Bluegrass Brunch at the Dakota

What could be more delicious than good hearty food on a Sunday? How about a healthy side of bluegrass?

The resident trio the Lonesome Ace String Band provides a step above your ordinary weekend brunch. The trio are also part of the fabled "Foggy Hogtown Boys" a band I've had the pleasure of hearing many times but it had been far too long for me to hear one of my favourite art forms. Max Heineman on bass was a particular standout with his strong, plainitive vocals. Chris Coole on banjo and guitar and John Showman on fiddle also contribute great vocals and playing. Check them out in this or the Foggy Hogtown Boys combination.

In spite of the crowd the service is great and friendly and the food good and plentiful. It's also fun to watch the little sprouts dancing to the music..

Here is the first look at this year's garden.

Fortunately there has been a lot of rain this week so watering has been minimal.

Right now I smell of campfire smoke as there was old boards from defunct plots being burned...today is more like fall than spring.

Humber Community Music School

This is young drummer Matthew Chalmers...read about him on the Jazz FM blog...

It's a beautiful day today after all the rain of the past 2 days. I forgot to take photos of the garden this morning...tomorrow for sure!

I'm planning on attending a Bluegrass Brunch at the Dakota on Sunday...I've been before and it's a blast!

I can't believe that things are actually manifesting for me. I'm reading "Manifesting Your Destiny" by Wayne Dyer and have a vision board...needless to say I have strangely managed to acquire a Vita Mix - one of the things on my board!!

Edmonton Folk Festival - a teaser

If you're thinking of heading out west for this amazing Folk Festival in August (like I am and for visiting and shopping of course)...you may be further tempted by an upcoming programming announcement on Monday....suffice to say the artist is female and there are vowels in her name...that's all you're getting right now... Watch this space.... For more info on the festival: http://www.edmontonfolkfest.org

Jersey Boys

I ventured out of my neck of the woods (downtown) up to North York yesterday to take advantage of $20 rush seats for this Tony award winning show. I couldn't believe what a great seat I got for the price...row P. The box office person said it was likely because of the weather...

I wandered around indoors as much as possible, had lunch in a food court (Lebanese food) with eggplant, cauliflower, rice and lentils, hummous and tabouli. Initially I thought the server had put MEAT into my container so I opened it...causing concern. I was relieved it was just the eggplant. After a Green Tea Latte with Soy...a Grande Soy Green Tea Latte....I never get the order of the drink right...and reading my Wayne Dyer for inspiration it was showtime...

For a rainy day matinee it was still pretty crowded. Loved the show - I had forgotten how many hits the Four Seasons had to their credit. It's been a while since I've been to the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts - last time in the big theatre was "Ragtime"...which was a loooong time ago.

I really enjoyed the show...my only complaint, as usual was the volume level - hence why I carry earplugs in all my purses/pockets.

Aaron MacKenzie made a wonderful Frankie Valli with great support from Grant Tilly as Tommy DeVito - the bad boy/wiseguy of the group. The cast was all quite good and of course, the music! "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man" and one of the best tunes ever (that almost didn't make it to a record) "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You".

The only sour note was a screechy version of "My Boyfriend's Back" by the ladies playing girl group The Angels...obviously they didn't listen to the laid back original...

A good way to spend a rainy afternoon, though. I hope to check out Terra Hazelton's CD release at the Rex on Saturday and even partake of the delectable (for mouth and ears) Bluegrass Brunch at the Dakota on Sunday.

Sweet Sunday

What a great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. The always delightful Ori Dagan voice/ bass and a fine refresher on the talents of Ross McIntyre on upright bass.

Ori is always a wonderful entertainer with great enthusiasm for the material and a sense of fun. Opening with the "Gate 403 blues" he scatted effortlessly on kind of a "rap without the profanity" as he cleverly phrased things...

I enjoyed stumping the band, however briefly by requesting "I Don't Know Enough about You"....Standards such as "Nature Boy" and "At Long Last Love" , "Twisted" were otherwise effortlessly delivered along with a bopping "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing" among others. I particularly enjoyed "Would you Like to Swing on a Star" - I think Ori has a future in voice overs if he chooses...his pescatory impersonation of a lugubrious "would you rather be a fish" was hilarious. Did I just use the word pescatory? And is that actually a word?

I understand the beautiful day drew people outdoors..that's too bad since the missed an opportunity to hear two finely attuned musicians...here's hoping for a repeat sometime soon...

Ori's colourful shoes...

I should mention an added bonus, Tova Kardone's wonderful interpretation of Mingus' "Goodbye Porkpie Hat"...with her own evocative lyrics.

She is at Trane Studio next Sunday night with "The Thing Is"

Sunday afternoon

I'm heading over to Gate 403 to see "Bass and Bass" - Ori Dagan and Ross McIntyre...this is a time honoured and great combination - bass and voice. I have heard Sheila Jordan, Karen Young and countless others to great effect. I might later go over to the Rex to see Julia Cleveland's group - as usual funds permitting. Tomorrow night is the the always spendid John McLeod's Rex Hotel Orchestra - where I also get to see my brother on bass trombone. The garden is going well so far, I will take a photo next time I'm over so I can show its' infancy. There appears to be some activity on the seed front up already - one of the greens I believe. I guess I should have drawn a map as to what was where but it's a small plot. Also on the agenda this week - getting cheap rush tickets for "Jersey Boys" which I've heard great things about and I haven't been to theatre in a looong time.

Diana Krall - Live in Rio

New posting will be up on Jazz FM...check it out...