Some of my music debuts today at the Toronto Int'l Film Festival (TIFF)

I recently made some musical contributions to the new Daniel Radcliffe film 'Horns', which debuts at the TIFF today. 

It is not a big feature but I have my foot in the door thanks to Devin Powers, a film and TV composer I started working with this past year.

The credits will read:

Performed by Devin Powers, Dorian Charnis & Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, Courtesy of Powers Music Company

Devin is very talented and successful in TV and Film music, and I have hitched my wagon to his star in this field, and have already begun doing a variety of projects with him. He has a compositional/ performance spot for me on his upcoming TV drama entitled Kings of Pittsburgh, which will start production soon.

It seems like the creative (jazz) spirit has a parallel universe in the film and TV world... just ask boffo composer/trumpeters Jeff Beal and Mark Isham (get out google and wiki). 

Many thanks to Devin for his leg up!

 

Grown-up Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe turns into a devilish murder suspect in Horns part of TIFFs Vanguard program

Grown-up Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe turns into a devilish murder suspect in Horns, part of TIFF's Vanguard program.

By: Peter Howell Movie Critic 

A devilish Daniel Radcliffe and other possessed beings are featured amongst new movies announced Tuesday for theToronto International Film Festival, which runs Sept. 5 to 15.

The ex-Harry Potter actor stars in Horns, Alexandre Aja’s screen adaptation of Joe Hill’s best-selling supernatural thriller about a man who suddenly finds himself sporting devil’s horns and embroiled in a murder mystery.

The film will have its world premiere in TIFF’s Vanguard program, the convention-defying arthouse twin of the genre-celebrating Midnight Madness section, both of which are programmed by festival cryptmaster Colin Geddes.


Onward and upward!!



Live video from Kuala Lumpur Jazz Fest

I was going through some performance videos and realized that this show from the Kuala Lumpur Jazz Fest Launch never made it out there!

It was a great experience to perform with Singapore's very top keyboardist, Jeremy Monteiro, and Jordan Rivers on guitar, Christy Smith on bass, and Erik Hargrove on drums..... with video by Sylvia Ronahan and audio by Sunil Kumar.

 


Had a great show at Spaghettini

Just getting back off the road and organizing some posts...

What a wonderful time we had at Spaghettini- it is truly the smooth jazz mecca in the LA area!

Many thanks to my band: Nathan Scott (drums), Ernie Nunez (bass), Stephen Lexner (guitar), Dave Iwitaki (keys), Jason Webber (saxes), Tony Drake (guest guitar), Lisa Gay (guest vocals). And we can't forget the awesome audio from 'Q'!



The cool new album from Bob Baldwin!

Bob Baldwin is a seasoned keyboard artist, producer and songsmith, who has hit the big Two-Oh, as far as album releases go anyway...

This one is a doozy, and Bob's stuff just gets deeper and deeper!

I have had the good fortune to be part of it, and Bob and I have some tunes in the can for MY next project as well! 

Check out his new release, it is a hot seller, available from iTunes, Amazon, CD Universe, and more...



--

ciao 4 niao,


Gabriel Mark Hasselbach  ♬♩ 

Back from a fun show in Detroit

I'll be taking an extra early flight in just a few hours, Thursday Aug 15, and will be back in Vancouver, just in time for a noon concert at Metrotower Plaza for a cool concert, then Friday at noon at Bentall Centre Plaza. 

Here is a two song clip of my Detroit show, where I was featured with the ab-fab flute phenom Alexander Zonjic........




... and here is some soundcheck and greenroom snippets of AZ warming up and playing MY flute along side his own:



My rare public US political comment

I try to stay out of politics, because it is often Idiots fighting the Ineffective, and it all seems so futile. I am typically a left leaning thinker because the ideals embraced by that camp are usually to the betterment and interest of the 'other 98%'. In theory, I stand for the ideals and goals of the Obama Administration, and reject the bulk of the Right Wing perpetrations for many reasons, but mostly because of their interest in combining Church and State, General Misogyny, Lack of Gun Control. Corporate Greed, and their Rejection of Individuals' Freedom of choice on so many levels. Times have changed- towards the more desperate in many ways- but regardless of 'what was then', there needs to be effective and egalitarian solution to 'what is now'. 

However, I am prompted to mount the soapbox for a minute or two. There are some good points to this post below (although a little misguided) that make me question Obama's ability to deal effectively with Congress/House (especially in light of sequestering), and how he is perceived in the world and to the US as a country. Sure, one can 'play nice' and 'bond' with the rest of the world, but now is not the time to be perceived as a wimp when it comes to taking a firm (but not overly congenial) stance in the world arena, and showing some solidarity to the good ol' US of A. 

Yes, the Right is often very self serving, short sighted, and counter productive when it comes to law and reform, and makes unholy/unfair/unbelievable lawmaker payraises hard to quash, but just get in there and throw your weight around, O! The Right/ Big Business is a ruthless machine, so unless you get your ballsack strapped in, you will not get a chance to see your long term goals (which most good people believe to be worthwhile) EVER implemented- not just because of an Administration change, but because of a kneejerk, vicious backlash that will certainly undo everything noble that you have strived for. 

The other side of that coin is a danger zone unto itself, so there must be the correct middle ground staked out by all!

I do not suggest you pass this on unless you see The Middleground as the goal we need to achieve- but this can be a call to action for smart, proactive people. Just use your common sense to get a grip on the battle that may end with no winners, especially so for the general population. Knee jerk reactions to challenges don't help, they hinder. Can't we all (I am talking mostly about lawmakers and politicians) take into consideration some much needed level of fairness and brotherhood, and just 'Do The Right Thing?'  I have not gone from Blue to Red... just aiming for a RICH purple.... GMH

Give this teacher and true American a standing ovation. This 4th grade teacher has said it all, and she was brave enough to attach her name to it. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 Mr. Obama: I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States of America collectively or of me personally. You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America . You are responsible to the citizens of the United States . You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth. I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples of Europe ? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about? Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century? Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heritage. Do you not understand this? Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of Saudi Arabia .... You didn't show Great Britain , our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia .. How dare you, sir! How dare you! You can't find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don't want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey ...... You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What's the matter with you? I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you. You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them? Anything? I seriously doubt it. What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer. You haven't said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn't! Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven't you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now? I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do. We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you. I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities. I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country. Sincerely, Every real American P.S. I rarely ask that emails be 'passed around'.................PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR EMAIL LIST......it's past time for all Americans to wake up! Ms Kathleen Lyday Fourth Grade Teacher Grandview Elementary School 11470 Hwy . C Hillsboro , MO 63050 (This woman may lose her job for this letter.. I believe we owe it to her for expressing the outrage that we feel but fail to address. Please pass this on.) 
From a 4th grade teacher:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Mr. Obama:
I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States of America collectively or of me personally.

You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America . You are responsible to the citizens of the United States . You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth.

I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples of Europe ? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about? Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century? 

Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heritage. Do you not understand this?

Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of Saudi Arabia .... You didn't show Great Britain , our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia .. How dare you, sir! How dare you!

You can't find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don't want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey ...... You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What's the matter with you? I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you.

You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them? Anything? I seriously doubt it.

What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer. You haven't said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn't!
Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven't you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now?

I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do. We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you. 

I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities. I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country.

Sincerely,
Every real American

Ms Kathleen Lyday
Fourth Grade Teacher
Grandview Elementary School
11470 Hwy . C
Hillsboro , MO 63050

 

Iconic powerhouse George Duke passes away much too early at 67

 
The Jazz Network Worldwide family mourns the loss of Music Legend George Duke...our prayers go out to his family and friends...RIP George, you are so missed already, your music will keep on in our hearts.

Jazz Keyboardist George Duke Dies at 67

By  Aug. 06, 2013

Image: George Duke
KEYSTONE, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT, FILE / AP US jazz artist George Duke performs on the Stravinski Hall stage at the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival, in Montreux, Switzerland.

 

(NEW YORK) — George Duke, the Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist and producer whose sound infused acoustic jazz, electronic jazz, funk, R&B and soul in a 40-year-plus career, has died. He was 67.

A representative for Duke said the performer died Monday night in Los Angeles. Duke was being treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Duke’s son, Rashid, thanked his father’s fans in a statement Tuesday. “The outpouring of love and support that we have received from my father’s friends, fans and the entire music community has been overwhelming,” he said. “Thank you all for your concern, prayers and support.”

Duke was born in San Rafael, Calif. He appeared on a number of Frank Zappa albums and played in the Don Ellis Orchestra, Cannonball Adderley’s band and with jazz musician Stanley Clarke. Duke also played keyboard on Michael Jackson’s multiplatinum 1979 album, “Off the Wall.”

His wife, Corine, died from cancer last year. He was unable to make music for months, but he overcame his grief to create the album “DreamWeaver,” released last month. It features a fusion of sounds and a touching tribute to his late wife on the romantic piano-driven ballad “Missing You.”

He began taking piano lessons when he was 4 years old, after seeing Duke Ellington perform. “I don’t remember it too well ... but my mother told me I went crazy,” Duke said on his website. “I ran around saying, ‘Get me a piano, get me a piano!’”

Duke said he learned a lot about music from going to church, which helped him add a funk style to his sound. He played in high-school jazz groups and was heavily influenced by Miles Davis. He earned degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and San Francisco State University.

On tour as part of the George Duke Trio, he performed in Los Angeles at a show where Adderley, Zappa and Quincy Jones were in attendance. Duke soon joined Zappa on a tour for a year in 1969. He joined Adderley’s band in 1971. He met Clarke through Adderley, and they formed the Clarke/Duke Project. Their song “Sweet Baby” was a Top 20 hit on the Billboard pop charts.

Duke became a solo artist in 1976 and released more than 30 solo albums. He also produced for Miles Davis, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Natalie Cole.

He worked as musical director for the Soul Train Music Awards and other special events. He also scored songs on soundtracks for “The Five Heartbeats” and “Karate Kid III.”

 

Read more: http://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/06/jazz-keyboardist-george-duke-dies-at-67/#ixzz2bF6RSlME

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