Dálava
Julia Ulehla vocals, Aram Bajakian acoustic / electric guitar / percussion, Peggy Lee cello, Tyson Naylor piano / accordeon / keys, Colin Cowan contrabass, Dylan van der Schyff drums
Dálava is an homage to traditional Moravian (Czech) folksong, sourcing melodies transcribed over 100 years ago by the great-grandfather of Dálava’s singer, Julia Ulehla. Coming from the opera world, this mezzo soprano leads the 6-piece band together with guitarist Aram Bajakian, who has previously collaborated with the likes of Lou Reed and John Zorn. Aided by some of the best avant-jazz musicians of Vancouver they breathe new life into these songs in their own unique way: rugged, eccentric and contemporary. Their album The Book of Transfigurations has received glowing reviews.
‘The arrangements are sometimes delicate, sometimes punishing, but the beauty of the songs always comes through powerfully. Ulehla careens, sails, and shimmers through the varied interpretations with penetrating strength—her singing is sometimes heavenly and ethereal, sometimes gruff and earthy, as though she were channeling the spirit of a hardscrabble village woman who’s known these songs her whole life’ (Chicago Reader).
‘Every now and then an album appears that is so overwhelming and so intense that it is hard to put into any category. Such is the case with The Book Of Transfigurations, the second release by Dálava. Claiming that The Book Of Transfigurations is a masterpiece is not an exaggeration’ (MixedWorldMusic).