Ian Maksin in Calgary: AMOR RENATUS

AMOR RENATUS: Ian Maksin in Calgary

June 5, 7:00PM

Cardel Theatre, 180 Quarry Park Blvd

Tickets: 25-60 $

Join renowned cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin for another amazing musical journey in search of light, love, and empowerment. This album unveils a collection of original instrumental compositions for cello, powerfully augmented into virtual orchestra through the use of loop pedal, and further expanded by sound of diverse percussion instruments ranging from trance-inducing grooves of the West African djembe to deep, heart-beat-like sound of the Mongolian frame drum. Inspired by music of Vivaldi, Mozart, Piazzolla and fused with traditional music from Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans, his new album “Amor Renatus” elevates you to a new realm outside the dimensions of time, place and identity, giving an opportunity to process deep, dark emotions, to ultimately rediscover peace and to find enlightenment and healing for the soul.

Ian Maksin has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force. He uses the loop pedal and other electronic devices to augment the sound of the cello and turn it into a virtual orchestra. He sings pop and traditional songs from around the globe in more than 30 and writes his own originals in at least four. He has released several albums of original music for cello inspired by his world travels and collaborations with native musicians.

Apart from performing the entire new album, in the second half of the concert Ian Maksin will perform other original instrumental compositions as well as traditional songs from Maksin's collection of over 200 songs in 31 languages.

Portion of the ticket and merch sales from this tour will be directed to benefit forwellbeing.org, a humanitarian relief organization in Ukraine.

BREAKING BOUNDARIES both musical and geographical, cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist IAN MAKSIN has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.

ONE-MAN ORCHESTRA: In addition to cello, he used an electronic device called the loop pedal, which allows him to create "loops" or layers by recording and replaying his own playing in real time.

SINGING IN 30 LANGUAGES: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. At this time Ian Maksin sings in Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa) and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are also infused with flavors of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration from: Mongolia, West Africa, Middle East, the Balkans, Andalusian flamenco.

THE GLOBAL MUSICIAN: Ian Maksin was born in Leningrad, former USSR, into a multinational family and grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad and then came to the USA at 16 to continue studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. After working for many years in the classical genre including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami Ian has decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and passion for jazz and world music has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian's own words: "At some point I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world”