Home : Plato's Words : May 2001

May 2001

I performed at The Cellar (Vancouver's number one jazz club) for the first time in April with a wonderful band; guitarist Bill Coon, saxophonist Mike Allen, bassist Darren Radtke and drummer Bruce Nielsen. The Cellar, for those who have never been to Vancouver, is an intimate club that seats about 70 people. The people that go to the club are there because they really want to hear live jazz so they are truly listening. It is a thrill to be able to "sculpt" a song and use the quietest tones imaginable and still be able to hear them. I have performed in large theatres too and believe there is something unique about having the listeners within an arms reach for the most part in a small club setting. At times you can almost hear the audience breathe with you in the quiet passages. It's wonderful!

On the concert scene, I went to see Kirk Macdonald (saxophonist) and John Taylor (pianist) in a duo performance at Capilano College Theatre in North Vancouver in April. They were magnificent in their exploration of harmony, melody and rhythm, never running out of new ideas throughout the concert.

They performed several of Kirk Macdonald's own compositions, a few of John Taylor's and a couple of beautiful standards too.

Seeing the concert reminded me to listen to one of my favorite CD's: LIKE SONG LIKE WEATHER which is the duo recording of vocalist Norma Winstone and pianist John Taylor. They have one of the most beautiful versions of Lazy Afternoon that I have ever heard. Something else I enjoy with this CD is that they perform several songs that are not often heard such as Strange Meadowlark by Dave Brubeck and Alice In Wonderland which has a lovely melody and equally lovely text.

I just returned from performing in the first ever JASPER FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND WINE in Jasper, Alberta. I was there with pianist Lou Mastroianni (my husband) and bassist John Taylor. (Not the same John Taylor as the pianist; this one resides in Edmonton). While there we got to listen to a great concert with pianist Anton Kuerti and violinist Erika Raum. They performed an entire concert of Beethoven inside the train station which had been converted to a concert hall for this festival, complete with full concert grand, stage, lights etc. During the concert at least 4 times a long train rumbled by, not really loudly but clearly audible to the audience and the performers. The performers paused in between movements for several minutes at one point to see if the train might finally reach its end. It did only to be followed by another equally long train. Somehow the sound of the train made sense with the Beethoven repertoire. It was as if Beethoven was making his presence known with a grouchy grumble. Perhaps he wasn't fond of the German wine that was paired with his music after the concert was over although I heard no such complaints from the other audience members.

Jasper is a beautiful place and people that attended the festival got to sample wonderful wine, hear good music and take in the gorgeous scenery too.

That's it from this Plato for May…