"They're very contemporary. .. they evoke almost like a cinematic noir, but contemporary noir like a Quentin Tarantino film, with what they're achieving."
Fiona Black, director of programming at Capilano University's Centre for the Performing Arts, is trying to describe Dead Combo, a 1930s-gangster-clad Portuguese guitar duo that are making their North American debut at this year's Global Roots series.
"Their music is hard to describe as you can tell, but it's really good and really compelling," says Black.
The centre's season, which runs from early October until spring 2015, encompasses everything from the jazz and global roots series to theatre and the classical and choral series, which features the Capilano University Festival Chorus and Capilano University Singers.
Black works on the programming at least a year in advance but if an artist is particularly intriguing, it can sometimes take longer to book them.
"I've got very high standards," she says. "I will go after a show that I feel is really special even if it's quite difficult."
Black has been working to get Dead Combo for the last three years after seeing them perform at a festival in Portugal.
"I'm sure no one's seen anything like them before, I certainly hadn't and I've seen a lot of music," she says.
Between working directly with their management, as well as generating enough audience interest, Black was finally able to book them.
"So they're coming here in March 2015 and that will be their North American debut," she says. "I'm very proud when I can help make that happen."
Black speaks highly of all the artists performing in this year's lineup, including returning artists Chris Smither who's opening the Global Roots series, as well as jazz series opener Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints.
Smither, says Black, is originally from New Orleans and will be performing at the Electric Owl.
"He's celebrating his 50th year in the business and they just did a big tworecord retrospective of his career," she says.
Lovano last performed at the centre 13 years ago, shortly after 9/11. The New Yorker was having trouble flying out of the city and cancelled several other shows before choosing the centre to jumpstart his tour again.
"It was one of the few times when an artist walked out on our stage that they got a standing ovation before they even played a note," says Black. "They wanted to show Joe how much they cared and how much they cared about New York the city, how devastated we all were and we all just wanted to give him one big hug, which is what it kind of was."
Loudon Wainwright III, "who maybe is more famous for his kids than anything else," says Black, will also be returning.
"He's a wonderful artist, we've had him a couple of times," she says. "He's got a new CD so we're thrilled to have him back."
And for a little more exotic sound, Hawaiian artist Makana will be performing in November.
"He's a slack key guitar player, lovely player," says Black. "We've had him once before. I asked the audience when I was introducing him, 'has anybody been to Hawaii?' and I think everybody put up their hand. So that was my lesson in life, I wasn't sure how I would find an audience for Makana or if there were lots of Hawaiian guitar fans but there sure are."
Canadian artist Richard Moody, along with performing partner Iranian-born Amir Amiri, are also featured in this year's program.
"Moody Amiri are another kind of really cool duo project," says Black, adding that the Presentation House Theatre, where the duo will be performing, provides "exquisite sound" for Moody's viola and Amiri's santur, a 72-string hammered dulcimer. "I wasn't sure what I was going to hear when they sent me their CD because it's not classical Persian and its not North American or Western music either, its just a really lovely, beautiful mix."
Besides the variety of musical offerings, the season also includes "quite a robust theatre series," says Black, with productions from the university's theatre department, as well as the Arts Club Theatre Company's touring shows.
"We're going to be starting off the first weekend in October, Oct. 4 and 5, with Avenue Q," says Black. "I'm looking forward to it. Its extremely funny from everyone I've heard from and it's definitely an adult puppet show, not for 12 and under."
