theory
Sometimes she stumbled upon a piano in the wild, church basement, dance hall, back of a bar, anywhere with ghosts, and there it was, one note broken, that dumb mute […]
Piano
the burdock piano festival
An artist touring from New York asked me if I would open their show at the Burdock in Toronto 4 yrs ago. Never played there before and after I was […]
to see how you do it
I moved to Toronto from Winnipeg to study improvisational piano music/ playing with Casey in the early 80s. It was a big deal being 20 in a new city, getting […]
killing it
I didn’t practise. Sorry. I think I will each time but I don’t until the day of the next lesson and then I feel horrible like an imposter. I know. […]
the joy of braining
Writing a new piece avoiding playing previous patterns. As days pass the unfamiliar becomes less confusing. The new ideas moves into instinct. Slowly, the need to think through each finger’s […]
who wrote this shit?
wake up, new day, same tape loops. a little fishy, no? the part of us that we walk around believing us, is maybe good at deciding which chocolate bar to […]
a ha
Often, teaching, you hope people will realize the value or power of subjects discussed but usually it doesn’t happen in front of you, if it happens at all. Reviewing some […]
new not new
The inner division during this process of writing a new piano piece. I play and look to see what it wants to do even though I am it. Put another […]
What Happened in Hollywood
Long time ago we were in the movie Postcards From The Edge, quite the amazing moments, fancy hotel, easy work schedule. There goes Gene Hackman, there’s Shirley McLaine and rehearsing […]
what would Otis
Recently played a show, started by playing blues like my brother taught me. Wonder if Otis Spann would approve when I play. Love letting the right hand try telling the […]