Guildwood Records : Journal

weekly notes

I've recently set up a web blog which is easier for me to keep updated. Visit www.guildwoodrecords.
blogspot.com/ for my ongoing journal.

Archive:
October 1:
>> Had a great tour of Western Canada. Met a whole bunch of really interesting and supportive people. The band sounded so good by the end (after playing about fourteen shows over a couple weeks) I wanted to make another live record.

>> I am getting excited about mixing the new record with the Horn Band and Folk Choir. Must finish details for the third annual Grand Festival of Autumnal Happiness (Mondays in November) Focus will be performing with Rob Clutton and special guests.

September 5:
>> Really hoping to get out to the Guelph Jazz festival this week. One of the best festivals around. A rare opportunity to hear Rene Lussier...see some Paul Haines videos. I have to make that big decision of attending our first Jazz Hockey game or seeing David Mott's band Friday at noon. Details at www.guelphjazzfestival.com

>> Proof reading this new website designed by one of my best and oldest buddies Steve Szigeti. He is good eh!!? You can also see some of his web creativity at Teletoon.com

>> Proof reading makes me nervous...I mean how did I put my own home address on the new Jazzstory disc as 422 College St. rather than 422 Shaw St.???

September 2:
>> It has been fun rehearsing for the Jazzstory tour. When I get together with these guys I am reminded that I could bring almost any music to the rehearsal and not only would they make it sound good but it would have that unique sound that the four of us have when we play together.

>> There are a few new tunes, and I have pulled out a couple things I wrote many years ago to play with other bands. (Lost In Banff and New Axis Blues) It will be good to get back to playing some of the material from the new Cd too.

August 29:
>> Tricky having two kids in the house now. Especially when one is a new born. Just when I think I am going to work on the tour, practise or get some sort of work done, there is always something else to do. Oh well, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

>> I have started to hear the new Cd on the radio. I still get excited by this. I am always curious what the Dj will say and what people are thinking while listening to our new music.

favourite links

This is a place I will let you know of some of my current favourite links and also a good chance for me to just hook you up with some of my friends or favourite parts the whole "big journey."

Andy Milne
http://www.andymilne.com

Andy is one of the most interesting and creative musicians making music today. Watch for his new recording with a few tracks featuring Bruce Cockburn singing songs he co-wrote with Andy.

Verge Music
http://www.vergemusic.com

This is a great mail order company where you will find many of the great creative jazz and improvised music Cds available today.

Woodchoppers
http://www.woodchoppers.com

The Woodchoppers association is a large group of Toronto musicians led by high energy drummer and "positivist" Dave Clark. The music is always improvised and the experience is always mind blowing.

Frank Zappa
http://www.zappa.com/

This is the place to find out everything about one of the most creative human beings to ever walk our planet.

Ellery Eskelin
http://home.earthlink.net/~eskelin/index.html

This is great way to get hold of this fantastic saxophonist/ composer/ bandleaders recordings. He also happens to be very intelligent and prolific and many of his informative and entertaining writings are here.

UTNE Reader
http://cafe.utne.com/cafe/

I include this one to remind myself to stay in touch with this online community. I love this magazine (and always pick up a copy before a tour) because it keeps you thinking about important and interesting topics ranging from fast food to the tragedy of third world starvation .

Carla Bley
http://www.wattxtrawatt.com/

Here the place find out lots about the great Carla Bley. It is a fun site to navigate.

Rick's Cafe
http://www.vex.net/~rixax/

Rick's site was one of the first I ever remember checking out (pre-graphics on my old Atari) He has a special way of letting us know what is going on in Toronto. He is also an incredible percussionist.

Annex Books
http://www.abebooks.com/home/ANNEXBOOKS/

This has always been one of my fave local bookstores and you can order from Janet on her website. She specializes in rare printings of Michael Ondaatje's books.

Leafs
http://www.torontomapleleafs.com/home.htm

If you are a fan of what they used to call Canada's hockey team this is the place to be. I like to read up on the farm team and get any team gossip I can find.

Brave New Waves
http://www.bravenewwaves.ca/

This is a great place to stay in touch with new music from electronic to experimental jazz. I love tuning into this show just to be suprised by what's next!

Soundlist
http://audiolab.uwaterloo.ca/~soundlst/

Soundlist is an email list I belong to that lets me know every week about the local events in the experimental and improvised music scene. A great way to stay in touch with whats going on in Toronto.

Taylor Savvy
http://www.kitty-yo.de/

Taylor Savvy AKA Dave Szigeti is one my most creative and crazy friends. He is currently putting all his energy into his Taylor Savvy project which is pop music for the slightly twisted.

Peter McPhee
http://www.chbooks.com/online/running_unconscious/index.html

Peter is a poet that writes in such a way that I cannot describe. I love it, I relate to it and it often makes me laugh. Recently, we have been working together on a new Cd that will be out next year on Guildwood Records. Coach House books is the home of many great Canadian writers and poets and you can learn more about Peter's book Running Unconscious here too.

Scream In High Park
http://www.thescream.ca

I am proud to say I haven't missed one of these poetry festivals in almost ten years. Check out the website and mark down next years date now!