ALINE HOMZY’S ETOILE MAGIQUE
oCTOBER 30, 31 @8:30 PM
Aline Homzy - Violin
Michael Davidson - Vibes
Tom Gill - Guitar
Dan Fortin - Bass
Marito Marques - Drums
Aline Homzy is an award-winning violinist and composer. Originally from Montreal, born to a Québécois mom and an American dad with Eastern-European roots, Aline’s original music reflects her culturally-diverse background.
Beyond composing music, Aline is a regular violinist in the studios of Toronto, recording other artists’ original music. Aline is seeked-out for her lightning-fast sight-reading skills, her deep knowledge of jazz and improvisation and her musicality and upbeat personality. Some artists that she has recorded for include David Occhipinti, Andrew Downing, Iskwé, The Weather Station, Amanda Tosoff and many more. She is also the leader of the string section for SymphRONica (2019 Juno-nominated), Maurizio Guarini’s “A Goblin’s Chamber Music”, De Bouche à oreille – série de spectacles francophone, and many other Toronto- based projects that record and perform in the city. Aline has also performed and/ or recorded with international artists such as Munir Hossn (Brazil), Emma Smith (Edinburgh), Jake Sherman (USA), Leah Michelle (USA), Ed Sheeran (Great Britain), Danilo Perez (Panama), Cho Yongwon (South Korea), Mikko Hildèn (Sweden), amongst others. Aline has performed in halls and venues such as Koerner Hall, Massey Hall, The Glenn Gould Studio, the Burdock, the Great Hall, various stages for the TD International Toronto Jazz Festival, Festival international de jazz de Montréal, Stockholm International jazz festival and many chamber-music and jazz-related concert series.
“Aline’s étoile magique” was born when she recognized the stark and low presence of women in the improvised music scene. She gathered some of Toronto’s best musicians including Magdelys Savigne (OKAN), Anh Phung, and Edinburgh’s Emma Smith to each play a set of original music at the Canadian Music Centre. Aline formed her “étoile magique” with thoughts of compassion and musicianship. She chose Michael Davidson on the vibraphone, Thomas Gill on the guitar and Dan Fortin on the bass to perform her music. Aline was awarded the highest points that year for the TD Discovery Projects award.
Aline’s emphasis on community also flourished from this experience. She started to understand how prohibitive the arts are to low-income families and individuals. Part of her priorities in this concert was to make available 5 tickets to low-income people. Another aspect of this project was to highlight how improvising musicians rarely get paid a fair wage for their work. Aline fundraised enough money to pay a good fee to all of the musicians involved and she is extremely proud of this feat. In 2019, Aline initiated and curated a “smashing-hit-of-a-music-series” at Sapori wine bar, highlighting women-instrumentalists and creating fair-pay opportunities for underrepresented musicians in her community.