Hi everyone…

Spring is springing! Yayyyyyy!! That’s one thing I miss, after moving from Alberta, Canada…how the winter builds such incredible anticipation of spring! Living in Bloomington Indiana is completely different. The winter weather there is so much more…hmmm…ok, almost as cold, and almost as snowy, and almost as…

Spring is springing!!! YAYYYYYYYY!!!

Canadian Brass did get to go to a few warm places along the way, though. On January 25 we performed in Culver City, California.

We performed at the invitation of California politician Luther Henderson III, the son of prolific Canadian Brass composer/arranger Luther Henderson. It was a very intimate setting, making music in the type of setting the term “Chamber Music” was created. Living rooms and salons were probably before Governmental Chambers, but Canadian Brass keeps being where trends are set! Next performance: “Canadian Brass and the Chamber of Secrets”! (I think that was a Harry Potter reference? Did I get it right?)

Commendation from the Mayor of Culver City

A couple of the tough Canadian Brass members, at a cool Californian coffee company.

We were on our way to Palm Desert, to see a young old friend of ours, Hal Laster. We performed at the St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church with their beautiful choir. Also performing with us was organist extraordinaire, FredSwann. A guest artist for the concert on a couple tunes using three trumpets was Ray Nowak.

Next day we did a concert as part of the Grand Opening of the new Balboa Theatre in San Diego.

It’s a beautiful concert hall, and they have a fantastic season planned! Check them out here!

Joe and Manon – Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA - Jan 27

 

In the lobby pre-Closer Walk – Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA - Jan 27

 

A few weeks later, we went to Kalamazoo, MI to perform the Brandon Ridenour homecoming concert. It began with the monthly instrument lost by airline fun. Here is Chuck leaning on a tuba borrowed from a student in town.

Chuck, Brandon, and a borrowed tuba – Kalamazoo MI - Feb 23

 

Just a walk to Just a Closer Walk

 

End of Closer Walk

 

Gene talking about Glenn Miller

 

Barber’s “Adagio”

As you might know, we’ve been encouraging people to take photos during our performances. I gave my camera to someone who works at the concert hall, and he went a bit crazy with it. He took some fantastic pictures! Check out this next one.

We took a group picture backstage after Brandon finished the concert with an amazing “Carnival of Venice” encore.

Brandon didn’t quite feel like he had gotten enough exposure in front of the group, so he insisted on us posing with him for next year’s photo for our Kalamazoo performance.

Okayyyyyy, Joe might have pushed him out front for this picture… ☺

Our next stop was Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We met in the lobby of the hotel to find that our police escort had arrived on time.

Gene confirming our police escort was locked and loaded.

Ok, maybe having a police escort isn’t a regular occurrence. We had one cruiser in front, our two cars, and then another behind (pictured below). It was pretty cool flying through all the red lights at crazy speeds! I would have thought Joe would have felt safer than he did, though.

Joe mentioned something about feeling chased instead of escorted…

 

Pre-concert at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Plaquemine LA – March 3

We loved our time in Louisiana, for so many reasons. Their hospitality was second to none. Our dinner blew our minds!

Chuck in Creole Heaven!

Our cook was incredible. Ronald Regan took him to Russia with him when he went there! We asked him to come to Toronto with us. I videoed him while he told us what he had cooked…it was wow.

Hornsmoke in Louisiana

A few days ago we performed another homecoming concert, this time in Sarasota, Florida. We were joined by Sarasota resident Ronnie Romm. Chuck and Gene also used to live there, so it was a three-fold homecoming!

Us, in sunny Floridahhhh…in front of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota FL - March 9

 

Van Wezel backstage, with beautiful sunset background.

 

Setting up for some Luther Henderson pieces…

…and so go our days. Just like we look in the picture, and how this blog of our last weeks has read, we’ve been keeping busy. Life continues to be a dream for us. Performing music for Canadian Brass audiences is the best performing thrill in the world. I’ve been writing about ways of performing fearlessly for years. The Canadian Brass concert stage has been the best laboratory for me to figure these things out. If you want to read a recent interview I did on some tips to “Get Fearless”, go here!

Happy performing or/and concert going!

Keep breathing…

Jeff