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.