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  ♬♩

Van Heusen: Swingin' With Frank and Bing

Don't miss this KCTS 9 (PBS) biopic this Monday Aug 11 at 9 pm and Aug 16 at 5 pm. 

Jimmy Van Heusen wrote over 600 songs, many classics, for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey,  Judy Garland, etc. He was also a pilot and an honorary member of the Rat Pack....

A fascination character study!




Gabriel Mark Hasselbach  ♬♩

Sunday jazz brunch today: Dockside

Hi Everyone!

Just wound up a beautiful day at an outdoor show here on Bainbridge Island at the Clearwater Casino. I have to get up very early to catch a 7 am ferry back to Seattle followed by the usual long drive to (hopefully) arrive back in Vancouver by 11 am!

If you haven't done so already, please come on down for brunch at Granville Island Dockside Restaurant today and enjoy the fine weather! 

I'm there 11:30-2:30. Rezzies are recommended and ask if I am playing when you call- it helps further the cause, y'know!?

Should be fun....returning three years after a three year run there!

PS the food is pretty yummy... Hope to see you..... Details here




Gabriel Mark Hasselbach  ♬♩

Great jazz gigs this weekend

We are at the apex of this amazing summer and the music is flowing! I have been working on my new album, doing e-sessions with my L.A. co-producer extraordinaire Lew Laing, which is due in October. It is so nice to get out to enjoy the awesome weather after being cooped up in the studio as of late.... 

It is a very full weekend for me, with some really fun and jazzy events that I want to share with you!

This Friday at noon, I have my full band performing an outdoor show downtown, at the Bentall Summer Concert Series (lower plaza @ 1055 Dunsmuir). I have a powerful set of originals lined up, including my last 4 Billboard hits. With me will be guitarist Adam Rohrlick, drummer Don Powrie, keyboardist Jason Decouto, and bassist Kerry Galloway. This is the configuration we had at our awesome Fanclub gig a few months back. The plaza is an energized place, with a classy foodcourt nearby, so drop in for a truly enjoyable 90 minute lunch...



Friday evening at 9:30 I am performing at the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam in the Unlisted Room. It is a cool vibe, with a tasty menu, and a fun hang! Come see Phoenix Rising in the Asylum as well, drop some dough at the slots, and make a night of it....


Typically on Saturdays I am at Ten Ten Tapas, where we really get the energy going in the whole room....
.... but this Saturday I will be at the Clearwater Casino in Washington, while the fantastic L J Mounteney holds court at Ten Ten Tapas (right on the seawall at 1010 Beach Ave). She has a punchy new show she is doing.... again, make rezzies!

And something special for this Sunday Aug 10! As many of you know, I had a steady (3 year) Sunday Brunch gig at the Dockside Restaurant on Granville Island. We had a lot of fun there, with on air promotions and live telecasts with CLEAR FM on site - back when they played smooth jazz.... (times change, sigh)...

ANYWAY, I'm back there this Sunday for an auspicious return to the legendary Sunday Brunch! I start at 11:30 and go till 2:30, so slide on in and enjoy the beautiful seaside locale! Rezzies recommended...



Monday night I am taking it easy and going to the Anza Club to see Top City at 7:30!

See you this weekend...

Oh BTW, we had a real fun music party on BC Day!