feeling notation
Reading notation is a gift. It gives you access to work you would never otherwise touch, to a language you can share with strangers. Like being handed a set of […]
trust it
For some musicians I’ve known, the page becomes the authority figure.It tells you what is correct. It tells you when you’re wrong. It tells you when to stop. Over time […]
what a long strange trip it’s been
The high school performance was like that Dead song – what a long strange trip it’s been. I sat there listening to them grind through songs from the ancient record, […]
robert lepage
The notes I got back about my book were interesting. I am starting to think there is a possibility I could intrigue a filmmaker. Robert Lepage! Why don’t you make […]
best email ever
My favourite moment organizing 30 dates Mike and I are doing in Western Canada next winter, came from Lorna Evans. I have had terrific exchanges with her but the first […]
montreal
Playing La Sala Rossa was a high-water moment. The place I’d been aiming for, for years. In memory it had grown monstrous, twice the size, maybe more. Memory does that. […]
brockville
In Brockville I got an encore and asked Tom to sing with me. I thought he might know “Satisfied Mind” he did not, but it didn’t matter. Beautiful and personal […]
burritts rapids
We took a walk around the island. John showed me the water seepage problem he is dealing with, something practical and quietly alarming, the sort of issue that waits patiently […]
motel chelsea
I liked playing Chelsea. That part is simple and true. The room listened. I sold six books, which today’s economy qualifies as a small miracle. One woman wanted a book […]
doubt with good posture
Improvisation is doubt with good posture. You walk out there pretending you know what you’re doing, which is the first lie necessary for the evening to continue. The audience wants […]