Based in Victoria BC, Rozalind MacPhail aka Mystery Flute Girl has expanded from classical flutist to one of Canada’s most unique and captivating multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriters. Edgework, the new full-length album is a carefully crafted storybook of special guest-laden songs for voice, guitar, flute and toy instruments all brought together with a looping pedal. She uses the omnichord throughout her album, a favourite instrument she found in a Lethbridge thrift shop whilst touring across Canada on the Greyhound Bus.
This Toronto Island flower-child sang and danced throughout her childhood for anyone who would listen. Raised on 70’s vinyl, she would often jam with her father to Gordon Lightfoot. A key album growing up was Traffic’s John Barleycorn Must Die, featuring Chris Wood’s renowned, intoxicating flute solos. The flute came into Rozalind’s life at the age of thirteen, after her grandmother read an article about how playing the flute helped asthmatics learn how to control their breathing better. Rozalind’s parents soon found her a flute teacher on the island and she’s not looked back since.
In the beginning, Rozalind wasn’t very excited about playing the flute; the idea of spit coming out of her instrument was way too gross! She had wanted to play the double bass but she persisted with flute and began classical studies with baroque flutist Courtney Wescott. After attending Etobicoke School of the Arts, taking classical flute and a minor and music theatre, Rozalind pursued a performance degree for classical flute at the University of Toronto, studying with Douglas Stewart (Principal Flute, COC) as well as performing in the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.
She then moved to Ottawa to pursue a Masters Degree in Flute Performance at the University of Ottawa with contemporary flutist Robert Cram. It was during this time that she discovered an abiding passion for improvisation. As Mystery Flute Girl, she has made spontaneous guest appearances with many celebrated indie music artists including Yo La Tengo, Great Lake Swimmers, Constantines, Lou Barlow and more. With a yen for traveling, she has attended several music schools in Canada and abroad, having become both a long-term resident at the Banff Centre and an Artist-In-Residence at The Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida.
Along with her first full-length release Edgework, she will be touring across Canada and abroad. Some fun musical collaborations are a comin’ soon…
Meanwhile, the Mystery Flute Girl continues to appear both on stage and in the studio.
Rozalind has performed as guest flutist with the following artists:
Abigail Lapell
Alpha YaYa Diallo
Amelia Curran
Amir Amiri
Amy Honey
Ana Miura
Andrea Simms-Karp
Anneke’s Star
Brunner
Catherine Thompson
Clay George
Coco Love Alcorn
Constantines
Craig Cardiff
Danielle French
Danny Michel
Dave Carmichael
Don Brownrigg
Eugene Skeef
Erin Smith Band
Genevieve Legault
Great Lake Swimmers
Greg Hobbs
Hank and Lily
Ian Sherwood
In Support of Living
Jacob Two-Two
James Turner (Readable Ink)
Jason Bajada
Jennifer Claveau (Likewater)
Jeremy Proctor
Jessica Stuart Few
Jill Barber
Jill Zmud
Joel Kroeker
John Carroll
John Gillies
Johnny Eden
Jon-Rae and the River
Justin Rutledge
Kevin Grant
Kobayashi
Kristin McCaig
Lindsay Ferguson
Lis Harvey
Lou Barlow
Matt Hopper
Matthew Barber
Melwood Cutlery
Mélissa Laveaux
Michael Burritt
Mike Yates
Mir
Museum Pieces
On Film
Patricia Rodi
Peter Katz
Peter Webb
Pigeon-Hole
Purple
Rae Howell
Raising The Fawn
Reid Jamieson
Ron Leary
Sam
Shawn Sage
Sonora
Souljazz Orchestra
Stairwell K
Tim Harrison
The Acorn
Trevor Tchir
Trike
Wayne Omaha
We vs. Death
Wednesdays
Yael Wand
Yo La Tengo
www.myspace.com/rozalindmcphail