Emma Cook, Kalsey Kulyk and Chloe Albert at the Blue Chair Cafe

Wednesday nights at the Blue Chair.. Harold serves up a mix of music and musicians. Relax, listen, meet friends and of course the food is great. Even if I do usually have rice and beans. Over time, I've sampled everything on the menu. On Wednesday the feature was rack of lamb... yummmy. And spicy carrot soup, and.... mulligatawny... but it's hard to have two favourite soups before dinner.

Emma Cook, Kalsey Kulyk and Chloe Albert - three young singer-songwriters, three cities and three unique sounds.

Chloe Albert (Edmonton) mixed it up with Honey Bee - trading the guitar for a drum accompaniment on Honey Bee. Chloe is one of those unfortunate artists affected by the 'local talent' syndrome. An artist has to work so much harder to be recognized in her home town. Chloe has a beautiful voice and interesting songs.

Newcomer Kalsey Kulyk (Beaumont) entertained us with songs and stories from her life and family. Kalsey is one of Rhea March's U22 singers - and Rhea has a way of finding, and supporting our emerging talents. Kalsey has a powerful voice and interesting lyrics.

Emma Cook (Ontario) had many of us discussing her voice and her songs - jazzy, with a hint of a young Joni Mitchell. Her voice leaps up and down the scales, from sultry to sailing. Emma is a singer I want to follow as her 'voice' grows and changes.

The Blue Chair is one of those places where you can meet the musicians, listen to their music and talk to them again in the break. My kind of place.

Photos Slideshow

Blue Chair Cafe
Chloe Albert
Emma Cook
Kalsey Kulyk

Rhea's Birthday at Little Flower Open Stage - Fiddler's Roost

I had heard via Facebook that many would be celebrating Rhea March's birthday at the Little Flower's Wednesday night open stage. Wednesday was my first night back in town after almost a year of travelling around the province, country and continent, from Lethbridge and Saskatoon to Buenos Airies and Ottawa.. I made a point of dropping by - although I didn't stay too late -- still on Ottawa's time zone.

I was please to see many new faces, and lots of familiar old faces at Fiddler's Roost. Bernie has re-arranged some of the furniture since I was last there, creating some nice private spaces on one side, and a more open arrangement near the door. It also appears that the stage lighting is improved, making for nicer photos.

The music was eclectic, as always at Little Flower events. Blues, folk, vocals and instrumental. The evening moved slowly - people were visiting friends, exchanging hugs and gifts with Rhea. A very pleasent Wednesday evening, and only two bucks!

Photos Slideshow

Little Flower Open Stage
Fiddler's Roost

2008_09_14 Wendy McNeil at the Artery

Wendy McNeil is a chameleon on stage. I look at a series of photos, and wonder how they can possibly be all of the same person. Her sound though, is unmistakable. I've spent many recent evenings at the Artery photographing the Poetry Festival, so I've got to know the place a bit (although they wouldn't let me upstairs, but that's another story -- something about a green door I suspect...). Tonight I heard the music of Wendy McNeil.

Wendy is magic. 'A Dreamer’s Guide to Hardcore Living' is the name of the CD. And she lives hard-core. Her next shows are in Calgary at the Ironwood, followed by Toronto, Montreal, Zug - Switzerland, Vaningen Sundsvall - Sweden, many other cities in Sweden, finishing up in October in France and Norway. When does she sleep?

There was actually significant crossover between the audience at the Poetry Festival, and the Wendy McNeil show. Wendy is a poet. In sound and words.

Photos Slideshow

Wendy's MySace

Kundu Dance Workshop

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Prosenjit Guy Kundu, and taking some photos at a dance workshop arranged by Trisha Sarker, at MacEwan. The lesson was 'House Dance', and it looked simple enough, but I'm glad I was not asked to dance. I did manage to get some 'interesting' photos, and you can see them at:

Photos

or as a SLIDESHOW

He's a quiet, unassuming guy, but boy can he dance. Check out th KUNDU DANCE COMPANY(India's hip hop based company) on YouTube

Retirement

Do you know how things pile up and when Saturday comes - you are soooo busy you have no time at all? Since I retired in May, every day is Saturday. I haven't found time to post much. And mid September I'm heading to Australia, and then South America, for a total of 8 months.... Sorry to say there won't be many blog entries till next summer. But I will try to post a few before I leave, and one or two during my travels as well.
tracy
ps. The photo? A musican from France, who recently took up the saxophone, trying to earn enough for supper in the streets of Flores, Guatemala. My recent travels took me to Mexico (Cancun, Chetumal), Belize and Guatemala (Flores and Tikal).

2008 Edmonton Street Performer's Frestival

On Friday night I spent a few hours at the Edmonton Street Performer's Festival and got some amazing pics from some amazing shows. I have posted some selected photos, and will post more as time permits.

Flying Bob shot an egg into the sky, catching it in his hand - then higher for a spectacular 'catch'.

I only saw a bit of the Space Cowboy. I still can't believe anyone can ride a 6 foot unicycle (or was it higher), juggle three knives (different types) BLINDFOLDED. And he didn't drop a single item! He also does some spectacular sword swallowing that will have you feeling a bit strange.

Betty Brawn - the strongest lady alive will amuse and amaze with her strength and banter.

Nice to see Freshly Squeezed at the Street Performers. I have seen and photographed them around town a few times. They are getting stronger and stronger. Check out the spectacular back-flip shot in photos.

I also got some pics of the various wandering minstrels, musicians and strange beasts. We've had a bit of rain the past few days - hopefully that will clear up give us all a sunny show.

Watch for the 10:00 o'clock “Troupe du Jour” variety show, every night.

Photos SLIDESHOW

Street Performer's Website

2008 Calgary Jazz Festival

Patrick Maiani invited me down to photograph the Calgary Jazz Festival - how could I refuse? It was impossible to see everything. In one case I hopped on my bike, cruised over to Knox United for a single shot of Jean Vanesse and Miroslav Vitous, and raced back to Jack Singer. I do have lots of photos, which will be posted gradually as I can get to them. I am falling farther and farther behind in my photo posting since I retired. Seems the more time I have, the busier I get.

I was eager to see Beady Bell, and enjoyed her performance and music. I've heard her on CKUA many times - and it was great to meet her and listen to a live performance.

My hilite of the festival was Pink Martini - a bit more that a jazz band (many would say they are not a jazz band. But any band with a singer who performs in Portugese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian/Italian, and of course English is a hit in my books. They opened with Bolero, gave us my personal favorite 'Eugene' - and Marcia bought me a CD for our wedding anniversary. However, Pink Martini did not allow any photos - I had to sit still and enjoy the music. There were lots of cameras flashing but my 'no flash' camera was at my feet. Of course I did get the two opening acts - Meaghan Smith, and Rob Young with is Big Beat Band.

The jazz on Stephen Avenue was fun. I took my bike and cruised around during the breaks - even managed to get over to Sled Island for a listen (very, very loud).

On our wedding anniversary, we took time out for dinner in a Greek restaraunt - and then caught Cheryl Fisher at the Cantos Music Foundation. She keeps getting better and better. Look for a new CD in the fall.

On Saturday, CKUA's Don Berner hosted a live show at Ironwood - I took my mom for brunch, music and photos.

On the last day, we had a collision of Dixie and wedding. Eric Ellison's dixieland trio was cruising the avenue, when a wedding limo arrived for a downtown photo shoot. Of course I have lots of photos of bridesmaids doing the chicken dance etc.

Here are the photos, more will be posted as I can get to them.