Home : Plato's Words : February 2004

February, 2004

My trip to Toronto last month was very exciting indeed. I had great fun musically speaking and in every other way as well so it took me a number of days to come down from my "Toronto high". Performing at the Glenn Gould Studio was an experience that I will not soon forget. Denzal Sinclaire, Bonnie Brett, Susi Arioli and I performed with Mark Eisemann's Quintet to a sold out theatre. We each sang our separate tunes and then collectively sang "Pennies From Heaven" as an encore tune. It sure was a thrill to sing in a band with Mike Murley on sax and Kevin Turcotte on trumpet and Mark with his sensitivity and talent was just the perfect musician to help create a comfortable and inspiring atmosphere in which to perform. On the rehearsal day and on the concert evening itself I couldn't stop smiling as I sang with some of the most talented musicians in the country. Of course I get to do that here in Vancouver too but it always is exciting to sing with a brand new group of musicians where everything is completely fresh and the element of the unknown exists. It should feel like that anyway performing jazz of course but it is even more easily done when it truly is a brand new experience with people that you have never performed with before. Getting the opportunity to share the stage with the three talented singers was a bonus. I think it is always fun to meet brand new people that do the same thing that you do and share thoughts on what that is like, being a jazz musician in Canada. The bottom line is everyone is very passionate about the music and finds ways to support their "jazz habit". We do this music because we absolutely love it. Perhaps for some of us it comes easier but the passion for the music is what seems to drive us all.

My debut at THE TOP OF THE SENATOR was another gift in my whirlwind weekend. I say "gift" because that's what it felt like. I was given this gift of singing with a progressive, powerful and supportive trio: Phil Dwyer, Neil Swainson and Terry Clarke. How could I go wrong? They didn't know what tunes I would do until a few moments before our evening's performance and I hadn't sung with any of them before so once again there was that exciting, adrenaline raising sensation of allowing the tunes to unfold as we played together for the first time. To me it is something akin to using the songs as recipes with the four of us there to cook something up together. There is the saying that "too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth" but somehow with all the cooks really listening to each other and finding a balance, a lovely dish can be the result, don't you think? I was in heaven. Music truly is a universal language and though few words were spoken I felt that I got to know each of the musicians a little bit through their playing, in their pouring out of feeling and expression. Of course I am not a woman who silently stands between tunes Ha! (The word chatterbox comes to mind) so perhaps they got to know me a little bit as well through my banter in between tunes as I addressed the audience. Ah the wonderful audience…how grateful I was to perform to a packed house. I was really touched to have so many people there on a Sunday night to hear us perform particularly since I am not well known in that side of Canada. Thanks to all of you for your warmth and support.

Now back to Vancouver and off of my cloud nine Toronto experience. I know it is a little bit early to be thinking of spring but I know it is coming soon and once again the snowdrops are popping their little white heads through the grass. During the rainy and snowy winter season it is much easier to be inside and work on music or listen to music. I find that harder to do in the spring and summer months when I want to be outside working in the garden. Winter seems to be the ideal season for staying inside and listening to lots of music and watching music DVD's . There are so many DVD's available at the library and lately I have watched and listened to some wonderful concerts by great artists. Listening to music is a completely different experience when you are watching a concert DVD because it is as if you are really in the audience on the evening of the actual performance. There are also some great educational DVD's that have been made with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and many others.

To date I have not seen Keith Jarrett perform live although I have listened to his music on CD extensively. Watching his Standards II DVD with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette was an eye opening experience. To hear a musician play his or her instrument is one thing but to see and hear them connecting with their instrument and with their fellow musicians is a whole other experience. Keith Jarrett really exists in another zone when he is creating at the piano. He doesn't appear to be looking at the keys as he is playing and he can't remain sitting on his piano bench, The music seems to lift him right off of his feet and interestingly enough, listening to his playing has always had that effect on me. The music seems to create a floating sensation and although I am sitting or standing at the time of listening I feel airborne somehow. Another wonderful DVD concert is The Pat Metheny Group performing a show in Japan. It is a real show with amazing light effects and all of the things that a big concert production might include but the music itself is what made the concert awe inspiring. This is exciting music to listen to and to watch over and over again. Pat is such a great composer and he really explores all kinds of roots in his tunes. Some burn with a rock and roll drive and others in a Brazilian vein are quiet and spacious.

A Bill Evans DVD that I recently saw painted an extraordinary picture of this sensitive artist. His life story is filled with sadness but the music that he created remains some of the most beautiful piano playing that I have ever heard whether he is playing with a trio, a larger ensemble or alone at the piano. What a musical genius he really was. I am currently reading a book on his life "How My Heart Sings". It is interesting to play some of the recordings mentioned in the book and have a clearer perspective on what exactly was happening in his life at the time of the recording.

Yesterday I listened to the CD "Everybody Digs Bill Evans" which includes his Peace Piece. His solo piano rendition here is of such beauty that even though I have listened to it many times before I had to press replay several times yesterday as soon as it ended just so that I could experience it once more. Isn't that a wonderful thing about recordings? You can play them over and over again and all that beauty that the musicians captured in the recording session is there to enjoy time after time. Happy listening everyone…

That's it for this month.

Karin