zoechilco

LE CATCH-UP

2012-02-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

there is the most beautiful, huge full moon coming up tonight - saw it floating in the eastern sky on my way here.

meanwhile....had the gigs at both Princess Margaret Hospital (and forgot the pics today - they'll be up later), and the Emmet Ray - do have those photos, and also a little video:

VIDEOS OF SONG SAMPLES

2012-01-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

got a video here which features a sampling of some of my songs and also two standards. more will follow (one of some blues tunes of mine, and another later of some solo originals). in the meantime, hope everyone had a happy new year. here's a sample of the revelry i look to be experiencing by myself.

also, since i last wrote, the Maple Blues Awards night has happened - more revelry and congratulations there; lots of great musicians and friends to visit with, and the Blues with a Feeling award went, most deservedly, to Paul James. haven't seen him for 10 years, when we both attended the blues festival in Porquis Junction, Ont. (see my website photos for a pic)

January 25, 2012 noontime till 1pm - I'll be singing, -performing with Norm Amadio on piano at the Princess Margaret Hospital lobby in Toronto.
And again on Sunday, Jan. 29 - 9pm till midnight: I'll sing at the Emmet Ray Bar, 924 College St. @ Dovercourt, in Toronto. Mike Allen, guitar; John Deehan, sax; and Ron Johnston, bass. Lotsa fun; come on out.

the days are getting longer

2011-12-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

that's what keeps me going through winter. the sun is out today, but it's 8 below, and that's too damn cold!!
i thought i'd post some summer pics, just to remind me of those lovely days:

the shadow of bare legs on the sand; the beautiful road by the lake; my garden lady all surrounded by greenery; and of course, the summer brew during music rehearsals.

let's all drink to summer's warmth this new year's eve. hope it's a safe and happy time for everyone.

wrestling for the spirit

2011-12-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

At our family Christmas get-together, which we held early because it's so complicated now, nothing speaks of the good will and sharing spirit like a good, old-fashioned arm wrestle amongst the women-folk.
There were many aspiring females going up against each other, all vying for the title of mother goddess of the seasonal festivities. I, in my foolish and out-of-shape shape (i've been saying for the last year that it's at an all-time low - must get the bike out more - ), i threw myself into the fray, and i lost, no excuses, i was just shit on a skinny arm stick.
Here are some pics: getting set, getting the grips set, screwing up my face to try and focus, and the final fall-down.
I'm proud to say that i have finally stopped demanding of myself that i always win (a habit begun in grade one, when i was sooooo bored).
May the force be with you all.

Oh, and lest we forget: here's a video with some of the sweetest sounds in the world (a baby's laugh), as a reminder of what it's really all about.

christmas makes me feel emotional.....

2011-12-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

that's the intro to the old christmas song "Silver Bells", which I sang in front of the whole school at the Christmas program, about 100 years ago, when i was in grade three. the illustrious start of coming a long way, baby. my nights out are better now.

but in fact, i'm emotional today not because of christmas, but because of some venue owners here in my lovely city, who make it very difficult for any musicians.

my younger brother used to yell at his enemies when he got very, very angry: "peepy poo plop!!" it was the worst invective his 4-year-old mind could imagine. Well, I'm with you, brother!! Peepy poo plop on all the venue owners i don't like.

had some fun last week, singing with some musicians that i hadn't seen in a while. and now, in the accompanying short video and photos, you can enjoy some of that fun, which is all i want to have, after all.

merry christmas to all, and to all a good light

2011-12-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

getting to be the busy season, so i'll send all my good wishes out now, and escape the mall where the local library has the good computer.

and speaking of wishes, why not put mine out there in the universe? ok, then....

i'd like a European tour, including eight stops at the best cities, with my band of luminaries to travel with me (the musicians, i mean). just a-singing, and a-traveling, and speaking lots of different languages, and having a few stops at a spa or two. nothing too grand, these are the basics.

please, oh great spirit of music, and saint cecilia too, won't you help a poor talented singer?

and by the way, if there's any money out there, I'd really like to get into the studio again, with some of the aforementioned fabulous musicians, to record a whack of new songs. the CD cover is all ready....here it is (i'm the tiny tiny, underwater swimmer, searching the huge ocean bottom of the unconscious for beautiful, musical ideas).

p.s. don't forget to look on youtube for various tunes, including Christmas Blues. Ta.

an unhappy memorial day

2011-12-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Today is always an awful reminder of the Montreal massacre: 14 very bright women shot by a jerk who hadn't any brains or self-esteem. Very unfortunate for him, but why not get help? Why take out his failings on people who had something to offer? It's still the same old story – the bullies and lower species are the ones who want all the power, - because their own lives are so empty and useless.

I was devastated, as so many others were, when this occurred in 1989. I went to the memorial events each year following. Six years after it happened, I wrote a song about it; eleven years later I sang it at a live recording session; and now, twenty-two years later, I'm putting it online because the same crap still happens every day.

Men still disrespect; employers still pay less; whole countries repress women and girls and allow atrocious acts to be committed by the animals who believe it's their right to own and abuse.

Fortunately, there are many men out there who know better, and who love and help and support. I thank them and all those who work to improve our world, not bring it down more.

just how moronic can people become?

2011-11-30T11:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't managed to get to the computer to catch up lately, so this post will really be three in one. First the rant, the one about the moronic people:

It's really not worth wasting any time on stupid people, but – COME ON!! - a U.S. Woman pepper-spraying other shoppers on the aptly-named Black Friday? (another piece of marketing idiocy, by the way). She must be such a loving mother, to want so much to buy the crap that is pushed on us for her children. They will no doubt grow up to be just like her.

So, OK, what is worth speaking about? 1. the real work that many people do to make positive change in the world; 2. music, music, music – the kind that is inventive, melodic, and likewise has a positive message; 3. warm, sunny weather when it comes; 4. good writers; 5. parents who spend time with their children, and who mercifully aren't perverted like so many coaches, or church and community 'leaders'; 6. children who do homework instead of trashing others on the internet; 7. the 'help others' movement; 8. men who dance and don't carry guns; 9. the Toronto student who created a school production against bullying.

There. Now i feel better. And not to be negative again, but i must mention this: I had my radio rant on the 26th of Nov. (canoefm.com – the last saturday of the month – 9pm for December, then 10pm to midnight after that – it's Zoe's Haphazard Saturday Night Show). I just couldn't fail to comment about the less-than-human specimen we have locally who murdered his ex-wife and his own 3 daughters. No, Mr. witless wonder, it's not an 'honour' killing. It's totally dishonourable and despicable.

Onward and upward. Item number 2:

Went to the Women's Blues Revue on Saturday night (my radio show was pre-recorded), and saw two women singing that i'd never seen before and really liked: Kat Danser, a new voice on the scene, and Alda Lee, who has sung with every major jazz bandleader in the US, but now lives in Peterboro, Ont. Great night of music, and band, and many other performers. Now, you're probably asking yourself, “Why hasn't Zoe ever sung there?” Me too. I'm a blues & jazz singer; I've written lots of blues songs...I think we all need to find out what gives.

My third and last item:

Got two new (home-made) videos up on youtube recently, for your 'wasted days and wasted nights' viewing pleasure (apologies to Freddie Fender; i like that song of his).

Plus: Marg Stowe put a third video up there of the tune I performed at the celebration of Daisy Debolt's life and music on Oct. 24 this year. It's a song I wrote, but one whose message I thought Daisy would like. Marg's on guitar, and George Koller plays bass, alongside my piano plunking; they make the song sound fantastic. It was a beautiful night with many musicians performing and remembering Daisy.

keep those cards and letters coming

2011-11-18T17:04:00.000-08:00

just letting y'all know that i have put another song of mine on youtube -
titled "Unsung Song"
and did i mention "Christmas Blues" was up last week? it's a more interesting tune than the usual fare.

why can't i have some money, or at least water?

2011-11-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

even though it's a lovely sunny day, much too warm for november, which i am loving, still i have lots about which (like the grammar?) i can complain. no money is a constant - i have songs i would like to record and/or promote, but of course, everything costs. here's me being miserable. (the black & white photo).

and now i have to earn what money i can by ruining my day with some underage trouble-makers, which is to say, supply teaching. not looking forward to that.

and for some reason, (is the universe telling me that i need to "flow" better? as in 'go with the flow', OR WHAT??!!! i've got a bathtub faucet that won't work - more money needed - then my kitchen taps started spouting and leaking last night, so that even the pail underneath wasn't sufficient. help me, lord. give me strength (or money). i mean, i love water - here's me loving it. i am so in the swim here.
(the other photo, although i notice there's an ominous shadow over it).

i'll try, i will, to focus, and create something good from this - perhaps a song?

are you scared? can you fly?

2011-10-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

it's hallowe'en tomorrow. oooooo. here's me and a friend being cat-ish.

also, because i just wrote to another friend who lives in Paris, i was reminded of the time i was there and performed with a local band - the bande flottante - on a floating barge on the Seine, and don't i wish i could grab a witch's broom and just fly over there again.
Lise is a wonderful bass player (me and her at her place), and Juju is an amazing guitarist (on the river Seine)

happy birthday, zoot

2011-10-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

he would have been 86 years young today.

as days go on

2011-10-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

just checking in...
The tribute for Daisy Debolt was held on Monday night at Hugh's Room in Toronto, and it was a wonderful event. So many musicians and people who had known and been influenced by Daisy, all up there performing and speaking about her powerful music and personality. I was honoured to be among that group; I sang one of my songs - these photos show a bit of the night. I got to sit at the beautiful grand piano, and to have the marvelous accompaniment of Marg Stowe on guitar and George Koller on bass. Also a photo of Marg performing with Tony Quarrington.

meanwhile, there's a new youtube video up. It's called zoe chilco live true blue, if you want to take a look. it has a couple of live renditions of my song True Blue.

traveling the music highway

2011-10-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

oh, tra la, tra la.

it's monday, the day after the day after. saturday night was fun, eh? a good, and appreciative crowd at gate 403; some fantastic musicians.
here they are: Mike Allen, guitar; Chris Banks, bass; John Deehan, sax.

and i'll try to upload a short bit of one song, and another, longer one later.

enjoy.

goodbye to daisy

2011-10-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

very sad to hear a little while ago of the death of Daisy Debolt - a wonderful artist, and a legend, really, in Canada.
I first heard her perform many years back in a little cafe called Egerton's, which was on Gerrard Street in Toronto. Then she was playing everywhere over the years, until i saw her once more at the Women's Blues Revue - an annual fest put on by the Toronto Blues Society. Daisy wowed audiences every time she played, with her very powerful voice and presence, and she was an inspiration to me.

later on, up in Haliburton, i started bringing performers to that part of Northern Ontario, in the Sugar Shack series i organized. in 2006, I had Daisy come and perform with the marvellous Marg Stowe. They put on a wonderful show. There are pictures on my website - that archival reminder of years past - that show Daisy and Marg performing at the Wintergreen Pancake House, and then all of us back at my place later, posted here.

Daisy liked my 'Rats and Welfare' tune, done in animation by Jonathan Amitay, and she very kindly posted it on her own website, before it ever got to youtube.

thanks, Daisy for all the years of fabulous music, and for your commanding devotion to your art.

p.s. this Saturday Oct. 22 - 9pm at Gate 403, Toronto. I'll be singing.

giving thanks

2011-10-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

it's all over now, all the gobbling. (this is Canada, where Thanksgiving comes now).

hope everyone had a lovely celebration. myself, i was recovering from a resistance to food - my digestive system was apparently not interested in working - so my thanksgiving dinner was spent alone, yes, that's right - all alone - in the woods, with a bowl of amy's lentil soup. now, lest you start to feel abject pity for me - if you're over the shock, that is - i must hasten to let you know that it was fabulous. delicious, spicy, and absolutely all i wanted, including the company. just right, as goldilocks herself might say.

the weather was a delightful surprise to everyone - a whole weekend of sunny, summer-like days that made you weak with gratitude. thank you, thank you, thank you.
in the early thanksgiving morning, i was inspired to stretch in the sunshine of my back porch, and i decided i felt so good that surely sharing the moment(s) with others would have the same effect on them, so i made a wee movie of my "hangin' around". it will be here (or on youtube) in the near future.

here's a photo from the gig at the Wild Moose Pub in Haliburton, Ontario. a fun night with Ian Pay on bass and John Deehan playing sax.

also one of me on the back deck, enjoying the last rays of the summer sun amidst the glorious fall colours; and one of the full moon that night.

don't forget: GATE 403, RONCESVALLES AVE., TORONTO OCT.22, 2011 9PM

the morning dance

2011-10-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

so continuing with the last blog: here's that pic of me in the early morning of autumn's splendour - dancing in the woods.(top right). must get a new face cream; i'm feeling so gnarly these days....
some other beautiful vistas that i have the privilege of enjoying, and this little video of how i amuse myself.

me in the morning

2011-09-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

made you look.....

it's not morning at all, but i haven't got the photo i wanted to accompany that title ready for transfer anyway, so it's just the news roundup, since i haven't been able to get down to this job for a little while.

i do have the photo of me at the southside shuffle - hey! that was way back on sept. 10 - here's me pretending to work at the toronto blues society table.

and another one of me pretending to work at one of my gigs.

then for your final viewing pleasure - a wild turkey in my back yard. (or me just pretending)

but back to the southside shuffle. this is always a fun outing, - if you like seeing the same bands every year in exactly the same spot on the street shuffle, that is. not shuffled one bit.
i'm sorry, was that nasty? couldn't help myself. the bands have lots of good players, and many of them are friends, but really now, there are lots of great, other bands out there. it would be nice to have a little variation, one year.

meanwhile, we played at coe hill, duly noted on last blog, then last saturday - we're up to sept. 24, now - we were at dora keough's the famous irish pub on the danforth in toronto, for the great oyster shucking and eating fest, in conjunction with the one in galway, ireland. the band played, and i sang my heart out, and everyone had a lovely time. pics to follow.

COMING UP: The Wigamog Resort, Wild Moose Pub, Haliburton, Ontario - Oct. 8 7:30-11pm
Gate 403, Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto - Oct. 22 9pm-1am

true blueing

2011-09-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

This short excerpt features the song, "True Blue", my own composition about Zoot Sims' inspiration for me, which was part of the "Zootcase" show that I performed last summer with Norm Amadio, piano; John Deehan, sax; and Ron Johnston, bass. We showed in a few cottage country towns and in Toronto. Sorry, for this clip we didn't have any special lighting.

Check out the video (Zoe Chilco & Zootcase)on youtube about the creation of the show. p.s. you can buy the CD 'zootcase' (14 tunes); email fumblingforchange@hotmail.com

there is a town.....

2011-09-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Through the wilds of North Ontario; past the town Neil Young sang about, and heading even further north, we travelled the long and winding road of isolated bush to arrive in Coe Hill - a happy and lovely village that warmly, and with delicious food, welcomed us inside - out of the nippy September air.

Fabulous aromas of the dinner in preparation, long tables a la "Last Supper", a beautiful old wooden counter from the shop's previous incarnation, - oh, and yes, the sunny window of the Coe Hill Cafe.

Owners Jessie and Faz, along with neighbour Johnny from the musicians' retreat by the lake, had invited us to perform, and so we did - myself, John Deehan, on sax, and new friend Howard Baer playing stand-up bass.

Thanks to each of these people for the invitation, and for the superb playing, and to all the local and 'from away' audience members, for making our visit so enjoyable and a lot of fun.

some pics for you, faithful follower:
- our names in lights (ok, in chalk)
- the sunny window
- Faz - cook, and birthday celebrant
- Howard B. and Johnny
- sinn fein (ourselves) in performance

I'll post the movie bit featuring the Zootcase tune 'True Blue' on the blog following

waaaaah! it's over

2011-09-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

stealing that line from 'just for laughs', and it really isn't over, but it's the beginning of the end of summer; such a sad turn of the sun. summer floats away like the jelly fish. goodbye light.

i've been busy, and not able to post, but i know you're all waiting to see the latest.
we had a lot of fun in minden, ontario, at the 'blues blowout' Aug. 27. Fun, and a great audience that was in the mood for partying with the blues. i've only got one photo right now, but i can post some more later. Starting from the left, they are: Ian Pay, bass; Paul Greco, drums; meself, singing; brother Paul Chilco, guitar; and John Deehan, sax.

But meanwhile,you can picture this for yourselves: me, with a well that has gone dry (you don't miss your water....), and lugging pails to heat on the stove to do the never-ending pile of dishes that i seem to create. gotta eat, right? picture me with a big mad face, although even i have to admit that walking to the outhouse first thing in the morning, with the cool and very fresh air, is not a bad way to start the day. at least the mosquitoes and deer flies have gone.

but back to the music. two upcoming gigs:
Thursday, Sept. 15 in Coe Hill, Ontario COE HILL CAFE
2230 Main Street 7:00 P.M.

Saturday, Oct. 8 in Haliburton, Ont. The Wild Moose at the Wigamog Inn

Hope you can join us!

and as a p.s. for the gig in minden: here are some comments from the band. we really did have a good night.

Hey guys and girl haven't had that much fun at a gig in some time.... thanks to everyone!...........Ian

I'll add my thanks to everyone for a great evening of music. I especially enjoyed the orange-shirted dancers. John looks like he does in the photo because he wore himself out playing. Paul, thanks for all you work previous to the show - you had the songs down pat and excelled as usual. Great job on the bottom end, Ian. And Zoe, you were at your best -must be the Highlands.
Thanks for the Ian-John-Paul-Paul "reunion".

Paul C.

Wow - thank-you! - But who's that Grumpy Guy on the end? I only remember a great tenor player crackin' jokes 'n laughin' all night. Cheers/P.G.

Nice picture , cute singer---who's the SOUR-PUSS on the end ????? John D.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for playing so fantastically, and for making the night such a success, and so much fun. everyone in the audience had a great time, and really enjoyed the music, and they liked that we were enjoying it too. Zoe

a bowl of berries

2011-08-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

that's what life is these days - the raspberries all gone, but the blackberries are plentiful. there's nothing better than going out the door and picking them. that is, when the bears aren't there first. had a black cub under my porch the other day, but he ran off. then the deer in the backyard, and the baby robins over the side door. you'd think i was a nature child or something...

pix are here of the above, as well as a couple from the great night we had at the Bancroft Jazz and Blues Fest. great people, great audience, and a lot of fun singing and playing.

looking forward to our Blues Blowout next Saturday, Aug.27. Minden Legion.

and meanwhile, just enjoying the rest of the summer.

p.s. send me money, universe (or whoever is interested). - i'd like to finish the next collection of songs

when you can't sleep....

2011-08-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

been re-reading some old books during the summer - some totally forgotten. here's a quote i love from Fran Lebowitz in her 1974 book:

"Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep."

...not that i have that problem.

p.s. Friday night: Bancroft Jazz & Blues Fest 9-11pm. we'll be there!!

don't ask me; i'm shy

2011-08-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

sometimes we all feel like this, right? but on the other hand, it's somewhat fetching.

once, many years ago, when most of the time i did feel like that, i put a scarf on my head (not my face), and zoot told me that it was very fetching.

a good word. fetching. do i fetch you?,

- with apologies to nina simone, who asked "do i move you?", in her song.

news from Italy

2011-08-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

just got word that my song "There You Were", about Zoot Sims, and from my show "Zootcase" which i did last summer, is going to be featured on Italian radio on Saturday, August 13. Details:

Direct link to the article on the web site
www.animajazz.it
::
"A VOICE, A SOUL” nr 180

http://www.animajazz.it/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1702

BROADCASTING TIME (WEB DIRECT): On SATURDAY, on
www.puntoradio.fm
- from 8,30 p.m. To 9,30 p.m. (italian hour)
PROGRAM DOWNLOAD: FROM SUNDAY by the HOME PAGE of "ANIMAJAZZ"
web site:www.animajazz.it .

GRAZIE TANTO, BRUNO

deery me

2011-08-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

i know it's spelled wrong - i have very few claims to fame, but one is that i got 100% in algegra in grade nine, (1000 years ago), and the other subject i got 100% in very often was spelling. i've only lately taken up bragging.

it's spelled 'deery' because i just left my house and saw a sweet deer out nibbling on the greenery out there. took a picture, but you know the drill....it'll be a while before it's up here.

meanwhile, however, another photo from that jazz-by-the-lake party (this, and the one on the previous blog taken by l.koolurisdobbs); then a gig at kinmount, ontario; a shot of the sunset on the lake just before my camera battery died; and one more of myself (i can never get enough) laughing with the gay abandon that is my wont.

don't forget the bancroft jazz & blues fest. we'll be there, aug.19

and finally something to look at

2011-08-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

a few photos of my various singing outings.
the haliburton arts and crafts festival july22 (me in virginal white); later that day at the gull river in minden, ontario (striped tank top); the next day at a birthday party (blue under the blue); then sunday (busy weekend) at the party for canoe fm, where i've had a blues show for 8 years - myself with albert saxby, gord kidd, and amelia, all of us chantant.

then the next weekend, i was at the jazz party by the lake, - thank you to my hosts carole and john - and did a couple of tunes with the band - ted roberts, guitar; don vickery, drums; jack mcfadden, bass; bob de angelis, sax & clarinet; john mcleod, trumpet & cornet; laurie bower, trombone.

you may think i don't have too many clothes, but it's just that it's summer, and i keep jumping in the lake, so i'm constantly in the bathing suit and those shorts that i like. the living is easy....

ah gets weary....

2011-08-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

it's a rainy day, and i'm just checking in to say that i still am not at a computer that can post the pictures – honest, they'll be up soon, and you'll be so excited to see them!!!

meanwhile, working on the music for the upcoming gigs in bancroft (jazz)-aug.19, and in minden (blues) – aug 27.

i'd love to go for a bike ride, but alas! - the rain, and a leak in my back tire that i haven't got time to fix. It's one of the joys of life, nach bhuill? That means n'est-ce pas?, which means 'right'?

How do you like all the crap coming out of the mouths of those millionaires who run the economy – that idiotic system devised so long ago by some creepy men (rich white guys), which is so totally unbalanced and unrepresentative (of women's work, for example – well, hey, women ought to do that for free). The system has always been dysfunctional, and now it's falling apart all over the world. Can't say i'm sorry for the people who have stocks and bonds and investments. Personally, i could never afford to have anything but the money in my hand, if i was lucky enough to have that. No savings here. I'm not sorry for the rich folks, because A. they're rich, and B. it'll be the poor people who will end up paying for all the collapse and debt, you can be sure of that.

Oh dear, am i ranting again? Quelle surprise. When the world is just, then i'll shut up. So don't expect it any time soon.

Well, gotta go and improve my mood with music....i really don’t like people, including myself, who complain all the time. There are so many people doing good…..thanks to them.

somebody say 'amen'

2011-08-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

and 'hallelujah!!' and thank you to all the gods and goddesses that are smiling on me. and on all the folks who are not, i say not, having to live in war-torn, or famine-riddled, or disaster-hit places. we do have good lives, although we still get mad about the toothpaste tube and the toilet roll, don't we? admit it. stupid little things that aren't really important.

had such a lovely weekend with a friend - lots of sunshine and fun and love, then a beautiful musical interlude at a lakeside party with fabulous musicians and other friends. magic, i tell you, and again i say, 'merci bien'.

but then i get home and as one of my own songs says: "I turn the TV on and find more killin'". it's so horrible, especially when you find out it was over 'an argument', or worse, a case of someone in the wrong place at the wrong time.

as if there is ever a right time for guns and violence. it's all too much, and i abhor the way the world is going.

however, i will still sing, and join forces with those other people and artists who continue to create rather than destroy. some 'good vibrations', please.

and as always, with the computer from hell at my fingertips, i and your good selves are forced to wait for the pictures. can't somebody send me a laptop, or something? amen.

time flies when your computer is slow

2011-07-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

so we had the gate 403 gig - photo to prove it. also had a family gathering where i got some trampoline time in - here's me in mid-jump. nice hair.

then i had a very busy weekend just gone, - singing at the haliburton arts and crafts fair twice; at the Gull River music series; at a friend's birthday, and at a party for canoe fm, the radio station where i've been host of the blues show for the past eight years - coming to an end this august 16. just too busy.

and once again, we have to wait for the photos. with bated breath, i'm sure.

meanwhile, i'll be playing in Kinmount August 2; at the Bancroft Jazz Festival Aug. 19; and in Minden for a big blues blowout on Aug. 27.

summertime

2011-07-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

haven't got a whole lot to report; i've been lucky enough to enjoy a lot of summer outdoors time, and jumping in the lake and watching sunsets. a visit to the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ontario. pretty good times - here's me very happy by the lake.

meanwhile, i'm getting ready for some gigs coming up this month and next.

and more meanwhile, we're playing at Gate 403 on Roncesvalles Ave. in Toronto this coming Saturday, July 16. start time 9pm. come on out.

respect for aretha franklin

2011-06-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

all afternoon i'd been thinking, "this is the stupidest thing i've ever done". racing downtown mid-afternoon, lining up with millions to get the wrist-band, killing four hours before showtime with nothing to do. i wander. i eat. the garlic/ginger chicken with rice and veg that i brought from home was fabulous; the french fries i bought later are shit. when they finally let us in the tent, there's no seating - we are cattle, jammed up in front of the stage. again: "this is the stupidest....". but the surrounding desperadoes are friendly - the excitement is contagious - sort of. when i say "I'm not going to last", my young neighbour earnestly says, "you can lean on me". but i'm not weak, i'm just pissed off. two more hours to wait! so i decide to hell with it; i break away from my secure spot, and meander in the tent. i find friends, and before i can leave and go home, the opening act comes on. a great band, winding us up for the big show. and before long, there they are: orchestra, conductor, accompanist, back-up singers, - all assembling, then playing, and then.....huge roar from the audience ---- she appears.

and there i go - scrambling, squeezing, and insinuating my way right up inside the barriers, to the steps of the stage. not so stupid, after all. the pulsating and enormous mob of adoring fans are to my right (with thousands more outside the tent and on the street beyond). the 23-piece orchestra and the gigantic screen are on my left, and the iconic figure of Aretha Franklin is just a few feet in front of me. a massive presence dressed in white; a ship on stage; bride of the rhythmy blues; she floats my way, and looks directly down at me and my little camera. she looks, and in that moment i know: i have received, directly and indubitably, the power. the queen of soul has handed me the sceptre of song; infused me, in silent and secret signal, with her legacy. looming, large, and loving, she looks directly down at me, and i miss the shot, of course, being required by the laws of music and mystery to stop - to simply acknowledge. what is a photo op, after all, in the face of real, live, consuming essence of soul?
j'accepte. i capture some other moments of her greatness, in the next few moments, then slither off the stage and back to my place in the crowd, another faceless fan, with a futile fantasy. oh, i will sing the songs, as i have often done before, and especially now, with that awareness of close-to-greatness with me in each note. but i know, - of course i do, - that my wee voice could never come close to her legendary sound. that's OK. i will aspire, and remember, and carry the sceptre of song as i go, and hope that i can express just a fraction of that magnificent soul. no 23-piece orchestra with me, but i will sing - like a natural woman.

out and about

2011-06-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

a little blues fest over the weekend; i helped out at the toronto blues society table, and also chatted with Gina Sicilia, singer from the US of A, whose singing i quite like. i'm here with herself and her guitar player Dave Gross.
and some pics from another gig at Gate 403 in T.O., including one of myself just dancin' and having a whale of a time. (as they say in Quebec: "trou de c__, qu'on s'amuse"). the gig featured Julian Yarrow on piano, Ron Johnston on bass, and John Deehan on sax, and a friend of mine from many years, artist Sam Miya sat in on bass for a tune too.

Hope everyone is having a very musical springtime.

hippy birthday to you

2011-05-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

big long weekend just finished, for those who celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday. got out to the lakefront with a whole bunch of other torontonians. Vicki must be plenty old by now, and i bet she can't do the hula hoop, like i did..... and it didn't take too long to get the 'swing' of it, did it?
lotsa fun with my wee friend, who is quite the expert. it's so great to have summer fun starting, ridin' my bike, enjoying the sun. just ridin' and rollin', that's me.

ain't no sunshine

2011-05-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

not for a long time, and there's nothing but rain coming our way. still, no floods, or hurricanes, or tornados, so i'm grateful for that.

some pics from the gig on sunday: Mike Allen, guitar; John Deehan, sax; and Ron Johnston, bass.

and next sunday, too

2011-05-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

so it's a lovely tuesday, sunny and all that. we had a great night at the Old Mill in Toronto; great audience and lots of good music. thanks to all who came out.

and this Sunday, May 15, we will be at Gate 403, on Roncesvalles ave., 9-12midnight. more good tunes, and my guys there again, but mike allen will be playing guitar, instead of norm on piano.

hope to see y'all.

pics from friday....

I'M A SINGER, JIM

2011-05-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

And lest we forget:
I will be at the Old Mill in Toronto - the Homesmith Bar, 7:30-10:30 pm, Friday, May 6, 2011. Come on over, for some great music, food, and fun.
Here are the boys and me - Norm Amadio, John Deehan, Ron Johnston

back to basics

2011-05-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

Just couldn't let that world view have precedence for me. i must speak of important things. Like earth day which was a little over a week ago (i've had a lousy cold for the past week, so haven't updated).
Earth Day, 2011: I grabbed my coat, got my hat, and left my worries on my doorstep, then directed my feet to the sunny side of bayview avenue and the toronto brick works, where a celebration of the earth was in progress. i ran off in such haste that i didn't even take my moneybag, but i was rich as rockefeller, right? except that when i got to the parking machine, it wouldn't take all that gold dust at my feet.
So there I was, swearing out loud, when a lovely, generous and kind man overheard me and offered to pay for my car to wait for me (it was too far to walk or bike). I was most grateful and have a photo of this anonymous donor for all the world to see. Thank you, good person.
And some other random photos from that day, including the 'north slope',its importance on a public board, and the brick machine from the original brickworks of the city.
then a photo of the cake that myself and friends ate that night in celebration of a birthday on earthday. If you love the earth, listen to my song "Bloomin' Blues" on youtube.

the Canadian election (or derelection)

2011-05-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

It's called skunk cabbage; it stinks; and it's growing here.

Quelle depression. It is, 'ow you say, very depressing.

That awful man, who doesn't care a fig about the rules of democracy (3 shutdowns of parliament to avoid answering questions to his government); withholding of important documents (illegally); closing of women's programs; no funding for justice groups. No policies for climate control. Support for corporations and privatization (corporate groups again). He gets elected again.
I guess Canadians really don't give a shit about honesty or environment or peace or regular working people. Those folks out in BC who elected the wonderfully intelligent Elizabeth May, and those marvelous gritty quebeckers who turfed the dry liberals and the bloc for a vibrant new vision with Jack Layton et al – those dear folks excepted, of course. They have some brains, it's obvious.
All praise to those new faces and clear voices who will be there, paid, and representing us in parliament; and thank god they have no experience – there are too many old farts in there now who are corrupted by the system that has been hopelessly unbalanced and short-sighted, who don't really understand that there is more to life than 'men in control' – militaristic and patriarchist and power-panting stalwarts, so many of them; people who just don't get it.
I know we need jobs, i know we need stability; i know we need common ground, but we also need true representation of all people, based on values that are important to us. Not political correctness for the sake of it alone, but truly listening to the voices of all.

Oh well. Four more years of his zombie group (he doesn't allow them to speak on their own, as we all know – only what 'daddy' has decided). It's embarrassing to have that as 'leadership', and a huge regression. Let us pray to the true spirits of human potential and love, and that is not a god of any stripe, just an idea and ideal that lives within those who dare to really think and seek justice.

picture time

2011-04-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here we are playing our little hearts out. I love singing.

From Dorset's evening (April 15) of 'wine, words, music and art': myself on keys with john deehan on sax.
From the Nice Bistro in Whitby (April 20), with an appreciative audience, and the most generous and delightful host and hostess, Manon and Bernard. The food is fabulous; go there and enjoy it!!
Photos show Norm Amadio, piano; John Deehan, sax; Zoe, vocals. And after the gig, Manon & Bernard. Merci mille fois to them.

le gig tomorrow

2011-04-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

alors, you can go to whitby, ontario and listen to zee french songs, if you want - 7 heures du soir until approx 9:30. should be le fun. that's april 20, 2011 at Nice Bistro, Brock St. and Dundas.

and we had a lovely time up in Dorset, Ont. last friday night, with all the other artists and writers and painters and all manner of folks. it was a fine collection of people making art and of course, i don't have the photos with me at this moment, but come back soon, y'all hear, and i will remember them next time.

drawings are better anyway

2011-04-14T11:10:00.001-07:00

further to my last post about the gig sunday, and my having forgotten my camera:

i have a very artistic neighbour, who shall be known as EB, who attended and all through the show was making drawings based on each song - WITH HER EYES CLOSED!!

i was impressed by that and am including a few of them here.

the banff song - about my residency there at the school of fine arts, and the work i did on Zootcase, my show. also about the wonderfulness and beauty of Banff.

purple shorts - about an affair i had once with a very young and talented guitar player. i blame everything on the hot summer and his shorts as he biked in front of me.

bloomin' blues - about taking care of the earth

the pink room - about the room in our family house; all the memories and activities after the house was emptied and being sold.

and 'sing' - about my tune entitled 'sing that song'. everyone has to sing their own song: 'all your troubles and your joys; keep on making your own noise'.

hope you enjoy her work.

sing your song

2011-04-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

day after a lovely gig yesterday afternoon. the morning started out horribly, with rain and fog; humping all that equipment in the wet...

we were at the little shop called earthsong village; we being myself and the hugely talented guitarist, Marg Stowe, doing all my own tunes. the audience was most appreciative, and laughed at all my stories too. i, of course, was appreciative of their attendance.

music doth indeed have charms. the sun came out and everything.

however, i forgot the camera.

oo la la, et si je pourrais etre a Paris..

2011-04-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

wouldn't it be nice to be in Paris right now?; see the spring come in? eat at all those fabulous restaurants. se promener along the champs elysee? 'ave a leetle glass of wine?
but here i am, still suffering with the long slow winter of ontario, although it is sunny at least today. still....

so to remind myself that i once did get there, here are some pics of me at famous Parisian landmarks. and don't forget i will be singing en francais at the Nice Bistro in Whitby. Wednesday, April 20, 2011; 7pm to about 9:30. Norm Amadio on piano, and John Deehan on sax - wonderful musicians!!
Venez nous ecouter. come and listen.

twenty six years later

2011-03-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

and because i didn't go outside the house at all yesterday - it was a blustery, unexpected dump of snow again - or get on the computer, i'm just posting now about the anniversary of Zoot's death. March 23, 1985 - an awful day, forever.
Here's the back of my CD 'Zootcase', with the songs I wrote about him, and also the CD cover leaning up against the actual zootcase that i used in the show.

A beautiful soul he was, still alive in this world through his music.

last saturday's gig

2011-03-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

so we had a lot of fun; BB throws a great party, with interesting guests, great food, a grand piano, and our little quartet providing la musique.
got some pics for you to enjoy...

Norm Amadio, piano (and one shot with Zoe)
Ron Johnston, bass; John Deehan, saxophone

Singing and playing; that's all I want.

here are the pix

2011-03-18T08:02:00.001-07:00

i hope these can be used....

some upcoming gigs

2011-03-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

thank goodness for spring!!!
and for singing.....here's the list of gigs to come:

Sunday, April 10, 2011; 2-4pm
Earthsong Village
2436 Kingston Rd. 416 266-2787
All original songs, with Marg Stowe, guitar

Wednesday April 20, 2011; 7-9:30pm
Nice Bistro
117 Brock St. Whitby 905 668-8839
with Norm Amadio, piano; John Deehan, sax
Jazz, blues, and des chansons en francais

Friday, May 6, 2011; 7:30-10:30pm
The Old Mill Inn; Homesmith Bar
with Norm Amadio, piano; John Deehan, sax; Ron Johnston, bass
Jazz standards

see all about it...

2011-03-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

Got some videos up on youtube - a couple from 1999, little rough, but hey, it's home-made. and the musicians with me are fantastic.
a few more from 2006; a gig after the tornado struck - all the music and lighting by generator. ditto about the musicians being amazing.
then one more about my recent show 'zootcase', with a couple of short live clips.

go there!! go! go! view them all, and enjoy.

and let's all pray for an end to winter.

merci bon dieu.

lookin' for a miracle

2011-02-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

yes, a miracle - some seredipidous (is that spelled right?) moment in which a famous singer happens upon my site or my youtube songs and says, "that's it!!! that's the voice i want, that's the sound i want!! and those are the songs that will fit into my movie. no, maybe i'll sing them myself, they're so great!!!"

not so far fetched, is it? i mean, there's justin boober, and that other child who was just taken into the gaga's arms....not that i want that, (and i'm not, ahem, quite as young as those two), but still - c'mon, god, or gods, or whatever fates could smile on me today. Just one famous person singing one of my songs, so that i can make more than a pittance. i don't mind singing for my supper, but it would be nice to have something regular coming in.

so, officially now: message to universe - "Help, please; and thank you, too"

look on youtube for some new postings of old gigs, and in the near future, there will be more...

just a simple girl

2011-02-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

ok, i admit i'm hopeless with computer tech details. not dumb, no, just lazy; i don't want to spend half of my life in front of this thing. i'd rather sing, or play piano, or swim, or dance, or well, just about anything but sit on my ass and wreck my eyesight, not to mention give myself a backache.

so on with the show....

why doesn't blogspot tell me somewhere that they're related to youtube - yes, yes, i'm the only one who didn't know (or care) - but it would have been good to mention it somewhere so i wouldn't waste the time i did trying to set up a second one - oh, blah, blah, i'm boring myself.

guess i'll tune in later, but meanwhile, here's me doin' what i like to do

my son and me at work

2011-01-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

I mentioned him the other day, and his invaluable help in putting together a promotional video for the show I have called "Zootcase" (zootcase2010.blogspot.com)

Thought you'd want to see our modus operandi.

oh yeah, i forgot

2011-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

How could I? Just been too crazy busy, I guess. I forgot to post the photos from the Maple Blues Awards night, held mid-way through January. All the beautiful blues people were there, and it was fun, as always.

So to share the evening with you a bit, here are some of the amazingly talented and gorgeous performers who were on stage, singing and knocking us all out. You'll notice that all the women are exceptionally fancy and glamorous in their attire, while I look quite homespun and fetching, je crois, in my simple cotton sweater, and that woolen artisan's scarf that I've had for 3 hundred years. Handmade lasts.

The women (from the bottom, going up)are Shakura S'aida, Dawn Tyler Watson, Diana Braithwaite, and Rita Chiarelli. The one photo with guys shows Tom Bono, drummer, and Brian Blain, singer and songwriter, and of course, moi in the ever-present green.

what to do when you're really bored...

2011-01-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

which seems to be happening to me a lot, lately. i mean, it's winter - so i don't really want to go schlepping around with a lot of music equipment, and besides, i'm supposed to be woodshedding to become formidable on the piano. truth is, i don't last very long at that work. (note to would-be's: do not work alone; you can distract yourself with anything, and i mean ANYTHING).

today, i actually decided to take a teaching job, out of desperation (for money, and also to escape my procrastinating self). and really, the gods are against me; the first period was a 'prep', which means i have no students. lots of time to familiarize myself with the curriculum, if the absent teacher had left one. second period, during which no one showed up, is now over and i just heard the recess bell.
i should not complain, i know, not to mention advertise, this situation, but it doesn't happen very often. so, after preparing as much as i could for the classes, i am now applying myself to boring anyone who lands on this site.
i'll put some new pictures up later, when i get back at another fast computer.

in fact, i have a couple of gigs coming up, and of course, the ever-present piano work, as well as some 'tours' i would like to arrange for the summer. and on the weekend, i'll be working on the zootcase fundraising/advertising video that my son is very kindly putting his professional talents to. (bad sentence for a teacher, i know). oh yes, and some videos that i'm having prepared for youtube.

i'm trying to convince myself that i am busy, and doing worthwhile stuff. it's hard without money. i would be recording new songs if i had some of that commodity.

well, enough fascinatin' rhythm for now; i've just got too much to do....

and they say digital is faster.....

2011-01-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

well, it sure wasn't for me.
i was lucky enough to see the famous blues harp man, James Cotton, back in December, and my young friend Jack had his cell phone, so we got someone to immortalize us all together.
then the problems began, trying to get the photo onto a computer. i won't bore you, but it took forever.
and now, finally, here it is.

happy new year

2011-01-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

to everyone- with wishes for a very healthy and prosperous 365 days to come.

all is well where i am currently living - not very wintery, but that's ok; no snow to shovel. it's been hell on snow in a lot of other locations.

and i am trying to discipline myself to do more work on the piano - trying to get those fingers moving just a little faster on the scales, and attempting to learn how to invent in improvisation. yah, that's what i'm trying to try to try. translation: i procrastinate a lot.

so here's a photo or two from the hilarity of the last night of the year. although we weren't gigging, like we were in 2009 on that evening, still, it was fun to be one of the crazy revellers.

december first

2010-12-01T12:11:00.001-08:00

And the beginning of December always reminds me, sadly, of the horrific day back in 1989 - Dec. 6 to be exact - when that moron and poor excuse of a person shot and killed 14 women - brilliant ones, at that - all studying in Montreal. it was an awful event, but again, sadly, one which has echoes every day in the violence that is done to women. It's hard to see that kind of senseless and blind mistreatment, but it's still there, and it's still perpetrated in a lot of very stupid attitudes.

what's worse, in some countries, it's encouraged.

oh dear, didn't meant to start out like that, but the world is as it is. i can't pretend it isn't, although i will still endeavour to send out some good, healing, loving, and fun vibrations through music, and hope to influence the world that way, if possible. have to do what we can, yes?

and on that note, just got an email today telling me that one of my songs is up on youtube in a video for water protection - put out by the haliburton (that's a good place in Ontario, not the stinking selfish corporation of the U.S.) and muskoka regions and the water festival that they organize for children of the area. to increase awareness, etc. just type in haliburton-muskoka children's water festival and search. so thatsa nice.

i need a tour for some of my older, and now the newer, songs. if anyone wants to sponsor - i.e. pay me - i'd be very happy to travel and entertain with song....

so long for now

what's new, pussycat?

2010-11-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

So you realize, i'm hoping, that the only purpose of this blog (besides being an outlet for my vitriolic temperament – and to display any occasional witticism that might disturb my otherwise somnolent brain) – the only purpose is just to prove to the world at large that i am, in fact, still alive and still performing music, my saving grace.

Truth is, i have a whole whack of new songs that i haven't been able to record because of lack of funds – oh, benefactor(trice), where are you? - and also because whatever funds i have managed to scrape together over the last year all went to get my heart's work – namely my show, Zootcase – up and out there in the world. All done, and happily too. Now i'm working on getting a CD “book” made of the narrative, and also a film. I must endeavour to get Zootcase out to the many people who have not yet seen it, or heard the songs. So work, work, work.

But back to the other new songs. Poor things, languishing in my 'tout doucement' file ('to do') – and hoping for their big break. But studios and musicians all cost, and i am – 'ow you say?' - tres broke. So if you have money, send it, please, and i will record them.

Meanwhile, reporting on the performance front, had a great night at the Old Mill Inn in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, with a sterling trio of musicians, and a room full of wonderful, appreciative music lovers. A very nice gig, thank you, to everyone who was there.

And now to create more similar opportunities....

i must away

The case of the weary musician

2010-09-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Not weary, not really; just a little pissed off - and i won't even go into it. why should i give my energy to such negativity and people who BUG MY ARSE? !!!!!
There, i feel much better.
so, getting back to real life: got the final (for this summer - and yes, i know summer was officially over nine days ago) the final production of ZOOTCASE coming up this saturday, october 2.
the shows so far have been great; lots of good feedback, which i will be posting on the offcial site/blog, just as soon as i get it all organized.

meanwhile, here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.

thanks to so many for all the various help, and come on out to the
Black Swan Tavern - 8pm - Danforth and Broadview, in Toronto
if you can
you'll love the music and the story, I promise.

times flies

2010-09-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

not a very inspirational title, but i'm rushing at the moment, and the library is going to close.

just a few precious moments.

well, nothing new. Ha ha.

Zootcase will be playing in minden, ontario this saturday night, the fourth production, and we're expecting a huge and wild audience of true north strong and free peoples who like to have fun, and enjoy good music, not to mention stories.

so see you there, if you can make it - the legion at 8pm

hey! there's beer too.

it's a happy day

2010-08-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

that's a line from one of the songs in my show 'zootcase', which had its opening night on saturday past.
lots of nerves leading up to it, and thankfully, they all fired in the way we wanted them to.
show was fun, and successful. great audience in bancroft, ontario, and people that really appreciated the music and the story.

so today it's happy....and getting ready for the second one in bala, coming up wednesday.

got those nerves on standby....

help me, help me!

2010-07-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

i'm crying a little wolfette, there - there's nothing really wrong, but i'm just a little overwhelmed with all the stuff to do to do tout doucement, as blossom dearie once sang...
zootcase is going to be opening soon; that's scary and exciting - lots of things going on to get it ready.
a gig at gate 403 on july 31, 9pm roncesvalles ave. in toronto, if you're around.
also will be celebrating my birthday - well, i'll probably just mention it a few times, so everyone can wish me wishes.
had fun last night at george's birthday bash in haliburton, ontario. good band, and i sang a little twelve bar.
too late to talk more. i've just recorded two more of the blues show that i host on canoe fm. check it out on their website (.com)

alors, a la prochaine

New Moan - yeah

2010-06-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Well, didja think i was dead?
I sorta did – i was hit with a surprise (body) terrorist attack – I, who very rarely gets sick – laid low by PNEUMONIA – ya, that's right; unable to breathe or walk or work, or practically anything. I must say, it's a very good reminder of how lucky we are when we are healthy, and how great it is to not have to be dependent on others for the simplest things. My simplest things were taken care of most kindly by those close to me, and i thank them profusely for that. You find out who your friends are, n'est-ce pas?

So, in contrast with the above title, and in keeping with the profound insights and promises that i made while lying in the back garden, letting the warmth of the sun penetrate deep into my body, past all the blankets, (not to mention the anti-biotics), and while i did nothing but watch clouds drift by and listen to the sounds of the birds, trains, and occasional emergency vehicle, i hereby state my intentions to move on, folks, to a new place – one which has no room at all for negativity (in thoughts or in other people), one which is dedicated only to finding that space where everything is possible, and finding the person that deep inside myself i was truly meant to be – full on, no stops, righty-ho, top notch, and all that - if i only had some courage. Since I am a leo, I am more like the lion than the tin man. I'm going to call this land, NEW MOHNEEYA, and attempt to go there often.

So wish me well, all ye who would search too for the real potential of which we are capable.

And try to avoid all the crap that's out there, polluting the air, the water, the radio and tv waves, and your mind. What was that frank zappa said? The ugliest part?

Before i forget: gig on saturday, june 26, at the black swan, toronto. 9pm. I hope my lungs work for all those tunes....

almost asleep

2010-05-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

can't say where i am; i'm supposed to be working, but the group that was scheduled to be here, isn't. it's not my fault.

in the meantime, however, my head is being hypnotized by the dull white noise of whatever systems are in the building, and my eyelids are dangerously close to closing.

how's this for gripping content?

haven't even got any new or exciting dreams to report.

oh hey! yes, i do. not dreams, but actual, real life coming up soon. singing on sunday at gate 403. if you know toronto, you can find it. start time 9pm; no cover;

gotta go.

apologia

2010-04-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

isn't that a kind of horse? no, that's horse you know that. well, it's a mountain range in the north eastern US, right?
sorry, wrong again. some people don't like to say 'i'm sorry'; something about love, and never needing to....
not my kind of love.
myself i'm just sorry all the time; at the moment, it's because i haven't been able to get myself to update anything, what with the weather being so lovely, and the back garden calling. something about those little bits of colour after the cold of winter, that just makes me want to say screw everything else.
i'm sorry about putting up the barriers too, under the bottom of the fence in the backyard. i know all the cat and dog lovers will be offended, and i'm sorry, really i am, and it's not that i don't like those little pets, but the smell of cat piss is the worst smell in the world, and i really resent piles of steaming dog turds on my lawn.
so again, - sorry.
well you're probably thinking that's not so bad, not so much to be sorry about. but i've got more: i'm a sorry excuse for a performer when i'm not appearing six times a week, and travelling the globe with my musical creations. i'm waiting for the right moment, i think. or a very wealthy and generous benefactor.
and in my defence, i wouldn't have got very far in the past little while, with that big cloud of volcanic ash putting all air travel on hold....
which reminds me, i'm sorry to interrupt, but i was singing one of my tunes today, called 'mamarocks', and thinking that it could be applied very well to mama the earth, as well as your typical human mama, which was the original intent.
but mama the earth is perhaps getting a little pissed off with the way her 'children' have been treating her, which means abusing her really. so she is 'rocking' us with earthquakes and volcanoes and such. maybe we gotta get it together faster.
and now i'm sorry, but they're turning off the lights here, so i gotta go.

write and wrong

2010-04-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

they seem so well related when you see them like that; much more so than their "real" relatives, who are, like most relatives and their annoying ways, opposed. right and wrong, i mean; they don't appear nearly as well matched as the two wr words.

so obviously, i haven't a lot to say today; it's the day following a weekend (yes, i know it's tuesday, but some people didn't work till today), and the weather was sublime, and i had a lot of lovely moments with a friend, and some very good dinners, and a movie i enjoyed, and gosh, don't i just sound like a contented cow.

the trouble with having the occasional happy period is that one becomes somewhat restless afterwards. no, i retract that, because in fact all i really wanted to do all day was rest - and become more restful. to wit, i did not want to work, and was very hard pressed to get myself at the computer or the piano or the recordings for my shows, or ANYTHING. hard pressed by my conscience, but to no avail.

foolish squandering, some might say, and i might agree too, but you know, some days are just like that. i have to assume that something is working its way up to the surface of my mind, and i will have a mighty (i might) insight.

so i won't worry, but i will stop now, since this place is closing down, and i must away.

a type o' thought

2010-03-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

strange world.
ya really gotta wonder what the hell we're all doing.

oh, i know what i'm doing, at least right now: filling in my time with something that is, i hope, not boring, or hurtful, or toxic, or stupid.
like so much of what is out there.

what can one do? i mean, besides joining all the organizations that are devoting themselves to really improving the world and all the lives of as many people as possible? after that, what?

hum it all away? just like those funny ladies in the fifties who were so determined not to notice what a pile of shit they'd been sold in their 'happy' marriages, where all the husbands got to demand whatever they wanted, and screw around all they wanted too, and all the women had to do was pretend they didn't see; or pretend they didn't want any other life but picking up dirty clothes and cooking.

in fact, i would pay a lot of money right now, today, if i could find one of those women to clean up the mess at my place, which is somewhat overwhelming, but that's just because i was working at a job all this week which required my traveling to another location and being there for the whole day. i'm not used to that. i'm self-employed usually, which means you can work in your jammies, if you want, and you can figure out the answers to the creative problems you encounter while you do the dishes. sometimes the most amazing ideas come to you in a pot of porridge.

i'm a firm believer in the creativity that exists in chaos. maybe it's because i was one of eight children. maybe it's just because that's how the whole world seems to operate. maybe creativity is chaos. but oh, it's so chaotic. sometimes one longs for one thing and one think only.
no, it's not a typo.
although i am. a type 'o'. also negative. so i guess i'm just going with the flow when i see red.

it's in my blood.

sun spots

2010-03-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

I am doomed.

Thus I thought as I sat in my very own back garden today, as the sun shone and warmed my legs. first time on the chair out there, and although i did do a lot of yard work beforehand, still, it's a dangerous precedent. the sitting, i mean. because once you're out there, it's to hell with all the obligations, isn't it?

here i am, a singer/songwriter. i've got so many jobs i have to do to keep up the gigs, the writing, the promoting; and that's only for the regular stuff. but i've also got the show this year - my zootcase project, and with that, i have created an enormous job for myself, especially since help is so hard to come by. (nobody cooks the dinner, or washes the dishes, and god knows, the sheets need laundering once in a while).

no, can't afford the household help, but i was actually talking about musical help - people out there who might want to support an independent musician in this, in any, endeavour. now, i do have friends. and many of them have stepped up to the 'giving' plate by purchasing my upcoming cd in advance. that helps finance the manufacture. so thank you to them.

but there are organizations, like the arts councils; can't seem to break into that little clique (you have to hire someone who knows their way around the application and requirements). then there's the local radio station that says it wants to "support jazz performers in Canada", but sadly, they do not support me - neither by playing any of my songs, nor by helping with this show ('you can rent our space for over $1,000.'). well, if i was a corporation, maybe, but i'm just a music performer, singer, etc. maybe they don't 'help' me because i haven't got the big machine behind me; i'm not performing with the biggest names. i'm not a big name either.

no, i'm just a simple independent music lover; i play with people who are fantastic musicians, but also people i like.

so i'll probably end up financing this work of love by myself, and that's ok, since it originated with love, and is still a love story. love makes the songs go 'round, i reckon.

so as the sun goes around and gets warmer and brighter, i'll just enjoy all the decadence of just sitting, and the music that keeps going around too, my friends, and the wee shoots that are coming up in the garden, and whatever i get done on my own. god bless' the child that's got its own.

your eye a heap, not to mention your head

2010-03-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

when an old boyfriend appears in your dreams, in some strange house; and then your sister turns up, telling you that she's just so, so angry, what is one to make of that? am i simply bored? lost in the dreary and all-enveloping grayness that is currently covering our part of the world? the rains continue relentlessly, and yet they don't seem to really wash anything. i have no sense of clean or new, or any kind of refreshment. is this the strange house that is my lot these days?

gosh, oh golly!! i must be alzheimering. after such a fun time i had last night, singing with the jazz trio, and really enjoying the music. you see how quickly i forget. perhaps the rains are indeed washing away things. i'm becoming like those horrid little children that i am occasionally forced to spend time with in the classrooms of this city - the ones that must be constantly entertained and/or amused every single minute. catered to in any manner possible, and god forbid they should ever move their own three-lettered anatomy and make things better themselves.

hey! that must be the angry sister speaking up.

it's a dull saturday night when a person has to attend to their own psyche for amusement, playing all the parts. but i do seem to be doing a good job, and yes, i do want to talk about it.

i promise myself that tomorrow i will do some more music. it hath charms. but also, as i told myself just the other day, i owe it to myself for all the meals i cook with love, and all those hours with the ingrates at the schools. i am paying the bills, after all, and so i figure i'm indebted to that long-suffering person, - me - who is saddled with the job of keeping this body alive and housed. i owe me big time to get out there and do something interesting with all my talents. using that word in the biblical sense, of course, but also in our modern usage, just a little. don't want to be falsely and overly uriah heepish. i owe it to my girlish self to have fun.

but tonight...i'm just goofin' around and goin' nowheres fast.

send in the roses

2010-03-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

it's just too nice outside to be sitting at a computer, and besides, i have to exercise my body and try and repair the damage that i've done to it lately. right after the last blog, i went out, came home, got out of the car, and immediately went smack onto my tailbone. the one bit of snow that we've had over this winter, piled up on the sidewalk, then immediately melting, and at night turning into a treacherous slick of black ice. i went down really fast. it still hurts when i walk, but i'm not hanging back, not me. it's onward and tailward.

until yesterday, when i rushed with gleeful anticipation into the showers at the local, on my way to the pool, and once again, damn if that old world of objects and such didn't get in my way. what the hell is a door doing closing so fast that i don't even have my foot out yet? and why the hell do they have that little step up there anyway, just so's it makes a trap for the wee foot. toe, actually. and now it's purple. much like my language when that happened. poor little woman in the sauna didn't know what catastrophe was landing on her previously serene moment. my apologies to her and anyone else who heard me. it hurt.

and it hurts now to let the toxins of these injuries course through my otherwise pristine body. must away to the outdoors and walk them all off.

here's hoping i make it home safely. (by the way, is this a cosmic message, or something? should i be slowing down to smell the roses that aren't yet blooming? somebody, please, send me some roses.)

flights of dalliancy (I made that word up)

2010-02-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

got all excited, over there at my zootcase blog, about the black rhubarb i had dreamt about, then the description that i later found online. never knew it really existed, honest. but there i was, dreaming it, and connecting it to my 'heart' venture, only to find out the next day that this strange 'growing thing' from ancient times could give a person the feeling of flight and overcoming gravity. this is exactly what i need, not only for my project, but, i would say, every day.

of course, one can't always be all mystical and supernatural, can one?, - levitating all over the place. but they do recommend searching 'the dreamiest dalliances of your own heart', and that, i can earnestly support.

dally away, all ye who would fly, and delve into the black rhubarb of your soul.

bleary blues

2010-02-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

been too long on the computer today; my mind is fading fast. i really want to
get myself into the pool and do my zen-inducing laps. just got so damn much to finish first.
speaking of finishing first, i've actually watched a fair amount of the vancouver olympics, unusual for me. great fun, except that i found that it produces 'olympic ass' after a few sedentary hours, quite the opposite of all those astounding,vital young bodies throwing themselves fearlessly into the air, or speeding with such control, or creating such gorgeous moves. no bleariness there.
not so great that Canada lost the hockey match last night, but hey, it's a game, right? and it was a good, fast one.

and so what am i accomplishing today, you might well arsk.
just doing the normal necessaries to get the music and the shows out there.
had a great night on saturday at the private jazz whoop-de-do. does anyone use that expression any more? well, we had fun; musicians played their usual amazing abilities, i sang my little heart out, and all the party patrons ate and talked and enjoyed the music all night long.

the 'underwear' video is coming along. i'm hoping it will be on youtube in a couple of weeks. don't wet your pants.

i gotta go. the water is calling me: return to the womb, zoe. splash and frolic, and tune out the world. ich com, ich com (don't know how to spell german).

quand il me prend dans ses bras...

2010-02-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

such a romantic song, (see title, although i know that's not the title, but everyone should know that one) and saint valentine's day just around the corner (i walk a little faster). i wonder how many song titles i could work into one post. no, i haven't got time (gotta put it in your pocket till i get back!).
lovely day. got a couple of gigs coming up - the private one (sorry, folks) on feb. 20 with the jazz trio, then two on st. paddy's day, where we'll be parading all the irish tunes we know, and talking with an irish accent, nach bhuill? sure, and of course we will, because when i'm not taking after the italian grandfather, i'm after taking after the one from connemara, the west coast of ireland, where all the ponies on my website were that rainy day on the mountaintop.
in that photo,i look like one of those fat people on oprah's list of losers, but it's really just the six woolen sweaters underneath the hastily purchased raincoat that give me such a rotund figure. i'm really just a slip of a thing, and sure, lovely too.
but getting back to the french, and himself putting me in his bras, (such a strange one), - i hope everyone has some love come their way this sunday, and what the hey!, every day.
because what the world needs now....

hogging the ground

2010-02-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

one of these days, i'm going to publish the story of when i first moved out of Toronto, and into the wilderness of the Haliburton bush. oh, what a thrill!!!
you know how naive and idealistic all the city-dwellers can be. how they hold such romantic notions about living in the country and eating their own home-made bread, and loving, just loving!! - everything possible about nature.
yeah.
that's before they experience living with black flies, and the joy of covering oneself from head to toe before you can even step outside the door (so much for the great outdoors). and the story i refer to above, which is the ground hogs. yes, very funny creatures in a movie, or charming when they're on a newscast telling you spring is coming. but monsters from HELL when they invade your car, via underneath the hood, and they eat all your car wires: spark plugs, brake linings, and whatever else whets their stupid little appetites.
whoops. went all mentally unpolitically correct there. supposed to love them all, right? sure. you try having to park your car a mile away from your home, at a corner gas station, and then riding home in the pitch black, which you have to (not) see in the country, away from all artificial light, to believe, and all that on your rickety bike, because otherwise they'll eat the new wires you just replaced, and thank god when you drove you didn't fly over the highway ledge with no brakes, and into one of the numerous lakes we are blessed with in Northern Ontario, or worse, smack dab, at high speed (oh not too high because your car is running on the only one out of four cylinders that they didn't eat completely), but still, any speed is dangerous when you run head on into the Canadian Shield - that's rock, cold, hard, granite-type, face-smashing and unforgiving.
so actually, i hate the critters, truth be told, and if the damn thing poked its head out in my vicinity on a february day, or any day, i'd just as soon shoot it, if i had a gun.
i'll tell you another time about the mice.

seeing the light

2010-01-22T10:22:00.001-08:00

shouldn't really be taking more time to do this, but it's so much faster at the local library; i must take advantage, mustn't i? and suffer for my art

the art is coming along; working as always on the zootcase show, which, by the way, has its own blog now: zootcase2010, if you're interested, although nothing much up there so far.
we've had the flurry of gigs over the holidays, now looking forward to the valentine's gathering - a house concert with the jazz trio. sorry, it's invitation only.

other than music, not to much to say, except to comment on the horror of the haiti situation, and also on the remarkable resilience of the people, who smile so easily, in spite of all the hardships and poverty. makes you realize we have absolutely NOTHING about which we can complain.
i've been trying a new trick on my own mind, to combat all the bad moods i generate for myself each time something happens that i don't like. i have always muttered a sarcastic "thanks, god" (oh, i know, i've been on the road to hell for a long time). now, i try to make it sincere, and take the time (usually only half a second or so, anyway, when things go wrong), to appreciate that, in fact, my life is pretty good. so thanks, to whatever forces of good are operating out there.

one third of winter down; two more to go, but the days are getting longer in light.

ranting for fun and non-profit

2010-01-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

Just got the “Your personal Time-of Use Dashboard is ready” letter from the hydro company. Well, now my life can begin.

God, I wish the company would take all the money for the letters and brochures (in particular the glossy coloured ones), which repeat the same information every mailing, - and oh yeah, the cost of the installation of “smart” meters – and apply those funds to its own damn dashboard. How much would costs of operating be reduced, and how much saving could be passed on to consumers?

Oh silly me. That must be brain damage from the cold that's talking there, since my house temperature is kept far below the 'comfort' zone. Savings would not go to consumers, of course, but, - still – the money could go to a CEO salary or severance package 'savings plan'.

Whoops. Shouldn't have reminded myself. The 'Delivery' and 'Regulatory' Charge. The 'Officers' Retirement', I mean, 'Debt Retirement' Charge. All the little payouts for those greedy little CEO's. Every time I get a bill and see those charges (which are always more than my usage, by the way), I think of that woman (someone say hello to her, if she's not out of the country on her yacht). You know, the one who got six million – that's MILLION – dollars when she left the hydro company. I remember too, the day I worked as a temp for hydro. It happened to be the day after another CEO voted himself a raise. I couldn't tell you the number of irate and upset customers that called that day. And I told each and every one of them they were right; that the salary raise was disgusting; and I suggested they write and complain.

To what avail, however? I'm just dashing my own board, and can't even raise enough heat of anger to eliminate the layers of clothing I must wear indoors. And I do get angry. Every day. Like when the rates are up at dinnertime (thanks for making life more difficult after work). Or when I long for a hot shower and have to wait for the tank to warm up, since I keep it turned off otherwise. And my feet! No basement in this tiny house, so they're like ice all the time. Am I a martyr? No, just a 'serf' of the 2000's. Gotta 'conserf' to pay the bills.

So thanks, hydro companies, for setting up a system that now lets me sit in front of my dial-up computer, so I can waste even more electricity, to be able to see just exactly how limited my life is when I consult your “charts and graphs that show your usage hour by hour, a day at at time”. “Putting you in control”, indeed.

I don't need the dashboard. I know I use heat when I'm desperately cold. I cook when I'm starving and can't wait for “off-peak” hours. And I write letters at a local library hi-speed computer, so my fingers are warm enough to work the keyboard.

happy new year

2010-01-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

and there you are! we're already ten years into the millennium of destruction, and who can keep up? the snow is entrenched outside on my sidewalk; i'm freezing and because i'm doing this, i have missed the skating times down by the lake. curses!!!
you see, i'm not very well disposed to the new age and its chains.

but just wanted to say hi, and make sure that my zero followers are all well and happy.

got the gig friday night at gate 403, for whoever is in the toronto area. 9pm. be there if you like music.

she's at the post......she's off!!!

2009-12-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

so it's monday, and the dreaded winter season has officially begun with the cursed few flakes - i mean, the gorgeous winter fairyland - outside the window as i type.
i am so looking forward to 400 pounds of clothes; freezing toes and fingers; a nose running totally rampant and coloured like santa's leader of the leash; not to mention ice slicks on the road and impassable streets, and......
never mind. it's too depressing.
i'm inside, and warm, and looking forward to the holiday season, starting with the below-mentioned 'big gig', another one on new year's eve across the street at Allen's - and then in january at gate 403.
i'll post details as the dates get closer.
meanwhile, i should hurry home and get to work on the keyboard.
some fun photos taken last night by morgan for the famous underwear gig.
likewise to be posted later.
a tout a l'heure....

le big gig

2009-12-01T09:38:00.001-08:00

just a reminder to anyone tuning in that moi and the gang will be doing our holiday party thing at the Black Swan Tavern in Toronto - Friday Dec. 18; 9pm. lotsa fun and a special celebration of the 'underwear' song, with a chance for you all to take part.
c'mon out

hallelujah!!!

2009-11-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

and there it is, my friends, a teeny tiny picture of moi, balancing playfully on a verandah rail.
life is a balancing act.
thank you to the much more advanced technology of my current place of employment.
je suis contente.

it's the &^%##&* computer

2009-11-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

hello, gentle souls.
as you can see by the recent photo of my guy Jack, the problem is simply my old computer, and the fact that i'm on dial-up. What??? could someone be still back there? yes, someone could, and it is I.
so it seems that my other photos will be a little slower in getting posted.

meanwhile, the link from my website still isn't up, so no one but all my alter egos are seeing these fascinating reports.
all in good time, n'est ce pas? nicht? nach bhuill? vero?

i am working on my big project, called "Zootcase", which i am planning for next year. stay tuned.

Jack

2009-11-22T14:01:00.000-08:00

where are the pictures, anyway?

2009-11-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

i give, blogspot. i've tried to post pictures. maybe they're altogether somewhere in some kind of blogger hell. i know i'm on my way there....

very frustrating. but in the meantime, just ignore that comment two minutes ago about the photo, since IT'S NOT THERE!!!

i love technology.

what am i doing, anyway?

2009-11-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

still working on my famous - (well, if you didn't know about it, now you will) - show, which will be presented to the public in 2010. lots of work still, but it's fun to see it take shape. i'll just say it's about another musician that i had the good fortune to know. a story....

and this year the band and i will be doing a gig at the black swan tavern in toronto - a great, old blues venue. we'll have loads of fun, as usual, and then some more, with a special photo op to take part in the video presentation for my other famous creation - my song called "Let Your Underwear Show". it's crazy fun, and it'll happen dec. 18, 2009; 9pm

note famous picture of myself - which accompanies my famous video "Rats & Welfare" on another site. - the video can be seen on youtube. all about the evil corporate rats and their greed.

sailing, sailing

2009-10-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

i have decided that i will update/post/stay in touch at least once a month; i will try to do more, but that's just the thing. i've created yet another chore for myself. oh, i'm happy to blather on about anything, or nothing, if it comes to that, but i really can't. just haven't got the time.

and of course, sans dire, i can't be responding to people all over the place. i beg forgiveness, but it is so.
no. the purpose of this exercise is just to have a place to say, yes, - (that would probably be enough; just try to balance all the negativity everywhere in this world) - but to finish my sentence: just say yes, i am still singing and composing and performing.

i do not tour. at least not at the moment. my performances are in the toronto and hinterland areas.

and my gigs willl be posted here and/or somewhere that i will publish and make accessible.

we're lucky to be enjoying a lovely fall day here in toronto, and to have good health (i speak for myself, and hope the same for others).
maintenant, je pars. le jour ici est fini, et moi, j'ai faim. alors......

ciao, amici.

the relativity of time

2009-10-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

like, man, i mean woman, it just flies, doesn't it? here it is three weeks later and i haven't kept my public up-to-date at all. i don't know where it all goes, but wherever it is, it all comes down in one huge, very slow fashion when i'm trying to get online with this lousy computer. then it's just la la la, isn't it? doesn't fly worth a damn.
and guess what? the changes are still not done on my website - is that ever going to happen? or is it going to be forever 'posted' as a chore on my refrigerator? why why why? i ask, does everything take so bloody long?
then there's the tunes i want to get up on youtube. but of course first i have to have some kind of visuals organized and then i have to find someone who knows how to do it.
really? i just want to sing.
not organize gigs, or musicians, or audiences, or recording sessions, or the manufacture and distribution and playing of all my cd's. don't want don't want.
just want to sing.
forget the website, forget the blogging and online talking. who has time for that?
i've got to get some money somehow to pay for all these luxuries, don't i? so i have to spend a lot of time earning, and that entails traveling and eating and shopping and cleaning clothes, and, oh, i just can't keep up with all the crap.
and if you want to read a newspaper - well, talk about a luxury!!!

i think i'm changing my mind. even singing seems beyond the something or other.
just want to lie on a beach for a while. then run. then swim. then eat. then sing.
gotta go now. there's something on tv.

la frustration

2009-10-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

oo la la - i am having zee problems wis zee uuuuh, postes. nothing i can't handle, really, though i forgot my password the day after setting up. too much too much.
and i'm still working on getting more music up and out. off you go, little songs.....

it's friday

2009-10-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

hello to the world - i'm hoping you're here because you like music. myself, i prefer something a little melodic, and with some interesting lyrics and changes. i'll eventually add some tunes and photos.

just letting you know i'm alive and well, and singing.