Still on the Charts

I have the good fortune to still be exposed on the Contemporary Jazz Charts with keyboardist Bob Baldwin's juggernaut Chameleon 3000, and my good friend (also a keyboardist) Greg Manning has had amazing success with his last and current album. Both Greg and Bob will be featured on my upcoming album HORNUCOPIA...


Other Vancouverites making a splash on the mainstream side is vibraphonist and drummer Craig Scott who makes his debut, and sax stalwart Cory Weeds. Legendary guitarist Ollie Gannon also has a high ranking on the charts. Worth picking up- all of them!




Go team!

Special guests tonight!

The warm weather continues and the patio is still in full bloom at Ten Ten Tapas (1010 Beach Ave), where I will be performing tonight as per my usual Rockin' the Ribjoint Saturday event.

There are some noteworthy additions to the lineup tonight, including Van Le, a crossover violinist who doesn't just fiddle about when it comes to great music. She will perform a variety of tunes with us tonight, and is just getting her feet wet in Vancouver!

Also on the agenda is Vancouver's near legendary soulman Billy Dixon, and the jazz and blues belter Lisa Fennell. Both have 'pipes' for days and will help get the place jumping. Gerry Boey will 'horn in' too!

In other news, I am off to New Orleans Monday for a more than a week, and when I return I have a couple of brand new venues I will be playing before I pick up again at Ten Ten:

Wed, Sept 17 I am doing the inaugural launch of Romano's Restaurant's Jazz Night. A fun new venue for live music at 4660 Hastings, Bby.

And on Friday, Sept 19 I bring my full five piece band into 1789.ca for two show sets of original tunes. I will debut tunes from my upcoming album 'Hornucopia' and we will let it all hang out!

See you tonight and the week of Sept 17, 19,and 20!

​

The Sunshine (and Music) returns!

Mother Nature reminded us to not take warm weather for granted, and ushered in Autumn with a blustery few days. She has relented however, and the next few days are just like old times!

This is great news for music lovers and foodies..... take note:

This Thursday (Sept 4) I will be sitting in at the Fairview Pub (B'way @Laurel) at 6 pm engaging in Beer, Beef, and Blues. The inimitable John Nolan has been holding court there for years and always has great players in the band.... come and be surprised.

Friday at noon, I am performing a free outdoor concert with Vancouver's most notable old school R&B singer, Billy Dixon. He will have his full Soultrain Express band in action and I will be on trombone. Come on down to Bentall Tower 4 (1055 Dunsmuir, lower plaza) for a great lunchtime show from noon to 1:30. Lots of seating and food stands nearby. Sunshine is guaranteed!

Saturday the 6th, at 7 pm, I will be performing at my regular Rockin' The Ribjoint Saturday Party at Ten Ten Tapas (1010 Beach on the seawall). This place is the perfect trifecta of food, music, and view, and the ribs are unparalleled. The patio is amazing and Chef Matthew always adds new and exciting dishes to the menu. He is a highly trained, award winning culinary master, and must be experienced! Lots of guests show up for a jam, and there is (literally) dancing in the aisles....

Sunday I have a private event on Granville Island, but intend to sneak over on a break to see Dave Guiney's Swing Aggregation at the Arts Club Backstage Lounge. Well worth the small cover!

See you this weekend- and bring your shades!

Here is a sample of a new track on my album scheduled for October... Night Sky (featuring the sax of Rock Hendricks of the Paul Hardcastle Band)



Long Weekend Music Fun

Well, judging by the calendar AND the rain, we have have hit the denouement of the Summer. It ain't over yet, however... we have this one great weekend to look forward to, with a perfectly situated Labor Day! After that, if global warming plays us a good hand, we will have a stunning Indian Summer, as we have been known to have (back when it was politically correct to do so).

So, make this the weekend you meant to have all summer... hit the PNE (early), and in the evening come enjoy yourself with an evening of jazzy music, food, gambling, and take in the view....

Tonight (Friday) I am at the Hard Rock Casino (Coquitlam) in the Unlisted Lounge. I love this place! The food is good (my fav: the fish tacos). I start at 9:30 and go till 12:30, so come around 8 pm, drop $40 on the slots, and have some food and a cocktail while diggin' on the freshest and funkiest jazz around... I am there most Fridays, so check the schedule.

Tomorrow (Saturday) I am at my longstanding haunt Ten Ten Tapas, where the musical guests come by in droves and we always have a real jammin' party. It is not sleepy there, the music cooks! The view is unmatched and the food even more unmatched (is that even a phrase?), and you make excellent friends there ALWAYS! They serve tapas style dishes (NOT Spanish tapas!) and are perfect, succulent portions with a nice price. Come and enjoy a meal and a cocktail for $20!

Sunday afternoon from 3 - 5 pm I am back at the Hard Rock in the event you want to win back that $40 from Friday  ;)

Come say hi!

I have a new album coming in October, and I try to keep the music pretty FONKY, but here is a little bonus, the one love song I have been working on... a little 'bedroom music' if you will...

  


Lobby The Copyright Board!

The Canadian Copyright Board has drastically cut the airplay royalties for Canadian Musicians, crippling an already struggling industry. You can do something to help.... write these honchos and speak your mind...

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WANT TO LOBBY THE COPYRIGHT BOARD? HERE’S HOW

You can write the Board members or call directly. Here are the contact details.

Sample letter:

To The Canadian Copyright Board,

Although music and its production still remain in high demand, the music industry has been decimated by many cruel blows over the last 10 years. The one remaining viable revenue stream left standing has been cut off at the knees by an arguably lobby-ist driven rate downgrade, and will surely diminish or curtail future productions that feed the system. Although market demand for music is high, the usual laws of supply and demand have been turfed by a detrimental stroke of the pen. Canadians aren't even on a commensurate rate scale as Americans, who are notorious for this type of bureaucratic myopia. Do you think music grows on trees? Get with it and fix this!'

secretariat@cb-cda.gc.ca






AFM President Blasts NFL Super Bowl Halftime Kickback Scheme

Pay for play.... What a concept! 
(Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?)

AFM - American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       

August 21, 2014                                                                                          

Contact: Antoinette Follett

(315) 422-4488 ext. 106

afollett@bentley-hall.com

               AFM President Blasts NFL Super Bowl Halftime Kickback Scheme


New York, NY – In what could be deemed the most colossal pay to play scheme ever, the National Football League (NFL) has reportedly asked potential Super Bowl halftime performers if they would be willing to pay the league to play at its big game.
"It's not like the NFL and its Super Bowl organizers don't have any money and can't afford to pay for halftime show performances, it's about the insatiable thirst for profits at the expense of great musical entertainment and those who create it. You can find kickback schemes like this coming from unscrupulous bar and nightclub owners, but for the NFL to descend to such depths would be unconscionable,” said American Federation of Musicians International President Ray Hair.

The AFM will bring the matter up for discussion with the AFL-CIO's Department of Professional Employees which includes representatives from all US art and entertainment unions, including the NFL Players Association.

Though the NFL doesn't usually pay the performing halftime acts, this seems to be a new low. The NFL has reportedly shortlisted its choices for next year's Super Bowl halftime show to Rihanna, Coldplay and Katie Perry, and was also reported to have requested a portion of post-show tour earnings to secure the booking. A 30-second TV commercial cost $3.8 million and there were 45 minutes of advertisements during the game. The league's annual revenue is more than $9 billion, and Commissioner Roger Goodell says he would like to reach $25 billion by 2027.

                                                                                                                                            
ABOUT THE AFM--Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO, is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 80,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, videogames, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. For more information, contact the main number at (212) 869-1330 or visit the website at www.afm.org.


Follow the AFM on Twitter www.twitter.com/the_AFM and Facebook www.facebook.com/afm.org

AFM Website | Edit Member Profile | AFM Facebook | AFM Twitter | AFM YouTube

Success of a local music scene

Reprinted from a FB post by Jeremy Monteiro

The key thing in the success of a local music scene is the support of musicians of each other and the support of music fans for local bands.

And here is one big secret in creating a local music scene. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE EACH OTHER'S MUSIC. But if you respect the hard work and dedication of your fellow musicians, lend a hand and support each other.

It doesn't matter if you are famous or just starting out. Go to each others' gigs, suspend judgement or the need to make comparisons. If you are already well on your way, no matter what level the musicians or band, at some point in your journey, you were at that very same level....and you needed the support and encouragement of other musicians and music fans. And they obviously gave it to you or you would not have continued on your journey and be where you are now.

And if you are just starting out, go out to support the established musicians.We too need your support and encouragement....and when we see you support us, we are touched and we will remember you when we can do something to help you move ahead.

New artists and musicians struggle and suffer. Unless you are Lady Gaga or Justin Timberlake or in the top 3% of acts, even established musicians struggle even if we don't actually suffer.

And....older musicians, if they were not careful with their money management, can also reach a point in their old age where they suffer and struggle again. Some are legends and I personally know one who died alone in an old aged home in LA after an illustrious career as a great drummer.

As music fans and even radio station programmers, the easy way is just to play what's on the charts, to follow the herd.

But right here, right now in your own home town, there are people who work hard, who are dedicated, some are well-known some are starting out some are mid career, some are in their old age still making great music. We need each other....because the alternative is a depressing cultural desert.

If we call ourselves music lovers, then just make it a point, whether you love or only like or don't really like....just go sometimes, support local musicians, buy a drink or two or pay a door charge to get in, buy an album or a track (legally)....a little bit of support by everyone from every part of society can help lift music and musicians in Singapore.

Don't compare the local artist with a Grammy Award winning artist. You can show your love to both and the fruits of your support and love will allow the Singapore music scene or your own local music scene to flourish, maybe we will see it in our lifetime.

(Thank you George J Choty for sharing that poster that inspired this post)

Some video of performances with myself, Jeremy Monteiro (keys), Christy Smith (bass), Jordan Rivers (guitar), and Eric Hargrove (drums)


Don't miss today's Music Cruise

Don't miss today's Boat Cruise, the weather will be perfectly warm but non- blazing!
There are two floors of entertainment and a plethora of talent on board the Queen of Diamonds, boarding at 1 pm, sailing 2-6 pm. Afterwards the party carries on at the cool patio nitespot Ten Ten Tapas @ 1010 Beach Ave, where most band and cruise guests will party on, drink and nosh on tasty menu items from Chef Matty. If you can't make the cruise, meet us at Ten Ten around 7! Guest musicians welcome!


Gabriel Mark Hasselbach  ♬♩