Philosopher Strings?

 That's the basic idea linking popular Canadian jazz-rockers The Philosopher Kings with a string section and a choir for a one-off performance in Ottawa.

 Part of a local contest (the few hundred attendees won their prized tickets through radio promotions or at bars and clubs around town) the show at the National Gallery will feature Tayo, an eight-piece string section and the Juno-winning Faith Chorale Gospel Choir.

 Pompous rockers

 "It's a whole other dimension really," explains vocalist Gerald Eaton. "It heightens the emotion of the music. It makes the angry parts angrier, the soft parts softer and the romantic parts more romantic."

 Normally the idea of a pop band with an orchestra brings forth images of pompous prog-rockers, an aging Aerosmith or that disastrous Spirit of the West collaboration with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

 But where Spirit of the West's Celtic roots were watered down, the Kings' jazz background is more malleable to the expanded sound.

 "If the songs are written a certain way then the strings are going to be able to add something different."

 Besides, they already tested the waters with their last tour which included both a horn and a string section. In fact, they thought it worked so well that next month the band is releasing a live album called One Night Stand -- despite only two discs to their credit.

 "Generally speaking it might be a little premature," admits Eaton. "Bands usually wait a while before they put out a live album.

 "But our live show has always been such an integral part of our band and we found that a lot of people don't really understand who we are until they see us live. They don't know if we're just a poppy band or an eclectic jazz band."

 The record will be primarily made up of tracks from their last record Famous, Rich and Beautiful as well as a couple from their self-titled debut and two new studio concoctions: Supersex 69 and a cover of Average White Band's If I Ever Lose This Heaven.

 "When people see us live they get the whole picture, they get to see it how we see it. We wanted to introduce ourselves to people that way."

 Their live show certainly is a far cry from the studio product, replacing the radio-ready sheen with a jam-filled exploration of sound and structure that manages to add depth to their pop ditties.

 'Excited'

 With only a day of rehearsals though, it is unclear how the band's improvisational aspect will match with the new additions. But Eaton seems to be just as interested in finding out as his fans.

 "We get excited about new things just like everybody else. We thought playing in a museum would be cool and we couldn't wait to hear what a choir was going to do with our music.

 "That's the way we're looking at it, as a fun musical experiment."