Canadian-born Piano Wunderkind and Filmmaker James Carson Returns Home For Series Of National Screenings & Performances With Documentary CABIN MUSIC
Kicks Off In Toronto On October 20th With Canadian Premiere At 2023 Planet In Focus Film Festival
James Carson is an artistic wunderkind. The Canadian-born childhood piano prodigy was composing complete songs by the age of four, going on to have his work performed by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at age 16. This would lead to James attending the prestigious New England Conservatory, studying with icons like the free jazz pianist Cecil Taylor and the poet Robert Creeley.
Carson then walked away from music. He embarked on a global journey, working on farms around the world, aiming to deconstruct himself, with the long-term vision of one day creating a new form of music. On his return to Northern Alberta, the iconoclastic Carson then built a straw bale cabin by hand and put a piano in it—a years-long project known as CABIN MUSIC. “I wanted the whole earth to play the piano,” says Carson, “in the same way that a single breeze can cause the entire forest to dance and tremble in unison.”
Carson began documenting this epic project, ultimately leading to his directorial and editorial debut, the critically-lauded documentary feature CABIN MUSIC, and his acclaimed debut album THE STORY OF BIRDS, an album of “mesmerizing, superb performances” (Fanfare Magazine), representing “a pure channeling of the myriad spiritual traditions and natural forces that meet, merge, and are distilled in the cabin” (Pianist Magazine).
CABIN MUSIC will have its Canadian premiere at Toronto’s Planet In Focus Film Festival on October 20th before heading west for screenings and performances on November 4th & 5th in conjunction with Edmonton’s NorthWest Fest and The Yardbird Suite and in November (Date TBD) at Vancouver’s VanCity Theatre, presented by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Carson will tour alongside the film, hosting Q&As and performing live at or in conjunction with screening events. Additional cities are to be announced.
World premiering at the 2022 DOC NYC Film Festival and winner of the 2023 Salem Film Fest editing prize, CABIN MUSIC has been called “A supremely immersive visual experience” (American Society of Cinematographers) and “A technical-artistic tour de force.” (Criticólogos)
CABIN MUSIC is produced and directed by James Carson and executive produced by Julian Cautherley (THE CRASH REEL, CLEMENCY). International sales are handled by Monoduo Films.
Relevant Links
Cabin Music Press Photos Dropbox
For publicity inquiries and interview requests (French and English) contact Ry Levey of Ryan Bruce Levey Film & PR at 647.781.0818 rylevey@gmail.com.