Orion is featured on the frontcover of the wellknown english
folkmagazine "Living Tradition". Hector Christie concludes his three
page article on the band and its latest album 'Restless Home' as follows :"An
incredibly good album by a group of musicians who have simply got it. They have
got that something special that differentiates the great groups from the rest
of the pack. A few better known but tired old war-horses would do well to listen
to this and learn."
Orion played the opening festivities of " Brussels 2000 - Cultural Capital
of Europe " in a musical creation of composer and bandoneon player Dick Van
der Harst " Het Huis der Verborgen Muziekjes "("The House of The
Hidden Bits Of Music "). Other participants in this unique project were Oxalys
(classical septet), Amparo Cortez (flamenco-singer), Sofia Yero (flamenco-dancer),
Fabian Fiorini (jazz piano player), Frédéric Malempré(percussionist),
Katelijne Van Laethem (baroque singer) en Ialma (Gallician female a capella group).
Belgian quality paper De Standaard comments : " Dick Van der Harst new creation
is the best he ever made. A musical journey in which flamenco foottaps are matched
by Galician guttural voices, in which Mozart refers to mist covered Irish landscapes.
Van der Harst brought the house down and earned delirious standing ovations. This
hàs to be heard!".
The project has been touring the arts centres in Belgium, Holland and France for
more than four years. The last shows will be played in Holland and the project
will be stopped at the end of april 2005.
A musical sequel is in the making as the première of a "completely
renovated house" is already announced : 8th of march 2006 in De Singel in
Antwerp.
Rudy's nyckelharpa was build by Joos Janssens, a belgian master instrument maker living near Lyon in France. It is a beautifully crafted piece of work, with a row of keys on each of the four main strings. If you are interested in nyckelharpa playing and looking for a top class instrument : Joos Janssens - nyckelharpa maker, L'Étoile, 43.220 Dunières, France. Tel: 0033/471.66.89.72
Orion's music is played far and wide, from east to west! When former Orion keyboard
player Gwenaël Micault went on tour in Chili with a Spanish singer, the very
first music he heard after setting foot on the Chilean ground was Orion's "Blue
Room" album, playing through the speakers in Santiago de Chili's central
station!
A few months later, Raquel and Rudy, Orion's accordionist and fiddle player went
on a holiday to Indonesia. On the very moment they jumped on a bus to the village
of Amed in the north of Bali, the driver was playing an Orion tape!
Orion is finalizing the recordings for the long awaited new CD.
The album will contain personal compositions and three of John Faulkner's songs.
Guests on the album will be a.o. jazz guitarist Philip Catherine, the classical
septet Oxalys, harpist Gerard Hirsch, …
The album will be released early 2005, but you can already hear the music in concert
on 29th december 2004 in Schouwburg Leuven (www.leuven.be/cultuurcentrum).
Belgian accordion makers Libouton will soon bring out an Irish
Accordion : the " Raquel ".
This accordion is especially designed according to Raquel Gigot's specifications
and demands.
For more information, contact Mr Louis Spagna of Libouton at: louisspagna@hotmail.com
Car thieves fond of Orion ? A man shows up to buy an Orion album at a concert, saying that his own copy was stolen. He had left the CD in his car, and the car was stolen in front of his house. Hapilly, the police found the car back after one week, but unfortunately, the CD was gone!
On 16th april 2005 Philip Catherine performed together with Orion on stage at Linkefolk Festival.