Gate 403 with Chris Butcher

Chris Butcher and his Lower Etobicoke Sound band :) Chris is the trombone player along with Jim Sexton on bass and a wonderful guitarist whose name I didn't catch..bad, bad!! Jesse Markowitz sat in with his sax for a couple of numbers.. A few brave souls including my friend Christina and myself caught their 5 - 8 set...it's freezing here in Toronto this week - reminds me of my years in Edmonton...music always warms the soul of course...and red wine.. At left is Ori Dagan, looking like the hipster he is...Ori provided vocals on "Sweet Georgia Brown" and a couple of other tunes..this is what happens when you start drinking the wine to warm up...details... I'm going to check out one of Ori's last gigs at "Dazzling" Restaurant on King in a couple of hours...and will have more photos. I also enjoyed a few tunes by the next act, Julian Fauth. Julian was down at Jazz FM that very afternoon to tape a segment of Danny Mark's show "Bluz FM" which airs on Saturday nights. Julian had a marvelous guitarist with him - Marc Roy. Another post tomorrow....I just made some raw "brownies" which are really tasty from Rose Vasile's book "Cooking with Raw Rose"...

Rawlicious and Rachel Getting Married

I forgot to blog about my delicious meal at "Rawlicious" a wonderfully warm and welcoming spot here in the Junction area of Toronto. It really is a family affair as it seems the whole family is involved in running the restaurant..including the kids. One of the boys was our very sweet and accomodating server. The owners lived above the restaurant and initially thought it would be a quiet little place to serve a few things and for one of them - to recover from a cancer diagnosis....guess again. There seeems to be a real interest and hunger for raw foods these days! They also have monthly screenings of films..this month it's "Crazy, Sexy Cancer" - one young woman's journey to wellness after being diagnosed with incurable cancer - she's still going 5 years later. There is a cozy space in the back room filled with colourful cushions for the movie nights (which include food). Most of the dishes were prepared using the "I Am Grateful" cookbook - a mini chain of raw food places in California, which sound like a lot of fun. You apparently have to order dishes with names like "I am Loved"...etc. and the staff presents it to you with "You Are Loved..." Nice! The veg pizza, "unstirfry" and Choco Monkey smoothie for dessert were yummy - the smoothie was particularly rich - using banana, date, cacao, nut milk etc. Then off to the Revue for the movie...pretty intense....Anne Hathaway does a great job as the recovering junkie. All of the wedding preparations are pretty fun and amazing...lots of great music and love - a true communal event.

Food for the skin and soul

I read about this charming young man in the "Toronto Star" this morning. He is apparently based in Portland and has help from mom and dad. Still, it's amazing that he knows more about ingredients and his way around a kitchen than many grown men!

He is adorable - enjoying tasting everything he is making and using words like "yummified"...

I had trouble uploading the video but here's a link which might work so you can see him in action...

http://blip.tv/file/1116986/ He apparently also composed the "theme" music...:)

It's interesting how you find new things in your neighbourhood, even shops that have been there for 5 months...I blame it on Canadians keeping their heads down during the winter months. Well, I found the delightful skincare shop TVAL (http://www.tvalskincare.com/) - their head office or at least the Canadian head office is located in St. John's Newfoundland. They have a variety of lovely creams, bath products, facial skincare, handmade soaps and even mineral makeup. Most of the products are made right in the store - the ingredient list is simple and you know the products are fresh without a lot of nasty preservatives. I bought a Cleansing Milk with Geranium and a Lilac Blossom soap...which reminds me of spring when I smell it. Lilacs in May are one of my favourite scents...

Later tonight I'm going to the Rex to see Dave McMurdo's Jazz Orchestra and tomorrow visiting Gate 403 to see Chris Butcher and the Lower Etobicoke sound (Chris is a wonderful young trombone player who hails from Winnipeg, studies at Humber and was a guest on "Jazzology") Promise to take photos this time!

In the Raw

For about 3 days now I have been trying to follow a raw diet. Reading a couple of books including Ani Phyo's "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen" and "Uncooking with Raw Rose" by Rose Vasile.

Made a Mediterannean "Cheeze" from Ani's book with Brazil nuts, garlic, lemon juice, sundried tomatoes...

I have also joined a raw blog through Alissa Cohen's website...www.alissacohen.com to get moral support and be enthused. I can't believe the before and after photos...they look like completely different and more beautiful people..healthy, glowing...wow!

So far so good, feeling pretty good except for a little nauseous after a wheatgrass shot this afternoon...which apparently can be a side effect..something about detoxing your system.

I am going to Rawlicious which is a new raw restaurant in the Junction so I will take pictures of the meal...

New Year Wake Up Call

So, my doctor is concerned now about my high blood pressure...I AM not repeat, not going on medication since I think that causes more problems than it helps...I have been dealing with a fair amount of stress this year - financial worries, relationship and oh yes, my mom passed away...think that might have something to do with it? Not to mention your doctor looking worried and then asking you if it's stressful to take b.p....duh!! Instead, I am vowing to make diet and lifestyle changes - more raw food or trying raw completely for a while...watching sodium, exercise meditation and consultation with my naturopath...whom, let's face it I trust more since they treat the whole person and not just the disease...I have recently been trying to do some more yoga as well to de-stress. I was feeling a little depressed about the health thing...but instead see it now as a challenge to be healthier..must be my Aries..:0 Perhaps more jazz is the answer as well? Looking forward to the first taping of the new year next Thursday with Nathan Hiltz, a wonderful young guitarist and U of T student. Also, Max Senitt has a group at Gate 403 this Friday at 9 and I may pop by Chalkers on Sunday for Fern Lindzon.

Fun at Jane and Larry's

I love impromptu invitations...especially when they are extended by fun jazz people...that phrase is actually redundant since I know few unfun (nonfun?) jazz people.. A lovely evening at Jane Bunnett and Larry Cramer's place in Parkdale with great food, conversation and of course music. Larry and Jane are artistic directors of that fabulous jazz festival - Art of Jazz - which displays their impeccable taste and is very intimate..a great little festival that needs more sponsorship and patrons. They brought in the delightful Hermeto Pascoal from Brazil last year - a 5 year old's enthusiasm in a 70 something body... Can't wait to see what's up for this year... Many of their Parkdale neighbours were there including the fabulous Reiner Schwarz....whom I haven't seen in FAR too long - ever since he departed from Jazz FM. Miss him and his wonderfully electic musical selections! I just found out about a delightful blog I think you should check out http://melissacmorris.blogspot.com/. The images are great and it's fun reading about her dog Monty...

Travelling back in time for New Years...

Lake Ontario this morning..

and yesterday...I time travelled...circa 1938 to be exact or so it would seem at Roy Thomson Hall . I enjoyed the matinee show of Bob DeAngelis and his Champagne Symphony - Coronation of a King - a Tribute to Benny Goodman.

Lots of Mr. Goodman's treasures came out of the vault including his theme song "Let's Dance", "Sing, Sing, Sing" and "Stompin at the Savoy".

It was again a pleasure to hear Melissa Stylianou providing the vocals on "It Had to be You", "Bei Mir Bist du Schon", "You Turned the Tables on Me" and of oourse Peggy Lee's big hit "Why Don't You Do Right?".

Amongst the orchestra works were a few jazz combo pieces which were a treat including "Tiger Rag" featuring Bob, John McLeod on trumpet, Laurie Bower on trombone, Scott Irvine on tuba, and the wonderful Frank Wright on vibes.

As a nice addition the Humber College Studio Jazz Band played some original band charts to open the second set.

My brother Colin added the extra oomph to the brass section on bass trombone.

After a drink at "Quotes" where it seemed the after concert reception was taking place. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Dhaba, a great Indian restaurant on King West.

By the by...."Quotes" is back in action on January 16th with Russ Little as a featured guest with the Canadian Jazz Quartet. Russ is always a reason to leave your house! (As told to me by its' organizer, Fay Olson...Fay and Don Vickery were enjoying a drink after the show too and visiting with all the musicians).

Here is evidence of other visitors to the lake...a squirrel or squirrels I believe - obviously not celebrating until the wee hours as our neighbours were..

There were also large congregations of ducks of all kinds where there was open water...

Here's to a great 2009!