TONINATO & THIESSEN
IIda Toninato and Jennifer Thiessen's collaboration is a rich fusion of distinct musical worlds, creating a striking dialogue in sound. Their relationship, born out of their time as on-stage musicians for the dance company La La La Human Steps, led to the development of an ongoing musical exploration that defies genre boundaries and thrives on the contrasts between their primary instruments—the baritone saxophone and the viola.
Their first album, The Space Between Us, nominated for both JUNO and Opus awards in 2019, captures the essence of their unique approach. By blending contemporary, classical, folk, baroque, and experimental influences, they expand beyond conventional musical definitions. Their organic interplay sparks creative debate and surprising harmony. The baritone saxophone’s earthy, resonant tones combined with the viola's delicate, historic sound create an unexpected yet compelling partnership. They also incorporate voice and silence as integral elements of their work, never shying away from their vulnerabilities.
Toninato & Thiessen’s work is an evolving journey that started with a shared performance of minimalist chamber music by Gavin Bryars and continues to traverse new sonic landscapes. Having toured their debut album, they returned to a creative sanctuary to delve deeper into their art, swimming in unexplored waters and continuing their unique musical dialogue. After composing a collection of music for a live show called Winter[City]Speaks in 2022, they embarked on their second full-length album, partnering with producer Jason Sharp and studio engineer Radwan Ghazi Moumneh to reach new musical heights. Dream of Heat was born out of the desire to embrace winter's energy, laying down their weapons of choice to rest in the heart of a deep cold. Opening up to new ways of playing, composing, and creating, they wrote texts and created songs, made beats, endlessly improvising, recording and weaving a delicate new tapestry of sounds. Song after song, Dream of Heat is a captivating journey starting with an icy descent into hibernation and ending as the waters thaw and run free again.