Sunday, August 29, 2010: TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU MOST CARE ABOUT Kevin Spacey appeared on "Inside the Actors Studio". He responded to a question from an acting student, "How can we appreciate these lean years leading up to the ultimate prize?" Spacey stated, "There is no ultimate prize," and further explained, "To want and to be ambitious, and to want to be successful is not enough. That's just desire. To know what you want, to understand why you're doing it, to dedicate every breath in your body to achieve .... If you feel you have something to give, if you feel that your particular talent is worth developing ... is worth caring for - then there's nothing you can't achieve." Powerful words - most people have the desire - but few deliver. A recent article from a Bangalore newspaper in India quotes the artist Raghav. As an artist, he lives the life Kevin Spacey talks about on "Inside the Actors Studio". Raghav relates, "While you make music, you just make music, and not think about anything else. I make music for the love of it, and not because I expect something out of it. You make good music and never run after it." That's how the best artists work - they engage in art wholeheartedly, with their total focus, fearlessly and passionately. Through their dedicated focus ... they achieve what they care most about. Sunday, August 22, 2010: THE FIRST DAY September approaches - the traditional time for the first day of classes in public schools and universities. (More and more schools open learning to a full year calendar.) Think about your experiences with "the first day" - in kindergarten, in grade school, at work, at university, at a music lesson, a workshop .... Singer/songwriter Harry Chapin wrote a song "Flowers Are Red". The story goes that a little boy "went first day of school/He got some crayons and started to draw." The teacher reprimands the little guy for colouring all over the paper. She said, "It's not the time for art young man/And anyway flowers are green and red.../You've got to show concern for everyone else/For you're not the only one." So the little boy learns to think like that - to see flowers as red and green - after all, according to the teacher, there's no need to see them any other way. Hope you haven't experienced this approach. Ben Zander, in the chapter titled "Giving an A" in his book "The Art of Possibility" talks about the practice of giving everyone an "A". By doing so, people would be unafraid to make mistakes. He explains, "It is only when we make mistakes in performance that we can really begin to notice what needs attention. In fact, I actively train my students that when they make a mistake, they lift their arms in the air , smile, and say, "How fascinating!" This week, I'll work with singers and songwriters in a vocal workshop. In response to concerned parents who were unsure whether this was the right fit for their child, I responded, "Music shouldn't be intimidating - it should bring joy. There is a singer enrolled in the workshop ... I remember the same concerns from her parents in her early years. She loves music and she would be a great role model for your daughter at the workshop. I got started at an early age with a positive and brilliant teacher/organist/painter who showed me the gift of music. Your child will enjoy music through the workshop." And the Chapin song continues ... a new teacher greets the same child with, "There are so many colours in the rainbow/So many colours in the morning sun/So many colours in a flower/And I see every one. See the possibility in people. Sunday, August 15, 2010: HOW TO IMPROVE AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER "I have no incentive to pad my repertoire with second rate material of my own when I could easily add some first-rate material by someone else," are the words of Dave Van Ronk - known as the Mayor of MacDougal Street and the poet laureate of songwriters in Greenwich Village in the 60's. He makes a great point. Singer, Judy Collins built her career on singing the songs of other great writers - writers like Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot. She chose songs that felt were hers to sing. Dylan became popular as a "songwriter" as his songs were covered by
other artists like Peter, Paul and Mary ("Blowin' In the Wind"), and The
Byrds ("Mr. Tambourine Man"). It became a win/win for the performer and the songwriter. Regarding Dylan's songs, Van Ronk explained, "He would write an incredible line, then follow it with a line that was utterly meaningless, and he never felt the need to go back and work that through. He always seemed to think that it was easier to write a new song than to fix an old one." It's like he cut the wood, now Van Ronk thought "it was time for carving". However, Dylan's sheer volume of songs is mind blowing. Van Ronk believed Dylan did change the whole direction of the folk movement with "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall". It was the beginning of a revolution. This is a first-rate song - this is Dylan at his best. Dylan explained,"I wrote that when I didn't figure I'd have enough time left in life, didn't know how many other songs I could write, during the Cuban thing (Cuban Missile Crisis of 1961). I wanted to get the most down that I knew about it in one song, the most that I possibly could, and I wrote it like that. Every line in that is actually a complete song, could be used as a whole song. It's worth a song, every single line." Go with the first-rate material - perform it - make it your own in performance. That's a sure way to improve both as a singer and as a songwriter. Comments are welcome. Sunday, August 7, 2010: AT THE BITTER END "At the bitter end" was my quick text response to a received text message. It was a strange response I suppose if I was anywhere else - but in this case I really was at "The Bitter End", a club in New York with a fabled
musical history. (I was in line to pay a cover charge.) The performance is one I'll never forget. Oz Noy on guitar (voted best new talent by Guitar Player Magazine in 2009), bassist Will Lee (known for his gig on The Late Show with David Letterman), drummer Steve Ferrone (currently with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and David Sancious on keys (formerly with Springsteen and The E Street Band). The who's who have performed at "The Bitter End". Here's a short list of some of these great musicians: America, Tori Amos, Joan Baez, Stephen Bishop, Jackson Browne, Harry Chapin, Judy Collins, Jim Croce, Miles Davis, Neil Diamond, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Jose Feliciano, Norah Jones, Billy Joel, Dr. John, Kris Kristofferson, Patti La Belle, Gordon Lightfoot, Les Paul, Sarah McLachlan, Don McLean, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Anne Murray, Rick Nelson, Randy Newman, Odetta, Peter, Paul and Mary, Linda Ronstadt, John Sebastian, Pete Seeger, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Jimmy Webb, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young ... and so many more. A short bio on the musicians I heard that night: Will Lee (Bass) has recorded and/or toured with many artists including Bette Midler, The Brecker Brothers, Barry Manilow, Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariah Carey, Carly Simon, George Benson, Bob Mintzer, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, B.B. King, Cat Stevens, Michael Bolton, Ringo Starr, Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine, Cyndi Lauper, James Brown, Cher, Al Green, Billy Joel, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Carl Perkins, Kiss's Ace Frehley, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, David Sanborn, Spyro Gyra, Ricky Martin, Natalie Cole, Roy Buchanan and others. Steven "Steve" Ferrone, a British drummer, was a member of the Average White Band, and has recorded and performed with numerous other high-profile acts, including Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Scritti Politti Oz Noy (guitarist), born in Israel, became recognized as a prime side man and landed gigs with Chris Botti, Mike Clark, Jeff 'Tain” Watts, Harry Bellafontee, Toni Braxton and Gavin Degraw among others. David Sancious (keys) contributed to the first three Springsteen albums, and again on the 1992 album Human Touch. Sancious is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known as a keyboard player and guitarist. He left the E Street Band in 1974 to form his own band, Tone, and released several albums. He subsequently became a popular session and touring musician, most notably for Stanley Clarke, Narada Michael Walden, Zucchero Fornaciari, Peter Gabriel, and Sting among many others. As remarkable as their performance was and as impressive as their credentials are - you know that they love what they do. Comments are welcome. Sunday, July 31, 2011: "YOU WERE FAMOUS, YOUR HEART WAS A LEGEND" (CHELSEA HOTEL) "Jesse Dylan was just in here and wondered why I had so many books about Bob Dylan," said the straw hatted, leather faced owner of the little book store on Carmine Street. "Obama's motorcade has been down this street a few times now." The bookstore is named "Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books" and it's true to its name! This store has interesting stuff - I found it even more fascinating than the Strand bookstore on Broadway near the Tisch School. It's because the owner, Jim Drougas has personality - he knew his stuff! Across the street from this bookstore, Bob runs the "House of Oldies - World headquarters for Out of Print 45's and LP's". Bob Abramson has been in business here on Carmine Street, just a half a block from Bleecker Street, for 42 years. "John Sebastian is the nicest guy you wanna meet," Yankee capped Bob expounds in his thick New Yorkese accent. I picked up a book of Pop Singles from '55 - '86 since I asked for info on the music from The Village in the 60's. The book is a valuable resource. I also bought a vinyl copy of the Woody Guthrie Carnegie Hall Tribute of '68 - with Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Odetta, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. I picked up the album at Strider Records on Jones Street - just outside these doors, Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo's photo was captured and displayed on Dylan's "Freewheeling" album. Long, white haired Bob Noguera has run this record joint for 31 years. Really helpful guy. Jamal at Village Music World on Bleecker Street was a pure joy to talk with about music. Musicians are always in and out of his store. He connected me with some wonderful people who can help me with my research on the music from The Village. "Suze Rotolo and Claudia worked in the place around the corner - I know Claudia. Patti Smith has been in here." At the Chelsea Hotel, more interesting people, more interesting stories by Supertones musician and resident, Tim Sullivan and Jerry Weinstein longtime employee of the Chelsea. The Chelsea is "the hotel that art calls home." Sullivan explained to me, "The musicians who were good in the 60's were 'dangerous' - they had something to say. They were looking for the truth." Oh, and there was a wedding yesterday. Chelsea Clinton and longtime friend Marc Mezinsky. Chelsea's first name is said to be inspired by the song "Chelsea Morning" (written by Canadian Joni Mitchell) but Chelsea Clinton says that her name was inspired by the song that her Dad likes - "Chelsea Hotel" (written by Canadian Leonard Cohen). Responses are welcome. Sunday, July 25, 2011: CANADIAN TALENT WEARS A UNIQUE INSIGHT I'm always fascinated to talk with actors or musicians after a performance - the wind down, the honesty, the inside on the performance. This week, I visited Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto and Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario to see a couple plays. One was Russian "A Month in the Country" at Soulpepper and the other was Shakespeare's "As You Like It" in Stratford. Both plays were exceptional and a unique experience for me - one: to see a Russian play brilliantly acted and two: to see Shakespeare performed at the world renowned Stratford Festival Theatre with my daughter who is an actor and a student of Shakespeare. After the play "A Month in the Country" at Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto's Distillery District, we met with actor Jeff Lillico who played the young Russian tutor Belyaev and the romantic interest of the character Natalya played by Fiona Bryne. The Weekly Eye called the performance "a revelation ... a truly invigorating experience" with a five star rating. Jeff is now enjoying the performance run. A Russian play is intense. So much of what we see onstage in the characters is unspoken, so much is expressed in "what lies underneath and in the spaces between". Jeff was masterful onstage - so was the entire cast. He thoroughly enjoys his time at Soulpepper Just last month, he was awarded a prestigious Dora Award for his acting in "The Light in the Piazza". Next month, he begins rehearsal as Romeo in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's production of "Romeo & Juliet". Jeff Lillico is an actor who does his homework - he travels to research characters, he reads and expresses it honestly onstage in character. After the performance of "As You Like It" at Stratford, we talked with actress Andrea Runge who plays Rosalind. The Toronto Star reviewed, "Ms. Runge has proved herself a sparkling leading lady, a mooning and mischievious Rosalind." Andrea is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan - a girl from the prairies. She is rooted, knows what she wants and gets it done. I like that. And I also enjoyed her sincerity and honesty in easy conversation after the show. Canadian talent wears a "unique insight". We can embrace that proudly! Tuesday, July 20, 2011: AMERICAN FOLK SONG ROOTS As I researched through the songs and the artists with roots in the American Folk Songs of the 60's and specifically roots in Greenwich Village, I ran across some great songs. Songs from the Forest Gump soundtrack including: "California Dreaming" (Mamas and the Papas), "For What It's Worth" (Buffalo Springfield), "Mrs. Robinson" (Simon and Garfunkel), "Let's Get Together" (The Youngbloods), "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension), "Turn, Turn, Turn" (The Byrds), "Everybody's Talkin'"(Harry Nilsson), "All Along the Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix), "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" (Pete Seeger), "Runnin' On Empty" (Jackson Browne). A 10 CD set from a Time Life collection titled "Flower Power" includes the songs: "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (Peter, Paul and Mary), "Daydream Believer" (The Monkees), "Both Sides Now" (Judy Collins), "Blowing in the Wind" (Peter, Paul & Mary), "Amazing Grace" (Judy Collins), "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (Joan Baez), "Here Comes the Sun" (Ritchie Havens), "We Shall Overcome" (Joan Baez), "Hair" (The Cowsills), "Monday, Monday" (Mamas and the Papas), "It's Getting Better" (Mama Cass), "Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds), "Summer in the City" (The Lovin' Spoonful), "White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane), "Stoned Soul Picnic" (The 5th Dimension), "Daydream" (The Lovin' Spoonful), "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (Bob Dylan), "Creeque Alley" (Mama and the Papas),"Somebody to Love" (Jefferson Airplane). At the end of the week, I'll experience the sights and sound of Greenwich Village - Bleecker Street Records, Cafe Wha?, Washington Square Park, the Blue Note, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex .... Sunday, July 11, 2011: WHEN YOU KNOW "CHANGE IS GONNA COME" I've been reading Bob Dylan's "Chronicles". Rolling Stone magazine reviewer Mikal Gilmore says that it's "a remarkable achievement, and like Henry Miller's best personal writings, it is a story that opens up the times that it portrays, and then reveals the possibilities of the human spirit." Dylan was way ahead of his times - certainly "the times they were a-changin'". Malcolm Gladwell talks about the "tipping point". Dylan expressed the tipping point in "Chronicles": "Sometimes you know things have to change, are going to change, but you can only feel it - like in that song of Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come" - but you don't know it in a purposeful way. Little things foreshadow what's coming but you may not recognize them. But then something immediate happens and you're in another world, you jump into the unknown, have an instinctive understanding of it - you're set free. You don't need to ask questions and you already know the score. It seems like when that happens, it happens fast, like magic, but it's really not like that. It isn't like some dull boom goes off and the moment has arrived - your eyes don't spring open and suddenly you're very quick and sure about something. It's more deliberate. It's more like you're been working in the light of day and then you see one day that it's getting dark early, that it doesn't matter where you are - it won't do any good." He got it - he saw things that others didn't see. He watched, he listened - he didn't just "react" - Dylan was there when it happened. Sunday, July 4, 2011: THE MUSIC AND MUSICIANS OF GREENWICH VILLAGE I've been researching more about Greenwich Village in New York. This was the place in the 60's where musicians lived and shared ideas, listened to music and created the newest sounds of the day. The heart of folk music was Greenwich Village and the heart of the heart was Washington Square Park. Sunday, June 20, 2010: INSPIRATION IN GREENWICH VILLAGE I'm currently planning concerts for the upcoming Revv52 season and a time away in Greenwich Village New York for inspiration. Greenwich Village is vibrant. I was there twice last year - just briefly - but this time I want to settle in for a week and take in the music, the clubs, the buzz on the streets and the people. One certainly can hear world class artists performing in the clubs like the Blue Note, The Village Gate, The Village Vanguard, The Bitter End, Cafe Au Go Go, Cafe Wha, The Gaslight Cafe, Lion's Den and the Comedy Cellar. You'll also hear performances on the streets as an observer wrote, "One night in November we were cruising down
Bleecker Street when I heard a street musician playing guitar. The voice
sounded familiar...which was interesting. I stopped to look and guess
who it was! Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame. I gave him a $10 and he
played a song for my wife. He was very friendly and polite. I told him I
was a fan and asked if I could get my $10 back...he smiled and said
"Son, this world is rough and if a man's gonna make it he's gotta be
tough". I guess that meant I wasn't getting my $10 back." Artists who performed in the clubs of Greenwich Village during their early years include: members of the Mamas and Papas, Rambling Jack Elliot, John Sebastian, Odetta, Jose Feliciano, Fred Neil, Dave Van Ronk, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Eric Anderson, Joan Baez, The Velvet Underground, The Kingston Trio, Richie Havens, Maria Muldar, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone .... This time in New York, I'm going to relive some of this history and hunker into the Village for a spell. Comments are welcome. Sunday, June 13, 2010: EXCELLENCE BEGETS EXCELLENCE I recently talked with a restaurateur from an exceptional restaurant who explained to me that he uses only the best ingredients. I watched the Tony Awards from Broadway tonight - one of the very best places to see a musical. I visited the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the National Gallery in London where I viewed some of the most beautiful art ever painted. My grandfather always purchased only the "best". His purchases lasted and proved to be excellent investments. As an artistic director and as an educator, I've always sought to work with the best. Years back, when we performed the production of "Grease", I asked Didi Conn (Frenchy from the MGM movie) to work a rehearsal. When I looked to understand more about British comedy and theatre, we took a busload of actors to the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary and talked with visiting actor/musician Dudley Moore. For Gospel music, I visited churches and music directors in Los Angeles and worked with musicians who performed with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. It helped us further understand the call and response style, R and B and Pop. I attended the little Gospel church in Amherstberg, Ontario where black slaves found their freedom at the end of the underground railway and travelled to Motown in Detroit to check out the place where that groove started. To be unafraid to learn from the best and to be around the best with an appetite to learn is a great place to be. Excellence begets excellence. Comments are welcome. Sunday, June 6, 2010: PERFORM In the Creative Class yesterday, singer/songwriters shared their new songs with each other in a positive, supportive environment. The class is a good place to "try things out" before taking to the stage. Other songwriters in the class as well as Neil MacGonigill and I give constructive feedback about the songs and the performances. These artists take to the stage next Sunday at 4 pm at the new Ironwood in the Inglewood neighborhood of Calgary. A question was posed about whether one should wait and hone one's skills to the utmost level before performing in venues. My answer - get out there and perform. I remember the response of business guru Tom Peters (In Search of Excellent). It was Ready, Fire, Aim - get out there and do it and fix it along the way. That was what Pink Floyd did when they toured the music for the album "Dark Side of the Moon" for a full year before settling in the studio to complete the record. The other alternative according to Tom Peters is: Ready, Aim, Fire. The problem with that approach is that the music industry changes so quickly - what works today might not work tomorrow. Prepare and rehearse but perform regularly. Watch early career video of performers like Sting, Elton John, Peter Gabriel - because they are great artists - they continually improve - like a fine wine. No competition at this level - its all about the art form and creating art. Perform! Comments are welcome. Sunday, May 30, 2010: BRAGG CREEK FESTIVAL I caught some of the Bragg Creek Festival today - at the community hall in the town of Bragg Creek. I listened to the Chris Sandvoss Sextet, marimba player Rod Thomas Squance and guitarist/singer/songwriter Calum Graham. I loved the vibe at the Festival - I was surprised to meet some musicians I knew from Calgary. I'm a fan of what Chris Sandvoss is all about - real music whether it's "classic" or "folk" - he gets it and delivers it with heartfelt honesty. His bio reads, "Chris is a Luthier, making award winning violins. He
doesn't just make them, he plays them too. He's a classically
trained performer, but he can also jam with other local musicians on
any type of music." Great stories in his songs and today the sextet included drums and female vocalist with dobro, cello and upright bass - all very fine players. From the program: "Rod Thomas Squance is quickly gaining recognition as one of Canada’s most exciting rising musicians. A brilliant soloist, Rod is very active as a solo artist and freelance percussionist in chamber, orchestral, jazz and world music settings." Today he played some Bach, some Chick Corea and one of his own compositions - I was transfixed! The baroque music of Bach on the marimba was so beautiful. It reminded me of Glenn Gould interpretations of Bach - imaginative and musically alive. Calum Graham owns the stage in performance - confident and engaging as an artist. His choice of material was so right for the 45 minute set. He can rock the stage with energy and tame the audience to listen to his more intimate compositions. "Last summer Calum won first place at the Calgary Stampede Talent Search, in Ontario he achieved 2nd Place at the Canadian Finger style Guitar Competition, and he was honored as the first recipient of the Colin Simpson Scholarship." He is "in the moment" onstage - Calum enjoys sharing music. On Friday night, YoUthtopia took to the stage. I am fortunate to work with five of the six artists. They are all incredibly gifted as musicians and singer/songwriters - and they collaborated to put together the Friday night showcase. Lucas Chaisson "delivers a sparse Springsteen-esque folk-blues
vibe". Establishing herself on the Jones-Krall
constellation, Sarah Clark sparkles and radiates as she spins out beautiful
tales with haunting piano and a voice that can fill a concert hall." "With influences as diverse as Automatic
Loveletter and Pink Floyd, the lovely Susie Forsyth combines delicate
vocals, no-nonsense lyrics, and slammin' acoustic guitar." "Favoring
finesse rather than brute power, the four band members of Random Task Collective continue to churn a furious
flurry of nerdy rock-funk." "From
the funk to the downright nitty gritty soul, music and Ruben Young go hand
in hand." Calum Graham also played the Friday night gig with singer/songwriter Matt Wilkins who "takes
pride in the fact that nobody can completely pinpoint his genre." This festival is in its third year and with the support of local businesses and the local audience - it will continue to grow! Comments are welcome.
Sunday, May 23, 2010: THE COWBOY TRAIL AND THE MUSIC It's one of the most picturesque drives in Alberta. Highway 22 south from Cochrane is known as the Cowboy Trail - nestled in Alberta ranching country between the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian prairie. Today, we drove along the Cowboy Trail from Cochrane to Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview. On my jeep cd player, I played a cd that I haven't listened to for awhile - it was the music of Hank Williams sung by artists from Alberta: Billy Cowsill, Jane Hawley, Stewart MacDougall, Tom Phillips and Tim Williams. It's music that lives in the cowboy landscape. A favorite song of mine is "Wouldn't It Be Nice" sung by Jane Hawley. I enjoyed sharing the stage with Jane in a concert a few years back - she's an excellent performer. Our destination was the Village of Longview and the Twin Cities Hotel and Saloon. It's noted as a place where the locals drop in on a Sunday afternoon for a musical jam session, where the burgers and beer are worth the visit and bikers stop for a spell as they drive the Cowboy Trial. When we arrived, the jam session was underway - the song stories were authentic. After a bite to eat, we crossed the street and visited Ian Tyson's Navajo Mug - a coffee shop where I picked up an Ian Tyson cd. It was the one he performed live at the East Longview Community Hall in 2002. Songs like "Navajo Rug", "Desert Motel" and "Someday Soon" are performed live off the floor on the cd. My friend Neil MacGonigill attended that show - he said the performance and the ambiance were "great". Neil is thanked on the album by Tyson. Ian Tyson ranches in Longview and along with his talent as a gifted songwriter, he is a respected horseman. On the drive home, we listened to the Tyson cd - it was beautiful to hear his music as the late afternoon sun shone down on the prairie. The multi-greens of the foothills with a backdrop of the snow capped Rocky Mountains was as unforgettable as the music. It was a great day! Comments are welcome. Sunday, May 16, 2010: WHEN MUSIC COMES ALIVE Producer/musican Ashwin Sood and I brainstormed an idea last summer after I talked with members of REVV52. What about bringing together Canadian songwriters with a 50 voice performance ensemble of singers? Select the music that is interesting to the artist to be performed onstage with the ensemble REVV52. Have the charts arranged by smart arrangers who can work style and groove into the arrangement that best expresses the artist's style. Put together a band of musicians who can make that sound come alive. Build the concept into a two night performance - each night would feature a different singer/songwriter with REVV52 and each show would be completely different. Well it came alive this weekend -beyond expectations for the audience, for the guest artists, the band, and members of REVV52! New Nettwerk artist Meaghan Smith took the stage with guitarist Jason Mingo on Friday night with REVV52. She was warmed by the beauty of the arrangements by Steve Pineo and Deke Sharon of her chosen songs sung by REVV52 as background to her vocals. The songs included: "If I Only Had a Heart", "Teardrop", "Take Me Dancing","I'm Just a Gigolo" and "Hallelujah". The band: Ash Sood, Trevor Waters, Kit Johnson and Steve Pineo layed down "groove" for the performances for both nights. Meaghan loved the vibe- it was a new experience to hear her music in such a way. Jimmy Rankin joined REVV52 on the Saturday night - the performance rocked the house. REVV52 and Jimmy performed songs like "501 Queen", "When I Rise", "Dog Out in the Rain", "Followed Her Around", "Revolution" and "Fare Thee Well". Jimmy expressed to me that he had a blast. He and guitarist Jamie Robinson didn't expect what they heard LIVE from the floor with REVV52 singing inside their music. The idea came alive with two nights of performance. I'll always remember those performances because each performance took music to where it lives - into the real lives of those who express it and those who experience it. Comments are welcome. Sunday, May 9, 2010: A SONG ORDER FOR PERFORMANCE In Nashville, Tom Jackson offers workshops for performance. For 20 years he has taught artists how to connect emotionally with their audiences - Jars of Clay, Taylor Swift .... He outlines a possible order of songs for your performance. The first song should be shorter and one that you are comfortable with so you can pay attention to your audience. The second is one that your audience can clap along with - they are really starting to listen. Listen to them as well for a their response. The third song is "the king" according to Tom. This is labeled as a "great song". The fourth song is the "different song" and one where you can create a surprise. It's the twist that keeps them engaged. Show a new side of yourself that they might not be familiar with. Number five is the "embellishment song" where you can add some unique instrumentation or interesting percussion. The sixth song might be the song where you bring people onstage - its FUN. The audience might sing along here. Number seven song is the "rip your heart out love song". This is where you are engaged with you audience. Talk to them. Another "rip your heart out love song" is number eight. The number nine song might be a closer song. Start slow and build up to the end. An upbeat kind of song leaves your audience in a good place. I share these because a singer/songwriter I work with thoroughly enjoyed Tom's workshop. As Artistic Director, I'm involved with two shows this week with Revv52 and Meaghan Smith and Jimmy Rankin. Both shows will be a roller coaster ride of emotion and great music - I can't wait! See www.revv52.com for details. Comments are welcome. Sunday, May 2, 2010: HEARING WITH YOUR EYES When the wind blows, can you read a rhythm or a tempo by what you see? Grammy award winning bassist, Victor Wooten explains it like this: "Music, like all things, is vibration; that is all. Because we humans can hear Music with our ears, we get stuck on the idea that that's all there is to it. Most of us wouldn't even consider the thought of seeing Music, or of hearing a flower. What we hear, we do not see, and what we see, we do not hear. We think that Music stops at the ears. That is a mistake. Vibrations can be felt in all places and at all times, even with the eyes. Music can be seen if your awareness is broad enough."
I presented this at a recent conference and after the presentation, a participant who specializes in matters of synchronicity remarked, "That's it - you understand." Comments are welcome. Sunday, April 25, 2010: NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO MATTER "The state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the the sheer sake of doing it." That's what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls FLOW. FLOW AS IT RELATES TO MUSIC: Grammy award winning bassist Victor Wooten talks about "GROOVE" in much the same way. "You should find the groove before you start playing." He emphasizes the ten but equal parts of Music as: notes, articulation, technique, feel, dynamics, rhythm, tone, phrasing, space and listening. GROOVE will get you to these ten parts of music - FLOW will also. FLOW AS IT RELATES TO ACTING: For actors, acting coach and director Constantin Stanislavski talks about acting and movement. It relates to FLOW. Stanislavski explains, "You must get accustomed to disentangling and searching out your own rhythm from the general, organized chaos of speed and slowness going on around you on the stage." In reference to speech, tempo and rhythm, he says, "When actors have an innately right comprehension of what they are conveying to the public they instantly fall into a more or less rhythmic pattern of verbal and physical expression. This happens because the bond between rhythm and feeling is so very close. Again, this concept is similar to Csikszentmihaly's FLOW or Victor Wooten's GROOVE. FLOW AS IT RELATES TO MOVEMENT: The cerebellum is the lower, rearmost part of the brain. Its main functions are to coordinate body movements through integrated control of muscles. FLOW of movement happens when the cerebellum ensures that when one set of muscles initiates a movement, the opposing set acts as a brake, so that the body part in question arrives accurately at its target. A movement is planned, and as a result the brain areas involved send signals to the muscles to execute the action. FLOW relates to music and groove, to acting and movement and to acting and speech. To be "in the flow" is to be in that place where nothing else matters - only the moment matters. Comments and responses are welcome. Sunday, April 18, 2010: ENJOY YOUR MUSIC "When people enjoy the music, they will achieve even greater results with related activities." That's what Dr. Bin Hu (Head of Division of Experimental Neurosciences at Foothills Hospital in Calgary) said to me when we talked about music and parkinsonism. Today, I rehearsed with REVV52 and some very fine musicians who make up the band for the upcoming performances with singer/songwriter Jimmy Rankin of The Rankin Family fame and newly acclaimed Nettwerk artist Meaghan Smith. There was joy in the room today. It was a fun and productive rehearsal. The band members in the room have worked with some incredible musicians - Stevie Nicks, Delerium, Mae Moore, Jann Arden, Greg Keelor, Sarah McLachlan, the McGarrigle sisters, Rufus Wainwright, Loreena McKennitt, Gord Downie and the Tradically Hip, Alannah Miles, The Rankins, The Wild Strawberries, Joni Mitchell, David Wilcox ... and so many more. On drums: Ashwin Sood, Guitars: Steve Pineo, Bass: Kit Johnson and Trevor Waters on keys. We were "in the groove", the "emotion and feel" of the music was clicking, tempos were "in place" and we laughed - it was a great afternoon of music. That's the way I remembered music to be when I started. That's why I continue to make music. For that matter, that's why we all continue to make music! Comments are welcome. Sunday, April 11, 2010: BANTER AND BARENAKED LADIES Entertaining, the best banter you'll ever hear on a stage and kicking great musicians! That's the concert I saw this week at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary. I met them last year at the Junos with their wives - we laughed and shared a few stories. On stage Jim Creeggan, Tyler Stewart, Kevin Hearne and Ed Robertson are the Barenaked Ladies. Steven Page is now on his own working on material for an album. Without Steven Page, the band is different. Everyone has stepped up - now all players sing back-up, Kevin Hearne and Jim Creeggan perform their own songs with the band. The new song "You Run Away" is beautifully written by Ed Robertson - about the breakup with Page. The second verse is smart: I tried but you tried harder
The band "goes with the flow" on stage. A little girl in the front row flashed her homemade crayon coloured sign "Eraser". The band responded with their performance of the song from their album "Snack Time" - an unrehearsed version. The audience loved it! After the show, I met up with members of the band. All are genuine - still. Ed is proud of the new song - but they know their roots - they get family. We talked about school and learning and music. The BNL have been doing this gig for 20 years - "If I Had A Million Dollars" came true for them but more than the money, their music is still unique in the business - it's smart! Comments are welcome.
Sunday, April 3, 2010: THE ARTS IN DOWNTOWN CALGARY I had a little free time and so I ventured downtown for a coffee at Arts Central. At Arts Central, artists host galleries of their original works. It's a real art landmark in Calgary. A friend, Murray Ord, called to meet for lunch - we ate at a superb little noodle house on 17th Ave . Murray is so upbeat and as a producer has a finger on the pulse of the arts in Alberta. After lunch, I had a couple more hours to take in the art at the Glenbow Museum which featured three new exhibitions: "The Nude in Modern Canadian Art 1920 - 1950", Kent Monkman's "The Triumph of Mischief" and Kaahsinnooniksi Ao'toksisawooyawa: Reconnections with Historic Blackfoot Shirts". My visit at the Glenbow was fascinating. On Friday, the good people at White Iron invited us to the filming of Country Music Television's "Christmas in Calgary" special hosted by Jason McCoy at The Grand. Musical guests included: Colin James, Oscar Lopez, Rik Emmett and Pavlo of "TriFecta" and a trio of virtuoso female fiddlers "Belle Starre". We thoroughly enjoyed the excellent musicians in the band led by Calgary's Russ Broom and featured some stellar players that I've had the opportunity to work with. One of the fiddlers, I've followed is 24 year old artist Kendel Carson, who has performed with singer/songwriter Chip Taylor (Wild Thing, Angel in the Morning). Listen to her performances of "I Like Trucks" and "Cowboy Boots". After the show, we enjoyed a Guinness at the James Joyce on 8th Ave. On Saturday, Ronnie Burkett's show "Billy Twinkle" at the Martha Cowen Theatre was a highlight. I met with Ronnie last summer in Toronto to talk about theatre - he is a master of his craft and world renown in puppetry. On Easter Sunday, we ventured downtown again, to attend Grace Presbyterian Church's Easter service with pipe organ, the Foothills Brass and a beautiful celebration of Christ's resurrection. Downtown Calgary has so much to offer! This week, I discovered more when I had a little free time for a coffee. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 28, 2010: THE BRAIN AND CREATIVITY Have you noticed that creative individuals are wildly imaginative, link things that may seem unconnected to others and are open to ideas that others might discount? Van Gogh and his work "Starry Night" was painted while he resided in an asylum, Beethoven composed symphonies for instruments never imagined for use in composition, Walt Disney designed a imaginative theme park to be built in Florida swampland. What is creativity and what makes creative people generate original ideas? "Creativity is the ability to reconfigure what you know, often in the light of new information and come up with an original concept or idea. In order to be creative, a person must be be critical, selective, and generally intelligent." (Rita Carter) In the book titled, "The Human Brain", Rita Carter outlines that those who can put their brains into idle on demand are more likely to generate new ideas. In the creative process, it is important that the brain is already "primed" with knowledge that works in conjunction with newly generated material. For example, a musician with excellent technical facility on their instrument can fuse this expertise almost "unconsciously" while producing new ideas. This allows the artist greater resources to be available for new stimuli. Yet it is always fascinating to me how an intelligent artist can create new ideas on an instrument they are less familiar with - however, their advanced level of discipline in songwriting comes into play in a big way. During the creative process, new ideas are subject to a first round of scrutiny. Ideas that move to a second stage of examination are often the ones that are described as "new". Creative ideas are allowed to float. The frontal area of the brain is turned off when the artist is creating. The "shutting off" ensures that the most relevant information guides the artist's thoughts. According to Carter, opening minds to new information is the start of the creative process. Hunker down, learn the technical aspects of your discipline, then relax and put your brain into "idle" - the creative process will unfold! A little humor along the way helps! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 21, 2010: "WOW!" A respected music colleague wrote a short note to me after a recent concert I conducted with REVV52 - it simply read, "WOW!" I haven't heard that expression for awhile. Business writer and thinker Tom Peters talks about "WOW" in his writings. He says, "WOW" projects matter - they make a difference, you can brag about them, they transform, they take your breath away and make people "smile". The "WOW" happens when you start believing in yourself. This week in hockey, the Detroit Red Wings picked up some valuable points in their quest to make the NHL playoffs. They scored in the final minutes of a Monday night game to win against Calgary, they scored with .03 seconds remaining in regulation time against Edmonton to tie and force overtime and again with .02 seconds remaining in a game against Vancouver to win in overtime. This is a team of players and coaches who believe they can "make the playoffs and make a difference in the post season". Advice from Peters - don't look over you shoulder - look ahead and work with those who believe in the "WOW" factor. Mark Twain writes, "The best swordsman in the world doesn't need to fear the second best swordsman in the world. No, the person for him to be afraid of is some ignorant antagonist who has never had a sword in his hand before: he doesn't do the thing he ought to do, and so the expert isn't prepared for him: he does the thing he ought not to do: and often it catches the expert out and ends him on the spot." Arrogance and complacency net negative results. When one is focused on outcomes of "WOW" proportion - it can happen. To stand in line, wait or follow along is a sure ingredient for measuring "average" results. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 14, 2010: CHANGE IT UP It's the final stretch run before the playoffs in the NHL, it's close to the final four NCAA basketball championships, the season for arts companies is nearing it's end and the summer outdoor concerts are fast approaching. Sports coaches, arts directors and conductors always look for ways to inspire the best in players and performers. Benjamin Zander was looking for new ways of rehearsing the "excessively familiar" New World Symphony of Dvorak. He asked the orchestra players to reseat themselves on the stage "so that as many players as possible were placed next to an unfamiliar instrument. A first violinist stood next to the timpani, an oboe player amongst the violas, a horn in the cello section. The purpose was to reveal new sounds and textures that the musicians could not hear from within their own sections." Zander also read a quotation that served "as a point of inquiry for the rehearsal" and asked the players to play the New World Symphony with their eyes shut - imagining they were completely blind. The orchestra began to play not by memory but by heart - harmony was truly present. Grammy Award winning bassist Victor L. Wooten in his book The Music Lesson explains, "Have you ever noticed that all blind musicians play with a remarkable amount of feel - not some of them, all of them? A famous blind musician will be someone that your parents and your children listen to ... because they fill their Music with tremendous amounts of true emotion, and that is what they get across to their listeners." In practice and rehearsal, change it up at times. The result can lead to a passionate performance - one that all players perform at their best. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 7, 2010: A COMMUNITY OF HOPE This month, I"ll begin working with a group of Parkinson's patients as we form a choir of singers. Our goal is to enjoy the benefits of working together with music and to share at the upcoming Parkinson's conference in Calgary to be held on April 30 and May 1. To prepare, I met with Dr. Bin Hu, Professor and Head of Division of Experimental Neurosciences at Foothills Hospital here in Calgary. Fascinating. His bio reads: Dr. Hu is best known for his seminal work on a number of small brain circuits that matter to humans. Prominent examples include thalamic pacemaking neurons for EEG rhythm, bursting neurons in neurohormone secretion, thalamic tremor cells in Parkinson’s disease, “cue” neurons in sensory processing and non-spiking neurons in temporal lobe development. He is particularly interested in designing new models of therapeutic brain stimulation and non-invasive clinical interventions (e.g. auditory cueing and music) that target essential brain circuits to promote functional recovery and wellness for patients with movement and cognitive impairments. In our meeting, we talked about whether music improves cognitive function - like the Mozart effect has on music and math results. Also, there is evidence that "rhythm based auditory training" with a metronome effects the "walking gate" of Parkinson's patients. Patients are able to consistently "measure their steps" through the use of a metronome that provides a meter. The songs chosen by patients of Parkinson's which improved results of their "walking gate" was emotionally charged music they enjoyed - like Gospel music. According to Grammy award winning bassist Victor Wooten, the "groove" of a song should be felt before the actual song is performed. It is helpful for Parkinson's patients to "feel" this rhythmic groove as they move to music. There is also evidence that one can "think" of a particular song and the tremors associated with Parkinsons would subside for the duration of that song. (Cited by Oliver Sacks in his book "Musicophelia".) A recent article in the Globe and Mail written by Parkinson's patient Adele Gould ended with the quote, "And I quietly thank my lucky stars for the many wonderful people in my life who walk this road with me and give me every reason to be joyful." For our choir, I'll start with a group of Parkinson's patients and together we'll seek to capture the joy of music. To help build a community of support is a start. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 28, 2010: ALL THAT IS GOOD IN MUSIC "On a whim a few months ago, we submitted one of Rachael's songs to the International Songwriting Competition. We just found out that she was selected as one of 16 finalists in the Teen Category. When you realize there are 15,000 applications to the contest, and that she became a finalist in the Teen category at age 12, it's pretty amazing -- Rachael is still smiling just from making it this far!" That's what her dad, Mike, wrote on the website. Rachael writes music - constantly! She hones the craft of songwriting every day. It's her creative release. She loves it. Yesterday in Creative Class, she performed her song "Tomorrow" at the keyboard with Chris Sandvoss on violin, Eldon Davey and Connor Derbyshire on bass. Neil MacGonigill was impressed with what he heard. He advised Rachael to continue to write and to live in the joy she has for her music. I remember the first time Rachael performed with members of the Creative Class in Cochrane two years ago. She was nervous and unsure in a new environment. The other performers were so supportive of Rachael - artists like Lindsay Ell, Alanna Clark, James Slater. Yesterday in class, Rachael laughed and smiled before she sang - she was in the zone! Her performance was excellent and so was her song! Take a look at her website and listen to her songs - Rachael Schroeder embraces all that is good in music! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 21, 2010: OWN THE PODIUM AND RULE NUMBER SIX The intentions were in place, the preparation - both physically and mentally ... but why did some athletes who were expected to win gold at the 2010 Olympics not "own the podium". The answer might lie in the secret of Rule Number Six. In the book, "The Art of Possibility" Benjamin Zander relates a story of conflict which is resolved when one individual admonishes the other with, "Peter, kindly remember Rule Number Six." It means, "Don't take yourself so damn seriously." And the other rules ... THERE ARE NO OTHER RULES! Artists and athletes can put tremendous pressure on themselves to perform "up to expectations" - the big performance in the big concert hall, the final game or final heat on the world stage against the best in the world. Amazingly enough, some of the greatest performances and the world records have occurred when the performer is "in the flow" - a state of pure joy. They don't feel the pressure - they don't take themselves so seriously. Still, preparation is essential - both physically and mentally - but there can be "joy" in the big performance. The Olympics in Vancouver are at the half way point - records will be broken, lives will be changed. Life is big - so much to live for ... and the joy of it all is to enjoy every step of the way. Remember Rule Number Six! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 14, 2010: ENGINEERING A JOURNEY OF PASSION In the mid 90's, he approached me to talk with his parents about changing his focus from engineering to music study in composition. During his final year of high school, he composed an overture for the play "Arsenic and Old Lace' and two compositions for his graduation written for choir, soloists, flute, clarinet, violins, violas, piano and bass. All of this was quite exceptional for a grade 12 student who had already earned his ARCT in piano performance. He emailed me a few years ago to say that he was the new composer-in-residence of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Last Saturday, the Globe and Mail ran a feature on this Canadian composer. His name: Vincent Ho. Last Saturday, his composition "Arctic Symphony" was performed as a world premiere at Winnipeg's Centennial Concert Hall as part of the WSO New Music Festival. THE BACKGROUND: The University of Manitoba asked Vince to board an ice-breaker for a two-week tour of the Arctic with some of the world's best-known climate scientists to find music in the scientific observation of climate change. THE RESULT: The symphony opens with sounds of winds and waves, throat singers on the concert hall second balcony, projections of landscape accompanying the music by photographer Doug Barber. "Vincent creates these incredible soundscapes that feel like landscapes. You literally see and feel the ice." (WSO music director Alexander Mickelthwate) The review from the Winnipeg Free Press: "The Arctic Symphony is a mature and atmospheric work that firmly establishes Ho among North American composers of note. It is a beautifully thought-provoking way to promote the message of climate change." Here's a brief bio on Vincent Ho: Winner of numerous awards and prizes, Vincent Ho has emerged as a much sought-after composer. During his academic studies, his works were already being performed by many prestigious ensembles and orchestras, including The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie canadienne. His music has also been featured at numerous festivals such as The Winnipeg New Music Festival, New York’s MATA New Music Festival, Parry Sound’s Festival of the Sound, The Markham Music Festival, Toronto’s Massey Hall New Music Festival, Ottawa’s Strings of the Future Festival, and Bakersfield’s New Directions Series. In addition to North America, his works have been performed in China, France and Italy. Here's the performance recording: www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/concerts/20100206wnmf1 And to think ... he could have been an engineer! Email responses to www.brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 7, 2010: FINDING THE ARTIST WITHIN Neil MacGonigill tells the story of an individual searching for her friend who moved to a European city. Her friend was an artist. She knew the name of the city where her friend lived but she didn't know the address. She knew what her artist friend liked and disliked - the music, the food, the kind of people and the kind of places she usually gravitated to. After walking the streets of that city for four days, she zeroed in on a neighbourhood that seemed to express what her friend most enjoyed. She posted information about her friend throughout the community. And as true as their friendship, she was able to locate her friend. This was the neighbourhood where her friend lived and the community where she was able express herself as an artist. When you're searching for your artistic identity, try this: Go to the city (it could be a musical soundscape) where you want to live - the place where the restaurants, the culture, the arts, and the people warm you to be the creative individual you know you are. Walk the streets of your chosen city - experience the atmosphere with your five senses and how it relates to you and your life. Take it all in. As you discover more about what's around you, you'll discover more about what's in you as an artist. "What lies before us and what lies beyond us is tiny compared to what lies within us." Oliver Wendell Holmes Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 31, 2010: THE MUSICIAN'S CHOICE OF RECORDING CONSOLES The band 10cc recorded the hit songs "The Things We Do For Love" and "I'm Not In Love" at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, England. They were unique in the 70's because they multi-layered their vocals - much like Queen did with "Bohemian Rhapsody". In fact, the way 10cc recorded influenced Queen's production of "Bohemian Rhapsody". Reviewer Tom Moon on the "I'm Not In Love" recording writes, "The synthesizers swirl into pretty puddles of sound, and when the tempo falls abruptly away in the middle , what's left is an oddly captivating musical mist." The actual recording console that was used at Strawberry Studios by 10cc is now housed in Bearspaw at Audities Studios. When I walked into the studio this morning, David Kean and Dave Hamilton were assembling the console that 10cc recorded from. This Helios "board" has quite a history of great recordings - but so do these recording engineers. David Kean is one of the major contributors to the Cantos Museum here in Calgary and Dave Hamilton taught sound engineering in the 80's at a time when free recording time was offered to some of the songwriters I was working with. Paul Brandt got an early start with engineer Dave Hamilton. I haven't seen Dave since those years and it was good to meet again. Great sound engineers are unique individuals - they work well with people in "the psychology of the recording studio". It was a long day - days are usually long when recording in the studio. But what a great way to spend a day - recording with some of the best! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 24, 2010: NURTURING JOY IN MUSIC She sat patiently with my brother and I at the piano in the early years to instill the art of practice. She attended so many school concerts and shows and public performances to support us and music. In the past week and a half she sat in on sound checks and rehearsals and provided a support to singers, instrumentalists, sound and lighting techs with her friendly approach ... and today we'll celebrate her 80th birthday in Banff. There is so much joy in music and it's wonderful to know that from the very start it was nurtured in our family. Thanks mom ... and happy birthday! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 17, 2010: FIX THE BROKEN DOWN Today, the Calgary Herald reviewer wrote, "It all culminated in one of the longest, most heartfelt standing ovations I have seen around town for a long time." The reviewer was writing about the world premiere of "Two Bit Oper Eh? Shun: An oratorio about homelessness". It was beautiful to participate in the work that was written by Calgary actor Onalea Gilberton and composer, pianist Marcel Bergmann. Actors: Onalea Gilbertson, Doug McKeag, Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan, musicians from Land's End Chamber Ensemble, singers from Revv52 and Calgary's Drop-In Centre told a story of homelessness - told to provoke positive change. What was most moving for me was to participate on the same stage with singers from Calgary's Drop-In Centre: Norm Saunders, Aubrey Miller, John Harris, Max Ciesielski, Debbie Emmett, Shane, Scott Chunn, Robert Ramstead and Jenn Carew. They all have a story and a particularly brilliant talent. The poetry, the eulogies, the guitar, piano and vocal solos were heartfelt and deeply moving. The Herald reviewer wrote, "right around the time Norm Saunders sang Broken Down: the emotion
started to build, and everything started to feel as if it fit
perfectly. It was magical. Norm's chorus goes like this: He's lookin' at the world/ they rush on by/ he's waitin' for their words/ they rush on by/ he's hopin' for his wish/ the world is fallin'/ and so he hit the ground/ so to change the world we must stop and fix the broken down. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 10, 2010: TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS Canadian rocker, Randy Bachman tells a great story about recording the song "Takin' Care of Business" and the pizza delivery man. The Bachman-Turner Overdrive song charted at #12 on Billboard in 1973 and became one of BTO's most enduring songs. The story goes like this: In a Seattle recording studio, members of BTO were laying down guitar, bass and drum tracks for "Takin' Care of Business", the Steve Miller Band was recording "Fly Like an Eagle" and down the hall the funk band WAR was recording their album "Deliver the Word". According to Bachman, "a really big guy - about six foot six, three hundred something pounds and hair like Fidel Castro, big beard" was standing at the studio door with about five pizzas. The pizza delivery man was listening to the song "Takin' Care of Business", and asked if Bachman ordered the pizzas. Bachman replied, "No - check down the hall." After delivering the pizza down the hall, the pizza man returned to Bachman and said, "You know, that song sounds like it could really use a piano." Bachman was already closing down the session for the day - it was 2 am - but he gave the pizza guy one pass with the piano track. The rest is history. Upon listening to the track, the label executive with Compleat Records, loved it and wanted the name of the piano player for credits. It took Bachman two days of phone calls to track down the Seattle pizza man. His name was Norman Durkee. Durkee continued with his music after that phone call - no more pizza delivery. He became musical director for Now ... that's takin' care of business! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 3, 2010: INVINCIBLE He is a musician, pianist and composer. In his earlier days, he would play the piano till his fingers bled. He has composed film scores for "Mystic River", "Changeling" and piano compositions for "In the Line of Fire", co-wrote "Why Should I Care" recorded by Diana Krall, and "Grand Torino" recorded by Jamie Cullum. However it is his latest film that inspires so many. Clint Eastwood directs the film "Invictus" - a look at a chapter in Nelson Mendela's life of leadership as President of South Africa. Its title comes from the poem of the same name written by Victorian poet William Earnest Henley. The poem demonstrates that "despite physical limitations the collective and individual spirit is ultimately unconquerable" - much like the life of Mendela. He would recite the poem "Invictus" to strengthen himself during the course of his 27 years of imprisonment - some of those years were spent in a three foot jail cell on Robben Island. The movie is certainly inspiring as is the life of Mandela. There is a point in the film where we are aware of the foibles of the human condition in a man such as Mandela - he is astranged from his wife and children. Yet there is an honesty in the film that director Clint Eastwood captures. That honesty translates to "hope and possibility" for something better. Here is the poem: Out of the night that covers me, Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca
Sunday, December 27, 2009: REINDEER GAMES "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen" are the beginning lyrics to the popular song "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer". Composer Johnny Marks wrote the music in 1949 to the poem by Richard May, an American advertising executive. May's poem was given away to children by Santas in department stores at Christmas to stimulate interest in shopping and the more commercial aspects of Christmas. It was a highly successful campaign, resulting in 2.5 million copies of the poem distributed to children during the first year. Commercial but catchy ... which brings me to what I recently saw on a walk with our dog around the neighbourhood. I couldn't believe it! In an open field across from where we live, was a large mule deer buck in pursuit of four female deer. Twined in the large buck's antlers was a long string of Christmas lights! Crazy! Someone in the neighbourhood is missing a string of Christmas lights. I saw the same buck today in the neighbourhood - the Christmas lights were no longer hanging from his antlers - but the four female deer were still around. Hmmm. Reindeer games? A mule deer is certainly not a reindeer but the "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" song came to mind when I saw that crazy sight ... and at Christmas time no less! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 20, 2009: THAT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE You walk into a room where all the people are involved in conversation. You are unsure what to do until someone greets you and breaks the ice by introducing you to the crowd. That can make all the difference. I remember a time when Dave Kelly, an actor and television morning host in Calgary, introduced me to a group of actors that I was about to work with. I walked into the room and Dave immediately made me feel part of the group with his introduction. This week, he did the same. REVV52, the ensemble I conduct, sang on City TV, where Dave is host. He has a real talent for warming people into the environment. Dave is an actor with a wonderful sense of humor. He is certainly Calgary's most popular morning show host and has been chosen as one of Calgary Magazine's Top 40 under 40 for four straight years. Dave has won the Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association's Best Host Award. He works with charities and the Kid's Cancer Care Foundation. Dave cares about this city and about its people. There are others who like Dave Kelly, are the warm hearts of the Calgary arts community. After the curtain falls in Calgary theatres, many of the actors meet at a local spot to reconnect. Last night, I stopped by to pick up our daughter, an actor, who attended a show. Some of the same actors I met a few years back through Dave, were in the room. They too were welcoming and that can make all the difference. "May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One." (A Christmas Carol) Merry Christmas! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 13, 2009: CAN YOU DIG IT?
Musician friends picked up this collection in Hong Kong on a recent trip. I couldn't believe such a compilation existed. The liner notes in the 100 page booklet are priceless. You can't get the music out of your head. "Can You Dig It? The Music and Politics of Black Action Films 1968-75" is a new two CD set from Soul Jazz Records in the UK. The collection of songs represents the greatest funk and soul black music of the time. This is some of the best music produced by James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Willie Hutch and Roy Ayers with orchestral arrangements by Quincy Jones, Johnny Pate and JJ Johnson. The liner notes outline that black action films established the first African-American cinema within Hollywood. The films created an awareness of black culture and "the race problem" with the onset of the civil rights movement. When the big studios were in crisis in the late 60's because movie goers were attracted to television, studios looked to new markets. Movies like "Shaft", "Super Fly", "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and "Black Caesar" kicked up new interest in film and the African-American experience. The "Can You Dig It" compilation includes kickin' charts like the Quincy Jones arrangement "They Call Me MISTER Tibbs", Martha Reeves "Keep On Movin' On", Isaac Hays "Shaft", James Brown "Make it Good to Yourself", Earth, Wind and Fire "Sweetback's Theme" from "Shaft in Africa" .... it's over the top! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 6, 2009: LOOK I was given a beautiful card the other day with prose by Donald Miller. It begins: "No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath .... It reminded me of a poem I hung in a music room for many years - the poem by Robert Fulghum titled "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN". It goes like this: Share everything. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 29, 2009: THE AUDITION This week, I worked with singers and actors who are recording, performing, and prepping for auditions as well as reporters who bring us the news. The audition involves more than just "singing a song" or "acting a monologue" or "reading the news" - there's some inside STUFF that can make all the difference. Take for instance the audition of 18 year old Barbra Streisand. At the audition some of the more established directors and producers on Broadway listened. Director/writer/casting director Michael Shurtleff tells this story: Streisand arrived late. She rushed on stage in a raccoon coat, explaining she was late because she just had to buy the shoes she was wearing. She explained that there was only one of each pair so she was wearing two unmatched shoes. Streisand began to sing but after two notes, exclaimed that she must have a stool. She sat on the stool and stopped again, this time to remove the gum from her mouth and "squash it on the underside of the stool." Then she sang. According to Shurtleff, "She mesmerized them." All the auditioners loved her - except one - who wanted no part of this Streisand character. But after closer examination of Streisand's audition, all auditioners were on board. On the very stage Streisand auditioned, playwright Arthur Laurents (West Side Story) examined the stool that Streisand used. No gum. It was all an act - the raccoon coat, shoes that didn't match, the stool, and the imaginary gum. The moral of the story: take a risk. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 22, 2009: TO THE CRAZY ONES On a wooden music stand by the piano, I've recently been displaying black and white photographs of individuals like Picasso, Einstein, John Lennon, Amelia Earhart, Ghandi, and Miles Davis. The life size headshots were packaged by Apple computers in a folder with the words of a poem titled "To the Crazy Ones" displayed on the cover. "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 15, 2009: WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET He walked into the room and immediately people gravitated toward him. That is what happened when Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan walked into a room. When they delivered a speech, people listened - they felt like they were directly involved in the interaction between speaker and listener - a kind of call and response. Movement analysts comment on Clinton and Reagan and their "phrasing" - based on the way they phrased words in a sentence and the way they moved at the podium. Karen Bradley, head of the graduate dance program at the University of Maryland uses Laban Movement Analysis to make sense of movement. In the case of George Bush and his 2006 State of the Union address, Bradley noted that Bush swayed back and forth against the backdrop of a US flag with the stripes acting as a large vertical banner. As well, Bush gazed into his audience with a squinted, fixated look. The combination of the look, the sway, and the gaze was, to her mind, "a little primitive, a little regressed." Think about the first moments of a concert as the performer walks onto stage, the first moments before a speaker delivers a speech, the first moments of the audition before the auditioner sings. Does the movement of the presenter warm the audience to listen intently? And when they actually do perform, do they keep the attention of their audience? Often, what we see is what we hear. So that phrase popularized by comedian Flip Wilson in 1974 makes a lot of sense: "What you see ... is what you get!" Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 8, 2009: O CANADA Kit Johnson, our guest in yesterday's Creative Class, has performed, recorded and toured with some of Canada's finest. Included in the list: Joni Mitchell, David Wilcox, Murray McLauchlan, Kate and Anne McGarrigle, Sarah McLachlan, Loreena McKennitt, Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip, Jan Arden, Alannah Miles, The Rankins .... The songs from these artists are part of the Canadian psyche. Take for instance "The Log Driver's Waltz" - one of the most requested films in the National Film Board collection. It's the tale of "a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver over his more well-to-do competitor." Kate and Anna McGarrigle sing the song written by Wade Hemsworth . It's a classic.
"The Farmer's Song" by Murray McLauchlan is another song that is wrapped in the Canadian consciousness. The words "These days when everyone's taking so much/There's somebody giving back in," still rings true. Kit Johnson just completed a Maritime tour with McLauchlan who performs this song in all of his concerts - people want to hear it. Joni Mitchell's early and late versions of "Both Sides Now" show the incredible depth of this Canadian icon. Watch the performance on You Tube from 1970 and then the orchestral version from 2000. The song is so rich that it lives in both versions - it takes on new meaning with the orchestra and a low mezzo-voiced Joni Mitchell. Magical! Video results for clouds joni mitchell Kit Johnson continues to work with Canadian artists. He still records, tours and performs extensively. He is rooted in the Canadian psyche. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 1, 2009: THINK TOO MUCH, THINK TOO LITTLE The nine year old piano player sat at the large black grand piano and began playing. During the fastest section of the piano piece, the nine year old lost their way and began playing the passage over and over hoping that somehow their little fingers would remember where to go on the keyboard. Panic? The renowned singer/songwriter walked onto the stage for their debut at the prestigious concert hall. The band kicked in, the singer sang the first few notes. But the band entry "wasn't sure" - they weren't "playing together". The singer couldn't find a "groove" and the first few notes were pitchy. As the concert continued, the singer was out of sync with the band. On stage, the singer and the band were working hard to pull it together - but it seemed to get worse. The critics said that the performance was "disappointing". Choke? Malcolm Gladwell's new book "What the Dog Saw" addresses panic versus choke. He says, "Panic is the opposite of choking. Choking is about thinking too much. Panic is about thinking too little. Choking is about loss of instinct. Panic is reversion to instinct." Think too much, think too little - it can be a paradox to be sure. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 25, 2009: THE "EYES" HAVE IT Look into their eyes. If you were a gunfighter in 1881, you'd read when "to pull the trigger" in the eyes of your opponent. If you watch "in close" at a concert, you can get a read on the performer's "truth" from their eyes. When you know the background of the song from the writer's perspective and listen "in close" to a song, you have a new vantage point. Take for instance, the song "We Used to Know" - a song written and performed by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. So ... The story behind the song is that this particular country group at one time opened for Jethro Tull. The band had a hit single at the time called "Take it Easy". We know the group to be The Eagles. At the time, both bands did their own thing - didn't really hang together - the British band Jethro Tull was popular and the Eagles where up and coming. BUT a huge Eagle's hit was spawned from their Jethro Tull influence. If you listen "in close" to the Jethro Tull song "We Used to Know", you'll hear the same chord progressions as the song that landed the Eagles a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1978 - "Hotel California". The Eagles' song was #1 on the Billboard charts in 1977. There is a fantastic website out there with background and in-depth interviews with great artists. Take a look at http://www.songfacts.com/ Watch and listen "in close". It will give you an inside perspective that most people don't see or hear. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 18, 2009: THE ARTIST GROWS BIGGER AS THE WORLD GETS SMALLER It was an exciting class yesterday in Creative Class. (This is a class where artists and those who enjoy music interact about the latest in the music industry and delve into the depth of songs and songwriting.) We invited international singer/songwriter RAGHAV into the dialogue. His newest album IDENTITY is high on the charts in India - he is one of the most popular artists in that part of the world. At the same time as the class happened in Calgary, The National, a recently launched newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, published a story titled, "Raghav Grows Bigger as the World Gets Smaller". Content for this paper is designed to reflect the readers' concerns relating to the national character of the UAE, and an interconnected world. And that's what the article about Raghav reflected. In the story, Raghav explains, "My growth is a lot like that of the UAE. There's a mix of east and west and they're proud of it. The UAE is really benefiting from the melting pot of culture. It's the globalization of music. You can have a hit in the Middle East one day and a show in Houston the next. As an artist you don't have to be packaged, marketed, sold the way you used to be. The process is more organic now. Music was coming mostly from America for so long. The rest of the world has a lot to offer too. That's what this is all about. And that's what we witnessed in the Creative Class yesterday - a Canadian artist who enjoys international success abroad - beginning to make a major impact in his own country and in the United States. Raghav grows bigger as the world gets smaller. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 11, 2009: TO KNOW THE CONTEXT My interest is always stirred when I know more about the context of art. Where was that song recorded? Who was the engineer? Who was the film director? When and where was the movie shot? A few days ago, I toured the sets of Old Tucson Studios, just outside the city of Tucson in Arizona. I've been intrigued by how this set shows up in so many Westerns. Old Tucson Studios is noted to be the Hollywood of the desert. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Burt Lancaster, Glenn Ford, Kirk Douglas, Angie Dickenson, Sidney Poitier, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Paul Newman, James Coburn, Charleton Heston, Charles Bronson, Ann Margaret, Jimmy Stewart - all starred in major pictures at this studio. After I saw the list of films shot at this locale, I pulled up clips and viewed film to see the actual locations on set. It's amazing how directors use space. Films like Rio Bravo (1959) with John Wayne, The Hombre (1967) with Paul Newman, Tombstone (1993) with Kirt Russell and Val Kilmer, Three Amigos (1986) with Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short - that's a stretch for a Western - were filmed on site. Knowing more about the context of art, excites an audience to want more. I'm off to Tombstone to check out the place where the gunfight at the OK Corral took place! But the real context of this visit is to see our daughter who is acting in "The Anne Frank Story" at the University of Arizona. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 4, 2009: THE HUMAN CONDITION UNDER STRESS Sunday, September 27, 2009: COMMUNITY Music is manifest in community - the people, the human experience, the personalities, the landscape. Artists are defined by their art and their art relates to community. Buddy Guy shares his blues music with great blues artists in south Chicago, the Beatles performed rock n' roll in their community of Liverpool at the Cavern, Dylan played with folk musicians in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village, Nirvana and Pearl Jam represented grunge music in Seattle, psychedelic rock was expressed in the music of Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead in San Francisco, the Nashville sound is woven into the country music of Patsy Cline ... Here in Calgary, the Ironwood Stage and Grill is a performance venue where a Calgary community of roots musicians come together. Open mic on Wednesday nights at the Ironwood hosted by Kit Johnson and Tim Leacock opens a door of opportunity for budding singer/songwriters to share their talents before a live audience and learn from band mentors like Johnson and Leacock. Musicians of the Creative Class will perform at the Ironwood on Sunday, October 18 at 2 pm. Suze Rotolo in her book, "A Freewheelin' Time" concludes, "Those who feel they are not part of the mainstream are always somewhere, however. In the end like finds like: it doesn't matter whether there is an actual physical neighborhood or not. A compelling and necessary idea will always find a place to plant itself. The creative spirit finds a way." Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca
Sunday, September 20, 2009: TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT! Interesting statement from David Kusek, vice president of Boston's Berklee College of Music and coauthor of The Future of Music: "The labels were never in the business of selling music. They were in the business of selling plastic discs." And now they are scrambling to survive. According to Wayne Rosso, CEO of Mashboxx, "Music has lost its economic value to consumers. But it has emotional value. People will never stop listening to music. They've just stopped paying for it. So the challenge comes in figuring out how to capitalize on that emotional value." Rosso's Mashboxx software allows consumers to search for content on major file sharing networks and offers the largest selection of authorized music downloads online. Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Management spoke last week at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Vancouver. He knows that a song is an emotional experience and more than just a copyright. He explains, "Listening to a song makes it yours: ultimately, you own the song, because you own its context and meaning." At Nettwerk, McBride aligns the artist's brand with those who believe the same things and represent the same causes as the artist. Ian Rogers of Topspin Media is currently marketing David Byrne and Brian Eno, Arcade Fire and Metric. He builds his approach around offering people something of value and entering into a meaningful value exchange with those who are interested in the artist - much like Terry McBride's approach. Rogers says, "Treat them with respect and offer them something of value." Simple - but this kind of approach always seems to work! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca
Sunday, September 13, 2009: CLASSIC ALBUM ART Alex Steinweiss is credited with inventing the concept of album covers and album art. Steinwiess was the first art director at Columbia Records in 1938. The other record companies followed Steinwiess' lead for designing album art shortly after. The LP (long play) record came along in 1948 and box sets of 45 rpm's soon followed. It was the art cover designs that inspired the name "album". Classic album covers that come to mind: Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon", Patti Smith "Horses", The Beatles "Let it Be" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band", The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", Supertramp "Breakfast in America", Carole King "Tapestry", The Who "Tommy", Joni Mitchell "Both Sides Now", "Eagles Greatest Hits", Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers", Doobie Brothers "Best of the Doobies", Neil Young "Harvest". Think back on the first CD or album you purchased. "American Woman" by The Guess Who was the first album I owned. It was formatted with gatefold covers, (a folded double
cover), with the lyric sheet printed on the inside. The cover featured a portrait image of a woman superimposed over a kaleidoscopic photo of the four Guess Who band members. The newest box set out there is "The Beatles Sterio Box Set" containing remastered versions of the Beatles' core albums and "Past Masters" - released on September 9, 2009. The CD's are packaged with replicated original UK album art with expanded booklets of original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca
Sunday, September 6, 2009: FREEWHEELIN' "A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties" is a fascinating read. The author Suze Rotolo grew up in the area and experienced the music and the changing political tide of America with boyfriend Bob Dylan. The album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" was released in 1963. Many of the songs on that album were influenced by Dylan's relationship with Suze Rotolo and the loneliness he experienced during her extended trip to Italy. The cover shoot for the album came about rather casually. A photographer from Columbia Records started "shooting" Rotolo and Dylan at their apartment in the Village and then they moved outside for more "takes". Suze Rotolo explains, "Bob stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans and leaned into me. We walked the length of Jones Street facing West Fourth with Bleecker Street at our backs. The snow on the streets was slushy and filthy from the traffic. The side walks were icy and slippery, but at least there wasn't much of a wind blowing. To keep warm we started horsing around. Don kept clicking away." It's a classic album cover in a classic part of New York. The streets of Greenwich Village include some of the most unique places to visit in the city: Bleeker Bob Records, basketball behind the fences off 4th Street, John's Pizzeria, Village Cigars at the heart of the Village, Cafe Wha? where Dylan played his first NY gig, Kettle of Fish, New York University, Washington Square where Sunday in the Square was the popular spot for folk music in the 60's .... I picked up the book and relived my experiences in Greenwich Village from the summer. And I'll listen to that Freewheelin' album - again! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 30, 2009: REMARKABLE PEOPLE Remarkable people wrap joy into their everyday - they see possibility - they understand people. I met a remarkable person this week. Her name is Jean Merriman. Creative people connect ideas and thread conversation through a fusion of seemingly unrelated subjects and events - but they always come back to the "main thing". It's how they think - not so predictable - not so linearly. And they listen. Here's some background on the company Jean started: Founded by Jean Merriman and Lance Mueller in 1990, The White Iron Group is one of Western Canada’s largest production companies. Since its inception, White Iron Pictures has produced over three hundred hours of award-winning television programming in all genres, which is broadcast around the world. The White Iron Group of Companies has a diverse portfolio of disciplines including live broadcast, post-production, animation, visual effects, graphics design, live event management, commercial production and corporate communications. White Iron, in partnership with the Calgary Stampede will be presenting Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney and George Strait at the 2009 Calgary Stampede. Throughout our conversation, we talked about integrity and how things were done by some of the big thinkers, yet humble individuals here in Calgary. People like Lloyd Erickson, who inspired music educators and helped establish the Young Canadians, Doc and BJ Seaman whose work ethic in business and whose spirit and dedication inspired a whole new generation of business in Alberta, Peter Lougheed whose vision for the province rallied Albertans to grow a rich legacy for future generations, Neil MacGonigill .... Meeting individuals like Jean Merriman is an inspiration to think creatively and see with new eyes to accomplish meaningful results to affect a better world. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 22, 2009: IMAGINE Coat hangers, iron and imagination. My wife and I visited artist friends this week. One artist living in Bragg Creek "contrapted" large round balls shaped from coat hangers to keep deer from eating the lower levels of his mountain ash. The creative idea led to life sized statues - again crafted from coat hangers. These garden figures appear to come alive with the colour of the sun and moon or the elements of rain and snow. An artist with a brilliant imagination! Another artist, a singer with Revv52, built a fence from iron and cedar. It's incredible. People often stop, take pictures and talk with the artist. I've never seen anything like it - the melding of shaped iron images cross bred with cedar fencing and warmed with a glow of golden oil. The artist was asked for advice by a colleague - the man wanted to be an actor. My artist friend said, "Go out and be an actor. Believe that you are and go do it." Three years later, the man works as an actor. Artists see with a creative eye and imagine beyond any limits. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 16, 2009: FAST FAST FAST The Fast Romantics. I attended their CD release last night at the Warehouse. "Stage energy", "great songs", "colour and dynamic edge in their arrangements", "original" and "Canadian" - all describe this band. I've had the opportunity to work with lead singer, Matthew Angus and bass player, Jeffrey Lewis - solid people and superb musicians. Mike Fraser, who has engineered Franz Ferdinand, Elvis Costello, Sam Roberts and AC/DC mixed their newest CD says, "Being in this business almost 30 years I've heard lots of bands and lots of styles of music. Once in a blue moon a real gem comes along. Even in it's roughest state you know you're hearing something special and you want to be involved, period. The first time I heard the Fast Romantics I decided I wanted to work with them, even before I finished listening to the first song on their myspace. There's at least 6 killer but unique radio friendly tracks on this record. Matt and the rest of The Fast Romantics are driven, organized, hardworking and talented. It's just a matter of time before this band will be everywhere." The album was mastered by Grammy award winner Adam Ayan (Nirvana, Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters). Look for more information on the Fast Romantics in Spin magazine or even better check out their upcoming Canadian tour beginning in September: Calgary to Quebec City. They are the real thing and they're Canadian! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 9, 2009: THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOODSTOCK There's a big spread in the New York Daily News today - it's the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Many wondered if this was a turning point for America. As noted, "the three and a half day festival, documented as it has been on recordings and films, remains one of the most compelling and complete time capsules of late-'60s pop culture - the music that gave it life, the drugs that helped bring about its inevitable demise, and the social backdrops of war." I attended the musical "Hair" yesterday at the Hirschfeld Theatre in New York. The first production of "Hair" happened in 1967 at the Public Theatre which was the home of the New York Shakespeare Festival. The "Hair" musical experience of '67 forecast so much of the '69 Woodstock experience. The production of "Hair" yesterday in New York on 45th Street was significant. The musical is now "in the black" and making money - it cost almost six million to stage. Audience interest has been overwhelming. Yesteday's show was captivating - a history lesson in real time. During the show, actors swarm the audience, audience members get up and dance "on stage" for the finale. People leave the theatre "charged" with energy. Once again, Woodstock captured the headlines in America but this time everyone understands it's significance in America's history. It's good to be in New York at this time. Tonight the cast of "Hair" is enjoying their night off at Vinyl, a local restaurant where they will "sing for their supper" and entertain friends. It's a fun place to be! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Tuesday, August 4th, 2009: A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS Sunday, July 26, 2009: A LIFE OF PURPOSE Remember the name Josiah Henson. President Obama in his recent press conference commented on the recent arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates after forcefully entering his own home. In relation to race, Obama said, "There is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact." The President had just returned from a West African visit to Ghana on July 11th where he once again claimed, "Yes we can. I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometime haunted this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me." Back to Josiah Henson. He was bought and sold three times as a slave before he reached the age of 18. By the year 1830, he saved up the asking price of $350 to purchase his freedom. However, after giving his master $250, his remaining debt was increased to $1000. This prompted Josiah Henson to escape from Kentucky to Canada. Here in Canada, he settled in Dresden Ontario in 1941, where he purchased 200 acres of land upon which they founded a vocational school for black refugee slaves from the States. His story was the cornerstone for Harriet Beecher Stowe's dramatic novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Abraham Lincoln told Stowe that her book had been a catalyst for the Civil War. The music of the spiritual and the gospel provided HOPE for the slaves in their quest for the promised land, much like the recent words of President Obama to the African nation AND the life example of Josiah Henson. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 19, 2009: GOSPEL AT BEULAH! It was about a year ago today when I last visited Mount Beulah Church in Amherstburg, Ontario - the last stop along the Underground Railway. I was there on July 6th, 2008 when Reverend Maynard Hurst welcomed me in and asked that I might participate somehow in the service. A guest gospel singer in attendance that Sunday turned to me and asked, "Do you know that hymn? I said "Yes." She sang a gospel version of the tune and I accompanied. Her voice was memorable. It was so spontaneous - but she sure knew how to sing. I enjoy attending this church - it's honest, real, the preacher preaches and thumps out hymns on a gospel "piana". I've been to large black churches in Los Angeles and this little church at the end of the Underground Railway is every bit rooted in the gospel tradition. I was hoping to hear the Reverend play today - but as it happened I accompanied the congregation. When I walked into the church, Reverend Hurst called out to me and asked if I might accompany the hymns. People called out the hymn name and the organist, drummer and I played along to the congregation "singin'". I invited Reverend Hurst and his wife to visit Calgary and stay with us. It's an open invitation to a man who really makes the gospel come alive with music and oration - gospel style! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 12, 2009: LIVE ON THE STREETS OF CALGARY I watched a number of performances this week - live on stage, on the streets, in the theatre and in the studio - in front of large crowds and smaller audiences. This is the tour season for many artists - there's alot of music out there. Here in Calgary, it's Stampede time - music is everywhere. What always moves me is "honesty" in performance. I see it in the performer's eyes and their total commitment to their art. Stage banter can indicate sincerity or nervousness - it can also connect the artist to his/her audience. One of the performances that caught my ear was a street performer last night on Stephen Avenue in Calgary. As people sat outside at white table clothed tables, enjoying their food on 8th Avenue, a singer/songwriter accompanied his songs on guitar. He chatted it up with the people who sat at tables in the nearby restaurants. Some songs were his own, others were covers but they all established a groove that synchronized everyone on the street. The inescapable pull of the music connected all of us. As we left the area late last night, we saw the same performer seated at a table by himself away from the din of the crowd, enjoying the ambiance and his own glass of wine. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 5, 2009: STRETCHING THE BOUNDS OF CHORAL MUSIC Have you seen the Honda Civic commercial where all the car sound effects are produced by an ensemble of singers? It's fascinating. This week I contacted the conductor and the composer of the piece in the UK. His name is Steve Sidwell. Steve has composed, conducted and arranged music for movies such as "Moulin Rouge", "Mona Lisa Smile","Finding Nemo", the NBA finals for ABC television, commercials for Heineken, Coca Cola, Marks and Spencer, performances and recordings for artists such as Elton John, Seal, Sarah Brightman and Robbie Williams, for theatre such as "We Will Rock You" and "Wicked", the 2007 Academy Awards sound effects composition "Elements and Motion" and his latest composition "Heathrow Overture" for the opening of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. Here's a clip of the making of the Honda Civic commercial. The concept was rather new to the auditioned performers but for Steve Sidwell, the composer, his focus was to capture a choir singing "driving a civic" - manoeuvring a car along straight and winding stretches of road through elements of rain and wind. He succeeds beyond the wildest expectations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyayFJ5Qzjs&feature=related Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 28, 2009: IN TUNE WITH TIME AND CREATIVITY I met Anne Loree yesterday. She was guest singer/songwriter in the Creative Class. We talked about songwriting, the angst of writing one's life in a song for "the public ear", the creative inspiration in the Julia Cameron book "The Artist's Way", crazymakers, use of experiential and sensory memory in songwriting, the artist's creative space - both physical surroundings and mental headspace and we listened to Anne play her hit song "Insensitive" on guitar - she usually performs it with piano. The words to the verse and chorus are brilliant: How do you cool your lips On video, Bruce Springsteen talked about songwriting through his song "Devil and Dust" - he is the one of the very best at crafting a song. Neil MacGonigill shared some earlier Anne Loree songs - she rarely performs these particular songs in public ... great songs that awakened a real joy in the artist to perform them again with a new perspective on their original intent. Anne thanked us - the class actually helped her to get into her creative space again. I always leave those classes inspired for what music can do in people's lives. It's a real gift to write like Anne Loree and it's a gift for her audiences to hear her music. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 21, 2009: SHOWCASING THE CREATIVE CLASS The waitress said, "I've been working here for three weeks and this was one of the most enjoyable performances I've seen here." Even the bartender offered supportive, positive words to the artists. Today at the Ironwood, The Creative Class presented "A Showcase of New Singer/Songwriters" It's such a pleasure for me to work with these artists who shared their music and individual styles with the live audience at the Ironwood in Calgary. Everyone had a unique story to tell - their music was honest - their presentation professional. The Ironwood Stage and Grill is a kind of institution in Calgary. Their website explains: "The Ironwood compliments the growing live independent music scene in Calgary by bringing to it experience, creativity, and a genuine love of the music. The Ironwood has worked their magic to create a room with character, quality, and heart." So it's a real positive for staff at the Ironwood to compliment the singer/songwriters of the Creative Class. Thanks to Alyssa McQuaid, Rachael Schroeder, Connor Richardson, Susie Forsyth, Tanya McMurray, Lauren Farrell, Michael Sullivan, Heather Cole, Chard Morrison, Jay Graham, Karen Romanchuk, Keisza and James Slater. Today was a very special Father's Day for all the dads in the audience. Email your response to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 13, 2009: THE CONTRIBUTION GAME When did you last attend one of these concerts: They were "in the zone". That was one of the best concerts I ever saw! It was unbelievable! Or how about these ones: The show was disappointing! He didn't seem to even care. The tickets cost how much? I've fortunately attended more of the first group of concerts where the performance was "over the top" - "off the map". Those who attended the latest Leonard Cohen concert say it was one of the best concerts they will ever see. That's what I said about the concert I attended with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in New York. The great performers prepare. They know their stuff and then at the time of performance they're on a sort of auto pilot - they're "in the flow". A great performer works in a positive space - anything negative has been reframed. It's called cognitive reframing. Before a show, they take the time to get focused and centered - some meditate, some pray, some do physical warm-ups. The great ones avoid the voice of "monkey chatter" - you know the one that says, "Do you know how many people play this better than you?" OR "Here comes that difficult passage that you missed last time - you're gonna miss it again" OR "Look who's in the audience - they will be so critical" The great artist doesn't even go there. As a performer you can play THE SUCCESS GAME of winning or losing in a performance or you can play THE CONTRIBUTION GAME of "how am I going to contribute to the best result today". You work to your A game but most days the B game is readily at hand so you start there and enjoy the process. The best result always happens when there is joy. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 6, 2009: LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF LIFE Have you ever listened closely to a great artist - specifically to the way they phrase a musical line. Eric Clapton's phrasing with "Layla", Sarah McLachlan on "Angel", Billie Holiday and "Strange Fruit", Rufus Wainwright or KD Lang singing "Hallelujah", Nora Jones "Don't Know Why". It was Sinatra who stepped out in an album titled "Songs for Swinging Lovers". According to Daniel Levitan, "Sinatra is awesome in control of his emotional expression, rhythm, and pitch. Every note he sings is perfectly placed in time and pitch. I don't mean 'perfectly' in the strict, as-notated sense; his rhythms and timing are completely wrong in terms of how the music is written on paper, but they are perfect for expressing emotions that go beyond description." Hmmmm. Levitan defies anyone to try and sing along with Frank on any song from "Swinging Lovers". Sinatra's phrasing is too quirky - yet it works. The acting coach Constantin Stanislavski notes that tempo-rhythm is to be played like a toy. "It will be bad if you begin to squeeze rhythm out of yourselves or if you knit your brows to solve the intricacies of its complex variations." And that's just what great artists do - they play the musical line like a toy - so simple yet so emotionally linked to a deeper understanding of music and the rhythm of life. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, May 31, 2009: LIFE'S GOALTENDER He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the Chicago Black Hawks with Johnny Wilson, Forbes Kennedy and Bill Preston for Ted Lindsay and Glenn Hall in 1958. He attended Red Wing training camp as the backup goalie to one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the game. Players like Gordie Howe and Bill Gadsby warmed to him - but Terry Sawchuk - the Red Wing goaltender who holds the record for most shutouts at 104 - never spoke to him for the entire year. Backup goaltenders were new in the league at the time and a new adjustment for Sawchuk. The backup goaltender I refer to is Hank Bassen. Hank played 35 games during the 1960 season with the Wings. We used to joke that he was the seventh best goaltender in the league at a time when the NHL had six teams. Hank really enjoyed music. On Friday and Saturday, as I conducted the 55 voices of Revv52 in concert, I could feel his presence as we sang the great spiritual, "Going Home".
Henry (Hank) Bassen died on Friday of this week: Goaltender. Shoots left. 5'10", Playing Weight 170 lbs.
It's interesting how paths cross, how life can be timely, how life threads people together. Hank Bassen was a real friend. He was loved by so many and he so loved his Lord. Every time I would meet with him, someone would recognize him from his hockey playing days and make a point of saying hello. He was genuine. Hockey Night in Canada honoured him during the intermission in Sunday's playoff game between the Red Wings and Pittsburgh. Hank loved life and the people he met through his associations with hockey and his church. Did I say he enjoyed music? He mentored and gave moral support to so many people in his life - a life goaltender. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, May 25, 2009: SNAPSHOT Studs Terkel was a radio host with WFMT - Chicago's fine arts station. His listenership was an audience of 14 million. He hosted a variety of guests such as actors, blues and jazz musicians, opera singers, folk singers, pop singers, television personalities, playwrights, filmmakers, historians, poets, political commentators and social activists. Guests included Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, Mahalia Jackson, Buster Keaton, Bob Dylan, Leonard Bernstein, Tennessee Williams, Robert Kennedy and so many more. He is respected for his ability to draw a story from the people he interviewed. His book titled "Working" is a unique time capsule that captures what working urban America looked like in the early 1970s. That was our motivation for our upcoming Revv52 performances titled "SNAPSHOT ... Music and Life, Life and Music" - to tell a story through the lives of singers from Revv52. Actor Doug McKeag interviewed the singers and asked them questions about how the music they sing connects to their lives. The result - a storyline that is filled with joy, hope and rich memories of life. McKeag has a unique ability to tie these stories together in a concert that highlights some of the best music of our repertoire from Gospel to Motown to Pop and Rock. "SNAPSHOT" with special guests actors Doug McKeag and Onalea Gilbertson, musicians Marty Antonini, Steve Pineo, Kit Johnson, Rich Harding and a group of 55 exceptional singers happens this Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, 8 pm at Grace Presbyterian Church. Go to www.revv52.com for tickets and more information. Sunday, May 17, 2009: POMP, CIRCUMSTANCE AND MUSIC The fiddler played and two dancers reeled around the grass floor as an audience of enthusiastic listeners clapped in loud unison! All this happened under a white tent, in an area referred to as "tent city" during the afternoon of Sunday, May the Seventeenth Two Thousand Nine in Hartford Connecticut after the Ceremonies for the one hundred and eighty-third Commencement of Trinity College. The day before, we attended the Phi Beta Kappa commendations - it's rooted in tradition and ceremony. And today our son graduated with Honors in Science and General Scholarship - the pomp and circumstance of ceremony again were played out. Our family attended from St. Catharines, Harrow, Waterdown, Calgary, Tucson - all to celebrate a grand occasion and the accomplishments of our son. People enjoyed the celebration under the tent where Ryan,his friend Katie and her brother, both Irish dancers, kicked up their heels to the rhythmic reel. Passers-by were attracted to the entertainment as well - they stopped, clapped along and smiled at the energy of the fiddle and dance. Music draws people together. And the people we met here were wonderful - supportive mentors, a music professor, Ryan's friends, their families and - this overwhelmed me - other people with the same Farrell surname. They came for the commencement and were drawn by the Irish music. I'm always amazed by the power of music. We came to Hartford this weekend to celebrate the achievements of our son - and music was the final exclamation mark to a beautiful commencement. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, May 10, 2009: MAN'S BEST FRIEND When I coach singers, our dog would walk through the room, wag her tail and move on. Deer would bound into the backyard and our dog would charge after them - fearless - but would come back at the sound of my whistle. We live on an acreage. There was a time when the neighbour's boxer hunkered over a porcupine in a hole under an old wooden fence by the rasberry bush - our dog was at his tail eager to move in - the boxer took the quills. Many times our dog dug up gophers and mice - terriers love to dig. Three and a half years ago there was a brief skirmish with a coyote - and a hefty vet bill for broken ribs, a collapsed lung, over a hundred stitches - our dog survived. In the spring and summer, the dog would sit at the bow of the canoe - a good counter balance to me who paddled from the stern. The dog would keep an eye out for ducks, eagles, hawks and even the trout on the Bow River. Our dog was a Welsh terrier - alive and alert and every bit a terrier. It survived through so much and lived life big! And then it got old - it didn't survive old age. On Wednesday, I buried her in the backyard where all the action was when she was in her prime. Oh, and that dog enjoyed music - it was never far from the sound of the piano. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, May 3, 2009: HOPE I've been researching music and parkinsonism for an upcoming conference. It's fascinating information and the research offers great hope for parkinson patients. Here's some findings: Educational psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihaly calls it "flow" - the state in which people are so involved in an actiivty that nothing else seems to matter. To parkinson's patients, there is a disorder of flow. Oliver Sacks who is Professor of Clinical Neurology and Psychiatry at Columbia University explains that the flow of perception, thought, and feeling is affected in parkinsonism. He explains, "Parkinsonian stutter can respond beautifully to the rhythm and flow of music, as long as the music is of the right kind - and the right kind is unique for every patient." In general, the music that parkinsonian patients respond to is legato or smooth but this music also has a well defined rhythm. Rhythm gives tempo to movement - the brain is stimulated by rhythm. Rhythms that are too loud or dominating can cause parkinson's patients to jerk helplessly with the beat like a mechanical doll. There is a fascinating story about a patient who is a composer and conductor. Seated at the piano, he "rocketed almost uncontrollably" but as he played a Chopin nocturne, the evidence of his parkinsonism was lost, only to return as soon as the music ended. Another patient would listen to a piano piece she once played - Chopin's "Fantasy in F Minor, Opus 49", and its mental playing of 14 minutes caused her to be free of Parkinson's for that duration of time. There is more and more evidence that the cure for parkinson's is single digit years away - a life time release from the stutter of parkinsonism. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 26, 2009: STIMULATING CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION In New York, I toured around Juilliard School's makeshift bookstore in their theatre section. I came across the three volumes of Constantin Stanislavski's writings that form the cornerstone of modern acting. The acting trilogy of books are translated as "An Actor Prepares", Building a Character" and Creating a Role". Stanislavski's writings translate well for singers. His system focuses on the development of artistic truth onstage by teaching actors to live the part during their performance. Among the actors who have used Stanislavski's system are Jack Nicholson, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, Harvey Keitel, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Warren Beatty, Robert Duvall, Johnny Depp, Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, Jessica Lange, William Hurt, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Benicio del Toro, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Bullock, Kate Winslet, Adrien Brody, Denzel Washington, Elizabeth Taylor, Hilary Swank, Anthony Hopkins and Sean Penn. "An Actor Prepares" explores the inner preparation an actor must undergo to explore the role in full. "Building a Character" examines the use of the body, movement, diction, singing, expression and control whereas "Creating a Role" describes the prep that preceeds the actual performance. I'm applying these principles as a vocal coach with excellent results. Sir John Gielgud commented that Stanislavski "found time to explain a thousand things that have always troubled actors and fascinated students." Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 19, 2009: R-E-S-P-E-C-T Millions of hits on youtube! I'm talking about the Susan Boyle performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" on BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT. Since that time, she has conducted interviews on radio and television shows all over the world. Why? A quote from the Scotsman.com news: "The audience and the judges initially laughed at Miss Boyle when she told them she wanted to be a famous artist like Elaine Paige and gyrated her hips. But that all changed after her performance, with the notoriously hard-to-please Simon Cowell describing her a "a little tiger" while Piers Morgan called her the "biggest surprise I've had in three years of this show." There is a quiet kind of confidence in people like Susan Boyle who truly believe they can do something that others quickly dismiss. It happens in sports as well. In Detroit before this year's playoffs, writers and bandwagon hockey pundits criticised Detroit Red Wing goaltender Chris Osgood for his poor showing during the regular season and his inability to be effective in the playoffs. Osgood has responded by saying, "I don't doubt myself. People who don't know me do. I've played for 15 years. I mean, I have the most wins in Red Wings playoff history for a reason, not because I'm a bad goalie." Last week, in the two playoff games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Osgood was named first star and allowed only one goal in both games. Interesting. In 1967, Aretha Franklin sang a song that became one of the best pop music recordings of all time. It was timeless with its horn lines, its Motown groove, its rhythm section and its message. A bassist from the Motown recordings said, "We always sang songs about what we didn't have." That's what the song "RESPECT" was about. People want respect. And they earn it when life presents its biggest challenges. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 12, 2009: SPRING IN GREENWICH VILLAGE Last week, my wife and I walked the streets of historic Greenwich Village in New York. The blossoming cherry tree at the corner of Bleecker and McDougal Street was one of the first signs of spring I've seen. The store fronts along Bleecker Street framed colorful Easter displays of chocolate, multi-coloured eggs, iced cookies, muffins and breads. Greenwich Village is located on the lower west side of southern Manhattan. It was the birthplace of the Beat Movement and the creative space where a generation of pop icons got their start in the theatre, nightclub and coffeehouse scene - aritsts like Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkle, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez, Barbra Steisand, The Velvet Underground, Richie Havens, Maria Muldaur, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone and Tom Paxton. We wandered up Bleecker and then to The New York University campus located on the outer edges of Washington Square Park - lots of activity in and around the park where the Arch is the focal point of Washington Square. It's an area of New York I've read so much about and finally enjoyed it first hand. I'll be there again in the summer with my daughter and this time I'll take in the jazz, the coffeehouses and the great food in Soho and Greenwich. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 5, 2009: THE CONCERT OF CONCERTS Just got back from one of the most memorable concerts I have ever attended! "Change Begins Within" was a benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation. It took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Saturday night. The cast: MC's actress Laura Dern and producer David Lynch, radio host Howard Stern, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, 10 minutes of stand-up by Jerry Seinfeld, film composer/pianist Angelo Badalamenti, Moby and his band, blues singer Bettye LaVette, Sheryl Crow and her band, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Ben Harper and his band Relentless7, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Donovan, Paul Horn, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney with his band. The absolute hi-lite of the night was the second half when Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney performed hit after hit of the great Beatles and Wings songs. McCartney was especially on his mark vocally and both artists delivered with great energy. The song list included: "Yellow Submarine", "Drive My Car","All You Need is Love", "Bad Boy", "Blackbird", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "Let It Be", "Band on the Run", "Jet", "With a Little Help From My Friends", "I Saw Her Standing There", "Here Today" - a tribute to John Lennon, "Lady Madonna", "Can't Buy Me Love" and encores with the entire cast "Cosmically Conscious" and "It Don't Come Easy". Sheryl Crow sang a tribute to George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord". The band for this extended set of songs was as good as it gets: Paul "Wix" Wickens, Rusty Anderson, Brian Ray, Abe Laboriel Jr., McCartney on Hofner bass/acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Ringo vocals and drums with back-up vocals by Eddie Vedder, Donovan, Moby, Sheryl Crow and Bettye LaVette. It was a rare weekend to be in New York. Both new ballparks opened - the 1.5 billion dollar Yankee Stadium and the 800 million dollar Met's Citi Field in Queens. Both home teams won. But it was the concert that "knocked it out of the park" for me! Here's some pictures from RollingStone magazine: http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/27313401/paul_mccartney_and_ringo_starr_get/photo/1 Here's some video clips of the show already on youtube: www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/04/paul_mccartney_6.html Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, March 30, 2009: INSIDE THE JUNOS What makes Canadian music so great? For me, it's the way a Canadian artist captures life in a song. It's their way of making sense of the world - honestly and "in the moment". All of this was so apparent to me at the 2009 Juno's in Vancouver. Ashwin Sood was my host for the four day Junofest - and some of the highlights were rich with life. Dinner with Ash, the Barenaked Ladies, their wives, Ray and Melinda was exceptional at ViJ's - the laughter and the stories ... beautiful; browsing the display walls of Nettwerk with albums and artist photos; teaching a vocal session in Ashwin and Sarah's studio on Sarah's Boesendorfer piano - she has played this piano into deep, rich and warm tones; sitting with Ashwin and Sarah and the Nettwerk friends at the Gala dinner where Sarah was awarded the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award - her heartfelt and sincere thank you speech was memorable, saying hello to Ron Sexsmith again, to ex-Red Wing Bob Probert, Bruce Allen, meeting the Sam Roberts band by the candy dispensers in the men's washroom after they received their Juno - they were "like kids in a candy shop"; introducing "Sarah fan" George Canyon to Sarah McLachlan through the SUV door window; visiting with Sarah and Ashwin and the girls, hearing Buffy Sainte-Marie sing "Universal Soldier" at the Songwriter's Circle, sing-a-long with the Barenaked Ladies, Ashwin and Jim Cuddy in a Vancouver hotel room, chatting with world class designer Paul Hardy as we rode together to Sarah's surprise party after the Juno show; reconnecting with bassist Jim Creegan of BNL about music education and teaching; sushi with artist Lindsay Ell and Ashwin at the Blue Water Cafe in Yaletown before his Friday night gig; chatting with Brent Butt of Corner Gas and Jacob Hoggard of Hedley at the Sam Feldman/Bruce Allan party; enjoying Sarah's most mellifluous voice at the Junos and on Friday night Ashwin's intuitive and "in the flow" drumming. These are artists who "tell the story of life" through their music. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 22, 2009: IDEAS Director, screenwriter, producer David Lynch talks about ideas in this video clip. He says, "Ideas are like fishing." To catch the little fish, you fish in the shallow water. The big fish are in the deeper water. That's an interesting concept that has played out in his upcoming David Lynch Foundation concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York in early April. The musicians taking the stage that night are "big fish". His foundation raises awareness for consciousness-based education and world peace. The concert features Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Moby, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Bettye LaVette, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with jazz artist Paul Horn and guitarist Jim James. It's a concert that will feature McCartney, Starr and acclaimed instrumentalist Paul Horn together again after 40 years. It's a concert that my wife and I will attend after receiving a call this week from a writer friend who has invited us to New York for the occassion. Ideas happen when you start "fishing". Begin by doing. Here's the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPc1N7kf_AQ Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 15, 2009: TRUSTING A VOCAL COACH So a manager sets up a vocal coaching session with a singer from a label's roster of singers... and after all that, the singer walks in for his first vocal session - reluctantly. He is a singer who has had some success with the airplay of his material and he is concerned that his sound will be changed - that the vocal coach will somehow manufacture a sound out of him that is the same as every other singer! HE doesn't want to sound like Pavarotti - he is a country singer. That was the case of a singer I began working with about a year and a half ago. The first session was "interesting". Rather than give him explanations about what I do as a vocal coach, I simply asked him to sing. I really liked his sound and I explained that I would help him to be consistent so that he would be able to sustain his signature sound for recording, for the tour and for a long career... with "sound" vocal technique. And so this relationship of trust found its way into a friendship. Last night, I attended his CD release. He was excellent. His sound was consistent with the sound on the album and the sound he presented on radio and television through the media blitz of the record. He introduced me to the
audience, "A year and a half ago, I started learning something about
singing with a vocal coach ... and now I call him my friend." His attitude towards his career in music is so upbeat - he enjoys learning. He will do well. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 8, 2009: HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER When was the last time you laughed yourself to tears? Laughter is great medicine. I learned that my great grandfather and his family toured the vaudeville circuit in his day. I've always been fascinated with great comedy and comedians ... with Music Hall and Vaudeville. So a few years back, I taught a comedy course. During the classes, we watched film footage and listened to the routines of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, the Burns and Allen Radio Show, Fanny Brice, The Milton Burle Show, I Love Lucy, The Three Stooges, Abbott and Costello and the "Who's on First" sketch, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett. - even Saturday Night Live (big Canadian influence there). We listened to episodes of British comedy: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in Beyond the Fringe, The Goon Show and Peter Sellers and watched Monty Python Flying Circus. I remember that we used to leave those comedy classes with tears of laughter - hysterical laughter! Trying on some of those great skits - the Saturday Night Live stuff, the Peter Cook scripts, Burns and Allen, Abbott and Costello .... This week, it was Music Festival time in Calgary - that's why I reminisce about comedy. I worked with a singer/actor who participated in those comedy classes and sang in this year's Kiwanis Festival - Musical Comedy. She sang a song called "Blue Hair" - a look at a 14 year old who randomly decides to die her hair blue since she has nothing else to do at 1 am with the internet down and her homework done! Anne, the singer, was brilliant - she understands musical comedy. We laughed so much throughout the rehearsal process - so many character quirks and knowing what makes a 14 year old tick. This will make you laugh - a comedy routine from one of my favorite comedians. His name is Brian Regan. Over the top humor. Have a look! www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9em-ZCddWk Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 1, 2009: THE INNER CREATIVE Writer Peter Spellman talks about "Seven Navigational Clues for Setting Your Sails" in the new, transforming music business. The seven ways include: bracing yourself for crazy times because the game has changed; sizing yourself up and knowing your priorities; thinking "skills security" and not "job security" through multi-tasking, building coalitions, whole brain thinking, flexability and developing one's skill sets; becoming a corporation of one - a kind of YOU INC.; giving meaning to context in a world where new information is the norm; owning your own niche so that you are unique from others and "using the FORCE". "Using the Force" relates to tapping one's inner creative. Spellman explains, "Self knowledge means you are what you think you are. This demands courage. There is nothing more brave than filtering out the chatter that tells you are someone you're not. Tapping into the creative means first understanding the qualities creative people share: keen powers of observation, a restless curiosity, the ability to identify issues others miss, a talent for generating a large number of ideas, persistent questioning of the norm, and a knack for seeing established structures in new ways." The little person can make a difference! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 22, 2009: A CANADIAN ROOTS SOUND I was just listening to a new cd. The album involves some real icons on the Canadian music scene: David Wilcox, Murray McLauchlan, Danny Greenspoon, Neil MacGonigill and Kit Johnson. For me, it brought back memories of the popular CBC Saturday afternoon radio show "Swinging on a Star" with Murray McLauchlan. The radio show aired from 1998 - 1994 and featured music and interviews from some of Canada's finest singer/songwriters: Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Loreena McKennitt, Gord Downey of the Tragically Hip, The Rankins, Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane and another 250+ guests. The show was produced by noted Canadian musician Danny Greenspoon who produced hundreds of recordings of jazz, pop, folk, country and world music on CBC and performed (guitar) with artists such as Kate and Anne McGarrigle, Murray McLauchlan, Sylvia Tyson and The Great Speckled Bird. Back to the music I was listening to ... it was the new release by Kit Johnson, who alongside Murray McLauchlan and Danny Greenspoon performed weekly on "Swinging on a Star". Last night at the Ironwood in Calgary, Kit and fellow Joe Defendants musicians Steve Pineo (guitar/bass), Tim Leacock (guitar/slide/drums) and Ross Watson (drums/bass) lit up the place as they played the entire album as a cd release. This music defines a Canadian roots sound that we can all be proud of. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 15, 2009: A CAREER IN MUSIC So you want a career in music? What's the formula? The simple formula is hard work - the 10,000 hours is a bench mark -that's deliberate practice in your area of expertise for ten years. How do you get there? You get there by taking advantage of opportunities to perform; a talent to understand your brand - your uniqueness; the support of your family- yes, that's important; working with mentors who continue to excite you about your possibilities and a little luck along the way. In the documentary, BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES, Dave Matthews and Erykah Badu talk about the importance for artists to focus on the content of music and not the money. Today, it's not the record business, it's the music business. For example, Madonna's album sales ranked 50th on the charts yet her staggering $242,176,466 income, resulted from the highest-earning tour of 2008. Badu says, "If you want to do music - do it!" She outlines some of the following sentiments: Great artists hurt to do what they do - but they make it happen. Imitators fall away when they do it for fame or money. And when hopeful musicians do what they're told by the wrong people 'in the biz', they can sell out. That's because some label executives have tended to get art and commerce mixed up. Today, music people aren't necessarily at the top in the music business. Short term thinking executives have listened to stockholders and as a result, interest in developing the artist has fallen away. The fate of the new artist isn't positive if they rely on a greed driven model. So, now what? Keep keep your head up and walk to the rhythm of your heart. It sounds so simple but if you are an artist, you know it's true! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 8, 2009: A NEW WAY Malcolm Gladwell admits that he knows nothing about design yet he spoke recently with a group of designers. He jokingly descibed his asthetic sensibility as "neo Holiday Inn". Gladwell is the writer of bestsellers 'The Tipping Point', 'Blink' and his most recent somewhat autobiographical book 'Outliers'. His address began, "Rather than try to outcool you, I would talk about the most ... kind of ... prosaic and downmarket topic that I could possibly come up with, so I'm going to talk to you about the history of Fleetwood Mac." The audience laughed. Then they listened. The presentation was interesting on many levels - intelectual yet homespun, humourous and sometimes self-effacing, humble, awkward at times yet astutely connected to his audience. He is a Canadian and his mannerisms and delivery reflect a real "Canadian-ness". Is that even a word? For Canadians - it could be. The way he addresses the topic of the day is in line with the new way of solving some of the most pressing issues of the day: to listen first, to research, and with rigor deeply examine the issues at hand. Then, with a somewhat unorthadox, non-traditional approach, deliver the message with a most humble respect for your audience. This could be a good lesson for those who wish to find a new way into the future in music. You can watch Gladwell's speech here: www.aiga.org/content.cfm/video-gain-2008-gladwell Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 1, 2009: THE MUSICAL BRAIN Take a close look at CTV's "The Musical Brain". It's a fascinating documentary, written and directed by Christina Pochmursky from St. Catharines, Ontario, which examines brain responses to music. Pochmursky asked pop icon Sting to participate in the study in collaboration with Dr. Daniel Levitin who wrote "This is Your Brain On Music". Sting agreed to sign on and as he listened to eclectic, complex and simple examples of music, his brain was scanned by a fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine. Results showed that there was less brain flow when Sting listened to muzac - he detests this stuff. The brain scan revealed that the brain is bored with muzac. According to Dr. Levitin, it is too predictable whereas the music of jazz, tango, rock, blues and classical registered active brain flow in Sting's brain scan. "Music is an experimental labratory for the brain" according to Dr. Levitin. Levitin's research underlies that our deepest connection to music is emotional. Michael Buble attests to that in his interview while he recorded at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. Also, creativity is highly engaged through jazz improvisation and composing melodies or rhythm. To Sting, "It's always about rhythm" which activates an emotional connection for him. When he listens to the technical, rhythmic music of Bach, he hears/sees "architecture". The documentary features candid interviews with Michael Bublé, Feist, Wyclef Jean and Sting who share what they have learned about the power of music in their lives - it's worth a serious look. http://watch.ctv.ca/news/w-five/w-five-presents-the-musical-brain/#clip135228 Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca
Sunday, January 24, 2009: WORDS ARE POWERFUL "Classic Soul singing doesn't get any better" is how the New York Times described the sound of soul singer Bettye LaVette. It was LaVette who kicked off THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION: WE ARE ONE at the Lincoln Memorial last Sunday. She wailed on "Change is Gonna Come". The day featured performances by Bruce Springsteen "The Rising", Stevie Wonder and Usher "Higher Ground" and a cast of stellar performers including Garth Brooks, Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Sheryl Crow, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Pete Seeger, James Taylor, and U2. Even Pete Seeger's "This Land is Your Land" came to life once again as a rallying cry for America. Back in November, when Barack Obama was elected as the 44th US President, Mike Victor, a 57 year old man on the streets of Chicago was quoted on a Chicago television station. He said, "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Barack Obama could run. Barack Obama ran so my children could fly." Words are powerful - whether they live in the stirring soul anthems of singers like Bettye LaVette, the performances at WE ARE ONE, or in the poetic language of people like Mike Victor. A new hope to build back a confidence in America hinges on the words "Yes we can." - words of President Barack H. Obama. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 17, 2009: THE VIOLINIST AT THE METRO Revv52 just completed two exciting performances of a concert titled KEY CHANGE - a show rooted in our current times of change with music from some of the greatest piano singer/songwriters: Billy Joel, Elton John, Carole King, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Our vocal and band scores were arranged for the 55 voice ensemble with an original script conceptualized by Calgary actor Doug McKeag. After the concerts, I received this email from one of our soloists: Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 11, 2009: SOUNDS IN WRITING "The more you love music, the more music you love" is a quote atop the title of Tom Moon's new book "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die". I started reading Moon's descriptions for some of the classic albums outlined in his book. His writing has zing - I could actually hear the sounds emanating from the old vinyl as he described each album. For example, regarding Steely Dan's AJA, he writes, "these provide a platform for broiling extended solos, from Becker on impossibly liquid electric guitar, from the furtive Wayne Shorter on saxophone, and from dummer Steve Gadd,, whose melodic excursion through the title track is one of the great drum solos of all time." Or Joni Mitchell's COURT AND SPARK album, whose instrumentals "sought both watercolor hues and bold splashes of instrumental color, setting her sharply observed lyrics against clarinets and icy muted turmpets and snarling treble-heavy electric guitars." This guy writes like he's inside the music! At Christmas, our daughter who is an actor, sat at the piano for hours and played Chopin Nocturnes - I haven't heard those sounds for years. Tom Moon describes the nocturnes as "short and often wistful inventions for solo piano." About pianist, Maria Joao Pires interpretation, he says, "And even when some of these pieces pass through some stormy environs, they exude an enveloping serenity - a quality Pires plays up with invisible skill." I can hear those piano sounds again as I did at Christmas in my living room. It takes real genius and hard work to build these masterful records, and the writer Tom Moon has the ability to bring those sounds to life in his writings. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 4, 2009: THE COURAGE TO CREATE Einstein wondered why some of his important breakthrough ideas came to him while shaving. Why does an original idea in art "pop up" from the unconscious at a given moment? What is the relation between talent and the creative act? These are some of the questions grappled with in "The Courage to Create" - a book by Rollo May. Here's how he relates the creative process. Creative acts begin with an illumination. It usually shatters previously held beliefs. When it happens, one remembers vividly the time and place - along with the certainty of the creative insight. The "hard work" is essential in the process prior to the breakthrough. At this point, one can be frustrated inside the creative process however a "rest" away from the work can lead to the ultimate breakthrough. Rollo May explains that "alternating work and relaxation" further prompts the creative insight to happen. I've had the opportunity to walk the white sandy beaches of Marco Island, Florida for the past few days - to listen to the ocean lap the shoreline, to see the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The author Rollo May talks about the importance of solitude - to be able to be quiet and let solitude work for us and in us. It's a great day again today, and I'm going for a walk. I invite you to do the same. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 28, 2008: LIFE IS A CABARET Have you ever been to a cabaret? Not the Kit Kat Club from the 1972 Bob Fosse directed musical "Cabaret" but a real setting where you can sip on a glass of wine and enjoy the live entertainment. We were invited to a friend's home. Ellen is a singer. She sang songs from the American songbook and musical theatre in a beautiful home setting. In some ways it was like a salon - defined as "a gathering of stimulating people under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation and the arts." Sounds a little stuffy - this wasn't. The whole thing reminded me of earlier times with my own family where we would visit my uncle who was a musician. Most of the members of our family could play instruments or sing so microphones, guitars, drums and a piano were set for us to play for the evening's entertainment. Music was always so "approachable" - it was music for music's sake. People performed and people listened. It instilled in me a beautiful sense of the enjoyment of "sharing music". Last night, brought me back to those times and inspired me once again. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 21, 2008: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Last night we laughed and sang around the grand piano at a friend's Christmas party. People love to sing carols. I've always enjoyed listening to a room full of people sing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - everyone sings a line of the song - every kind of voice, every kind of tempo, phrasing and volume! A friend and I played at the piano with the top wide open - it was a party! "FIVE GOLD RINGS ... four calling birds ... three french hens ... two turtle doves ... and a partridge in a pear tree." The actual song, according to some church historians, refers to the twelve days beginning on Christmas day and ending on January 6th - the first day of Epiphany (the time the Wise Men arrived to present gifts to the Christ child). Dating back to the 16th century, there is evidence that the references in the song are symbolically Christian. For example, the partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ born on Christmas day; two turtle doves: the old and new testaments; three french hens: faith, hope and charity; four calling birds: the four gospels; five gold rings: the first five books of the Old Testament known as the Torah; six geese a-laying: six days of creation in Genesis 1; seven swans a-swimming: seven gifts of the holy spirit; eight maids a-milking: the eight beatitudes of Matthew 5; nine ladies dancing: the nine fruit of the holy spirit: ten lords a-leaping: the ten commandments: eleven pipers piping: the eleven faithful apostles; and twelve drummers drumming: the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed. Last night, people sang carols around a piano and there was joy in the room! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 14, 2008: EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL At a performance workshop yesterday, audience members wiped the tears from their eyes after a moving performance by a singer who accompanied herself at the keyboard. It was a sight to see and a sound to behold! Why? How can a single performance of a song move so many? It could have been the message in the song, it could have been the choice of song that related so well to the performance, it could have been the fact that the performer was ten years old. But it's bigger than all that. The singer, Annie Pattison, sang a song that told a simple story - that was believeable and one she understood. She sang with a purity of sound that coloured the song with an imprint that was her own. It's hard to believe that someone at ten years old can capture the essence of a song with such maturity. Talking with Annie about her song - she smiles and nods. She knows that this song is one she understands. She sang to the audience like a seasoned storyteller and shared her tale line by line, phrase by phrase - until her audience became part of the story itself. It was magical! We can learn alot from people - don't let their age fool you. Everyone has a story to tell. In this case, it was Annie Pattison's story about ... a little girl and a concrete angel. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 7, 2008: KEY CHANGE Change - a change in mindset, a change to reflect diversity, and a belief that such change will actually occur. In his run for the Democratic nomination, Obama's slogan "Change we believe in" reflected a change that was possible. His slogan after his nomination in his run for the presidency - "Change we need" - reflects a change that is necessary. When the creative team with Revv52 (an ensemble of 60 singers) conceptualized a theme for the upcoming January 16 and 17 shows, we rallied around this sentiment - a movement that embraced change. We call our show "KEY CHANGE" which features the songs of piano movers and shakers Billy Joel, Elton John, Randy Newman, Carole King, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. The story is told through the songs of these great songwriters and is narrated by versatile Calgary actor Doug McKeag. In the midst of economic calamity and global instability - a new leadership of hope and understanding can prevail. The Revv52 show titled "KEY CHANGE" provides a hopeful look at a new way through change. Tickets can be purchased on the www.revv52.com website. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 30, 2008: SMART, INTELLIGENT AND HARD WORKING The Detroit Red Wings were in Calgary last weekend to square off against the Flames. The Red Wings won that game - and have been winning consistently with General Manager Kenny Holland at the helm. After the game, a friend and I met with Kenny - he is so inspirational with no ego. He knows his stuff. Jimmy Devellano, Detroit Senior V.P. calls Holland "smart, intelligent and hard working." Before becoming G.M. in 1997, Holland had been the team's Western scout, chief scout, goaltending coach, assistant G.M. and was in on virtually every player negotiation and signing - players like Lidstrom, Osgood, Holmstrom, Vernon, Chelios, Hasek, Hull, Zetterberg, Datsyuk .... The Wings have won 3 Stanley Cups, 8 Conference titles, 4 President's Trophies and more games than any NHL team since 97-98 with Ken Holland as G.M. Winning begets more winning. When the Wings are in town, I sit and watch their game day practice - sometimes with Holland - he makes time for me as he deals with the players, the coaching staff, the press, league business. There are so many similarities with music and sport. Holland is always interested in what's up with music. After the game last week, he said he looks for "players with heart". The superstars are humble on this team - Holland leads by example. Even the great artists are very humble. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 23, 2008: THE 10,000 HOUR RULE Malcolm Gladwell's new book "Outliers" is a fascinating read about the story of success. If one wants to understand how some people thrive - look around them - at things like family, birthplace, opportunity and work ethic. There is a ten thousand hour rule of success. According to neurologist Daniel Levitin, "ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert - in anything." Gladwell follows up with examples like The Beatles whose time together started in 1957 when McCartney and Lennon began playing together. That's ten years before their greatest artistic achievement - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band" and incidently ten thousand hours of "practice" takes ten years. Through the process, there has to be support from parents and mentoring from experts. The secret is in the hard work - the more you do - the better you get. The better you get - means better mentors and as a result, more opportunity comes your way. Think of the Beatles example. Better yet - think of your possibility. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 16, 2008: THE WAREHOUSE This weekend in Vancouver, I coached the Nettwerk recording artists ALIQUA during their session at the Warehouse Studio. Ashwin Sood is producing the project and Chris Potter is engineering the record which is due for release in March. Before the session, Chris Potter toured me around the three studios of the Warehouse. Located in Gastown, this studio is the oldest brick building in Vancouver and owned by Canadian music icon Bryan Adams. AC/DC recorded their latest album "Black Ice" here and Nickleback's newest release "Dark Horse" - produced by Mutt Lange - was mixed here. The list of artists who have recorded at the Warehouse reads like a who's who of music: Bon Jovi, Barenaked Ladies, Bryan Adams, Chris Isaac, David Foster, Elton John, Elvis Costello, I Mother Earth, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, R.E.M., Rush, Shakira, Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan .... Working in Studio 2 with Chris Potter and Ashwin Sood was a great experience. Recalling the recording stories and the artists who have worked in that space - priceless! The Neve console in Studio 2 is the actual one used by Sir George Martin in the late 70's at Air Studios in London. This same console found a home at Atlantic Records before Bryan Adams purchased it in 1991. Take a look at the Warehouse Studio site: www.warehousestudio.com And the girls of ALIQUA sounded great - this will be an album worth a serious listen. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 9, 2008: THE JANN ARDEN DEMOS In Creative Class on Saturday, Neil MacGonigill played some early demos from singer/songwriter Jann Arden. MacGonigill had the instinct and insight to know that this singer had the right stuff to launch onto the Canadian music scene. When one listens to those early demos of Jann Arden, the signature voice was just developing, the songwriting was "less to the point" and the background instrumentation was sparse. However, MacGonigill heard something that so many other record execs didn't. (MacGonigill still has a knack for this as evidenced by his current work with artist Karla Anderson.) In those early days, he knew that Jann Arden would be an excellent performer who could deliver a song with a flair and uniqueness of character. I've attended Jann Arden performances. I'm never disappointed - she's wrapped in a uniquely Canadian perspective. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 2, 2008: REVV52 The Revv52 website was launched on Thursday of this week. The name Revv52 represents revolution - a new way of being - a look forward and a change from the vocal ensemble that began back in 1952. Revv52 is purposed to "expand the traditional boundaries of choral music". Our latest concerts "Revvolution: the music of the Beach Boys and Beatles" and "Listen to the Music" testify to fusing "the sing, dance, act" of the arts. As the Artistic Director of the 60 voice ensemble, I know that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. When musicians believe they can sing music that is passionately rooted in their being - in the music they love - audiences buy into that and are motivated by the energy. When one attends a Revv52 concert, one is transported to another place. People leave a Revv52 concert and know a little more about who they are. Take a look at the new website: www.revv52.com and listen to what all the talk is about! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 26, 2008: GREAT PERFORMERS JUST GET BETTER The Manhattan Transfer performed in Calgary this week. The last time they were here was in 1982. The four member vocal ensemble (Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Tim Hauser and Cheryl Bentyne) is noted for unique vocal interpretations of big band, jazz and pop music. This was the kick off concert to a tour through Canada and the States. I had the opportunity to hear their sound check - which was not your typical sound check. They actually rehearse in sound checks. I stood in the wings of the Jack Singer Concert Hall and watched. They are a consumate performing ensemble - every note , every phrase, every nuance of style is considered in rehearsal and delivered in performance. I spoke with their musical director, Yaron Gershovsky, after the sound check and then again after the performance. He's been with MT (Manhattan Transfer) since 1979. The accompanying four piece band is "as good as it gets" and stayed out of the way in the vocal flourishes and played brilliantly "in the spaces". Yaron was pleased with the night. It's a good example of how an established musical group can just get better with time - like a fine wine! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 19, 2008: VOICES AMONG MAVENS AND THE MEDIA In the recent publication of PERFORMING SONGWRITER, songwriters "speak out" on some of today's most important issues. Artists like Michael Franti, Richie Havens, Kathy Mattea, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson and Bonnie Raitt address issues like clean energy, racism, accountability, the environment and the current US election. Do we listen to artists, to politicians, to what they actually say or do we listen to who actually says it? In conversation with members of the Creative Class yesterday, one student pointed out that people tend to listen to someone who has already established connection with them. It could be the artist whose music "strikes a resounding chord" with them and as a result that listener will "have an ear" for what that artist has to say about current issues. Artists or polititians have to "earn their right" for airplay among the populace. People care deeply about community issues rooted in their lives and anyone who "speaks out" better know what they're talking about. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 12, 2008: THE NEW HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ANTHEM "Emotional intelligence is a ground-breaking, paradigm-shattering idea." That's what the Harvard Business Review said. According to author Daniel Goleman, writer of the bestseller "Emotional Intelligence", EI (Emotional Intelligence) trumps IQ (Intelligence Quotient) in those soft domains like empathy, self knowing, self management, social awareness and managing relationships. A US Olympic coach related, "Everyone has put in the requisite 10,000 plus hours of practice, so success hinges on the mental game." Think about emotional intelligence and music. Think about how EI might apply to the recent selection of Edmonton teacher, Colin Oberst's Hockey Night in Canada composition. CBC appealed to a wide Canadian audience - by opening the competition to composers from across the country and by involving Canadians who voted for a new theme. This new approach to EI is a kind of social intelligence where the focus on capabilities within the individual emerges on a wider scale where people interact. Listen to the final choice. It does have "melody" yet it is laden with emotional nuances that relate to the excitement of the game of hockey. It's not what composer Delores Claman's original was (an orchestral work composed with traditional theme and variation) - yet the new hockey anthem does appeal on an emotional level to a new game of hockey. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 5, 2008: WHAT MAKES GREAT PERFORMERS GREAT I was asked these questions by an artist I respect. Who are the great performers you have seen? Who do you believe are great singers? What makes a great performer great? Great performers I've seen - LIVE ... Billy Joel ... Springsteen gives his all in a live show. They are both performers of another time - like Elton John - there is a new kind of performer that is more underplayed yet just as effective; Paul Brandt is an excellent live performer; Bonnie Raitt demands attention; Elvis Costello; Diana Krall; surprised by Paul Anka's warmth of performance; always enjoy Sarah McLachlan's performances; Rufus Wainwright; loved the Canadian musical "Drowsy Chaperone" in New York with Sutton Foster ... seeing Bob Dylan on Monday - I would say his material and his uniqueness of being - put him "out there"; met and heard Buddy Guy in Chicago in June - incredible LIVE ... Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 28, 2008: THE MYTH OF THE SUFFERING ARTIST The suffering artist is a myth according to flimmaker David Lynch. He explains, "The artist doesn't have to suffer to know suffering. He just has to understand the suffering. Any kind of suffering cramps the flow of creativity." Lynch continues, "In my mind, Vincent van Gogh loved to paint. It wasn't the suffering that made his paintings great, it was his talent and his love for it." Artists who focus on negative external forces and not on the internal reasons for why they create art, can struggle through the creative process. Conductor, Benjamin Zander tells the story of a musician who approached him at the end of a rehearsal at Carnegie Hall. The musician looked very angry. To Zander's surprise, the musician exclaimed, "Thank you for reminding me why I went into music. I'd forgotten for the last 25 years." Zander believes that his role as conductor is to remind people why they went into music in the first place - through every rehearsal. Creating great art flows through a passion for knowing why one "does art". You don't have to suffer through the process! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 21, 2008: A BOTTLE OF RED ... A BOTTLE OF WHITE "A bottle of red - a bottle of white - whatever kind of mood you're in tonight, I'll meet you anytime you want in our Italian restaurant." (Billy Joel) Well, it wasn't an Italian restaurant but it's a favourite place of many jazz aficionados and it's what we were sipping at our table last night at the Beat Niq in Calgary. There was real joy in the room with the release of singer/songwriter Willow Brocke's new CD. Friends, family and fans loved the vibe! The band was killer - Aaron Young:guitar, Sheldon Zandboer:keys, Rubim De Tolendo:bass, Gerry Hebert:sax, John May:drums with back-up jazz/pop harmonies by Johanna Sillanpaa and Shannon Paige. Willow was in top form singing the songs she crafted in collaboration with pianist extraordinaire Sheldon Zandboer. Willow has focused an entire year on the writing and collaborating with some of Calgary's finest jazz artists. It all came together last night in a little place where the music was as good as the wine and the wine was as good as the music! "We'll get a table near the street - in our old familiar place you and I face to face." (Scenes from an Italian Restaurant) Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 14, 2008: INTR0SPECTIVE When I want "space", I canoe on the Bow River in Calgary - it provides a time for me to reflect and listen. The sound of the paddle pulling through water is soothing to me. I just came off the river. There were a couple of events we attended in Calgary on the weekend which served beautiful causes. Artists who support the organizations participated. RESCUE is a non-government organization incorporated and registered with the Cambodian government with the vision to provide good care for families living with aids and for orphans who have lost their parent due to aids. Paul and Liz Brandt performed with four month old son JP in the wings. The event raised significant funds for RESCUE. ECO - the Village of Hope Society supports a community in China where clean water and solar lighting provide a means for the village to become self sustaining. The research for the solar lighting and water filtration system came from the University of Calgary. At this event, artists Lindsay Ell, Bob Evans, Steve Fisher, Jake Peters and Thomas Slaymaker entertained the attendees. It was good to see what people can do when they step up. Time to reflect is a good thing - it can help focus us on what's really important at a time when all too many things get in the way. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 7, 2008: SMART PEOPLE IN SMART CITIES According to this week's article in Maclean's Magazine on smart Canadian cities, "Calgarians, it turns out, are the most cultured people in the country. When you combine the percentage of households who spend money to attend museums with those who spend to attend the live performing arts, Calgary comes out on top ...." This week's article in Macleans comes on the brink of ALBERTA's first ARTS DAY held September 6th. The day provides an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the accomplishments of Alberta painters, musicians, dancers, potters and writers in communities throughout the province. This week, another magazine "CalgaryInc." celebrated TOP 40 UNDER 40 entrepreneurs. George Gosbee, President and CEO of Tristone Capital was recognized as the premiere recepient for 2008. Tristone is the largest independent oil and gas property acquisition business in the world. In the article, Gosbee joked, "My teachers probably look back and say, 'How the hell did that happen." Not really ... I remember the incredible support his parents provided for George as volunteers in the music parents' group. George performed in the school's music ensemble - I was the teacher. People become successful in the arts and in business when there is recognition and support for their unique talents. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 31, 2008: THE ART OF POSSIBILITY A friend has been a facilitator at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland for a number of years. Each year global political, business and arts leaders meet in Davos. The WEF or DAVOS as it is known focuses on: building leading global communities, creatively shaping global strategies and improving the state of the world. This year an extraordinary person spoke at the close of the forum. His name is Ben Zander. Zander is the Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and has built an international reputation as a guest conductor with some of the world's most renowned symphony orchestras. With his partner Rosamund Zander, he co-authored a best selling book: The Art of Possibility" which has been translated into 16 languages. At DAVOS, Benjamin Zander was presented the "Crystal Award" for outstanding contributions in the arts and international relations. He was also awarded the "Caring Citizen of the Humanities Award" at the United Nations in 2002. Watch and listen to this man - he will make a difference in your life! Go to: Benjamin Zander Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 24, 2008: A SINGER'S SONGWRITER He's respected as a "singer's songwriter" with fan support from some of music's best including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Steve Earle, John Prime, Radiohead, Elvis Costello, John Hiatt and Sheryl Crow. And he performed last week in Banff to commemorate the re-opening of Banff Avenue. Ron Sexsmith performed with his band in BANFF LIVE - a free outdoor concert featuring Sexsmith, Joel Plaskett Emergency, K-OS and Theory of a Deadman. I drove out to Banff with musician friends to take in Sexsmith's sound and listen to the tunes from his new album "Exit Stategy of the Soul". After his set, we ventured backstage to talk with the artist and his band. Unassuming, smart and caring describe his quiet demeanor. He really cares about his audience. Sexsmith begins his first run of US dates to support his new album which includes 15 US dates from coast to coast. He's back in Calgary on October 2nd. Take in his performance - he is a talent and truly a "singer's songwriter". Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 17, 2008: REPUTATION AND CHARACTER American swimmer Michael Phelps earned eight gold medals over the past week at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Here's a review of each medal race and insights about reputation and character by William Hersey Davis. 1. In the 100 meter butterfly - Phelps wins by one hundreth of a second. (Reputation is the photograph; character is the face.) Time will tell more about the character of this amazing athelete. Currently his reputation is solid. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 10, 2008: COMEDIC TIMING "Comic timing is the use of rhythm and tempo to enhance comedy and humor. A beat is a pause taken for the purposes of comic timing, often to allow the audience to recognize the joke and react. Beats and pauses create a change in dynamic, emotion or purpose." (Wikipedia) One of the best Broadway show tours I have seen, played this week in Calgary. Monty Python's SPAMALOT came to town - comedy at it's best. A few years back, I had the opportunity to talk with Dudley Moore about British comedy. His 1960's show "Beyond the Fringe" in Britain heavily influenced the Pythons - even Saturday Night Live. Elements of slapstick, farce, satire, parody, improv, stand-up, the pregnant pause, screwball and black comedy all found their way into this kind of comedy. SPAMALOT was brilliantly written by Python member Eric Idle. As outlined in the program notes, SPAMALOT is "a new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail". The comedic timing of cast members using pauses and beats had the audience screaming with laugher. An example is the famous Python line delivered by an unconscious Not Dead Fred: "Well, I'm not dead yet. In fact, I'm feeling much better." To perform at such a high level means that these performers understand comedy. Their techniques in acting, singing and dancing are executed with an acute sense of comedic timing. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 3, 2008: A SUNDAY ON LA GRANDE JATTE What do you do on a Sunday afternoon? When I visited the Art Institute of Chicago, I viewed what some consider to be Georges Seurat's greatest work and certainly one of the most remarkable paintings of the nineteenth century: "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte". It's the large scale painting inspired by Seurat's research in optical and colour theory where tiny dots of colors form the scene of Parisians enjoying a day off on an island in the Seine. Inside the painting, "bedlam", "scandal", and "hilarity" are words to describe the goings on. In 1984, Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim and librettist James Lapine brought the painting to life in the Broadway musical "Sunday in the Park with George". It reveals what the authors feel about art, the creative process, the artist's sacrifice of human emotion and the need to avoid being influenced by current trends. The characters in the painting come alive on stage to live out the bedlam, scandal and hilarity as portrayed in Georges Seurat's masterpiece. The musical won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for drama. Art mimics life ... life mimics art. What do you do on a Sunday afternoon? I like to canoe ... sometimes to an island. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 27, 2008: THAT'S CALLED COOKIN' I listened to Melvin Crump sing tonight. Scattin', compin', jammin' and talkin'. Melvin is 91 years of age - nearly 92! He says, "When I'm playing and singing, I'm in my glory. When we get people really clapping their hands, that's called cookin'. Then we have to cool things down with a slower tune." He enjoys singing songs like "Marianne", "Down by the Riverside", "All God's Children Got Shoes". Melvin's work in music and human rights was honoured last year at Calgary's Glenbow Museum as a member of the Mavericks exhibition. I mentioned to him that I attended church where the Underground Railway settled in Canada - he smiled. He understands. In this blog, I was set to write about the importance of continued study - even throughout the summer - based on a 2007 study at Johns Hopkins Unversity. However, the lifelong approach of Melvin Crump tells the real story. He says, "I walk every day. I don't smoke or drink. Take an hour nap in the afternoon and I get to bed at an early hour." Oh ... and he performs regularly ... and he has rhythm in his soul. He is a marvel to see and hear. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 20, 2008: NOTHING IS BLACK OR WHITE In the recent TIME magazine article that outlines "The Secrets of Leadership" of Nelson Mandela at 90, one of the eight lessons caught my eye. "Nothing is black or white: life is never either/or. Decisions are complex, and there are always competing factors. To look for simple explanations is the bias of the human brain, but it doesn't correspond to reality." When someone dismisses a certain genre of music - "I don't like that music" - one might be surprised how that style is actually linked to music they DO enjoy. For example, the joyful noise of gospel music is linked to everything from African slavery, call and response, the music of Stephen Foster, ring shouting, Thomas A. Dorsey and Chicago blues, B.B. King, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, the British Invasion groups, European choral singing, jazz and jazz icons like Duke Ellington, R & B jump, 50's rock n' roll, soul, jungle boogie, funk and hip-hop. Nothing is black and white - even the minstral show where blackfaced white actors would imitate the singing of black slaves is not so obviously a demeaning caricature of black culture. Slaves would actually rally around the minstral show and perform their own version - blacks imitating the whites who imitated them - a caracature of the white performance. Figure that one out. Nothing is black and white! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 13, 2008: THE PIANO MEN I've been reviewing the music from some of the contemporary piano men in music - Billy Joel, Elton John, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder. I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week in Cleveland and scoped around for more information. Randy Newman's song "Louisiana 1927" and "Sail Away" are exceptional songs. His piano accompaniment with Sarah McLachlan singing the nominated Oscar song "When She Loved Me" on the 1999 Academy Awards provides another side of this songwriter's unique talent. A Billy Joel concert is still "over the top". His last 2007-08 tour proved that he hasn't lost his piano chops. Have you listened to Billy Joel's music for solo piano titled "Fantasies & Delusions: Opus 1-10"? He IS the piano man. Elton John loves the stage and one of his best outings was a recent tour where he simply accompanied himself - no band - and played hit after hit. The audience in Calgary went wild. Ray Charles really was the genius who built his piano/singing style by fusing the call and response of sacred gospel with secular blues. He forged his own place in music. Stevie Wonder was heavily influenced by his early days hanging around the soundstages of Motown in Detroit. Even now, visitors at the Motown Museum in Detroit can sit at the piano and the Stevie Wonder drum set that is angled in the corner of the basement recording studio. The music of the piano men stands the test of time - they have set their mark in music. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, July 6, 2008: A LAST STOP ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY Today I visited Mount Beulah Church in Amherstburg, Ontario. As I entered the church, Reverend Maynard Hurst was leading hymns at the keyboard, his son was accompanying on drums and another church member was playing organ. Congregation members would call out hymn numbers and Reverend Hurst sang, played and led the congregation in an upbeat version of the gospel songs. It was beautiful - the honesty of the word and music together. The church building is down the street from the North American Black Historical Museum which stands beside the Nazrey African Methodist Episcopat Church, built in 1874. This was one of the terminals of the Underground Railway and a safe haven for blacks who crossed the Detroit river to escape. I met Reverend Hurst a few years back, when I attended and asked that he might participate in a concert in Calgary celebrating Black History and the Underground Railroad. Mount Beulah Church was constructed in 1874 as a school for African-Canadians who were segregated from other local schools. Today was a special day - to be in a Godly place - a last stop on the Underground Railway where a precious cargo of new Canadians found safe haven and a new way of life. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 29, 2008: SOME MEMORABLE RECORDINGS This week I travelled to Vancouver to hear an excellent concert by the Nettwerk recording artists "Aliqua" - a group of nine female singers about to launch their new album in mid September. And I flew to Ontario to visit family, see some baseball and listen to music. On the plane, I had a few hours to view lists of songs - thousands of songs - some great - some not so great. Here's 10 tunes that caught my attention: "Summertime" sung by Billy Stewart from ONE MORE TIME: THE CHESS YEARS Listen to these recordings. "There's always the possibility that you're going to come across a record that transforms your life. And it happens weekly." (John Peel) Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 22, 2008: THAT'S AMAZING When a person shares their music - it can leave a lasting impression. A few weeks ago, a gentleman called me and asked if I might coach him in the performance of a song. I was excited to work with him and his singing. We worked on tone, technique, stage presence ... style. He exhibited a real joy in what he was doing - in fact, he related to me that he was performing this song in a "seniors" competition. He called midweek to inform me that he won the competition and that he was representing Calgary in the nationwide contest in Toronto. He participated in the finals with 13 other senior musicians. To me, it's not so much about the winning, it's the fact that in his late 60's, he is following his passion to perform and share his music. Life is big for him right now. I shared this with a musician/producer friend involved with a major record label. He simply said, "Good for him. That's amazing!" The gentleman who shared his talent is an inspiration for us all to live out our passion. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 15, 2008: DIGNITY IN WORK What does it take to stand out from the pack for the audition or for the music contest? I was recently interviewed by Martha Worboy of Canwest News Service about the qualities necessary to be crowned the Canadian Idol. Focus on who you are - know who you are as a performer. Aiming to be a star or trying to please a judge is short sighted - it shows you aren't grounded. It's important to find the songs that work for you - the songs you select have a lot to do with your success. The song has to be internalized and you've got to believe it. You are the story. It's not about one performance - you can't think 'this is it' - you have to keep doing it and developing. It's what a musician does away from the spotlight that proves who they are. There is dignity in work! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 8, 2008: BLUES IN CHICAGO Last Tuesday night in Chicago - deep dish stuffed pizza at Giordanos with my son and his girlfriend and then a night of blues at Buddy Guy's club called Legends. Michael Coleman and his band were playing that night and because it was blues week in Chicago, Buddy Guy happened to be in the house. He was quietly seated at the bar watching the ballgame before the band played. I was able to speak with him. Buddy Guy is a legend. Now 72 years of age, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and received five Grammys in recent years. He has heavily influenced the sound of the Stones, Eric Clapton, John Mayer and so many other contemporaries. He has performed with all the greats from Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley to BB King. Muddy Waters would tap Buddy Guy as his successor, telling him, "Don't let the blues die." Later in the night, Buddy Guy was up on stage to perform a couple of his songs. To see him perform live that Tuesday night was a marvel! He talked about the greatness of Bo Diddley who died the day before. He owned the stage and told his story through his songs. It was mezmerizing! I'll never forget it. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, June 1, 2008: THE CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi is an educational psychologist at the University of Chicago. In his book, "Creativity", he points out 10 paradoxical traits of creative individuals. I found this fascinating - think of the musicians and artists who wear these characteristics. Sunday, May 25, 2008: EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND CREATIVE THINK Malcolm Gladwell the writer of "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" talks about principles in food marketing that apply to the business of music. He says, "We cannot always explain what we want deep down. The way to make people happy is to give them something they aspire to - IS A MYTH. There is no hierarcy - just different kinds for different people. Provide people with the culturally authentic product. One way to treat all of us doesn't work. Universal principles aren't always true." Think about how this relates to the new business of music. The old guard stands for giving everyone the same - the same songs on the same album that is marketed throughout the world market. However, what people listen to in the UK market isn't necesarily what they listen to in the Canadian, American or even Indian markets. One way to treat all doesn't always work. The big enlightenment is that people don't always know what they want - they have to experience it to know it. That is a beautiful possibility for the creative artist. Be creative and believe that you can open the minds of others to a new think! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, May 19, 2008: SINGING IS PART OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE According to current research and University of Western Ontario professor Victoria Meredith, singing leads to increased respiratory function, improved overall health, a heightened immune systen and improved brain function. Meredith explains that singing and performing in a vocal ensemble "can keep you younger and healthier for longer". People who sing on a regular basis require fewer doctors' visits, are less prone to falls, don't need as much medication and are less likely to be depressed. It's like regular exercise - three times a week for at least 20 minutes at a time makes a difference. These observations align closely with those of George Washington University's three-year study on the impact of professionally conducted cultural programs on older adults. More and more people are participating in vocal lessons and singing in choral/vocal ensembles at all ages - youth, adults and seniors. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, May 11, 2008: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY I'm reading "Hello, I Must Be Going" an extraordinary biography about Groucho Marx. He loved to sing. He would invite first rate pianists to accompany him at parties - George Gershwin, Oscar Levant, Marvin Hamlisch. Groucho would sing, they would accompany. His brother Harpo was an accomplished harpist who was self taught - unorthadox technique but a brilliant performer. Chico, didn't practice as diligently as his brothers but he too played an instrument - we remember his antics at the piano. It was their mother Minnie who inspired them all. Although Groucho knew many women in his long lifetime, none ever took the place of his mother. He and his brothers always talked about her almost as if she were still alive, still an important part of their lives. Our mothers are huge inspirations in our lives. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, May 4, 2008: BEATLES/BEACH BOY SONGS I was interviewed by Jacquie Moore of Swerve magazine regarding Revv52's upcoming "Revvolution" concert at the Jubilee Auditorium on May 9th. Here's five of my favourite Beatles/Beach Boy arrangements from the show: "Michelle" is one of the great vocal jazz arrangements by Gene Puerling. In this arrangement, the notes just hang, they live in the air. You breathe in the effervenscence of the sound, and then it's gone: simple yet powerful. "God Only Knows" is one of Paul McCartney's favourite songs from the Beach Boys' album "Pet Sounds". The arrangement from our show expresses what Brian Wilson tried to do - there's a lot of layering of sound. The album revolutionized how music was recorded. "I Am the Walrus" is a really psychedelic sound, written in eight parts with so many sounds inside the music. The singers take on the sounds of instruments, so you've got horn, string and percussive sounds that are actually sung. It's really a trip. The sounds push and pull you - as you get comfortable with a riff, suddenly it twists and turns in another direction. The words in "Revolution" are powerful. I really love the last verse: 'You better free your mind.' That's the essence of this song: forget about the outside forces and own what you do in your life. That's the real revolution: it's what we built our new name around. "Good Vibrations" is another one of those songs that's so rich with colour and music-inside-the-music. The idea for it came from a young Brian Wilson who asked his mother why a dog was barking and she said, 'It has to do with the vibrations.' People feel good when they hear this song; the rhythm is alive and it's fun to perform. All of this music presses you to the wall of learning, like any great music. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 27, 2008: THE CREATIVE PROCESS FROM THE INSIDE ... OUT I have such a respect for Neil MacGonigill. Neil is a pivotal player on the Canadian music scene. He is highly respected in the industry and has been influential in the careers of music legends like Ian Tyson, Billy Cowsill, Jann Arden, Paul Brandt and K.D. Lang as well as Calgary artists Steve Pineo, Beautiful Joe, Beautiful Dreamers and Karla Anderson. We've teamed up to offer an interactive and inspiring series of three classes at the Bissett School of Business (Mount Royal Campus). The first class on Saturday, May 24 begins at 10 am and is titled "The Toolbox: Tools for the Musician". It covers the subjects of vocals, instrumentals, stage presence, appearance, the intangibles, gear, and songs. The Saturday, May 31 class is built around "The Songs: Choosing the Right Song". Whether you write it or someone else does, a great song will always be your most valuable tool. On Saturday, June 7, we look at "The Performance: Demystifying the Performance". Exceptional songs lead to exceptional performances. Did you catch the Martin Scorsese film "Shine a Light" featuring the Rolling Stones in concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York? It's on the big IMAX screen and worth a watch. The series of classes are titled "The Creative Process from the Inside ... Out". One on one consultation opportunities "in the round" are available during the afternoons. Pre-register if you are amenable to performing and receiving coaching, observed by the community assembled. Cost is $60 per class or $150 for all three classes. Call 239-3547 to register or email brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 20, 2008: SHINE YOUR LIGHT On one of the biggest blizzards of the year in Calgary, many of us attended "The Fifth Plant Big Seeds" at Centre Street Church on Friday night. The event raised over $175 thousand dollars to support students who serve communities locally, nationally and internationally. (The idea for the fundraiser came about over a coffee. Five years ago, Paul Brandt met with a pastor from the church and talked about ways to help students help people around the world.) On Friday night, country artists Paul Brandt, Aaron Lines, Jason McCoy, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Johnny Reid and Shane Yellowbird performed memorable acoustic arrangements of their music. Their performances were honest and inspiring - right from the heart stuff. Before I left for the event, I was gathering some information for my cousin's 12 year old daughter - she's "doing a project on Paul Brandt". I ran across a ticket and a program from June of 1993. It was the first big contest for Paul that proved to be a launch for his career in music. He didn't look for the spotlight - the spotlight found him. On Friday night, he shone a light on something even bigger than himself and everyone was richer for it. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, April 13, 2008: REVV52 PRESENTS "REVVOLUTION" I'm preparing program notes for Revv52's upcoming show "Revvolution: Impressions of The Beatles and Beach Boys". The Beatles' song "Revolution" said so much about the times and yet the words are still poignant: "You say you'll change the constitution, well you know, we all want to change your head. You tell me it's the institution, well you know, you better free your mind instead." To get inside the creative minds of Lennon/McCartney and Brian Wilson would be fascinating. The Beach Boys anchored the American charts with surfin' music during the early 60's ... then the British Invasion rocked the very foundations of American music. The Beatles influenced by early American blues, exploded onto the music scene. Spurred by the Beatles and the British Invasion, the Beach Boys countered in the mid 60's with an experimental sound that changed the way music was recorded. According to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, "We just wanted to turn our motors on and get something happening where we would be better musically than the Beatles. We wanted to do something that had more musical merit than the Beatles so we made 'Pet Sounds' which was Paul McCartney's favorite album." It included the songs, "God Only Knows", "Sloop John B" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice". The Beatles regrouped after hearing Brian Wilson's arrangements on "Pet Sounds". Beatles' producer George Martin explained, "The Beatles wanted to write music that was as good as that or better than that - it was their yardstick. And it was a competitive thing." So the Beatles launched, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - the album critics hailed as their best work. The group experimented with new instruments on both their "Sgt. Pepper" and "Rubber Soul" albums which included the songs, "When I'm 64", "Michelle", "In My Life", and "Drive My Car". Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, April 7, 2008: THE JUNO EXPERIENCE On Friday night, we caught the riveting performance of New Orleans jazz vocalist John Boutte who was in town and shot over to Cantos to hear Lindsay Ell's 11 pm set. Lindsay's vocals and guitar playing are superb - her stage presence is mature beyond her years. Steve Pineo and Kit Johnson owned the stage on Saturday night at Kits on 16th followed by bluesman extraordinaire Tim Williams - these musicians are Calgary based talents who have performed with some of the best in the business. The Sunday Songwriters' Circle was a highlight for me. Jeremy Fischer, Serena Ryder, Alex Cuba, Joel Plaskett, Tegan Quin (Tegan & Sara), Jay Malinowski (Bedouin Soundclash) and Corb Lund - great songwriters. It's a unique experience to see these talented artists improvise as a group after they performed their own material. The Juno Awards show was fast paced and memorable. Good to see Paul Brandt pick up a Juno for best country album - a respected sound technician recently noted that Paul Brandt's voice on anything sounds great - it doesn't hurt that his songwriting is stellar. (Paul was awarded the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for his work with people around the globe. His heartfelt speech on Thursday night brought the audience to its feet.) I was impressed by the pacing of the Awards show, the speed of set up between musical numbers and the quality of the sound for each performance - some requiring orchestral accompaniment with Finger Eleven and Anne Murray or horns and strings ala Michael Buble. Feist was another example of a Calgary artist recognized for her contributions to the Canadian music profile- five Junos on the night! Things are starting to happen in this city with the arts - the Junos kicked up some excitement and people listened! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 30, 2008: JUNO WEEK IN CALGARY Events for the Junos have already kicked off. Calgary Music Lives Here and the March Music Series showcased hundreds of music events. Creative Class musicians participated in The Matt Masters 30 Day Challenge. They included singer/songwriters Lindsay Ell, Alanna Clarke, Chard Morrison, Brady Side, James Slater, Katelyn Miller and the group Random Task Collective who performed in 30 concerts during the month of March. On Thursday,
April 3rd from 5 - 11 pm, the Juno Kick Off Concert happens at Olympic Plaza featuring Finger Eleven, Bedouin Soundclash, Sloan, The New Odds and
The Dudes. Also on Thursday at 7:30 pm in the Southern Jubilee Auditorium, the Alberta Country Music Salute concert celebrates some of the best of Alberta country music with George Canyon, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Aaron Lines and Gord Bamford. On Friday, April 4 at 7:30 pm, the fifth Juno Cup held in conjunction with the Junos takes place at the Stampede Corral. The hockey game features 12 former NHL'ers and 31 Canadian musicicans including Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo and Tom Cochrane. The game is a fundraiser for MusiCan which works to ensure Canadian children have access to school-based music programs. Also on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 from 9 pm to 2 pm, JunoFest offers a weekend festival featuring some of Canada's finest musicians at various venues in Calgary. Watch for Lindsay Ell's performance on Friday at 11 pm at Cantos (134 11 Ave. S.E.). Saturday, April 5 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Olympic Oval, music fans can meet some of their favourite artists at Fan Fare. Artists attending and signing autographs include Bedouin Soundclash, Finger Eleven, Hedley, Serena Ryder, State of Shock and more. The Songwriters' Circle on Sunday, April 6 at 12 noon at the Jack Singer Concert Hall is an event where artists share their inspirations and the songwriting process. Artists include Tegan Quin, Serena Rider, Jeremy Fisher, Jay Malinowski, Corb Lund, Alex Cuba and Joel Plaskett. The Juno Awards begin on Sunday, April 6 at 6 pm at the Saddledome with performances by Anne Murray, Avril Lavigne, Feist, Finger Eleven, Jann Arden, Jully Black, Michael Buble, Paul Brandt, Sarah Brightman and more! Get out there and support Canadian music! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 23, 2008: THE EASTER STORY The Oxford Companion to Music explains, "His style might be called better-Victorian, and might be more laboriously characterized as Bach much softened by Mendelssohn and then assimilated to the traditions of the Anglican church in the mood of its post-Tractarian spiritual propriety." Well to me as a young choir director in the early 80's, "The Cruxifiction" by John Stainer told the Easter story ... plainly and simply. It was a tradition to sing the Easter story in cantata form during Easter at church. (A cantata can be described as a sacred work with solos, choruses, orchestral accompaniment in the style of an opera without scenery or action.) The pipe organist, the choir, the soloists and Stainer's work brought the Easter story to life for me. Conducting Stainer's cantata "The Cruxifiction" was a worshipful and meaningful Easter experience, I'll always remember. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, March 17, 2008: IT'S NOT JUST THE LUCK OF THE IRISH It's St. Patrick's Day. I'm reading about the Heavyweight Champion of 1935, Irishman James J. Braddock and the greatest upset in boxing history. His success had a lot to do with rhythm and timing. Braddock trained hard and focused on what he wanted to achieve - the heavyweight crown. He rose from the depths of poverty during the depression to the heights of achieving the heavyweight championship - considered at that time to be the biggest sport in the world. He was rated a 10 to 1 underdog and his story touched the hearts of the working class. It was about rhythm and timing. It's not much different with music and art. The great artist overcomes internal and external struggles as they set out to achieve the seemingly impossible. Their focus is built on hard work and a drive to find that internal rhythm. They are aware of the constantly changing environment - timing of events are reflected in their success. People respect hard work. The hopes and dreams of people are built on those who achieve the impossible. And those who make it happen, prove to themselves that it can be done. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, March 9, 2008: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY SHIFT The music industry is going through a shift - A MAJOR SHIFT. Dr. Michael Geist, a University of Ottawa professor specializing in Internet and E-commerce law states, "There is a move to a singles market again which is becoming the dominant sales model." He also notes, "People are not interested in going to a store to buy a CD. People are downloading music song by song from the web." How does that translate into actual record sales? The top three albums on the Canadian charts for the week ending March 6/08 are "Nos Lendemains" by Isabelle Boulay, "Sleep Through the Static" by Jack Johnson and "Discipline" by Janet Jackson. The sales numbers translate to 50,000 units for the number one album, 11,000 for the number two album and 5,000 units for the new Janet Jackson album. That's cause for concern for music retailers. Canada's Music World is under bankruptcy protection - its 72 stores join Sam the Record Man and others that have succumbed to the world of music downloading, online file-swapping, digital radio and discounted CD sales by big-box stores like Wal-Mart. Geist suggests that music retailers themselves are partly to blame for the decline in sales. He says CD retailers have failed to provide consumers with music in the form and manner they are demanding. On the other hand, Steven Page of The Barenaked Ladies' believes that person to person sharing is a great way for artists to get their music heard by as many fans as possible. This can generate other revenues though concert ticket sales and merchandising. More people listen to music than ever before - more artists are being heard by larger audiences. The single is at the forefront again. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Tuesday, March 4, 2008: CALGARY MUSIC LIVES HERE Calgary Music Lives Here has been launched. Its purpose is "to leverage the excitement generated by the 2008 Juno Awards to create a legacy program that supports music in our community for years to come," according to Terry Rock, the Co-Chair of the Calgary Host Committee. During the month of March, plan to attend music events and concerts to support the Calgary Music Lives Here program. By doing so, one supports music for youth and education as well as the artists in the community. Singers/songwriters from the Creative Class present a showcase at the Cochrane RancheHouse on Saturday, March 15 at 8 pm, sponsored by Calgary Music Live Here. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, February 26, 2008: MUSIC FOR LIFE What do you do when you have an exceptionally talented child? Where do you go for music lessons and coaching? What schools have excellent arts programs? We talked about this with Neil MacGonigill in Saturday's Creative Class. Neil is a music man of integrity who has worked with some of Canada's finest talent - KD Lang, Jann Arden, Ian Tyson, Steve Pineo, Billy Cowsill .... He believes it's important that we remember the joy of the arts. There is time to allow talent to grow. Some people push children who aren't ready. I learned from a wonderful teacher who opened so many doors of opportunity for me. Through his approach to life and the arts, I saw joy in music. It's all about music for a lifetime - talent will grow in a nurturing environment. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 17, 2008: EVALUATING TALENT When you listen to a performer, how do you know that they really are unique? When directors, managers or judges evaluate talent, how do they know that they have selected the "best"? Even Simon Cowell, a record executive with BMG with thirty four #1 singles and over one hundred Top 30 records to his credit, has a checklist for what to look for in a performer. He lists basics like: don't copy another performer, avoid overstyling oneself in performance, make eye contact, choose the right material, believe in yourself, be prepared and listen to advice. With singers, I listen for specifics in tone, technique and especially interpretation. It's essential that the performer knows the criteria - that way there is a level playing field, the performer knows where they stand and what they need to do to improve. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, February 10, 2008: THE CONTEXT OF A SONG When a song has a context - it comes alive for the listener. An example of this can be seen in the recent film ACROSS THE UNIVERSE which features 16 Beatles tracks underlying a storyline of the social upheaval of the 60's. The Cirque du Soleil extravaganza in Las Vegas titled LOVE was a two year project built from 26 Beatles tracks re-recorded and engineered by George and Giles Martin. It breathes new life into Beatles songs and provides a fresh context for its audience. And the film I AM SAM captures Beatles songs to augment a heartfelt script. The story comes to life through music. In each example, the listener is able to hear a song in a new context - like you're hearing it for the first time! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Tuesday, February 5, 2008: THE CREATIVE PROCESS "Creative Class Presents" happened on Saturday night at the Cantos Music Foundation in Calgary. It was a huge success. Five artists from the Creative Class (a group of artists that meet on Saturday mornings in Calgary and interact about music) performed their material for the live audience at Cantos. Performers included Lindsay Ell, Alanna Clarke, Matt Grist, Katelyn Miller and James Slater. I expect that some of these artists will become very well known on the Canadian stage one day. Creativity needs a place to grow ... to "try things on". Creative artists need a place to perform their music for live audiences. Artists need audiences to try out tempos, phrasing, additions to songs - even new material - to hone their craft as songwriters and as performers. That's what "Creative Class Presents" is all about - an opportunity for artist and audience to come together and share in the creative process. Stay tuned for more. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, January 28, 2008: RECORDING On the weekend, I worked with nine wonderful singers in Vancouver. The group, ALIQUA is produced by Ashwin Sood who is the primary talent scout for a new joint venture between Nettwerk Music Group and LiveNation and engineered by Chris Potter who has worked with Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams, Nickelback, Rufus Wainwright .... The recording setting is described in the weekend edition of the Vancouver Sun as "a state-of-the-art recording studio filled with enough knobs, dials and flashing lights to make your head spin. A baby grand piano sits in one corner, guitars and drums and keyboards are strewn around the large room, and a circle of about 10 microphones stands by the windows overlooking the creek." This is the studio where Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow and Wintersong albums were recorded. From the singers, Ashwin Sood as producer focused on a natural, honest sound - one that is void of breaking the natural flow of a musical idea. Chris Potter as engineer worked effortlessly and quietly at the soundboard - offering subtle suggestion during the session. Ashwin Sood and Chris Potter work brilliantly together. It's a pleasure to work with people who love to do what they do and at the same time set the mark for excellence! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 20, 2008: ARTISTS AND ALBUMS Here's a few artists and the albums I enjoy listening to from a variety of genres: Rock n' Roll: Elton John "Number Ones"; Billy Joel "My Lives"; Rufus Wainwright "Rufus Wainwright", "Release the Stars"; City and Colour "Sometimes"; Jimi Hendrix "Experience Hendrix"; Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" Pop: Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"; Mama and Papas "California Dreamin'"; The Carpenters "Singles 1969-1981"; Jackson Five "Motown Legends" Country: Johnny Cash "The Legend of Johnny Cash"; Paul Brandt "Risk" Urban: Stevie Wonder "The Definitive Collection"; James Brown "Live at the Apollo"; Marvin Gaye "What's Going On" Reggae: Bob Marley "Legend" Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald "Pure Ella"; Billie Holiday "Songs For Distinguie Lovers"; Amy Winehouse "Frank"; Diana Krall "When I Look Into Your Eyes"; Jamie Cullum "Twentysomething" Blues: Robert Johnson "The Complete Recordings"; B.B. King "The Ultimate Collection"; Various Artists "The Best of the Blues"; Muddy Waters "His Best - 1947- 1955"; Nina Simone "The Essential Nina Simone" ... and so many more. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 13, 2008: BRAINWORMS Ever experience those incessant yet catchy songs or phrases that pop into your mind and will not let go - a musical jingle or song hook that runs through your mind over and over. In Oliver Sacks newest book titled "Musicophilia" he refers to this phenomena as brainworms - "the echoic or automatic or compulsive repetition of tones or words." According to Sacks, we are attracted to repetition - in nursery rhymes, song chants, refrains. He writes, "We want the stimulus and the reward again and again, and in music we get it." Don't be surprised when this happens since we are bombarded with music everywhere - television, radio, ipods, department stores, coffee shops, doctors' offices, elevators and even in the sounds of nature. "Doo Be Doo Be Doo" Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, January 6, 2008: CREATIVE CLASS Artists thrive when they work in a supportive and creative environment. That was a major reason I developed the CREATIVE CLASS - to build a creative environment for artists and to provide an interactive learning experience for those who love music. In the CREATIVE CLASS, artists and people who love music learn more about the roots of music, they listen to music and interact about what makes music tick. Guest singer/songwriters share their experiences with the class. I've developed CREATIVE CLASS PRESENTS for members of the class to share their unique music with a live audience. For more information about CREATIVE CLASS and CREATIVE CLASS PRESENTS, contact brian@brianfarrell.ca or call 239-3547. Sunday, December 30, 2007: I FEEL GOOD: THE SOUL OF POP When I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, I was inspired! The music I listen to - the music I enjoy - it was all there. I was inspired by learning about where this music came from - it's roots. Gospel music began as storytelling and moved on to preaching and then to scatting. Blues moved through Jazz and R&B and then on to Hip Hop. It was all so connected - the music I enjoy is rooted in storylines that intrigue me - and as I learned - inspired many people. On January 18th and 19th, Calgary Choral will present this music in a show titled "I Feel Good: the Soul of Pop". Contact www.calgarychoral.com for details. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 23, 2007: PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN In 1861, after the tragic death of his wife and the terrible onset of the American Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these hopeful words: I heard the bells on Christmas day I thought how, as the day had come, And in despair I bow'd my head: Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 15, 2007: THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS ... so many Christmas concerts ... such a busy time for so many people. I enjoy concerts at this time of the year ... when they honestly reflect the joy of the season ... when the performers love what they're doing and it's reflected in their performance. Have you witnessed a Christmas concert where there is a real joy on the stage and the audience feels like they are actually involved? It can be amateur or professional - at a school or at a church. Hope you attend a Christmas concert where the joy of the season is alive in the music and in the performance! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 9, 2007: BE THE FIRST Our son studies in Hartford Connecticut. On a visit, I toured Mark Twain's former residence beside the home of Harriet Beacher Stowe's ("Uncle Tom's Cabin") in downtown Hartford. I thoroughly enjoy the wit and wisdom of satirist/ humourist Mark Twain. One of his quotes that is so applicable to music is: "To be the first - that is the idea. To do something, say something, see something, before anybody else - these are the things that confer a pleasure compared with which other pleasures are tame and commonplace, other ectasies cheap and trivial." Email responses to: brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, December 2, 2007: THE CHARTS Have you listened to the singles or watched the music videos that top Billboard's Top 100? This week, Alicia Keys and her single "No One" heads the list for the second week in a row. T Pain is featured on four of the top ten singles with artists like Chris Brown, Flo Rida, Kanye West and Baby Bash. The focus is on production - the sound - and the look. Comparing that to the BBC 1 Chart Show, Leona Lewis sits atop the British list for the second week with her song "Bleeding Love", Mark Ronson features Amy Winehouse with the song "Valerie" at #5, Shayne Ward #6 with "Breathless" and Alicia Keys drops to #6 from last week's #5 position. The focus on these songs is the artist, the content of the song - the words and raw energy of style that finds it's way back to Rock and Roll roots. The sounds include call/response horn lines, percussive jazz riffs and basic rock beats. The songs listed on the British charts can be ecclectic - from Rock and Roll icons like Led Zeppelin to new artists like Leona Lewis - from ballades like Shayne Ward's "Breathless" to the edgy and rootsy blend of Mark Ronson's and Amy Winehouse's new song "Valerie". The British sound is flavoured by a wider European musical influence - the American sound focuses on it's US audience. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 25, 2007: TIPPING POINTS IN MUSIC Three characteristics of a tipping point include: contagiousness, little causes that have big effects AND change happening at one dramatic moment. The obvious tipping points in music include Bob Dylan's decision to PLUG IN at the Newport Folk Festival, RadioHead's online public music offer "to pay as you may", the Beatles launch into America inspiring the British Invasion, the movement towards Itunes, IPods, downloading/uploading and away from CD sales. However another tipping point happened here in Calgary - it's when Paul Brandt launched "Small Towns, Big Dreams" on his own Brandt T label. It gave permission for other Canadian artists to think the same way and move from the BIG LABEL to an independent one. Paul's new album RISK says it all. In concert on Sunday night at Calgary's Jubilee Auditorium, he was "ON" - singing the best I've ever heard him and stepping out in a big way. Paul's message is contagious, it has big effects, and things are happening dramatically around him - creating a tipping point! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 18, 2007: THE AMERICAN MUSIC MACHINE Many people believe that the American Music Machine is the RECORD LABEL and the iconic record executives and managers who seek to make and break careers ... but it's not necessarily true. The American Music Machine is rooted in the individual, the cultural environment in the cities and regions of America and in the church where the call and response of the preacher and congregation is alive in the music. The American constitution values the individual - in fact the rights of the individual are at the heart of its conception. In Canada, we too value the individual. We embrace the creative energy and genius of the artist who makes a statement that rallies a wider consciousness. The support might not be as overt as in America, but in Canada, there is a quiet respect. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, November 11, 2007: THE CALL AND RESPONSE Recently, I attended a Gospel Revival in Calgary. The call of the preacher and the response of the congregation is alive in the preaching and in the music. Gospel music takes its cue from the call/response of the preacher/congregation. The phrasing and tenor of the preacher's voice is in sync with the congregation's response. Even the energy of the preacher's movement is reflected in the congregation's ebb and flow. Listen to the classic sermon by C.L. Franklin titled "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest". The powerhouse Gospel singer Aretha Franklin is C.L.'s daughter. This sermon is recorded and occupies the very apex of the Gospel preaching canon. The sound and rhythm of C.L. Franklin's energetic delivery has been copied by some of the finest preachers of our time - including Martin Luther King. I witnessed that style of delivery again in the Gospel Revival sermon in Calgary - it was powerful and it was effective. It's the roots of the call and response in all styles of music. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 28, 2007: LISTENING INSIDE THE MUSIC What gives the music it's groove, it's style - it's overall "feel". When you listen inside the music, you can catch all of this and more. Generally, audiences in larger concert settings are distracted by so many sounds other than the actual music that it's difficult to listen to the real subtleties of the music. Listen for instance to the Rolling Stones and "Satisfaction". Jagger plays tambourine. Throughout the song he plays three eighth note pulses on beats 3 & 4. It's very subtle - yet it gives "lift" to the musical line. Without the tambourine, and without playing those very pulses, the musical line would seem longer and the drive would be lessened. In the song "For Your Love", The Yardbirds' use a higher pitched bongo behind the beat of a 60's drum riff which lightens the overall sound and provides a whole different feel for the song. The lighter bongo produces a rhythmic spin and weaves the musical line as the guitar and clavichord piano punctuate the first beat of every measure. Subtle to be sure - yet it's what flavours the overall sound. Listen for it. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 21, 2007: THE HOOK AND THE LYRIC "Da Do Do Do Da Da Da Da", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "We Will Rock You" are examples of songs with catchy hooks. The chorus in the song by the Police kicks in with a hooky lyric "da do do do da da da da"; in the song sung by Judy Garland and the present day Jane Monheit, the song title is a memorable octave leap on the word "somewhere" - a melodic hook; and the Queen classic "stomp...stomp...clap...stomp...stomp...clap" beginning of "We Will Rock You" is an unforgettable rhythmic hook. Hooks are slick for radio play but so are brilliant lyrics like: "My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue./An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view." (Carol King "Tapestry") Write songs - the words ... the music. The hooks should find their own way ... naturally. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, October 14, 2007: A GREAT SONG What makes a great song? It could be a number one single - but not always. A great song is like great art - it lives in a moment of time and has "legs" to sustain or create interest as it takes on a meaning even bigger than it's original intent. Songs like Neil Young's "Heart of Gold", Randy Newman's "Sail Away", Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Aretha Franklin's "Respect", Simon and Garfunkle's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters", B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone", Ray Charles "I Got A Woman" - were songs at the heart of the artists' creative genius. These songs lived in a moment of time and then took on new meaning. People embraced the lyric, the melody and the "soul" of the song - it became a part of the fabric of life. Sometimes it took awhile because controversy stormed in the face of the song's initial release as in the case of Ray Charles "I Got A Woman" but over time the song found it's "rhythm" ... and it's own greatness to stand the test of time. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Monday, October 8, 2007: THANKSGIVING To whom much is given, much is expected. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 30, 2007: THE ARTIST'S ARTIST Just what is the artist's artist? Who inspires other artist's? The answer is a personal one - yet there are a number of inspiring artists in the early blues genre who set a standard for excellence. These artists set the mark, the style and were the pioneers who paved the way for some of the greats we know today. Give a listen to the music of Son House - a preachin' man who sang the blues and gospel in songs like "John the Revelator"; Robert Johnson who Keith Richards calls "the Bach of the Blues" -Johnson simply called himself "a blues man"; Muddy Waters - a major influence of the Rolling Stones- "Muddy was bad, there was none beddeh". B.B. King calls him "the Godfather; Delta Blues hamonica player supreme James Cotton; Howlin Wolf who dominanted the electric blues scene as a singer and guitar player; and the "King of the Blues" - the Beale Street Blues Boy - B.B. King. They all had something to say and they said it through their music. Email response to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 23, 2007: STAND FOR SOMETHING Jann Arden writes, "Be yourself at all times." In a note to a fan, Jimi Hendrix elaborates, "Regardless of what people think about you, me or our group - just so long as you have your freedom of mind, freedom of speech and thought - Don't let nobody turn you off from your own thoughts and dreams." That's how artists work - they stand for something. They are true to themselves and what they believe in. Email response to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 16, 2007: HELP! In '65, Dylan visited the Beatles in England. He said to John Lennon that the Beatles' writing didn't express a depth of soul. Lennon's cry for "Help" was answered when he and McCartney wrote the music to "Rubber Soul" - songs with substance and depth. After that point, their writing grew substantially. Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys were looking for a "sound" that would put them over the top and counter the chart topping Beatles. Wilson wrote the music for "Pet Sounds" which set a standard and changed the way music was arranged and orchestrated. The Beatles were challenged again. According to producer George Martin, this was the album that Lennon and McCartney set as the landmark album - the one they were set to match. Get around a community of artists who challenge you to be better - we have work to do - together. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Saturday, September 8, 2007: THE HEART OF MUSIC We were at a beautiful celebration last night - a large family celebration. The food was magnificent, the people were wonderful, as was the after dinner sharing of music. To me, it was the music that warmed the hearts and connected the guests. The music was sung in celebration of a newborn family member. After the last singer sang a heartfelt ballad to his baby niece, the people in the room were still and silent. People were truly moved by the honesty and the beauty of the sentiment. Music can do that - sung from the heart and connected to the story of life - it can leave a lasting impression. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, September 2, 2007: TAKE A PUSH I was in the recording studio this week and it hit me again. The recording process can be so creative - it can also be so unproductive and negative. Can you take a push as an artist or does it have to be YOUR WAY? Same question to the producer, the engineer or the session musicians: Are you absolutely set on YOUR WAY or can you take a push - a suggestion? While it's important to have a blueprint of what you want, listening to input from others can result in something amazing. Email responses tobrian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 26, 2007: A TIPPING POINT IN MUSIC It was 1965 at the Newport Folk Festval when Bob Dylan did something that changed the sound of music. He plugged in. Shortly after meeting with the Beatles and liking their electric guitar "plugged in" sound, he used an "electric" on stage in Newport. The audience booed. Pete Seeger, a folk hero of the time, left the stage area disgusted to escape the "loudness". Reviews critized Dylan for "dispointing his fans". It seemed like a low point in Dylan's career. Yet it was a tipping point in music - a magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire. Dylan now gave other artists - especially in America - "permission" to plug in. He opened the flood gates to a new musical sound. That's an artist's artist. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Sunday, August 19, 2007: DO IT Do the thing you think you cannot do. Take it on ... be fearless ... and start walking in the direction of your dream. Know that at the end of it all - you did your best - and the reward for it all is that you accomplished what you thought at one time was ... unattainable. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Wednesday, August 15, 2007: LIFE HAPPENS BIG Auditioning, performing, exam writing, delivering the address, making the deadline, presenting the case - can be so stressful for some. Others take it in stride and perform. Why is it so seemingly easy for some? It takes preparing in an environment that is supportive, it takes dedicated preparation, mentoring with competent people, setting long term goals and achieving short term results along the way - all of that. But it requires passion to do what you love to do to accomplish results ... an attitude that thrives on what some perceive as pressure, commitment to accomplish, excitement to "goal set" personal results, curiosity to find out more, ability to think beyond the situation and enjoy the process along the way. All of this simply INSPIRES others to do the same - life happens BIG! Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca Saturday, August 11, 2007: HONESTY, INTEGRITY, COMPETENCE Honesty, integrity and competence. Look around ... where is it? It's not always on the front page of the entertainment section. It's not reported in the tabloids. But there are artists out there who are honest, who have integrity and who are very competent. Spending the time reading the negative stuff can keep us away from getting out there and supporting the art in our own community - the honest, the stuff of integrity and the competent! It's out there in Calgary! Enjoy the weekend. Email responses tobrian@brianfarrell.ca Wednesday, August 8, 2007: THE LOOK OF THE PERFORMER The look of a performer - when you think of a performer - any performer - do you visualize their signature look, can you hear their signature sound? A great performer "gets" this. The Stones... Bo Diddley ... the Beatles ... Bob Dylan ... Ray Charles ... Bonnie Raitt ... Sarah McLachlan ... Neil Young ... all have a unique sound, a signature look. In the early days of vocal teaching, it was a compliment for someone to say, "You sound just like ... you must study with ...." Today, it's not a compliment at all. It's still about technique (to sing consistently with a connected sound that allows you to perform multiple performances), and it's still about understanding the musical style, but your performance has to be YOU. Email responses to brian@brianfarrell.ca |
