Looking back at our spring tour dates from the lazy hazy days of summer
it all feels like a big blur of motion and excitement.
Jazz vocalist Shannon Butcher and I began making preparations while it was still freezing in Toronto and so named the tour "Up Jumped Spring" with hope in our heart. The idea was to share a band (Micheal Shand on keys, Ross MacIntyre and Daniel Barnes on drums), and duet on a few tunes at the end of the night. Turns out Shannon and I made a great team, she's logical and professional, I'm moody and impulsive..perfect. The clip included on this blog of us trying out different "duet requests"from the fans captures the fun.
Hamilton's historic Corktown was the perfect start. Everyone remembers getting drunk there back when it was Steeltown's only punk venue. The Donefors opened the show which was a lovely thing for us since we love their music and Janine had designed our classy tour poster.
Traveling in Daniel's Van was always exciting being that masking tape holding several important parts of the vehicle together. Losing a windshield wiper in the rain on the way to London sorta increased the whole excitement of being out on the road. Nothing like an emergency to bring folks together.
So our second show was at The London Music Club a real "music first" kind of venue that helps builds acts to local audiences in London Ontario. Crazily Shannon had just flown in from a performance in London, England for tourism Ontario the night before. Very international indeed.
By the time our little tour headed east to Ottawa's Mercury Lounge our show had been very nearly cancelled due to gun violence near the club the week before. In our nation's sleepy capital! Luckily everything was back to normal by the time we arrived and our hostess Sara Ainslie made us feel deliriously happy as always. The Mercury Lounge turns into an excellent dance club after and it was fun for us to hang out and "part-ee".
The next show was in Kingston at the downtown public library and my good pals Kathy and Rose fed and boarded the band in their century old homes, giving us that homecookin' feeling and full tummies before we headed off the next day to Montreal.
The Upstairs in Montreal was certainly my favorite show of the tour. Audiences in Quebec are always eager and the new fans I met while opening concerts for pal Molly Johnson came out to see us. We played encores till we ran out of material. After the audience left, bassist Ross and pianist Micheal Shand started playing old funk favorites and kept us singing and grooving until the wee hours. My favorite moments of the whole tour!
The last show at Toronto's Lula Lounge was filmed by our new pal Andy Frank and we've posted the first clip on You Tube ("I Came Back"). I have to say dueting with Shannon on The Beatles "The Two Of Us" and "Centerpiece" was a thrill for me. Ms. Butcher, who was also a member of a vocal group, (Swing Rosie),and knows harmony well has impeccable intonation and tone. Plus she knows all the words to 90's grunge songs. Now thats a jazz diva who is fun in the van!
