In 1964, the late Oscar Peterson released Canadiana Suite, an album based on a cross-Canada journey east to west that showed his love of the country through dazzling musicality. Now, 60 years later, Toronto pianist Rea Beaumont has crafted a very different ode, both to her homeland and life’s journey, with the lovely single “Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)” from her excellent new album Enjoy The Journey.
“‘Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)’ is an upbeat, energizing piece that is perfect for Vancouver, where so many people are active — walking, biking, hiking, jogging — enjoying the outdoors and its impressive natural beauty,” Beaumont says. “It’s stunning. It is peaceful, but there is also a vibrancy that comes from the energy of the city, which inspired ‘Vancouver Vibe.'”
Beaumont says “Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)” originated when the University of British Columbia Green College commissioned her to write a piece to celebrate the institution’s thirtieth anniversary. “The source of inspiration came from being back in Vancouver with the social energy of the people, at UBC where I completed my Graduate degrees, and in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by the stunning landscape,” Beaumont comments. She composed “Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)” in 2023 as the College’s inaugural Composer-In-Residence, which enabled her to have “the space, time and inspiration to write the music.” The title of this wonderfully crafted track pays tribute to the College and the ‘greenness’ of the environment.
The song’s bubbly, perky opening is light and busy all at once, almost exemplifying Vancouver and its residents to a tee. Beaumont slows things down slightly in the middle with some classical-leaning technique before building “Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)” back up for an engaging and moving homestretch. With no words, the song contains a joyous hustle and bustle flair highlighting Vancouver as “a gem in the Pacific Northwest” that Beaumont says has “simultaneously a peacefulness and a vibrancy.” Whether it’s various events, nightlife, the arts or the opportunities Mother Nature has placed in Vancouver for an “active lifestyle,” the single seems to capture that West Coast joie de vivre perfectly.
“Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)” is a single from Beaumont’s sixth album Enjoy The Journey. The album takes people from the Pacific Northwest to Atlantic Canada while reminding the listener that, like travel, life is a journey and one should be wise to enjoy all that it has to offer. Enjoy The Journey features both solo and chamber compositions by Beaumont while featuring guest violinist Christopher Verrette, best known as a member of Tafelmusik. It also features French-Canadian folksongs such as “En Roulant Ma Boule” which dates back to the Canadian fur trade when voyageurs sang the song while rowing great lengths. In addition to the three-piece Green Pieces set (consisting of “Vancouver Vibe,” “Mountain Morning,” and “Western Waters”), the album closes with the gorgeous four-part set entitled Time Will Tell (“Chasing Time,” “Time For Now,” “Embracing Time” and the moving “Tranquil Time”) that demonstrates how precious life and time are.
The single and album are the latest offering from Beaumont whose previous works include albums Awaken (2022), Liquid (2021), Timeless (2018), A Conversation Piece (2014), Creating A Landscape (2009) and A Shrinking Planet (2006). A faculty member at the University of Toronto, Beaumont received the SOCAN Foundation/MusCan Award of Excellence for the Advancement of Research in Canadian Music. Having premiered over 80 works, the pianist trained with Anton Kuerti, Robert Silverman and Menahem Pressler, among others, and studied composition with Phil Nimmons, Edward Laufer, Dr. Samuel Dolin and Gustav Ciamaga. Beaumont is also well known for her volunteer work and community service, and for promoting Canadian culture at home and internationally.
Now with “Vancouver Vibe (Green Pieces)” and a new album Enjoy The Journey, look for Rea Beaumont to make inroads from coast to coast to coast with this dazzling single that pays tribute to Vancouver, its proud residents and anyone else on life’s journey.
