at the multifarious breadth of his sonic palette, which arises at the intersection of blues, hip-hop, country, rock, beat poetry, theatrics, classical strings and beatboxing (those percussive vocal rhythms created by popping microphones).
“Sometimes you step on different art forms, something happens and they all combine into one,” said the hybrid East Vancouver troubadour, poet, painter and occasional opera composer.
“I like taking elements from high art, and mixing a bit of theatrics with a little of the lowbrow that I love. I like living in the arts, but in the end I’m just a word whore.”
Asked about his source influences, Avery references everyone
If someone’s going to put in a day of hard labour and come out to my show, you’ve got to give them a reason to be there.
from Muhammad Ali to William Shakespeare, with Henry Miller, The Pogues, NWA, Charles Bukowski and Tennessee Williams for good measure.
He admits, “I wasn’t much of a book kid,” not until he reached a threshold listening and words began to pull him in. On the sonic scale, he’s fond of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Grandmaster Flash, Townes Van Zandt, Lou Reed, Bing Crosby and Tom Waits, among others.
He’s published four books of poetry and prose, but Avery is best known for the 16 recordings he has released over about 20 years. Some are solo efforts. Then there’s his 2012 date with the Prague Symphony Orchestra and La Purcelle d’Orleans Choir, an E.P. titled Act One, closer to jazz balladry than anything.
He worked a year of solo shows to make the money to hire the orchestra and choir.
“The days can be long, but we all know we’re better people when our hands are busy and we’re not idle.”
Whether Avery’s words are spoken or sung, they might come with his harmonica, piano or guitar, or more. Between solo work and the symphony, he made another collaboration with a string quartet and Vancouver gospel trio The Sojourners. This week he returns to Edmonton to play The Needle, leading a nine-piece band complete with horns and backup singers.
Avery is excited about trying out a stack of new unrecorded songs, but they will likely do a few numbers from his latest 2016 album, All The Angels Didn’t Scare Me. That’s the album he recorded mostly in Nashville with the help of his transplanted Vancouver friend Steve Dawson, who adds to the instrumentals.
The quasi-rockabilly tune Hollywood Movie Blues is a highlight. But you’ve got to like the gospel-induced Postmodern Draft Dodger’s Anarchist Scrapbook (written after Pete Seeger’s passing), or the oddly touching semi-autobiographical Troubled Youth. It’s one of two tracks produced by Ben (of k.d. lang fame) Mink along with the opening rocker Insufficient Funds Of Love.
He’s one of those artists who might perform at a folk fest, a jazz fest or a poetry slam from one week to the next and, given the way Avery crosses genres and artistic mediums, you have to wonder who his audience is.
“I’m not looking at my demographics but my favourite is when we have a mix of all different ages and all walks of life. Those are the best shows, and I do love to perform live. I love going from a really big tour to just doing it solo again, and I really believe in putting everything into the show. If someone’s going to put in a day of hard labour and come out to my show, you’ve got to give them a reason to be there.”
Born in Smith Falls, Ont., Avery grew up in and around Kingston, Ottawa and Hamilton, making his way into all manner of open stages, jams and slams with his harmonica and poetry. Since he relocated to Vancouver’s East Side nearly 20 years ago, he’s worked at expanding his touring base.
“I had to go to California and Chicago and New York because this kind of thing didn’t exist up here 10 years ago. Now I’m going to Japan this fall.”
In between he’s toured across the continent, to Europe and Australia, spending some 70 per cent of the year on the road by his own estimate.
At 40, Avery says he still has all sorts of untapped ideas.
“You have your list of things to do but there should be a little bit of mystery there. I’m just trying to walk that line. I get up and I work and I love it but I’m also keeping an eye open to the signs.
“No one wants their fate totally scripted and there’s lots I haven’t done. I’ve never made a full hiphop record or a country record, or a symphony tour. So I’m open to the wind.”