Perfect Show Tunes for Gay Pride Include Tony Winners

Thank the Goddess for Canada. Aside from queer acts such as Tegan & Sara and The Hidden Cameras, the fertile Canadian music scene has, in recent years, provided us with wonderful artists such as Feist, Broken Social Scene, Stars, and, of course, The Arcade Fire.

The Bell Orchestre, a side-project by The Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Parry, features openly gay drummer Stefan Schneider, coming together in the best of all possible worlds. Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light (Rough Trade) is a grand piece of instrumental music that flirts with atmosphere and mood. “Les Lumieres, Pt. 1” is a luminous piece of ambience-setting. But don't get too comfortable, because “Les Lumieres, Pt. 1” kicks out the jams like nobody's business.

Now that they have you on your feet, the Bell Orchestre sounds like they'd determined to keep you up and moving with “Throw It On A Fire.” “The Upwards March” combines a subtle hint of rhythm with a repetition reminiscent of Philip Glass, before it spills over into a gentle dance number.

A born performer, 87-year old Chavela Vargas has been elevated to lesbian icon status. Well-known not only as a purveyor of the traditional Mexican song-style known as ranchera, but also as an out lesbian at a time (the 1950s and 1960s) when such a thing could put an end to both a career and a life. If, like me, you may be unfamiliar with Vargas, the exquisitely packaged Chavela at Carnegie Hall (Silver Label), recorded in September of 2003, is a pleasing introduction.

Clearly adored by her audience, Vargas has a palatable connection with her fans and puts on the kind of show people remember long after the concert has ended. Fortunately, such an occasion has been captured and preserved on this recording to be enjoyed and cherished for many years to come.

Acclaimed gay jazz pianist Fred Hersch knows how to put on a show, whether he's performing his own tunes or someone else's. In Amsterdam: Live at the Bimhuis (Palmetto) is a showcase for both Hersch's composition (the originals “A Lark” and “At the Close of the Day”) and his interpretive skills (Hoagy Carmichael's “The Nearness of You,” Jobim's “O Grande Amor”), as well as his incomparable piano playing.

As Pride month no-brainers go Great Day!: Rare Recordings from The Judy Garland Show (Savoy Jazz) ranks high on the list. Not only has Garland 's 1969 death been linked to the subsequent Stonewall riots that launched gay liberation, but her tragic diva persona has long been a source of inspiration for gay men worldwide. Not to mention that she's the mother of Liza Minnelli. Boasting the claim that it is the “first authorized CD release,” the dozen and half tracks from the early sixties variety show do their part to add to Garland's legend.

Last, but certainly not least, if you were unable to attend the 2004 Freedom To Marry benefit concert, featuring an exceedingly hip line-up of performers, you can now take the live recording home with you on the CD Wed-Rock (Centaur). Organizer John Cameron Mitchell (of Hedwig and the Angry Inch fame) assembled queer and queer-friendly artists to be entertaining for a good cause.

Highlights include Alan Cumming performing Stephen Sondheim's “Married,” Le Tigre performing “Hot Topic” before being joined by Mitchell on their song “Deceptacon,” Buffalo Springfield's “For What It's Worth” as performed by Moby and MoveOn.org's Laura Dawn, Sandra Bernhard's rendition of Carly Simon's “ That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be,” out rocker Bob Mould singing “If I Can't Change Your Mind,” a pair of Sleater-Kinney numbers and the John Cameron Mitchell and Margaret Cho duet on “Origin Of Love.”

Now go have yourself a great Pride Day!