For many, music appears to mean very little to their lives, then there’s the rest of us. My Far Better Half and I once picked up hitchhikers, @ 27 years ago, heading back from our buddy Chuckles wedding in Ottawa to, what was then our home in North Bay. The large number of mixed cassettes we traveled with blew this couple, from France, away and when we arrived at our home, so did the extensive LP collection I had. The young man, approximately my age, told of his growing up in a small village in the mountainous area of France where, well into his teens, (remember, over 30 years ago) they could not receive any radio or tv signals so he described himself as having grown up with virtually no music, other than local efforts. Though he’d lived away from there for years now, he still found any music an exciting bonus to life.
My younger brudder, Drew, grew up taking piano lessons, like myself. We were thrilled in the beginning but when it came to practicing…. well, like so many, hockey and other interests took over. Every now and then though we’d find ourselves picking out current tunes on the piano by ear, cuz we never really learned to read music. It seemed to bring a satisfaction. My dad tells the story of Drew, at 17, heading to Northern Ontario to be a Junior Forest Ranger. He liked it so much he ended up staying there for the next year or so.
Drew realized he needed his music “fix” so, though quite shy, got up the courage to ask the local minister if he might stop by sometimes and play the piano in the church, a place I doubt he had previously ever darkened the door of. His request was granted and he’d go in and work through his meager repertoire of pop tunes in simple chorded fashion, satisfying his musical needs of the time. This all came to a halt though when one day the minister asked him if he’d mind coming on Sundays and playing some hymns for their service. I’m not sure what exactly was the terminator… knowing that playing hymns was way out of his league OR, at that self conscious age, being seen playing them. Whatever, his “fix” was dashed. Years later, as Lighting Director for Bruce Cockburn, he had his dreams realized, if only in his own mind, when, while setting up at Carnegie Hall, he was able to take a few minutes and play on the grand piano, center stage, his own renditions to the welcoming empty seats.
I’ve seen musicians meet backstage at Stewart Park Festival who don’t speak the same language but manage, through music to interact and relate for hours with one another… music, being that international language.
I’d like to highly recommend a CD that keeps being put back on my player. Neko Case, originally from Washington State, released her latest CD “ Fox Confessor Brings The Flood” in May of this year and brings her to a new level of maturity. The depths of her lyrics are almost overshadowed by the stellar arrangements, especially harmonies. Many guests including Garth Hudson of The Band fame, Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico, join her and of course her previous “steady” back up band members of the Sadies – Dallas and Travis Good. I see she’s to be on David Letterman on Wed. June 14th and will be with Willie Nelson at the Hollywood Bowl in September. I saw her backed by the Sadies last year on a side stage at Bluesfest and they were a highlight of last year’s festival for me.
Remember, Stewart Park Festival is arriving for its 16th Annual soon…. July 21, 22, 23. You can see the wonderful line up, again booked by the amazing Carolyn Sutherland at www.stewartparkfestival.ca . You too, can become one of those previously mentioned “crazies” and volunteer by following the links on the site or calling Volunteer Coordinator – Fred Dinelle at 267-1716. More news to follow.
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