Day Six - Tatamagouche!
On Saturday night, we performed at Fables. This is definitely one of my favourite places that I have ever played!
We showed up at the venue around 6pm for our 7:30pm. Amy and I were greeted by Chuck and Hanna (the people that run Fables) and loaded our gear. We set up and then ordered dinner. The ham panini was incredible!
As the audience started filling up the place, Amy and I made our way to the stage. The house music was turned off, and we were let to do our thing.
The Gig.
From the first note, the audience was silent. This is very easily the most respectful crowd that I've played for in at least the last four years (since I've been back from Europe). The beauty of playing for an audience like this is that you can really use your dynamics, colours, shading - all of the subtleties that are lost in a louder room.
The other aspect of the audience that I loved was that they were focused on the music. It wasn't just that they were quiet, it was that they were wanting more from the musicians than a regular room. This quiet intensity brings out the best in musicians, and last night the energy from the audience helped feed our duo! Extremely inspiring!
We played two sets of roughly fifty minutes each, and I think we may be able to release a nice set of music from the show.
These are the nights that I live for as a jazz artist!
I can't recommend this venue enough to any artist or band coming through the East Coast.
Sunday is our last day with two concerts - one in Halifax and one in Truro.
Sunday 27 November 2011
Saturday 26 November 2011
My Tour With Amy Brandon - Day Five
Day Five - Moncton
The drive to Moncton was filled with thoughts about the gig from the previous night. Things that worked, things that needed work, things the didn't work - the usual self-deprecating musician talk...(*chuckles).
We arrived in Moncton a little earlier than expected and hung out in a coffee shop (Jitter Bean Cafe). We needed some coffee and internet. Jitter Bean has great coffee and they are super nice people! I have been recording our gigs and rehearsals since I arrived. I've always found that it's a great tool to be able to listen back. After we have some time to digest the recordings, I'm sure that we'll post some online.
I was really excited to perform at the Plan b Lounge in Moncton. It was just nominated for venue of the year in the East Coast.
Musically, I thought that Amy and I got into the zone. The music felt great! Stretching out and pushing our musical boundaries. I think that we feel like a group now. We are able to anticipate each other - we are really starting to understand each other.
The one downside to the gig was that there were a few tables of very loud people. I guess you can't always win that game...
We grabbed dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant across the street with Amy's brother-in-law and his wife (who also attended our show) and headed back to Truro.
Our next stop - Tatamagouche!
The drive to Moncton was filled with thoughts about the gig from the previous night. Things that worked, things that needed work, things the didn't work - the usual self-deprecating musician talk...(*chuckles).
We arrived in Moncton a little earlier than expected and hung out in a coffee shop (Jitter Bean Cafe). We needed some coffee and internet. Jitter Bean has great coffee and they are super nice people! I have been recording our gigs and rehearsals since I arrived. I've always found that it's a great tool to be able to listen back. After we have some time to digest the recordings, I'm sure that we'll post some online.
I was really excited to perform at the Plan b Lounge in Moncton. It was just nominated for venue of the year in the East Coast.
Musically, I thought that Amy and I got into the zone. The music felt great! Stretching out and pushing our musical boundaries. I think that we feel like a group now. We are able to anticipate each other - we are really starting to understand each other.
The one downside to the gig was that there were a few tables of very loud people. I guess you can't always win that game...
We grabbed dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant across the street with Amy's brother-in-law and his wife (who also attended our show) and headed back to Truro.
Our next stop - Tatamagouche!
My Tour With Amy Brandon - Day Four
Day Four - Fredericton
On Thursday, we were heading to Fredericton. We were heading to our first gig!
We woke up that morning and hit what has become a routine - coffee and rehearsal. After we ran our tunes fairly quickly, we loaded up the car for the four hour drive to Fredericton.
We arrived at the James Joyce (our venue for the evening) and loaded our gear. We met with the manager. After a bite to eat and some running around to find a cell phone charger (I forgot mine). We hit the stage.
The Gig.
I was a little worried before we started playing, Amy warned me the the crowd could be sparse, and it seemed like it would be. We are fortunate on the tour, because Amy did a brilliant job booking each venue, and none of our shows have a cover charge, but it's still nice to play for a crowd. Just before we started playing, a nice crowd of people show up and the James Joyce comes alive!
Amy and I had worked out set lists beforehand, so there were no questions about the material. This was great, because we could focus on making the music. I'm not sure if it was because I was nervous, but I was counting off our tunes faster than we had rehearsed them. This wasn't a problem from a musical/technical perspective, but definitely a problem time-wise. We added some standards to each set, which was incredibly relaxing. Common material. It seemed like we were able to experiment more with these tunes. The interesting thing (at least to me) that happened with my playing was that I feel like I became more free within the original material that we each had brought to the duo.
After a few sets of music, some shop talk with a local saxophonist and some dinner, we headed back to the hostel to sleep.
The next day we played Moncton.
See you in the next post!
On Thursday, we were heading to Fredericton. We were heading to our first gig!
We woke up that morning and hit what has become a routine - coffee and rehearsal. After we ran our tunes fairly quickly, we loaded up the car for the four hour drive to Fredericton.
We arrived at the James Joyce (our venue for the evening) and loaded our gear. We met with the manager. After a bite to eat and some running around to find a cell phone charger (I forgot mine). We hit the stage.
The Gig.
I was a little worried before we started playing, Amy warned me the the crowd could be sparse, and it seemed like it would be. We are fortunate on the tour, because Amy did a brilliant job booking each venue, and none of our shows have a cover charge, but it's still nice to play for a crowd. Just before we started playing, a nice crowd of people show up and the James Joyce comes alive!
Amy and I had worked out set lists beforehand, so there were no questions about the material. This was great, because we could focus on making the music. I'm not sure if it was because I was nervous, but I was counting off our tunes faster than we had rehearsed them. This wasn't a problem from a musical/technical perspective, but definitely a problem time-wise. We added some standards to each set, which was incredibly relaxing. Common material. It seemed like we were able to experiment more with these tunes. The interesting thing (at least to me) that happened with my playing was that I feel like I became more free within the original material that we each had brought to the duo.
After a few sets of music, some shop talk with a local saxophonist and some dinner, we headed back to the hostel to sleep.
The next day we played Moncton.
See you in the next post!
Wednesday 23 November 2011
My Tour With Amy Brandon - Day Three
I was very excited for Day Three.
This is the day of our first gig...well, it was supposed to be.
We woke up this morning to rehearse. Amy and I wanted to get our sets together before heading to our first show at the Smiling Goat in Halifax. I am normally not a fan of creating set lists, but I am usually working with my material exclusively, and so I feel much better having some sort of a plan. It was already snowing this morning and the forecast said that we were going to be hit with 30cm of snow.
We rehearsed our first set and after being warned about the roads, Amy called up the venue and we all decided that it was best to postpone our show until Sunday (November 27) afternoon at 1pm.
I was disappointed - I'm ready to get playing, but also a little relieved. My cold is lingering and I had a chance to sleep a little more than usual to try to fight it. After I woke up, we rehearsed and rearranged the second set.
Every time that we talk about or play the tunes, I'm getting more and more comfortable with the material. It's a good feeling!
So tomorrow, the tour kicks off in Fredericton, New Brunswick at the James Joyce Pub at 6pm!
This is the day of our first gig...well, it was supposed to be.
We woke up this morning to rehearse. Amy and I wanted to get our sets together before heading to our first show at the Smiling Goat in Halifax. I am normally not a fan of creating set lists, but I am usually working with my material exclusively, and so I feel much better having some sort of a plan. It was already snowing this morning and the forecast said that we were going to be hit with 30cm of snow.
We rehearsed our first set and after being warned about the roads, Amy called up the venue and we all decided that it was best to postpone our show until Sunday (November 27) afternoon at 1pm.
I was disappointed - I'm ready to get playing, but also a little relieved. My cold is lingering and I had a chance to sleep a little more than usual to try to fight it. After I woke up, we rehearsed and rearranged the second set.
Every time that we talk about or play the tunes, I'm getting more and more comfortable with the material. It's a good feeling!
So tomorrow, the tour kicks off in Fredericton, New Brunswick at the James Joyce Pub at 6pm!
My Tour With Amy Brandon - Day Two
My second day was short, but it started very early.
We performed at Redcliffe Middle School for the music classes (grades 5-7). The students were great! Extremely attentive and when we opened the floor up for some questions, they weren't shy. The question of the morning was, "How heavy is your saxophone?"
One of the beautiful things about a tour like this is that we are getting a lot of time to focus on our rep. We are recording everything, listening back, talking about arrangements, what's working, what's not, etc. It's nice to be totally focused on the sound of one group.
We performed at Redcliffe Middle School for the music classes (grades 5-7). The students were great! Extremely attentive and when we opened the floor up for some questions, they weren't shy. The question of the morning was, "How heavy is your saxophone?"
One of the beautiful things about a tour like this is that we are getting a lot of time to focus on our rep. We are recording everything, listening back, talking about arrangements, what's working, what's not, etc. It's nice to be totally focused on the sound of one group.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
My Tour With Amy Brandon - Day One
The first day was a busy one.
I landed in Halifax just shy of noon (local time) and Amy met me at the airport.
The flight was smooth (I slept the whole time) and security was great about getting both of my horns in the cabin with me. The on;y downside to the flight was that I've had a cold for a few days and the change in pressure is playing some nasty games with my left ear.
We load my gear and luggage into the car and hit the road. We stop and grab a coffee, and catch up on the drive.
We got back to Amy's house and started rehearsing. I love to rehearse when ideas are being thrown back and forth. Amy has some great ideas for my tunes, and we started to work out some arrangements. I really feel like our sounds work well together. We rehearse for the better part of the day (4 or 5 hours) and then off to the radio station, CKDU, for an interview with Lamont McLachlan.
Lamont is a great host, asks engaging questions and has a great sense of humour. After an hour on his show and playing a few tracks from my new EP with the Ottawa Hard Bop Association (to be released in the near future). It's time to head home.
Once we get home, it's time to plan our next day, which is performing for the students of Redcliffe Middle School. This will give us some opportunity to test our new arrangements and see what works!
I landed in Halifax just shy of noon (local time) and Amy met me at the airport.
The flight was smooth (I slept the whole time) and security was great about getting both of my horns in the cabin with me. The on;y downside to the flight was that I've had a cold for a few days and the change in pressure is playing some nasty games with my left ear.
We load my gear and luggage into the car and hit the road. We stop and grab a coffee, and catch up on the drive.
We got back to Amy's house and started rehearsing. I love to rehearse when ideas are being thrown back and forth. Amy has some great ideas for my tunes, and we started to work out some arrangements. I really feel like our sounds work well together. We rehearse for the better part of the day (4 or 5 hours) and then off to the radio station, CKDU, for an interview with Lamont McLachlan.
Lamont is a great host, asks engaging questions and has a great sense of humour. After an hour on his show and playing a few tracks from my new EP with the Ottawa Hard Bop Association (to be released in the near future). It's time to head home.
Once we get home, it's time to plan our next day, which is performing for the students of Redcliffe Middle School. This will give us some opportunity to test our new arrangements and see what works!
My Tour With Amy Brandon - the Beginnings
I am extremely fortunate to be on tour with Amy Brandon this week. Our tour covers Halifax, Fredericton, Moncton, Tatamagouche and Truro. One of the beautiful things about this tour is that we are performing an all original programme (except for Amy's reworking of Skylark).
I first met Amy when she dropped by one of my shows at the Rainbow. Our mutual friend, Matt Aston, was my drummer and went to school with Amy.
Roughly a year later, Amy was playing at the Avant Garde in Ottawa, with Matt, and I dropped in with my horn. I sat in with the group and at the end of the night Amy asked me if I'd be interested in touring at some point.
In February, the dates were firmed up (for the most part) and in October the charts were exchanged.
I'll continue in my next post...
I first met Amy when she dropped by one of my shows at the Rainbow. Our mutual friend, Matt Aston, was my drummer and went to school with Amy.
Roughly a year later, Amy was playing at the Avant Garde in Ottawa, with Matt, and I dropped in with my horn. I sat in with the group and at the end of the night Amy asked me if I'd be interested in touring at some point.
In February, the dates were firmed up (for the most part) and in October the charts were exchanged.
I'll continue in my next post...
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