Mae Moore

After playing in folk clubs in Southern Ontario, singer/songwriter Mae Moore got her first break when she joined the band Foreign Legion. She crafted her intricate acoustic sound while making a name for herself throughout the mid-'80s. In 1985, she went solo, writing the song "Heaven in Your Eyes." Loverboy went on to make the song a chart smash two years later thanks to its inclusion in the Tom Cruise film Top Gun, but Moore's talent was ignored. A chance meeting with Barney Bentall's guitarist, Colin Nairne, did prove prominent for Moore. Nairne assisted her in recording her first demo, which later led to a deal with CBS Records.

Oceanview Motel, released only in Canada, appeared in 1990; first single "I'll Watch Over You" was a radio hit. Success was slow, however. When it came time to record a second album, CBS paired Moore with the Church's Steven Kilbey. The connection between the two was magnetic, but the sessions for Bohemia weren't as charming. Gavin MacKillop (the Church, Toad the Wet Sprocket) finished the record, for Kilbey's substance and drug abuse prevented him from completing the project. The album was issued on Epic in 1992 and the title track was Moore's brightest career moment up to that point. The dark, earthy feeling of the spoken-word track went Top Ten in Canada and gained attention on American modern rock radio. Dragonfly was released in 1995, but sales didn't fare as well as Bohemia. Prior to winning the SOCAN Award for most played song on the radio for "Genuine," Moore was dropped from her label. She escaped to the peaceful side of Prince Edward Island to sort things out.

While on her way, Moore began a search for the daughter she gave up for adoption at age 19. During this time, she was in a near fatal accident when another car hit her head-on at 90 miles an hour. The experience could have been worse, but Moore looked inside herself and found solace. Fellow singer and friend Jann Arden called her. Arden, who had founded her own Big Hip Records, asked Moore to start recording. The result was her 1999 self-titled effort. It's a Funny World followed three years later. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

Mae Moore & Lester Quitzau
Oh My!
© 2004 Poetical License

Acoustic roots collaboration from stellar songwriter Mae Moore and master slide guitarist, Lester Quitzau. Hendrix and Waits would be proud. "5 stars out of 5"...Stereo magazine, Germany.
tracks

1 Compass
2 Hold On
3 Troubled Ways
4 Stepping Through Fire
5 Charlie Picked His Apple
6 Little Wing
7 Here and Gone
8 Tell Me
9 In your Arms Again
10 Oh My
11 Don't Miss My Misery

* Folk: Modern Folk
* Blues: Acoustic Blues
* Type: Acoustic

Recommended if you like ...

* Rickie Lee Jones
* Mississippi John Hurt
* Ben Harper

Accoustic Guitar magazine review!!!!! May 2005

Mae Moore and Lester Quitzau, "Oh My!"

By Celine Keating

On nine original compositions (including two instrumental guitar duets) and two covers, Mae Moore and Lester Quitzau bring energy and intimacy as well as pro-digious talents to their first joint CD. Quitzau's appealing baritone, well-suited to bluesy numbers like "Troubled Ways," and understated guitar and Dobro are a perfect match for the control, range, and versatil-ity of Moore's lustrous vocals, which, especially on "Stepping Through Fire," bring Joni Mitchell to mind. Moore and Quitzau have made solo CDs of their own, but together they have something special. The vocal harmonies and sensitive guitar fills are downright exquisite on "Here and Gone," Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan's "Hold On," and the bluesy version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," where Quitzau's slide really soars.

***************
Excellent CD
author: Walter Prielipp

The duo work together very well. I especially enjoyed the first track Compass. Great guitar work. I would highly recommend this cd.

16x20 limited edition, Signed by Mae and numbered 100-200.

$195 (CDN and US $$) unframed plus shipping $10

16x20 limited edition, Signed by Mae and numbered 10-300.

$195 (CDN and US $$) unframed plus shipping $10

16x20 limited edition, Signed by Mae and numbered 1-300.

$195 (CDN and US $$) unframed plus shipping $10

Mae Moore - instructor/Co-ordinatress for 2008

This acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter stands apart, with a musical vision that remains steadfastly her own with her soulful blend of rock, folk, and jazz.

Mapping the human heart has long been Mae Moore's calling.She got her start in the smokey folk clubs and coffeehouses of southern Ontario, later moving on to the thriving club scene of Vancouver, B.C., in 1979.

Her first big break as a songwriter came when she penned some lyrics to "Heaven In Your Eyes," the 1985 hit for Loverboy from the multi-million selling "Top Gun" soundtrack.

A subsequent demo led to her first recording contract with CBS Records (later Epic/Sony) and her 1990 debut solo album Oceanview Motel, followed by Bohemia (1992), the title track from which went on to Triple AAA and Modern Rock chart success in both Canada and the U.S.

For her 1995 third album Dragonfly, Mae set up shop in her own home, recording the album in those comfortable confines. The single "Genuine" from that album led to a SOCAN Award for Most Played Radio Track.

Mae turned in a 1999 self-titled Big Hip Records release, followed by a lovingly assembled retrospective album Mae Moore: Collected Works 1989-1999, released in 2000. It offered fans and critics a good look at her remarkable musical growth over the years, spurred by her artistic evolution.

Next came' It's A Funny World', a jazz folk gem that came with high praise from Acoustic Guitar magazine, and her latest release with husband, Lester Quitzau; a straight up 'old school' acoustic recording entitled "Oh My!", that garnered the duo a nomination at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2004.

Mae has taught songwriting at Hollyhock, Smither's Guitar Camp and for the BC Festival of the Arts.She is the driving force behind Red Cedar Songwriter Camp.

Lester Quitzau - instructor for 2008

Canadian roots music artist Lester Quitzau,is a mellow guy who throws down a heavy groove. In a field where intangibles like feel and integrity count for so much, Quitzau has forged an exemplary career.

What began with a solid blues apprenticeship in the funky working-class bars of Edmonton has grown into an eclectic and constantly evolving musical journey for the guitarist, singer, song-writer, composer and producer.

Whether he's coaxing languid, hypnotic sounds from his slide guitar in an intimate solo concert, or improvising freely with musical partners like Bill Bourne and Madagascar Slim, the Very Electric Trio, or his latest work with Mae Moore, a hard-won honesty underscores every note.

In 1993, he wrote and recorded his first solo album, Keep On Walking. It was a classic collection of slide-inflected folk-blues, but it also revealed a rich voice and an undeniable songwriting talent.

A few years later, Lester released A Big Love ."I've always liked the honesty of the blues," he says. "But for me, it's important to be about what's going on now, not some museum piece."

To that end, he has spent much of the last few years touring on the North American folk festival circuit. Festival jams and workshops have enabled him to perform with artists like Charles Brown, John Hammond, David Lindley, Ellen McIlwaine, Honeyboy Edwards, Johnny Shines, Martin Simpson, and Los Lobos.

The fruits of one of those collaborations was released in late 2000: Tri/Continental is the CD that teams Lester with folk- and Celtic-oriented Bill Bourne and African sensation Madagascar Slim recorded live in the studio.Critics praised it, and the album went on to win a Juno in the Best Roots and Traditional category.

But Lester's own music remains his central passion. In 2000 he launched The Lester Quitzau Very Electric Trio,and released So Here We Are in January of 2001, The album spent months on the Top 10s across the country.

His latest recording sees Lester teamed up with his wife, musician Mae Moore, for their critically acclaimed acoustic album, entitled, 'Oh My!', released in 2004. Together they have toured Canada and Europe on the strength of that recording.

And so it goes for Lester Quitzau. As usual, he sums up his approach in a very simple, straightforward way: "Evolution. I just try to keep moving forward."

For more information contact the administrator:
Deborah Poetical License
* PO Box 135 Pender Island, BC Canada V0N2M0
* deborah@redcedarsongwritercamp.ca
* http://www.redcedarsongwritercamp.ca