"A passionate and soothing voice...musical arrangements fresh, interesting and beautifully integrated."
Loreena McKennitt, Singer / Composer
"Since the release of her debut CD in 2000 I have followed Ali's musical career with great interest. I've been very impressed, not just with her artistry, but with her level of commitment and her willingness to invest countless hours in the pursuit of excellence. The results of this pursuit are evident. Ali's songwriting and vocal abilities have progressed at a rapid pace...her future is very bright indeed."
Jim Vallance, Producer / Songwriter (Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, Heart, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt)
"Matthews' softly soaring voice illuminates each melody with lucid maturity and sensitivity. Her vocals are both vulnerable and knowing, finely attuned to life's struggles and hopes."
Taylor Guitars, California
"By turns elegant and inspirational, Matthews never allows the spiritual nature of her songs to degenerate into preachy musical dogma. This is music that speaks to the soul through the ear, whether you call it folk, country, pop or sacred."
Robert Reid, The Record
"I was enchanted with Ali's Christmas CD. "On Angels' Wings" fit right in with all the best music in our collection... It is a must add to your CD collection."
Steve Rae, MIX 107.7 FM & CJCS Radio, Stratford
"...remarkably poised and confident... her voice is expressive, distinctive and clear, filtering her lyrics through a personality that is both likable and sincere... her melodies are fresh, original and engaging: more than that, they're memorable... by any standards this is among the very best singer-songwriter releases in quite some time."
Ken Mavor, Audio File, The Stratford Beacon Herald
"The sound quality grabs you from the opening note... then her voice... another notch on the great Canadian singer-songwriter stick... an extremely worthy debut offering"
Neil Matheson, Music
"This musical duo is turning heads with their silky acoustic sounds. Both produce their art effortlessly, the sign of true finesse. With ease, they turn a jaded observer into an instant fan."
Jim Haggarty, Editor, Stratford City Gazette
"Ali's music is a lot like her faith - raw, intimate and infectious. Her songs not only entertain - they inspire"
Michael Bannerman, Singer / Songwriter (Lost Coin)
"The ethereal spirituality of a Loreena McKennitt or a Christian Shawn Colvin permeates this disc... There's something of that "little girl wishing," quality, inside the adult voice of Matthews, that brings both those singers to mind. That being said, she's managed to carve out her own unique territory within that tradition...Together with her playing partner and co-producer, Rick Francis, they create a shimmering interweaving of two guitars amid the other acoustic and electronic instruments. It's a full, soaring, airy, searching sound...It's like a good black gospel record-only in a completely different way... if you don't mind the message it's a nice-sounding CD, a good sample of Matthews and Francis at work in the fields of the Lord."
Barry Hammond, Penguin Eggs (Canada's Folk, Roots and World Music Magazine)
"This CD delves into the spiritual without ever getting maudlin, and carries itself with grace and wonder"
Alex Sinclair, Songwriter / Musician (Tamarack
PROFILE:
Stratford's Ali Matthews has been a performing songwriter since her teens and has built a strong following across Canada and beyond. As a graduate of The University of Western Ontario, where she studied English and Drama, songwriting is her natural passion. Writing and performing on both piano and acoustic guitar, she blends mature and sensitive lyrics with evocative, compelling melodies.
In 2000, she released her independent debut CD "Patchwork" , a collection of 13 originals. The disc received glowing reviews from critics and listeners alike. Her piano ballad, "Time Will Never Tell" was a winner with Toronto's Mix 99.9 in the Regional finals of the 2000 Canadian National Songwriting Contest. She was a featured artist with Taylor Guitars' Discover the Indies, establishing an international profile which has continued to bloom. In the fall of 2001, she released "On Angels' Wings" a collection of timeless Christmas songs featuring three beautiful originals. It continues to be a perennial favorite, with sales in the thousands each Holiday season.
On stage, Matthews has teamed up with producer/ guitar player, Rick Francis creating a slick acoustic duo with a captivating sound. Exploring a wide range of musical styles, including elements of folk, pop, rock, jazz and country, the duo have delivered over 500 performances in four years for a variety of corporate events, house concerts, live television and radio appearances, churches, weddings and folk festivals. Matthews has been invited twice to perform the National Anthems at Sky Dome for the Toronto Blue Jays. Her music has been featured on CBC Radio as well as dozens of local radio stations across Canada.
In 2004 she released "Where You Remain", a haunting collection of traditional hymns and contemporary sacred songs. She launched the CD to a sold out crowd at Stratford's elegant Church Restaurant on May 8th featuring an outstanding group of musicians: the trademark liquid guitar of Rick Francis, first-call session fiddle player, Don Reed (Anne Murray, Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens), Scott Matthews (Stratford Festival Theatre) on fretless bass, Jay Riehl (South Mountain) on percussion and Jake Leiske (Farmer's Daughter) on harmony vocals.
The CD's single "To Know You" is featured as the soundtrack for a (Crossroads Communications) promotional DVD documentary for Save the Mothers, an international organization working to assist women in poor countries around the world.
Ali was a two-time winner at the 2004 Canadian Gospel Music Association Covenant Awards. Her song, "Hunger Mountain" took the award for
Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year and "Where You Remain" won Inspirational Album of the Year.
"Window of Light" her new CD of original material is expected to be released in the fall of 2005.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.alimatthews.comTrack List:
1. Be Thou My Vision
2. Lord of the Starfields
3. To Know You
4. Where You Remain
5. Reaching
6. Emmanuel
7. Bring Us Love
8. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
9. The Lord is my Shepherd (The 23rd Psalm)
10. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
11. Hunger Mountain
12. Wide Awake
13. Treasure
14. This Cross
15. Let There Be Peace on Earth
16. To Know You (Instrumental)
Other Genres:
