This is going to be a long one…….
For the early students of jazz, there were no books or educational courses. The best a young musician had was listening to the music live, following by recordings. You couldn’t take a live performance home, and recordings could be scarce, or simply out of reach financially. As jazz grew in popularity throughout the decades, more and more recordings made this rapidly changing genre more available and attainable.
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Today is the 12th of December, and that means that Shawn and I are exactly one month away from the Big Move, from Toronto, to Windsor, Ontario. The drive is a mere 230 in earth miles, but, in some integral ways, it’s also the equivalent of moving from the Moon to the Sun.
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Another Tuesday and again it is a mishmash of what pops into my mind or maybe I was prodded by something I read. Anyway, I’m currently keeping company with my mom in London and have a watcher keeping an eye on the place. Hopefully the indoor plants will receive a little liquid refreshment tomorrow….I’m sure they’re a little parched by now. My front lawn will need a serious haircut (not unlike myself) this coming weekend after all the rain that’s heading in our direction. My tulips are blooming and Chris’s Forget-Me-Nots will be out in full force. The lilies were already poking through as was the Star of Persia. Snow or not, spring is definitely here according to the plant world. We humans will just have to be patient.
I know we’ve all had more than enough of politics and politicians in the last three months. Today (I started to write this on Monday) is voting day. Today we have the privilege, the democratic right, to select who we want to represent us here in Canada and on the world stage. Voting is the only tool we have that has any kind of impact. Who we choose to guide this country for the next four years is decided today. I voted. One out of two of my sons voted. At this writing, my mom is waiting to vote. My sister will take her. But there are more who don’t vote than do. Telling….in oh so many ways.
Well…..for the first time in 4.5 years I am at a loss as to what to write. It’s not that I don’t have any ideas…..it’s not writer’s block. The challenge is I have too many ideas and am overwhelmed with all the other activities in my life. I like busy, then there’s crazy busy and then there’s insanely busy. I’ve reached the insane level. Not just professionally but personally….OMG, my house!! Yards need to be addressed with the rake and the lawnmower, bushes trimmed, planters cleaned out (I have managed to cut most of my herbs and they are now drying), porches swept and so on.
Thanks to the good people at AudioBlood, Bob Segarini, Pat Blythe and myself have spent the last ten days mixing and mingling with musicians, artists, and the people who love them. It’s been simultaneously exhausting and exhilarating. I won’t lie … my feet hurt, I’ve got a desk covered in CDs, business cards, and promotional bumpf of all stripes … and I’m relieved that I don’t have to do anything more strenuous than type this recap of the festivities. Although there are a few more events tonight …
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 