The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 39

C13. THE NEW MUSIC Combs oDoay iooi THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2001 lsn Here are the releases scheduled for next Tuesday. Dates are subject to last-; minute change, and while release dates are checked with the record labels as much as possible, some might not be available in Montreal. Also, some al-; bums are only available on import In-; formation is supplied by Gazette re-; search. VA is an abbreviation for Various Artists.

I POP ROCK- NEW RELEASES Vanessa AmorosL The Power (Uni Cake. Comfort Eagle (Sony). I i WORLD PIERRE-MICHEL MENARD Carte Blanche Dance Plant RecordsKoch Every inch of Pierre-Michel Menard is a showman. His energy is indomitable, his performances a feast for dance-aholics. Those who've seen him know it But inside the party animal there resides a hopeless romantic, a convincing salsero, a maturing artist with a penchant for heartfelt crooning.

While Menard's debut several years ago was a sweat-inducing workout, Carte Blanche, rhythmic though it might be, emphasizes softer stylings and sensual singing. Perhaps the best indication is a song served up in seductive Italian, but there's further proof in those mellifluous, richly arranged sal-sas, the zouk love offerings and even a cover of Baby Can I Hold You. Carte Blanche does include a frantic merengue and uptempo Haitian com-pas, but the feel of the CD as a whole is sensuous and smooth. Daniel Feist Pierre-Michel Menard will perform on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Place Emilie-Camelin during Festival Nuits d'Afrique's full weekend schedule of free outdoor entertainment and activities.

For more information, call (514)499-FINA 1 9 Jh i Jimmy Cozier. Jimmy Cozier (RCA). Dust to Dust. Dust to Dust (Sanctuary). Elbow.

Asleep in the Back (V2). Jimmy Eat World. Bleed American (DreamWorks). Joydrop. Viber-ate (Tommy Boy).

Loving Paris. Latin Quarter David Ushen in Orbit. (EMI). Mayfield Four. Second Skin (Sony).

1 P. DIDDY THE BAD BOY FAMILY The Saga Continues BadBoyBMG OK, everybody, it's not Puff Daddy any more, it's P. Diddy. While Prince played the name game out of eccentric, omnipotent whim, could it be that Sean Combs does it to escape the derision that Mows his crass pandering to the mainstream? Whatever the reason, rap's biggest ego and cornball returns, as he often does, with some surprises. Somewhere amid all the shenanigans, Diddly (two can play that game) has talent, or at least an ear for it While he's pretty much a one-trick rapper, he surrounds himself with skilful collaborators, his current top gun being wordsmith Black Rob.

Nobody's fool, he provides something for everyone jiggy rhymes for the MTV crowd, thug jams, club jams, ditties. Slick? To a fault, and at the expense of personality which is a good thing; when Doodoo (heehee) talks, you can't help but roll your eyes. Yet somehow he keeps himself in the game. Whatever name he goes by, Combs will be around for a while. T'ChaDunlevy FOXY BROWN Broken Silence III Nana Def Jam Brooklyn's tough talkin', sex-walkin' spitfire is back.

This is her self-professed comeback album from her troubles with the law, suicide attempt and general drama. She doesn't miss a step, talking tough as she cuts down all pussyfooters, male or female. "You're an industry bh, I'm an in-the-streets she spews in the reggae-bouncing Oh Yeah. It's appropriate that she's on rap's fabled label, Del' Jam; Brown is one of the game's unmistakable voices. But while there are some dope tracks and this disc is a solid listen, it lacks depth.

She's a strong rapper with attitude for days, and with a limited thematic repertoire. T'ChaDunlevy STANTON WARRIORS The Stanton Session XL Beggars Banquet British club duo Stanton Warriors rock hard. Somewhere between U.K. garage, two-step, breaks and electro, they drop killer, body-movin' beats for the adrenalized dance floor. This is a mix and, though it features some solid tracks from top names, including Basement Jaxx, Plump DJs and DJ Scribble, the warriors hold their own with three strong tracks.

For those looking for a fix of fierce funk in their club diet, without sacrificing street cred, this is the prescription. T'ChaDunlevy PREFUSE 73 Vocal Studies Uprock Narratives Warp Nice. Nice, nice, nice. Atlanta native Scott Herren, here calling himself Prefuse 73, is a mellow genius. This record should establish him as a major player on the reconstructed (mostly), instrumental hip-hop scene.

This is downtempo beat-tweakage with guts and soul. It's pretty, gritty, intelligent and groovy Herren melds the nostalgic ambience of Boards of Canada with the head-bobbing beat chunks of smart hip-hop and the cut'n'paste creativity of a studio scientist. Nice. 14 T'ChaDunlevy COURTESY OF BMG The newly rechristened Sean Combs, now known as P. Diddy, delivers surprises on bis new disc.

To sample the discs reviewed on this page, http:montreal.canada.com and click on the soundbytes link. year on Milk Cow Blues, and he ends with two old Mickey Newbury songs. The psychedelic Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) is dated, but Nelson does it better than Kenny Rogers's 1968 hit version. However, Thirty-Third of August is a brilliant and timeless piece of soul-searching. Much of this CD is quite good.

However, I can't help but think that Nelson just got bored with the idea of making a kids' album. MikeRegenstreif JAZZ PAQUITO D'RIVIERA, MICHEL CAMDLO, CUCHO VALUES ET AL Calle54 EMI Nerve Agents. The Butterfly Collection (Hellcat). The New Deal. Receiver (ZombaJive).

NSYNC. Celebrity (ZombaJive). Plump DJs. Plump Night Out (Net-twerk). Sinomatic.

Sinomatic (Atlantic). Stampe.Ibiza Orchid (Milan). The Start Shakedown (Interscope). Joe Strummer. Global A-Go-Go (Hellcat).

Tiger Army. II: Power of Moonlite (Hellcat). David Ushen Morning Orbit (EMI). VA. The Best Reggae Album in the World (EMI).

VA. Broadway Divas (RCA Victor). VA. Delicious Vinyl's Greatest Hits (Sony). VA.

Plastic 5 (EMI). VA. Sound of the Underground 2001 (SPG). VA. Various 03: Continuous Mix by DJGeoffe(V2).

I POP ROCK- FROM THE VAULTS Buffalo Springfield. Box Set (four CDs) (Rhino). Donovan. Summer Day Reflection Songs (EMI). The Dubliners.

Futher Along; (emi). Echo and the Bunnymen. Crystal Days (1979-1999) (Rhino). Gang of Four. Shrinkwrapped (EMI).

Eddie Money. Greatest Hits (Sony). Motorhead. Another Perfect Day; The Chase is Better Than the Catch; No-Remorse; Rock'nTtoH (EMI). Shriekback.

The Records Years I (EMI). Status Quo. Ma Kelly's Greasy; Spoon; Picturesque Matchstickable-Messages; The Singles Collection 1966- 73; Spare Parts (EMI). Rod Stewart. A Little Misunder-; stood: The Sixties Sessions (True-North).

Tower of Power. The Very Best of" (Rhino). Uriah Heep. Live in Moscow; Live at Shepperton '74; Still 'Eavy Still Proud (EMI). BLUES -NEW RELEASES Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers.

Beyond the Source (Universal). COUNTRY-NEW RELEASES 3 of Hearts. 3 of Hearts (RCA). TraceyByrd. Ten Rounds (RCA).

VA. Down From the Mountain: Live Concert Performances (Universal). JAZZ-NEW RELEASES Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Supernova (Blue Note). JAZZ -FROM THE VAULTS Louis Armstrong.

Happy Birthday Louis! (Milan). Miles Davis. Live at the Fillmore East (Blue Note). cy Grammer, has a sweet voice and a sure hand on the fiddle, guitar and banjo. Together, they make deceptively simple and maddeningly complex folk pop.

The guitars and thumping bass lope through the uptempo songs like the opening Ordinary Town, Highway 80 and the phone-number love song 236-6132. They play downtempo, too, as on Disappearing Town, with its stately, Beat-iesque string arrangements and the hushed Gentle Soldier of My Soul, where a single temple bell marks the spare rhythm. Carter dips freely into myths, dreams, Biblical imagery and Buddhism to create his fevered imagery. His songs are the bedrock, but Gram-mer's voice and nimble playing make them take flight MaryLamey CLASSICAL AMICI ENSEMBLE Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time; Theme and Variations Naxos 8.554824 Olivier Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time ranks among the indis-. pensible classics of the 20th century.

Written in a German prisoner-of-war camp, it resonates with humanity while exploring sounds as wild and visionary as the imagery of the 10th chapter of Book of Revelation (on which it is based). The premium texture of this recording by the Toronto-based Amici Ensemble belies the budget Naxos price. Dynamics are beautifully regulated and rhythms have an improvisatory quality. Cellist David Hetherington (like clarinetist Joaquin Valdepenas, a member of the Toronto Symphony) plays the Louange a l'Eternite de Jesus with a calm sort of intensity Violinist Scott St. John and pianist Patricia Parr are nicely attuned to each other in Theme and Variations, another work in spiritual mode.

Maybe Toronto missed the Olympics, but producers Bonnie Silver and Nor-bert Kraft (a harpsichordist and guitarist) have given the city (and its environs) international status as a Naxos branch plant Arthur Kaptainis COLLEGIUM MUSICUM 90, RICHARD B3CKOX, CONDUCTOR Haydn: Missa Cellensis Chandos Chaconne 0667 Haydn's greatest contribution to choral repertoire is The Creation, a naively colourful oratorio combining elements of Genesis and Milton's Paradise Lost. His masses, professional and polished as they are, are less in circulation, perhaps because they have less to say to the modern listener. The 64-minute Missa Cellensis is varied enough, including as it does pungent fugues reminiscent of Bach. But Haydn does not convey the pathos of that master. Even the opening Kyrie Eleison have plunges into a self-satisfied Allegro after dispensing with the requisite solemnity in about half a minute.

No theological problems for Haydn in 1766! Richard Hickox draws a full-bodied (even if sounds from his Collegium Musicum 90 ensemble, but the soloists (deep in the mix) lack distinction. An unfinished mass is included as a bonus. Arthur Kaptainis How many movies have you seen where the audience applauds the solos, not once but four times? That happened this month at a screening I at tended of the lovingly filmed, beautifully played and recorded Calle 54, the Spanish documentary on Latin American jazz available on a double CD. This compilation covers a tremendous range of that rich tradition, with its ever- Willie Nelson: kid stuff. COUNTRY WILLIE NELSON Rainbow Connection IslandUniversal Willie Nelson started out to make a kids' album.

Early on, he offers sweet renditions of 01' Blue, the old folk song about a favourite dog, I'm My Own Grandpa, the corny country novelty song, and the sentimental title track, one of Kermit the Frog's biggies. About halfway through, after Willie's daughter Amy sings Rock Me to Sleep, a lullaby that could be for kids or for adults, he shifts direction and drops the kids' concept for standard Willie fare. Nelson's in good form on a long, extended version of Outskirts of Town that's different than the one he did last present African roots. At its simplest it is dance-friendly music, but on another level, it is music as life. The great Cuban reedman, Paquito d'Riviera, opens things up with passionate playing on alto and ending on soulful clarinet Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias evokes the memory of guitarist Baden Powell with her evocative trio, while pianist Michel Camilo goes deep and tender with his original From Within.

Chico O'Far-rill's breathtaking Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite on the second CD is a marvel of rhythmic and melodic complexity. Irwin Block FOLK DAVE CARTER TRACY GRAM-MER Drum Hat Buddha Signature SoundsFestival The album opens with an ear-catching rhyme: "Common cool, he was a proud young fool in a kick-ass Wal-Mart tie," and suddenly you're sitting up and paying attention. Dave Carter is some kind of songwriter, piling the images on faster than the ear can process them. His music-making partner, Tra- The Big Picture is a selective look ahead to concerts and shows in major venues for the next few months. Unless otherwise specified, tickets are available from Admission, (514) 790-1245, or the box office at the venue.

Most prices do not include tax or service charges. I-V-K I 4p Aug. 22. Squarepusher, Club Soda, $17.50. Call (514)790-1111.

Aug. 24.JohnPrine, Spectrum, $37.50. Aug. 24. April Wine, Club Soda, $19.50.

Call (514)790-1111. Aug. 28. The Guess Who, with Joe Cocker, Molson Centre, $39.50 and $59.50. Aug.

29. Edgefest featuring Biink-182, New Found Glory, Millencolin, Sum 41, etc, Pare Jean Drapeau, $29.50. Aug. 29. Yes, Molson Centre, $44.50 and $69.50.

SEPTEMBER Sept 17. Backstreet Boys, Molson Centre, $79 and $99. Rescheduled from July 26. OCTOBER Oct 1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Metropolis, $32.50.

Oct 2. St Germain, Metropolis, $29.50. Oct 21. Jorane, Theatre Outremont, $23, $28.18 and $31.63. Montreal International Fireworks Competition, continues until Jury 28 at la Ronde.

Call (514) 8724537, or visit www.morrtrealfeux.com. FantAsia film festival, continues unrjlJuly 31. Visit www.fantasiafestcom. Festival International de Lanaudlere, continues until Aug. 5.

Call (800) 561-4343, or visit the Web sitewww.lanaudiere.org. Orford Festival, continues until Aug. 19. Call (888)310-3665. FrancoFolies de Montreal, July 26 to Aug.

4. Call (514)876-8989 orvisrtwww.fr3ncofolies.com. Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, July 27 to Aug 4. Call (450) 227-9935. DfversCiti, gay'and lesbian pride festival, July 28 toAugust6.Visitwwwdiverscite.org.

Les Fetes Gourmandes Internationales de Montreal, food festival on lie Notre Dame, Aug. 3 to 19. Call (514) 861-8241. Montreal International Celtic Festival, Aug. 10 to 12 on Douglas Hospital grounds.

Call (514)481-3471. MorrtgDrneres hot-air ballooa festival, Saint-Jean-sur-Richefeu, Aug. 11 to 19. Call (450) Montreal World ram Festival, Aug 23 to Sept 3. Call (514) 848-3883.

THE BIG PICTURE $89.50 and $125. Aug. 3. Janet Jackson, Molson Centre, $79.25 and $89.25. Aug.

3. Buckcherry, Cafe Campus, $15. Aug. 5. Radiohead, Pare Jean Drapeau, $45.

Aug. 8. Dave Matthews Band, Molson Centre, $48.25. Aug. 10.

Vans Warped Tour, featuring Rancid, Pen-nywise, AFI, (too) Keith, Less Than Jake, etc, Pare Jean Drapeau, $30. Aug. 18. Mustard Plug, Club Soda, $12, $14 at thedoor.Call (514) 790-1111. Aug.

19. Melissa Etheridge, Salle Wilfrid Peltetjer, Place des Arts, $49.50, $64.50 and $79.50. Rescheduled from Aug. 18. Aug.

2LTony Bennett and K.D. Lang, Molson Cen- Margaret Cho: Melissa Ether-here Nov. 21. idge: Aug. 19.

JULY lbnight Bon Jovi, Molson Centre, $45.50, $65.50 and $79.50. Tonight Nazareth, Bourbon Street West, $20. Call (514)696545. Saturday. Oasis rave, featuring Paul Oakenfold, La Heche, XL, Molson Centre, $40.26, $58.52.

$69.02 and $92.02. Monday. Marilyn Manson, Metropolis. Sold out Tuesday. 0-Town, Theatre St Denis, $25.50 and (514) 790-1111.

July 27. Ring Stan's All-Starr Band, Molson Centre. $44.50 and $65. Nov. 29 to Dec Garou, Theatre St Denis.

Call (514)790-111L FESTIVALS Just for Laughs festival, continues until Sunday. Can (514) 845-2322, or visit the Web site www.riahaha.com. Nufts d'Afrkrue, continues urrtj Sunday. Call (514) 499-9239 or dsit wvAtfesmurtafnc.com. NOVEMBER Ko.2.Zachary Richard, Spectrum, $39.68.

Nov. 21. Margaret Cho, Theatre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts, $27.50, $35 and $45. AUGUST Aug. Reverend Horton Heat Fot.fbunes Dec- triques.

$20. Call (514) 844-5539. Aug. 2. Rod Stewart, Molson Centre, $69.50,.