Legendary Canadian composer and inspirational performer Julie Blue teams up multiinstrumentalist and Westcoast Musician of the Year Joseph Pepe Danza to create the upbeat, world beat group called E-Motion (Energy in Motion). Their CD "If You Dare" is a call to arms for all nature lovers and protectors of planet Earth. The CD combines the soaring vocals of Julie Blue mixed with piano, electric and acoustic guitar, bass, saxophone, Shakuhachi flute and a multitude of drums, shakers, tambourines and other world percussion instruments. Many of the songs have the feel of Joseph "Pepe" Danza's native home, Uruguay. Below are partial lyrics from "Tree Anthem", a song written by Julie Blue that was inspired by and dedicated to Clayoquot Sound. The islands and mountains of Clayoquot Sound are covered with coastal temperate rainforest. The kind of rainforest found in Clayoquot Sound is the most rare kind of forest in the world, covering less than 0.2% of the Earth’s land surface. In January 2000 Clayoquot Sound became designated as the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. "Tree Anthem" We come from many countries, from all across the land To raise our voice, claim our choice It's time to take a stand. As we all stand together life will find a way. Trees are the breath of life this is what they say. Let the trees grow up to the light and the forest live forever. Let each moment be sacred in our sight as we walk the path together We speak for the children for the salmon and the bear The water we all drink from and the earth that we all share. We speak for alternatives that do not make earth bleed Honor her generosity moderate our greed. For our children's children It's time we now unite. So raise your voice, claim your choice join us in the fight. MEDIA REVIEWS: “With a voice as sultry as Sade’s and as dreamy as Dido’s, Blue unites the world of jazz, blues, pop, and soul with tasteful and deliciously inviting compositions. “ - Carson James, Chillout Island “soars with beautiful melodies and inspired lyrics.” - The Vancouver Province “Blue’s voice is rich with texture and laced with palpable emotion.” - Adam Herrington Whisperin’ & Hollerin’ U.K. "Julie Blue, what a performer! She took our quiet little gospel hour on Sunday morning and galvanized it into Prime Time. Julie has the amazing gift of drawing in both audience and other performers and making them a part of her joy in music. It's impossible not to be captured by her songs, her spirit and beautiful voice. Truly a major highlight of our festival." - Keith Alexander, Artistic Director Edge of the World Music Festival JULIE BLUE BIO Songs of healing and love embody the heart of Canadian singer/songwriter Julie Blue. With a richly soulful and beautifully evocative voice that has had music critics comparing her to Norah Jones, Sade, and Dido, Blue looks beyond stylistic boundaries, weaving together influences of jazz, classical, pop, and blues with a painter's eye for sonic detail. Blue's latest album, One of a Kind Woman, brims with warmth and an uplifting, therapeutic spirit. At a time when pop music has been redefined as disposable and superficial, Blue has dared to inject substance and timelessness in her songs, polishing them with radio-friendly hooks and a classy presentation. Blue was born in Calgary, Canada. Her early passion for music led her to start playing piano at the age of five. By the time she was 17, Blue was already singing and playing professionally. She finished training in jazz at Capilano College in Vancouver, British Columbia and spent years studying classical music and voice. A global artist, Blue has performed throughout the United States, Africa, Australia, Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean and Japan. She currently performs at festivals and concerts with her trio or quartet of world-class musicians including multi-instrumentalist Joseph Pepe Danza and renowned bassist Laurence Mollerup. Julie's current projects include a performance as Musical Keynoter for Goldie Hawn's Bright Light Foundation fundraising event; Matthew Fox's Earth Revival Cosmic Mass; and the Neale Donald Walsch world tour. She also performed at the Minerva Foundation's Life in Balance forum, and the international conference of both Noetic Science and Religious Science. She was a featured artist at the International Unity Conference in Kansas City, was part of the grand opening of the new R.O.M. museum in Toronto, and performed at the Edge of the World festival in Queen Charlotte Island. She founded the Singspiration Creative Empowerment Programs in 1989 and has touched thousands of people through her Healing Sound and Songwriting Performance courses. Blue also writes music for and directs a 70-voice gospel choir, "The Singspiration Singers." Blue has also artistically directed many shows and concerts over the span of her career. She continues her fifth year of performances as Motivational Presenter at Harv Eker's Enlightened Warrior Camps in Canada and the U.S. Julie's film composing credits include the award-winning documentaries Close to the Heart, Stolen Lives (which was the recipient of a Leo award), and Life and Times of Alex Trebek and Shipyard Lament for CBC. Her current projects include Traveling at the Speed of Life, an Ocean Playground Productions feature film; the National Film Board's documentary My Father, My Teacher; and the PBS documentary called Pete: Moving Man-Made Mountains. One of a Kind Woman, her sixth album, made its debut a two sold-out concerts in Vancouver. Her instrumental CDs, Shining Through and Heart of the River, are selling internationally. JOSEPH "PEPE"DANZA www.pepe-music.com/ 'Pepe' Danza is an electrifying percussionist and multi- instrumentalist (he plays over 40 instruments) originally from Montevideo. He has received many awards including Westcoast Music Award's “Musician of the Year” and nomination for the prestigious Juno Award. Pepe lived in Japan for 3 years studying Shakuhachi Flute, two years in India and Sri Lanka for Indian music, Brazil for studies in Afro-Brazilian, Samba and Bossa Nova music, and shorter periods in Indonesia (studying Gamelan), Korea and the Philippines . Pepe has performed with the Vancouver Symphony and Chamber Choir. He performed at a concert with Raffi and Ann Mortiffee; and HM was in attendance. In his extensive touring he has shared the stage with Ani DiFranco , Oscar Lopez and David Lindley . Pepe is Artistic Director for the Vancouver Sacred Music Festival and performs at the Seattle World Rhythm Festival. He represented Canada in the 1999 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur while performing with the group ASZA. DARYL JAHNKE: www.daryljahnke.com Daryl has been playing jazz and Latin music professionally since 1982. He began his own creative jazz project in 1987 which led to the recording of the critically acclaimed CD "In Other Words". Since then, he's been busy as a performer, studio musician, composer, producer, musical director and teacher and have been involved in creative projects led by some of Canada’s best musicians. He travels as a performer have taken him to New York, Cuba, Tokyo and across Canada where he has worked with highly respected musicians, including members of Cuba’s premier Latin jazz band "Irakere", Tokyo/New York trumpeter Terumasa Hino and bassist Paul Jackson of Herbie Hancock’s "Headhunters’" fame. On the local scene, he has been a featured performer in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival since 1986. LAURENCE MOLLERUP www3.telus.net/mollerupbass On both Double Bass and Electric Bass, Laurence is a mainstay of the West Coast music scene. He is active in many fields including classical, jazz, Latin and world music. He performs with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Vancouver Opera Orchestra.