Dr. Purgatory: ‘The Consumption: A Tragic Folktale in Six Parts’ Album Release!
March 20 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
David Riddel – Guitar, Compositions
Aline Homzy – Violin
Colleen Allen – Alto Sax, Flute
Conrad Gluch – Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet
Noam Lemish – Piano
Andrew Downing – Upright Bass
Stefan Hegerat – Drums
When Toronto guitarist and composer David Riddel (aka. Dr. Purgatory) set out to record his second LP, The Consumption: A Tragic Folktale in Six Parts, he had no idea it would become a multidisciplinary project.
‘“I wanted to make an album that was one part Reinier Baas [Riddel’s hero and mentor], one part Maurice Ravel, and one part Bjork,” Riddel says. While the influence of the latter may be less obvious to the listener, Riddel claims “her spirit is at the forefront of the project. Everything I compose is essentially influenced by Bjork’s 2001 album Vespertine.” The result is a lush and angular 10-track chamber jazz concept album of all original material, featuring decorated Canadian jazz mainstays Colleen Allen, Andrew Downing, Noam Lemish, Aline Homzy, Stefan Hegerat and Conrad Gluch.
The most intriguing part of the project, however, is the accompanying 40 page novella, a dark, modern folktale featuring characters from mythology and folklore. “When the concept of the album became so clear,” says Riddel, who’d been tinkering with short fiction, “the story just started forming in my mind.” After that, he put to page an Odyssean tale influenced by a few works by his literary heroes: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh and Aleister Crowley’s demonology text, The Lesser Key of Solomon.
The emotional, irreverent album and the darkly humorous, brooding folktale (featuring illustrations by Toronto artist Sid Sharp) are inextricably linked, and are each all the more compelling in their union. Dr. Purgatory’s The Consumption: A Tragic Folktale in Six Parts will be premiered in full at Burdock Brewery in Toronto on March 20th. The album will be available on vinyl, and a physical copy of the book is included with purchase.