UPCOMING GIGS

  • June 10'20 Nice Bistro Whitby, ON
  • Apr.15'20 Princess M Hospital Atrium
  • Apr.11'20 HIRUT 2050 Danforth Toronto
  • Dec.14 '19 HIRUT 2050 Danforth Toronto
  • July 26 2019 Gull River, Minden ON
  • June 19, 2019 The Nice Bistro, Whitby
  • Sun.May5, 2019 Hugh's Room, Toronto
  • Sat.April 6, 2019 The Old Mill, Toronto
  • 15 marzo 2019, el gallo restaurant, san pancho, mexico
  • Feb. 26, 2019 Relish Bar/Grill, Toronto
  • Jan.23,2019 Nice Bistro, Whitby
  • Sept.29,'18 12:30-3:30pm; Glass Eagle Studio, Haliburton
  • Sept.19, 2018 Private Function, Toronto
  • July 27&28, Haliburton Arts&Crafts2-4pm
  • June 6, 2018 The Nice Bistro, Whitby, ON
  • Feb.23,2018 San Pancho Music Festival, Mexico
  • Jan.20,2018 The Old Mill Toronto, Home Smith Bar
  • Sept.30,2017 All That Jazz & More, at the Minden Legion
  • Aug. 5, 2017 Private Party, Carnarvon, ON
  • Aug. 4, 2017 Music by the Gull, Minden, ON
  • Aug. 2, 2017 The Nice Bistro, Whitby ON
  • May 17, 2017 The Nice Bistro, Whitby, ON
  • April 29, 2017 Minden Cultural Centre, Minden, ON
  • March 24,2017 The Old Mill Toronto, Home Smith Bar
  • Feb.26,2017 San Pancho Music Fest. Mexico
  • Nov.5, 2016 Radio Hall, CanoeFM, Haliburton, ON
  • Nov. 2, 2016 le Nice Bistro, Whitby, ON
  • Sept. 4, 2016 The Red Umbrella Inn, Minden, ON
  • July 26, 2016, Head Lake Park, Haliburton, ON
  • Jan. 29, 2016, The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill, Toronto
  • Oct.23, 2015 Gate 403
  • Sept. 9 The Nice Bistro, Whitby, ON
  • August 22, Gate 403, Toronto
  • August 14, Music by the Gull, Minden, ON
  • July 29 Hugh's Room, Toronto
  • June 13, Gate 403,Toronto

Friday, January 28, 2011

my son and me at work


I mentioned him the other day, and his invaluable help in putting together a promotional video for the show I have called "Zootcase" (zootcase2010.blogspot.com)

Thought you'd want to see our modus operandi.

oh yeah, i forgot






How could I? Just been too crazy busy, I guess. I forgot to post the photos from the Maple Blues Awards night, held mid-way through January. All the beautiful blues people were there, and it was fun, as always.

So to share the evening with you a bit, here are some of the amazingly talented and gorgeous performers who were on stage, singing and knocking us all out. You'll notice that all the women are exceptionally fancy and glamorous in their attire, while I look quite homespun and fetching, je crois, in my simple cotton sweater, and that woolen artisan's scarf that I've had for 3 hundred years. Handmade lasts.

The women (from the bottom, going up)are Shakura S'aida, Dawn Tyler Watson, Diana Braithwaite, and Rita Chiarelli. The one photo with guys shows Tom Bono, drummer, and Brian Blain, singer and songwriter, and of course, moi in the ever-present green.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

what to do when you're really bored...


which seems to be happening to me a lot, lately. i mean, it's winter - so i don't really want to go schlepping around with a lot of music equipment, and besides, i'm supposed to be woodshedding to become formidable on the piano. truth is, i don't last very long at that work. (note to would-be's: do not work alone; you can distract yourself with anything, and i mean ANYTHING).

today, i actually decided to take a teaching job, out of desperation (for money, and also to escape my procrastinating self). and really, the gods are against me; the first period was a 'prep', which means i have no students. lots of time to familiarize myself with the curriculum, if the absent teacher had left one. second period, during which no one showed up, is now over and i just heard the recess bell.
i should not complain, i know, not to mention advertise, this situation, but it doesn't happen very often. so, after preparing as much as i could for the classes, i am now applying myself to boring anyone who lands on this site.
i'll put some new pictures up later, when i get back at another fast computer.

in fact, i have a couple of gigs coming up, and of course, the ever-present piano work, as well as some 'tours' i would like to arrange for the summer. and on the weekend, i'll be working on the zootcase fundraising/advertising video that my son is very kindly putting his professional talents to. (bad sentence for a teacher, i know). oh yes, and some videos that i'm having prepared for youtube.

i'm trying to convince myself that i am busy, and doing worthwhile stuff. it's hard without money. i would be recording new songs if i had some of that commodity.

well, enough fascinatin' rhythm for now; i've just got too much to do....

Friday, January 14, 2011

and they say digital is faster.....


well, it sure wasn't for me.
i was lucky enough to see the famous blues harp man, James Cotton, back in December, and my young friend Jack had his cell phone, so we got someone to immortalize us all together.
then the problems began, trying to get the photo onto a computer. i won't bore you, but it took forever.
and now, finally, here it is.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

happy new year


to everyone- with wishes for a very healthy and prosperous 365 days to come.

all is well where i am currently living - not very wintery, but that's ok; no snow to shovel. it's been hell on snow in a lot of other locations.

and i am trying to discipline myself to do more work on the piano - trying to get those fingers moving just a little faster on the scales, and attempting to learn how to invent in improvisation. yah, that's what i'm trying to try to try. translation: i procrastinate a lot.

so here's a photo or two from the hilarity of the last night of the year. although we weren't gigging, like we were in 2009 on that evening, still, it was fun to be one of the crazy revellers.