Equations & other beauties…

I am reminded of the beauty I am lucky enough to see here in Vancouver where I live, especially these past few weeks in August where FINALLY the days are sunny and the evenings too; holding their warmth into the later hours. During the summer I don’t have many gigs and I don’t teach so although I am constantly working on music it appears to be a time of preparation for future performances and projects and for the teaching that lies ahead. There is time for cycling and leisure walking and time for socializing with friends and going to concerts and films. There is time to visit family and time to plan a camping trip to end the summer and get ready for autumn days ahead.

First, what lies ahead is next week’s annual Swing Camp taking place in Sorrento BC. I have taught there for several summers on and off and I always love the experience of being immersed in music all day long whether that “immersion” is in the role of a teacher, a performer or a listener. “Swing is the thing” in Sorrento but that doesn’t mean that blues, R&B, bossa and a few other grooves are not explored.

This year I’ll be teaching a class in vocal repertoire and it is a particular passion of mine. We’ll the development of an interesting and diverse repertoire with respect to being a jazz vocalist. I have selected a new slate of tunes, some which are new additions to my own repertoire. I will never run out of new material given the thousands that exist both well known to many and some less familiar but equally good songs!

I’ll also be teaching a special workshop on the inclusion of the verse in jazz standards. Often people (including musicians) get confused about what a verse or a chorus are since in jazz the term “Verse” has a different meaning than the “Verse” in pop or folk music. The verses in jazz are those little lyrical introductions that allow the singer to preview the song’s story in a fashion. It is the little lead in story, which sets up the familiar song, which in jazz we call the “Chorus”. Since many of these songs are from Broadway musicals and films, the composers use the verses to move from the spoken word within the acted scene into the musical aspect of the show. Not all jazz vocalists employ the usage of the verse but singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and many others often included them. Some of the verses really are little gems lyrically and melodically and I personally adore including them when possible.

My ukulele skills are not improving dramatically however I continue to put some time in almost daily so that hopefully I will progress from being a beginner player to one who can play some songs with less effort physically and without struggling mentally. When I am practicing the ukulele I am surprised at how time seems to disappear. By that I mean I continue playing until I suddenly become aware that much time has passed and there are other things I should be doing. Happily it doesn’t feel like practicing even when there are challenges involved in the finger placement, in the tuning of the uke, in the remembering of certain chord positions. Often it feels like play as opposed to work and I believe that is a good thing.

On the performing front, I have some shows coming up and one of those will take place in Whitehorse, Yukon as I go up there in September to teach the second level of a vocal jazz workshop and, I’ll be performing a concert during my time there. I am very excited about week two of the workshop since the spring session proved to be very successful. Such talented and wonderful people residing in Whitehorse! I am still struck by the fact that just 15 years ago I first attended a vocal jazz workshop in Banff, studying with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton; two of the world’s finest jazz artists. That experience changed my life and inspired me to continue my journey in vocal jazz. I hope I can be a good teacher and inspire others to choose a similar path.

More news: I have put together a brand new ensemble following a particularly fun jazz vespers performance I had earlier this year. The initial ensemble didn’t have a drummer but now I am very excited to include Joe Poole. I have heard Joe several times in this past year and I have been able to sing with him on one occasion in a big band concert. I am deeply impressed not only by his drumming skills but by his absolute (seems to me at least) devotion to the music he is playing whether it is a big band setting or a small ensemble. He can be what I call a “ferocious drummer” but often that ferocious nature is more to do with energy and intensity rather than with decibels and power. I love that about his playing!!

So…the new ensemble is called “THE EQUATION” since I believe and hope that this particular combination of musicians will result in some fantastic music making and I can be a part of that. The musicians are pianist Chris Gestrin, bassist Laurence Mollerup, clarinetist James Danderfer and drummer Joe Poole. We’ll have our debut performance later this fall at The Cellar in Vancouver. I have some work to do to get ready for that. Talk is cheap I know so I best devote some of my time so that I can be positive part of  “ THE EQUATION”…

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