Home : Plato's Words : February 2007

February 2007

Michael Brecker was one of my absolute favorite jazz musicians and I was very sorry to hear that he lost his battle with leukemia recently. He was just 57 years old when he died. He was one of the most intense saxophonists that I have ever listened to. His music wasn’t always filled with tension or angst but there was this wonderful edge to his playing which filled you with excitement as you listened in anticipation and wondered where he was going to take you. I remember hearing him not so long ago performing with his group at the Birch Theatre at Capilano College. There was what I like to call that “New York edge” in his playing from the very first downbeat and it continued for the entire concert. There was no slow rise to a high point within the concert, we were taken to this crescendo of intensity immediately and that was very exciting somehow as it left you feeling as though you had just been swept away in that first instant and there you remained for the duration. I am so glad that I got to see Michael perform live a few times here in Vancouver. Luckily his music will live on through his recordings so that people will be able to continue listening to this remarkable talent.

It had been quite awhile since I had been fortunate enough to sing with two musical forces (Gord Grdina and Rene Worst) but finally we got the opportunity to perform together for a couple of nights. I was surprised and delighted again to hear that from the very beginning of the night and throughout the chemistry we had experienced in the past had remained strong. I don’t think I have ever sung within such a connected trio on so many fronts. We established a type of counterpoint which had this marvelous ebb and flow to it as we played through songs. I know that it is not my imagination to identify this chemistry since several people who have heard us play music together commented this on. The thrill for me is that when I sing with these two artists I am constantly hearing new ideas and musical shapes in my singing. It feels effortless and my own singing surprises me. It may not always be the most profound perfect singing that I am doing but it is honest and without reservation so therefore it is free and in the moment and is ultimately what I am always trying to do in singing jazz and yet with Gord and Rene, I am not TRYING, I am simply listening and responding and then following my own natural instincts as I sing. I hope to sing much more with these two men and we have spoken several times now about making a recording together as well.

Part two of my February Words is being written on the final day of my little winter Alberta/Saskatchewan tour. Wow, I am exhausted as are all the guys apparently. It has been a trip (actually two trips) of highs and lows, wonderful surprises and also other unwelcome surprises. My wonderful band took it all in stride. Stage one of the trip included drummer Nino DiPasquale, whom we have been calling “Dog the D”. This moniker was given to him by my bassist Paul Rushka. Stage one of the trip took us to Wainwright Alberta for two concerts. I loved our time there because the second day didn’t involve travel so I was able to relax and went for a long prairie winter run down the highway which was very inspiring. On a calm clear and sunny winter day there is an ever stretching beauty as one looks across the prairies. The fields were covered with snow and the bare branches of the trees, and the dry grasses pushing through the snow create a gorgeous peaceful palatte. Of course on the prairies you can see forever and it made me think of the song “On A Clear Day”. Such beauty! Following these concerts we flew back to Vancouver for two days of teaching and such.

The evening before we were to leave on our very early morning flight  for stage two of the tour, I received a message from Nino that he was so sick that he could not possibly travel with us. After my pulse slowed down again (yes I panicked and wondered how on earth I could find a drummer that could leave on a moment’s notice. Luckily after several phone calls I reached Morgan Childs. Morgan is a young energetic drummer whom I have played with on a number of occasions before. He is very talented and one of the nicest guys around and…he said “yes”. After dealing with changing flights and other details that had to be taken care of, we were off on stage two of our trip. Each of the performances were special to me on some level but in particular I felt I had achieved some kind of musical freedom with my fellow musicians and for once (actually several times) my dreadful nerves didn’t consume me; in fact they left me quite alone. How fantastic to simply stand and sing and be able to listen and interact and make the music. I don’t know if this has been a break through for me that will continue but I am hoping so.

Everywhere we went people were very welcoming and they seemed to enjoy the music. I enjoyed the pleasure of hanging out with three interesting men. Doug Stephenson on guitar, Paul Rushka on bass and Morgan Childs on drums. They are three men who seemed to be able to “go with the flow”. That has become my motto on trips such as this because one can never predict what might happen. You cannot control the weather nor other things that might happen along the way but I believe that if you attempt to take it all in stride so much as possible that all things will work out in the end. After we performed in Regina to a wonderful audience I woke up with a very queasy and aching stomach. Perhaps whatever Nino had somehow had taken a hold of me too? I still don’t know but singing that evening was very difficult. I did manage and as ever music is the healer so while I was singing I actually felt somewhat better and then afterwards felt dreadful again. Thank goodness this didn’t happen on the first days of the trip! Still today I am aching and ready for home and rest. I wouldn’t trade the travel and music experiences for anything. I get to do what I love with people whom I appreciate and enjoy being with. I am hoping that people who heard our music this past January enjoyed the experience too.

Karin