Is Canadian Culture Important - Harper Says NO

Apparently our PM Stephen Harper, who likely enjoys paint by numbers and took lessons as a child to learn how to play the radio, doesn't recognize the economic and other benefits of investing in the arts.

See my other blog at this link.

It's not often that my musical and political efforts come together. This is one of those times.

Here are two more:

http://greencameron.blogspot.com/2007/12/carbon-tax-arts-and-canadian-taxpayers.html

http://greencameron.blogspot.com/2006/05/conservatives-short-change-future.html

Gettin' It Together

I had the opportunity to host the Malaspina Jazz Jam at the Queens last night. I was invited by drummer Adam Cormier (the jam host band leader) and we played with Ken Lister and Pat Coleman. A fellow by the name of Steve (last name Smith, I think) sat in on keyboards.

Ken and Pat are local heavies and I was very honored to have the opportunity to play with them. Adam is a young up and coming drummer who's music is very mature, energetic and interactive. Interestingly, he's studying with an old highschool classmate of mine, Jesse Cahill. I will be back to the venue to jam, and hope to perform with that band again in the near future.

One thing I noticed was that after years of playing only R&B, blues & rock, my jazz chops were a little dusty. Rather than get down on myself, I'm going to tackle this opportunity to improve my playing and expand on my song repertoire. I have a lot of time available to shed these days, and there is no shortage of great jazz players here in Nanaimo.

Video and update

Below is a short clip of a show I sat in on back in Edmonton in 2003. The video and audio quality are very poor, so turn up the volume and don't squint too hard.

Back in B.C. now, and I've been doing some playing. Had a great new years eve show on Gabriola Island with Dinah D on acoustic bass & lead vocals, Tina Jones on trumpet and vocals, Myron Makepeace on piano (Fender Rhodes... super nice sound), Tracy Myers on drums and Aaron from Vancouver on guitar.

There are a lot of great musicians on the Island and I'm finding myself inspired to practice again and to hunt down gigs.

The Jazz Authority Is All Of Us

I'm keeping my chops up playing in a local R&B/classic rock band. Teaching a bit as well, and feeling inspired to do some real work on my jazz chops lately. Wish there were more jazz players out here...

I'm still hoping to build on the Jazz Authority project. The concept of 'The Jazz Authority' was not about me; it is meant to be about our collective knowledge of music and improvisation. The authority is YOU.

I might be moving out of this quiet Alberta town to live back out on the West Coast. If so, I'll be gigging and teaching regularly again.

You can email me at camsax(AT)gmail(DOT)com

...replace (AT) with @ and (DOT) with . in my email address above...

Update

Videos below were found on Youtube, and I'm putting together a larger collection at my Youtube spot. I will host more vids in the future.

Just wen't on holidays back to my hometown Victoria, B.C. and was inspired to really start busting my buns to get into a regular practice schedule. When there's nobody to jam with it's hard to make the time to practice, and while Aebersold playalongs are great, they're no substitute for real people. Anyways, with the hope that one day I'll be living in the city again, I'm getting my chops back in shape and so far I'm having a blast.

While I've been working to create an online presence with my political life, I think I'm going to step it up a bit with music as well.

Anyways, as always, check out the archives for tips and articles.

L8R

Video: John Coltrane - Naima

Footage of Coltrane performing the beautiful piece Naima. From this website:
In 1957, after the age of 30, Coltrane began to shift spiritual directions. He married Juanita Naima Grubb, a Muslim convert, (for whom he later wrote the piece Naima), and came into contact with Islam, an experience that may have led him to overcome his addictions to alcohol and heroin; it was a period of "spiritual awakening" that helped him return to the Jazz scene and eventually produce his greatest work. The journey took him through Islam (particularly Sufism). Bassist Donald Garrett told Coltrane, "You've got to go to the source to learn anything, and Sufism is one of the best sources there is."

Video: Trane & Miles live '58 - So What

Miles Davis & John Coltrane, in "So what", live, 1958. Great footage. Great music.

Still Playing... & Campaigning

Well, I sure have been delinquent in my efforts here at my jazz blog. With the recent update to the new blogger version I'm putting a little extra time into my Green Party blog, and I thought maybe I should post here as well.

I'm still playing in my rhythm & blues/classic rock band here but it's not very fast paced. I'm partly to blame; I could help chase down gigs but I'm far more focussed on taking care of business with the federal Green Party. Things would be a lot different if I was back in the big city.

I have a very keen sax student. The kid is really on the ball and I'm enjoying teaching. I miss having multiple students and teaching jazz improvisation. One day if this student sticks with it maybe we'll be jamming together.

Anyways, as always the archives are here for you to browse and I'm always available to answer questions by email.

Cheers,

Cam