the days are getting longer

that's what keeps me going through winter. the sun is out today, but it's 8 below, and that's too damn cold!!
i thought i'd post some summer pics, just to remind me of those lovely days:

the shadow of bare legs on the sand; the beautiful road by the lake; my garden lady all surrounded by greenery; and of course, the summer brew during music rehearsals.

let's all drink to summer's warmth this new year's eve. hope it's a safe and happy time for everyone.

wrestling for the spirit

At our family Christmas get-together, which we held early because it's so complicated now, nothing speaks of the good will and sharing spirit like a good, old-fashioned arm wrestle amongst the women-folk.
There were many aspiring females going up against each other, all vying for the title of mother goddess of the seasonal festivities. I, in my foolish and out-of-shape shape (i've been saying for the last year that it's at an all-time low - must get the bike out more - ), i threw myself into the fray, and i lost, no excuses, i was just shit on a skinny arm stick.
Here are some pics: getting set, getting the grips set, screwing up my face to try and focus, and the final fall-down.
I'm proud to say that i have finally stopped demanding of myself that i always win (a habit begun in grade one, when i was sooooo bored).
May the force be with you all.

Oh, and lest we forget: here's a video with some of the sweetest sounds in the world (a baby's laugh), as a reminder of what it's really all about.

christmas makes me feel emotional.....

that's the intro to the old christmas song "Silver Bells", which I sang in front of the whole school at the Christmas program, about 100 years ago, when i was in grade three. the illustrious start of coming a long way, baby. my nights out are better now.

but in fact, i'm emotional today not because of christmas, but because of some venue owners here in my lovely city, who make it very difficult for any musicians.

my younger brother used to yell at his enemies when he got very, very angry: "peepy poo plop!!" it was the worst invective his 4-year-old mind could imagine. Well, I'm with you, brother!! Peepy poo plop on all the venue owners i don't like.

had some fun last week, singing with some musicians that i hadn't seen in a while. and now, in the accompanying short video and photos, you can enjoy some of that fun, which is all i want to have, after all.

merry christmas to all, and to all a good light

getting to be the busy season, so i'll send all my good wishes out now, and escape the mall where the local library has the good computer.

and speaking of wishes, why not put mine out there in the universe? ok, then....

i'd like a European tour, including eight stops at the best cities, with my band of luminaries to travel with me (the musicians, i mean). just a-singing, and a-traveling, and speaking lots of different languages, and having a few stops at a spa or two. nothing too grand, these are the basics.

please, oh great spirit of music, and saint cecilia too, won't you help a poor talented singer?

and by the way, if there's any money out there, I'd really like to get into the studio again, with some of the aforementioned fabulous musicians, to record a whack of new songs. the CD cover is all ready....here it is (i'm the tiny tiny, underwater swimmer, searching the huge ocean bottom of the unconscious for beautiful, musical ideas).

p.s. don't forget to look on youtube for various tunes, including Christmas Blues. Ta.

an unhappy memorial day

Today is always an awful reminder of the Montreal massacre: 14 very bright women shot by a jerk who hadn't any brains or self-esteem. Very unfortunate for him, but why not get help? Why take out his failings on people who had something to offer? It's still the same old story – the bullies and lower species are the ones who want all the power, - because their own lives are so empty and useless.

I was devastated, as so many others were, when this occurred in 1989. I went to the memorial events each year following. Six years after it happened, I wrote a song about it; eleven years later I sang it at a live recording session; and now, twenty-two years later, I'm putting it online because the same crap still happens every day.

Men still disrespect; employers still pay less; whole countries repress women and girls and allow atrocious acts to be committed by the animals who believe it's their right to own and abuse.

Fortunately, there are many men out there who know better, and who love and help and support. I thank them and all those who work to improve our world, not bring it down more.

just how moronic can people become?

Well, I haven't managed to get to the computer to catch up lately, so this post will really be three in one. First the rant, the one about the moronic people:

It's really not worth wasting any time on stupid people, but – COME ON!! - a U.S. Woman pepper-spraying other shoppers on the aptly-named Black Friday? (another piece of marketing idiocy, by the way). She must be such a loving mother, to want so much to buy the crap that is pushed on us for her children. They will no doubt grow up to be just like her.

So, OK, what is worth speaking about? 1. the real work that many people do to make positive change in the world; 2. music, music, music – the kind that is inventive, melodic, and likewise has a positive message; 3. warm, sunny weather when it comes; 4. good writers; 5. parents who spend time with their children, and who mercifully aren't perverted like so many coaches, or church and community 'leaders'; 6. children who do homework instead of trashing others on the internet; 7. the 'help others' movement; 8. men who dance and don't carry guns; 9. the Toronto student who created a school production against bullying.

There. Now i feel better. And not to be negative again, but i must mention this: I had my radio rant on the 26th of Nov. (canoefm.com – the last saturday of the month – 9pm for December, then 10pm to midnight after that – it's Zoe's Haphazard Saturday Night Show). I just couldn't fail to comment about the less-than-human specimen we have locally who murdered his ex-wife and his own 3 daughters. No, Mr. witless wonder, it's not an 'honour' killing. It's totally dishonourable and despicable.

Onward and upward. Item number 2:

Went to the Women's Blues Revue on Saturday night (my radio show was pre-recorded), and saw two women singing that i'd never seen before and really liked: Kat Danser, a new voice on the scene, and Alda Lee, who has sung with every major jazz bandleader in the US, but now lives in Peterboro, Ont. Great night of music, and band, and many other performers. Now, you're probably asking yourself, “Why hasn't Zoe ever sung there?” Me too. I'm a blues & jazz singer; I've written lots of blues songs...I think we all need to find out what gives.

My third and last item:

Got two new (home-made) videos up on youtube recently, for your 'wasted days and wasted nights' viewing pleasure (apologies to Freddie Fender; i like that song of his).

Plus: Marg Stowe put a third video up there of the tune I performed at the celebration of Daisy Debolt's life and music on Oct. 24 this year. It's a song I wrote, but one whose message I thought Daisy would like. Marg's on guitar, and George Koller plays bass, alongside my piano plunking; they make the song sound fantastic. It was a beautiful night with many musicians performing and remembering Daisy.

keep those cards and letters coming

just letting y'all know that i have put another song of mine on youtube -
titled "Unsung Song"
and did i mention "Christmas Blues" was up last week? it's a more interesting tune than the usual fare.

why can't i have some money, or at least water?

even though it's a lovely sunny day, much too warm for november, which i am loving, still i have lots about which (like the grammar?) i can complain. no money is a constant - i have songs i would like to record and/or promote, but of course, everything costs. here's me being miserable. (the black & white photo).

and now i have to earn what money i can by ruining my day with some underage trouble-makers, which is to say, supply teaching. not looking forward to that.

and for some reason, (is the universe telling me that i need to "flow" better? as in 'go with the flow', OR WHAT??!!! i've got a bathtub faucet that won't work - more money needed - then my kitchen taps started spouting and leaking last night, so that even the pail underneath wasn't sufficient. help me, lord. give me strength (or money). i mean, i love water - here's me loving it. i am so in the swim here.
(the other photo, although i notice there's an ominous shadow over it).

i'll try, i will, to focus, and create something good from this - perhaps a song?

are you scared? can you fly?

it's hallowe'en tomorrow. oooooo. here's me and a friend being cat-ish.

also, because i just wrote to another friend who lives in Paris, i was reminded of the time i was there and performed with a local band - the bande flottante - on a floating barge on the Seine, and don't i wish i could grab a witch's broom and just fly over there again.
Lise is a wonderful bass player (me and her at her place), and Juju is an amazing guitarist (on the river Seine)

happy birthday, zoot

he would have been 86 years young today.

as days go on

just checking in...
The tribute for Daisy Debolt was held on Monday night at Hugh's Room in Toronto, and it was a wonderful event. So many musicians and people who had known and been influenced by Daisy, all up there performing and speaking about her powerful music and personality. I was honoured to be among that group; I sang one of my songs - these photos show a bit of the night. I got to sit at the beautiful grand piano, and to have the marvelous accompaniment of Marg Stowe on guitar and George Koller on bass. Also a photo of Marg performing with Tony Quarrington.

meanwhile, there's a new youtube video up. It's called zoe chilco live true blue, if you want to take a look. it has a couple of live renditions of my song True Blue.

traveling the music highway

oh, tra la, tra la.

it's monday, the day after the day after. saturday night was fun, eh? a good, and appreciative crowd at gate 403; some fantastic musicians.
here they are: Mike Allen, guitar; Chris Banks, bass; John Deehan, sax.

and i'll try to upload a short bit of one song, and another, longer one later.

enjoy.

goodbye to daisy

very sad to hear a little while ago of the death of Daisy Debolt - a wonderful artist, and a legend, really, in Canada.
I first heard her perform many years back in a little cafe called Egerton's, which was on Gerrard Street in Toronto. Then she was playing everywhere over the years, until i saw her once more at the Women's Blues Revue - an annual fest put on by the Toronto Blues Society. Daisy wowed audiences every time she played, with her very powerful voice and presence, and she was an inspiration to me.

later on, up in Haliburton, i started bringing performers to that part of Northern Ontario, in the Sugar Shack series i organized. in 2006, I had Daisy come and perform with the marvellous Marg Stowe. They put on a wonderful show. There are pictures on my website - that archival reminder of years past - that show Daisy and Marg performing at the Wintergreen Pancake House, and then all of us back at my place later, posted here.

Daisy liked my 'Rats and Welfare' tune, done in animation by Jonathan Amitay, and she very kindly posted it on her own website, before it ever got to youtube.

thanks, Daisy for all the years of fabulous music, and for your commanding devotion to your art.

p.s. this Saturday Oct. 22 - 9pm at Gate 403, Toronto. I'll be singing.

giving thanks

it's all over now, all the gobbling. (this is Canada, where Thanksgiving comes now).

hope everyone had a lovely celebration. myself, i was recovering from a resistance to food - my digestive system was apparently not interested in working - so my thanksgiving dinner was spent alone, yes, that's right - all alone - in the woods, with a bowl of amy's lentil soup. now, lest you start to feel abject pity for me - if you're over the shock, that is - i must hasten to let you know that it was fabulous. delicious, spicy, and absolutely all i wanted, including the company. just right, as goldilocks herself might say.

the weather was a delightful surprise to everyone - a whole weekend of sunny, summer-like days that made you weak with gratitude. thank you, thank you, thank you.
in the early thanksgiving morning, i was inspired to stretch in the sunshine of my back porch, and i decided i felt so good that surely sharing the moment(s) with others would have the same effect on them, so i made a wee movie of my "hangin' around". it will be here (or on youtube) in the near future.

here's a photo from the gig at the Wild Moose Pub in Haliburton, Ontario. a fun night with Ian Pay on bass and John Deehan playing sax.

also one of me on the back deck, enjoying the last rays of the summer sun amidst the glorious fall colours; and one of the full moon that night.

don't forget: GATE 403, RONCESVALLES AVE., TORONTO OCT.22, 2011 9PM

the morning dance

so continuing with the last blog: here's that pic of me in the early morning of autumn's splendour - dancing in the woods.(top right). must get a new face cream; i'm feeling so gnarly these days....
some other beautiful vistas that i have the privilege of enjoying, and this little video of how i amuse myself.

me in the morning

made you look.....

it's not morning at all, but i haven't got the photo i wanted to accompany that title ready for transfer anyway, so it's just the news roundup, since i haven't been able to get down to this job for a little while.

i do have the photo of me at the southside shuffle - hey! that was way back on sept. 10 - here's me pretending to work at the toronto blues society table.

and another one of me pretending to work at one of my gigs.

then for your final viewing pleasure - a wild turkey in my back yard. (or me just pretending)

but back to the southside shuffle. this is always a fun outing, - if you like seeing the same bands every year in exactly the same spot on the street shuffle, that is. not shuffled one bit.
i'm sorry, was that nasty? couldn't help myself. the bands have lots of good players, and many of them are friends, but really now, there are lots of great, other bands out there. it would be nice to have a little variation, one year.

meanwhile, we played at coe hill, duly noted on last blog, then last saturday - we're up to sept. 24, now - we were at dora keough's the famous irish pub on the danforth in toronto, for the great oyster shucking and eating fest, in conjunction with the one in galway, ireland. the band played, and i sang my heart out, and everyone had a lovely time. pics to follow.

COMING UP: The Wigamog Resort, Wild Moose Pub, Haliburton, Ontario - Oct. 8 7:30-11pm
Gate 403, Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto - Oct. 22 9pm-1am

true blueing

This short excerpt features the song, "True Blue", my own composition about Zoot Sims' inspiration for me, which was part of the "Zootcase" show that I performed last summer with Norm Amadio, piano; John Deehan, sax; and Ron Johnston, bass. We showed in a few cottage country towns and in Toronto. Sorry, for this clip we didn't have any special lighting.



Check out the video (Zoe Chilco & Zootcase)on youtube about the creation of the show. p.s. you can buy the CD 'zootcase' (14 tunes); email fumblingforchange@hotmail.com

there is a town.....

Through the wilds of North Ontario; past the town Neil Young sang about, and heading even further north, we travelled the long and winding road of isolated bush to arrive in Coe Hill - a happy and lovely village that warmly, and with delicious food, welcomed us inside - out of the nippy September air.

Fabulous aromas of the dinner in preparation, long tables a la "Last Supper", a beautiful old wooden counter from the shop's previous incarnation, - oh, and yes, the sunny window of the Coe Hill Cafe.

Owners Jessie and Faz, along with neighbour Johnny from the musicians' retreat by the lake, had invited us to perform, and so we did - myself, John Deehan, on sax, and new friend Howard Baer playing stand-up bass.

Thanks to each of these people for the invitation, and for the superb playing, and to all the local and 'from away' audience members, for making our visit so enjoyable and a lot of fun.

some pics for you, faithful follower:
- our names in lights (ok, in chalk)
- the sunny window
- Faz - cook, and birthday celebrant
- Howard B. and Johnny
- sinn fein (ourselves) in performance

I'll post the movie bit featuring the Zootcase tune 'True Blue' on the blog following

waaaaah! it's over

stealing that line from 'just for laughs', and it really isn't over, but it's the beginning of the end of summer; such a sad turn of the sun. summer floats away like the jelly fish. goodbye light.

i've been busy, and not able to post, but i know you're all waiting to see the latest.
we had a lot of fun in minden, ontario, at the 'blues blowout' Aug. 27. Fun, and a great audience that was in the mood for partying with the blues. i've only got one photo right now, but i can post some more later. Starting from the left, they are: Ian Pay, bass; Paul Greco, drums; meself, singing; brother Paul Chilco, guitar; and John Deehan, sax.

But meanwhile,you can picture this for yourselves: me, with a well that has gone dry (you don't miss your water....), and lugging pails to heat on the stove to do the never-ending pile of dishes that i seem to create. gotta eat, right? picture me with a big mad face, although even i have to admit that walking to the outhouse first thing in the morning, with the cool and very fresh air, is not a bad way to start the day. at least the mosquitoes and deer flies have gone.

but back to the music. two upcoming gigs:
Thursday, Sept. 15 in Coe Hill, Ontario COE HILL CAFE
2230 Main Street 7:00 P.M.

Saturday, Oct. 8 in Haliburton, Ont. The Wild Moose at the Wigamog Inn

Hope you can join us!

and as a p.s. for the gig in minden: here are some comments from the band. we really did have a good night.

Hey guys and girl haven't had that much fun at a gig in some time.... thanks to everyone!...........Ian

I'll add my thanks to everyone for a great evening of music. I especially enjoyed the orange-shirted dancers. John looks like he does in the photo because he wore himself out playing. Paul, thanks for all you work previous to the show - you had the songs down pat and excelled as usual. Great job on the bottom end, Ian. And Zoe, you were at your best -must be the Highlands.
Thanks for the Ian-John-Paul-Paul "reunion".

Paul C.

Wow - thank-you! - But who's that Grumpy Guy on the end? I only remember a great tenor player crackin' jokes 'n laughin' all night. Cheers/P.G.

Nice picture , cute singer---who's the SOUR-PUSS on the end ????? John D.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for playing so fantastically, and for making the night such a success, and so much fun. everyone in the audience had a great time, and really enjoyed the music, and they liked that we were enjoying it too. Zoe

a bowl of berries

that's what life is these days - the raspberries all gone, but the blackberries are plentiful. there's nothing better than going out the door and picking them. that is, when the bears aren't there first. had a black cub under my porch the other day, but he ran off. then the deer in the backyard, and the baby robins over the side door. you'd think i was a nature child or something...

pix are here of the above, as well as a couple from the great night we had at the Bancroft Jazz and Blues Fest. great people, great audience, and a lot of fun singing and playing.

looking forward to our Blues Blowout next Saturday, Aug.27. Minden Legion.

and meanwhile, just enjoying the rest of the summer.

p.s. send me money, universe (or whoever is interested). - i'd like to finish the next collection of songs

when you can't sleep....

been re-reading some old books during the summer - some totally forgotten. here's a quote i love from Fran Lebowitz in her 1974 book:

"Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep."

...not that i have that problem.

p.s. Friday night: Bancroft Jazz & Blues Fest 9-11pm. we'll be there!!

don't ask me; i'm shy

sometimes we all feel like this, right? but on the other hand, it's somewhat fetching.

once, many years ago, when most of the time i did feel like that, i put a scarf on my head (not my face), and zoot told me that it was very fetching.

a good word. fetching. do i fetch you?,

- with apologies to nina simone, who asked "do i move you?", in her song.