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

Thursday, December 27, 2012

A LATE CHRISTMAS CARD








Better late than dead, ha ha. But don't make me laugh; it'll only start another coughing fit – you know the ones where you're about to throw up your metatarsals, and you're eyeballs are straining to leave your head. Not attractive. And it hurts, dammit. The poor ribs and throat can't take any more, but they must, mustn't they? Because you've gone and got SICK for the holidays. Day five now, and I'll tell you, I'm getting pretty sick of it. And even my picture is lying down.

So the card is late  – my cheery Christmas greeting of song, which you can't hear anyway, it's only a picture, and one now sullied by my belief that the night the picture was taken was the very one during which I picked up the germ. Why do people always want to kiss you their wishes? A little distance, please. The stars in the sky can travel millions of miles without losing their brilliance. Surely people can extend their greetings without enveloping you inside their nasty little diseases.

Oh, oh, someone's feeling like Scrooge....

And I can't tell you the disappointment I felt when today, on day five of drinking my herbal teas and lying in first one room then another, and sleeping, sleeping, sleeping (thenks Gods for thet!). As I aimlessly wandered my small living quarters and passed by the front door, I saw the postman walking up my driveway. My heart leapt with excitement. But alas, my joy curled in on itself and became like the phlegm which tortures my lungs as I saw him take a right turn to my neighbour's door, and I stood there - alone again.

Food helps, and I have been lucky enough to have had some delivered, with love, to me. I think that was the best Christmas gift ever. And of course, I'm thankful that I still have my never-ending appetite.

The snows fell last night as I was reading in the armchair, surrounded by the glow of the Christmas lights, and the warmth of my electric blanket, the hot water bottle strapped onto my back, and more tea. So today I thought I might venture out into some fresh air (well, I know there's no such thing anymore, thanks to all the pollution, but we're speaking relatively, as Einstein suggested). I got the leggings and the big sheepskin coat and two (!) hats and a warm scarf and then had to lose most of my strength trying to push the snow out of the way of the screen door. By the time I struggled with the back gate, cleared a bit of a path so that one could open (the kick method), and got to the back shed, I was wheezing again, and then full-on horking in the snow with the mildew of that little hut. Almost died trying to lift the old tires off the shelf while holding my breath, and then it was all too much for me. I collapsed in the snow – willingly, because I knew I had to lie down again, and even enjoying it, after I got down there, with the flakes falling into my face, and the admittedly fresher air, not to mention the memories of childhood and carefree living getting a moment in my consciousness. But I got up before I fell asleep and died, and just as I did that I heard a voice, filled with alarm, asking “Are you alright?” And there was my neighbour, rushing into my yard, full of concern. And that just might be the second best Christmas gift – to know that I live on a street where people watch out for you, to know that care and love (and food) are definitely all out there. You just have to take the time to be still.

Which on reflection makes me think that's maybe why I got sick: I had forgotten how to receive; how to be a helpless child of this maddening but still lovely universe.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

IT WAS A DARK AND UNLUCKY NIGHT

Well, it's also the season to be overwhelmed, so the tease I left in the last post is only now arriving.  So much to do....
But in spite of the dark, the generosity of some people came through, as you will see when viewing the attached little video.
Be prepared for some pathetic cursing.

The music at the end is myself singing my song "Gotta Move On", from my just-finished new CD, 'Hook, Line & Singer', which will be officially released in the new year, but there might be a youtube sampler up too.  Soon.

Friday, December 7, 2012

'tis the season to be generous.....

and i'll just tempt you now to read the next post, when i tell you all about a very generous person i met in the midst of a frustrating catastrophe the other night.
nice to know there are good people out there.  i have to wait for the accompanying video, so...
stay tuned.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

OH HAPPY DAY

Toronto has two things to celebrate. maybe i'll even write a song about it....
first the Grey Cup - the grand and famous prize of the canadian football league (i'm not a football fan by any stretch, but still, the team won for the city). 
but a grander and more wonderful prize is that our illustrious mayor, who is the most embarrassingly incompetent and uneducated person ever, has finally slimed his way out of his job.  no more Ford!!!
Hooray and hallelujah, you had it coming to ya
goody goody for you
goody goody for us
and i hope you're satisfied, you rascal you.  (ok, somebody else wrote that song, but it fits, except that the person here is much worse than a 'rascal'.)
MORE IMPORTANT NEWS: i'll be picking up my new CD this week, and making plans for the release party. (the cover has changed from a recent post; now using the picture here).

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I THINK, THEREFORE I SINK

Me-Sysiphus despairing of the mountain of work

View from the top of the Music Mountain

Piano Legs (Don't Let Me Down)
got some pics of the sculpture/collage that presently sits on top of my piano. I think it's a good representation of me and my musical goals. There I am - pensive, - at the bottom of the mountain(pic one) - just like Sysiphus. And there's the huge pile of obstacles I have to overcome before I get to be the happy piano player at the top. (pic 2 taken from atop the mountain). The obstacles are many: practice, for one; second, the mathematical formulae of music theory that have thus far not revealed themselves to me; then the mind stupor that sets in when I sit on the piano bench, and which blocks all musical ideas or influences - that's #3; and always present - the tedious and unoriginal flaw: the fear of success. Four for bore. You might be wondering why legs are on the mountain. Well, one needs legs to climb, n'est-ce pas? And also, eventual success on the piano requires a leg-baring pose, in my estimation (pic 3 with the bird of music). So I'm just reminding myself. So simple, and so simply overwhelming; the trees that block the forest; the head that thinks too much; the pan pipes that bewitch me... I hope for divine intervention....

Friday, November 16, 2012

it's de-lovely

ok, it's sunny out, and at this time of year, one hates to waste time inside at a computer, but i have to show you all the new cd-to-come front cover. we're getting there! the wee blue fish is just for the swim of it. and then we'll be taking over the world. reeling you all in, as it were, or may be, forever and ever, amen.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

le session

got into the recording studio last sunday, which was great. sometimes i wish i didn't have to rush the way i do (money would help there), but we did get a lot done in two hours - 7 tunes to be exact. the luxury of funding would be sooooo nice.... so we played, then we had a couple of beers, then we adjourned to my place and had some more laughs. great guys - all pictured here with me in the pub. (l-r john deehan, ron johnston, mike allen -wonderful musicians all) gotta get the cd out now
oh, i forgot to mention hallowe'en. i was a pizza slice.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

S.O.S.!!!! MISSING UNDERWEAR!!!

I'll get to that in a minute.... But first, the update. Yes, I'm slow; it's already a week after the fact, but your reporter is here with pictures and thoughts on the gig last week. so gratifying (and privileged) to be able to perform at Toronto's hospital for the treatment of cancer - The Princess Margaret. the audience is a mix of patients, visiting family and friends, and hospital workers and volunteers who are there in the atrium at 12 noon on a Wednesday. a great program to help relieve some of the worry or pain with the healing power of music. so there I was, sitting at the grand piano, playing my own songs and telling my stories to the people. it's wonderful to be able to connect with others that way. i even played a tune that i wrote thirty years ago, but whose jazz runs has always scared the shit out of me and prevented a public attempt. but i did it ( i said i was slow), - and got tough with that fear a little bit. i tried to record this momentous occasion: got the camera all set up on the piano top at an angle that i hoped included me in the shot, pushed the start button, and began the song, but unfortunately forgot to turn the camera on first. can't do everything, can i? here's the event in living colour and also a shot taken at the infamous green wall of the CBC atrium a little bit later, and just before i took a walk through the back routes of the city, during which i ran into an acquaintance from many years ago. through her, i re-connected with a talented young musician. - it's a long story of lost contact, and different paths and cities, but a very happy one now, with our separate paths proving to be very similar. i love how life leads us sometimes. altogether, a lovely day, tra la. the next day was fabulously sunny and warm, so i just had to get down to the boardwalk at Toronto's beaches with my bike - as seen in pic. and this week, we're all reeling from the huge storm Sandy, which thankfully left my neighbourhood intact. thoughts go out to all those without homes or electricity. things change fast, n'est-ce pas? - between the house and the barn. but back to the underwear....it seems my very famous youtube video called "let your underwear show" is no longer up there. don't know why. i'm investigating. but if anyone knows anything, or knows how to download a video onto a home computer (i'm very unschooled here), then let me know. it is on another site that i don't even know...

Monday, October 29, 2012

happy birthday to zoot sims

that's about all i have time to say; on the run today. but as always, zoot remembered. here's a photo of the CD for the show i did about him, with the actual 'zootcase' in the background.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Poet wears her aloneness like a cloak

Actually, I stole that title from a poet that used to work in Toronto many years ago, but I love the melodrama. And I do write poems. One of these days I will get them all online. For today, however, a very grey and rainy day, I am just continuing with my prep for the CD recording, and also for my gig tomorrow!!! Princess Margaret Hospital Atrium University and College Ave.s in Toronto Wed. Oct. 24 Noon until 1pm All original material and I will be ALONE, as befits a poet. here's a couple of pics, one very mysteriously dark and cloak-like.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

AND I CAN'T KEEP UP!

no excuses, but geeeez, it's hard when you don't have a computer that's half-decent, and also when you're not in one place for very long. and now i haven't got my photos ready, but whatever i have, i will post.... PLEASE NOTE: The Princess Margaret Hospital Lobby/Atrium Wednesday, October 24 Noon until 1pm Zoe Chilco accompanied by Zoe Chilco on piano All original program; and lots of stories and fun. Come on out!!! And after that, i will be devoting myself and my time to getting some work done on my next CD,and not so many gigs Didja eat too much at Thanksgiving? it was good here, and the fall colours are/were absolutely outstanding this year - a surprise given the very dry summer, - but fabulous.
photo is the working copy of the new CD

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

TIME FLIES!!

I seem to have gotten a bit behind - ( I could make a leetle joke about my behind, but not now; too rushed). so what's been happening, you arsk? first, the gig at gate 403 was so much fun (please note, wreckers of correct grammatical English, that the adverb "so" needs the adjective "much" in front of it to describe the noun "fun". God, i hate it when i'm so picky). so much damn fun, it was. we had the usual amazing trio of instrumentalists - john deehan on sax; ron johnston on bass, and mike allen on guitar, then we had the fun of shelley coopersmith on violin, plus chris whiteley on trumpet and diana braithwaite belting out a fabulous blues tune. the picture is very dark, but since i forgot my camera, it's the only one we had. meanwhile, it's now dark at 7:30pm, which really sucks, but before we got to this dark moment in time, i did take some pictures at the lake. remember the song "canadian sunset". well, it's here. also some great roots. you can go off on whatever tangent you like there. and prior to that, my annual gathering over labour day weekend. and the folks at my place joining in a toast to friendship.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

SATURDAY GIG

it's cool; it'll be fun; come on out and enjoy the fabulous sounds of John Deehan's trio - JD on sax, Mike Allen, guitar, and Ron Johnston on bass. I'll be singing all the groovy jazz and blues tunes I know. Gate 403 Restaurant, 403 Roncesvalles, Toronto 9pm start

Saturday, September 1, 2012

gotta get out of here

just been on the computer too long, and it's such a fabulous day; it's a sin to waste the good ones like this. it's thursday, aug. 30. i should be lying in the sun, like my reddish friend here. here's me when i played outside all day, many moons ago.

grey monday

quiet day in the country; i guess i should be glad - the air is cleaner, and the view is vast. here's a photo of the Kinmount gig last Thursday - a good, and appreciative audience, and the weather was glorious. and now the kids are up, celebrating the last week of freedom before school starts next week. this is actually monday, aug.27, although posting date is later

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

fun in the sun

Well, it was after the sun went down, but still - a whole big lot of fun. The gig was our "Jump Jive and Wail" party in Minden last Saturday, and it was just the kind of party you love to attend. Good music and good dancing with good people. Photos show the 2012 edition of the band, after we finished, and also some of the people jumping around and having a crazy time. I'm so lucky to be performing with these fabulous musicians. All hail the music muse. Go to zoechilco.blogspot.com for some live footage. And now we move on to my solo gig this Thursday in KINMOUNT, ONTARIO. Music in the park at 6:30pm. Always enjoy this one. Beautiful spot by the river.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

sing sing sing

the rains came on sunday, which was a blessing for the very dry land, but rather off-putting for the jazz-on-the-lake annual party. i lay in bed for a long time, reading a good book, and deciding to cocoon, until suddenly, i jumped up and got in the car. good thing too, because that lovely old sun came out and rolled around heaven for us. some pics of the band: don vickery,bass; ted roberts, guitar; john mcleod, trumpet; bob de angelis, sax; laurie bower, trombone; and ron johnston, bass. Fun times in the north of Ontario.
JUMP, JIVE, AND WAIL DANCE PARTY with Zoe Chilco & The Haliburton Houserockers: Saturday, August 18, 2012 8pm The Minden Legion Hwy 35 and Road 121 Minden, Ontario. Paul Chilco, guitar; John Deehan, sax; Paul Greco, drums; Ian Pay, bass; Zoe Chilco, vocals & keys.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

happy birthday to she

yes, it was my birthday this past Sunday, and a lovely one with family and friends - after singing at the Arts and Crafts fair. Got took out, and stuff. Photos are 1. the evening before, in the golden glow of sunset; 2. the cake at the family gathering; and 3. the night of, with my neighbourhood gal-pals. All you need is love. NEXT GIG in MINDEN, ONTARIO; AUGUST 18, 8PM, at the Legion; with Paul Chilco, guitar; John Deehan, sax; Paul Greco, drums; and Ian Pay, bass - all pictured here at the wild time last year. Then KINMOUNT, ONT. AUGUST 23; 6:30PM

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

la vie en rose

Well the summer lazes its way onward - lots o' heat, and so far, lots o' fun - except for knocking myself into the kitchen sink and driving my own elbow, which is unhealthily sharp, into my ribs, so that now i am officially injured. Can't breathe deeply, laugh, cough, or sneeze. Or get myself supine very easily. Otherwise, great. PARAGRAPH I can sing, however, and did so last weekend, opening up for the wonderful Jerome Godboo, harp master, and his partner for the performance, Eric Schenkman of the Spindoctors, on guitar. A gorgeous setting on a remote Haliburton lake, with folks listening out on their boats, and the sun casting its golden rays over trees, rocks and water. Photo of Jerome & Eric during their fantastic show
, and one of me just before I started my set. Oh, OK, I've added the very unflattering "large load" shot of my ass (must be the camera)just to prove i have no ego. In fact, my ass is quite unlike this.
Thanks to Doug and Barbara and the lake association for the great time (and food). PARAGRAPH Next day, Sunday, was the CANOE FM (for whom I do a radio show) summer party. More fun, good people, and food food food. Coming up soon is the 2nd annual dance party at The Minden Legion, Saturday August 18, 2012; 8PM; HWY 35 & RD.121 The Jump, Jive, and Wail Dance Party. We'll have a blast, as we did last year, and we guarantee lots of great jumping and wailing. You do the jiving. P.S. A photo of a weird caterpillar in the morning one day.
P.P.S. Just got this photo sent to me too: Jerome accompanied me on my last tune.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

THE BEAR TRUTH

This is a photo (third one down)taken from the doorway of my place in the woods. You can see the fire pit with the frying pan, my work gloves, and an old card from a sister, signed ‘love always’, - although I never hear from her anymore. (the idealism of youth, I guess…dust to dust). The story of the picture is: the other day, as I was about to go into town, there was a black bear out there – and alas, my camera wasn’t handy – but he was just that close, poking around lazily, sniffing the day lilies. As soon as he saw me at the door, impatiently waiting to get on my way, he scampered into the forest. Close as he was, it wasn’t as near as the mama bear who came right up the stairs to the other door, and pushed her snout right up against the screen. I was crouching about a foot and a half away from her, behind the piano. I thought “hmmm, she could just push that screen through real easy-like. And I tried to remember the running-into-bears advice I’d read. ‘Make a big, scary sound’ was one bit. So I did – a ferocious zoe-growl. Then, as we eye-balled each other, I remembered another bit: ‘Do not threaten a bear by looking at it directly.” Too late, I thought, I’m dead. But she just turned around and headed off, like the lily-sniffer. PARAGRAPH Then there was “the conversation”, which happened a few years back, after a large male bear kept coming by daily and knocking over the composting bin. I finally moved it and surrounded it with wire fencing after a zillion restorations. So when I heard the rattling and banging, and looked to see that once again Mr. Bear had bashed through the wire and overturned it anew, you can imagine how annoyed I was. Without thinking, I opened the door and started yelling at him: “What the…Stop doing that!” he made a bear-like noise back, and stood looking at me. I was still pissed off and said, “Well, you know, I have to pick up after you all the time, and I’m sick of it!” “Grrrr”, he rumbled, and he turned away and walked into the woods. “Just like a man,” I thought, “grumble and walk away”. It was a weird, and now when I think of it, a wonderful occurrence. You know you’ve been alone too long when you pick fights with a bear. My last bear image: looking out the kitchen window to see a bear cub right on top of my car. Cute. Heavy. PARAGRAPH I know. You wondering about the singing. After all, that’s supposed to be my job, not telling bear stories. Well, being as grouchy as a bear, I had decided to not do anything but jump in the lake this summer, but in fact, I am planning now for some gigs in late July and in August. I will keep you (com)posted. Meanwhile, some photos from a recent birthday party for my guitar-playing friend (and former band-mate) Paul. Great celebration. Yes, the band wears kilts. PARAGRAPH And this just in: I stopped at the real estate office on my way to the library computer, and was looking at one lakefront listing that wasn’t half a million dollars, when the agent said, “Here’s the owner now”. A man with a very healthy gut walked in. From Cleveland. He started complaining about all the money he’d lost recently in the current economic climate. I started my usual “Blame it on the greedy corporations…”. And he said, to my still unbelieving shock, “I blame it on that coon in the white house.” That shut me up. That good old American freedom of speech. I walked out at that point. Rather talk to a bear any day, than that fat, ignorant, bigoted, racist pig. PARAGRAPH and news I just got: I'll be played on Italian radio: http://www.animajazz.it/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1903 on Sabato, 14 Luglio - that's Saturday, July 14. Tune in if you can.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

hot enuff for ya?

it's stinkin' hot (it ain't the heat, it's the humidity) here in Ontari-ari-ari-o, but it's cool here in the local library, so it's time to bring you all up to date on the fascinating facts of the life of a girl singer. First, back in May, we had the many gigs in Toronto, then we finished up the month at a wedding celebration here in the highlands (there i am, in the orange, then, when my shirt turned yellow, singing with Irene); then, well to be honest, not a lot has happened except for trying to get rid of some junk in my place (listen to my song entitled "No More Stuff" - oh, i'm sorry, it's not on CD yet, which is why i need more money) - you can listen to it soon, i promise. PARAGRAPH So after the collecting of stuff, I had to sell some of it, thus the next pictures showing the beautiful location of the community flea market, a fundraiser for the arts gallery. See the appealing table of some of my goodies, and myself lounging by the lake, waiting for customers. PARAGRAPH And then it was on to the studio to record a couple of tunes. Lucky me to have a local music society that helps artists in the community financially for this. and lucky me to have such great and musical friends, such as Ian, - studio engineer and bassist, and John, saxophonist and flautist, and Carl (late of The Guess Who), playing drums and guitar. And a great time was had by all. Photos show only Ian, John, and myself. Didn't have the camera for Carl's session. PARAGRAPH Today was going to break a lot of temperature records, so for our lunch date, the girls and i decided to just go to Heather's house and jump in the lake, after eating her splendid spread. See photo of strawberry soup (fabulous!), and other salads she had prepared. So tra la la la, la la la meeting; we're so happy when we're eating. I don't know what'll happen tomorrow....Goodnight, Mr. McGarrigle.