Ray Brown w/ Gene Harris: Summertime

I loved this.

Quote of the Week

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."
- Jim Ryun
"I have a bad habit of not starting"
- BassBassDude

Recap

The shows went very well this past weekend up at Herongate. Playing in this show for Forever Plaid has been a lot of fun and a great experience and I'm looking forward to the coming shows. I have to admit, I am not accustomed to playing in a show with such a long run. Although the show can be physically and mentally tiring from playing my upright bass without an amp, my hands are building callouses that were just as strong as when I was back in university. Anyway, I'm glad that we have a couple of days to re-charge and then jump back into the shows this Thursday and I look forward to these upcoming performances.

visit: herongate.com for more details about shows.

Hope to see you up at the barn.

Quotes of the Week

Knowledge is power, if you know it about the right person.
-Ethel Mumford
The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason.
-John Cage
When I came back to Dublin I was courtmartialed in my absence and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.
-Brendan Behan
Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.
-Voltaire
One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.
-AA Milne

YoshihiroUtsumi

I enjoy watching and listening to him play. This is YoshihiroUtsumi playing a great Schubert tune.



Enjoy

Quotesof the Week

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic."
- Richard Pryor
I say that a man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it.
- GK Chesterton
Those who speak most of progress measure it by quantity and not by quality.
- George Santayana
The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best - and therefore never scrutinize or question.
- Stephen Jay Gould
The most common of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind.
- HL Mencken

Recap

My hands are in the process of healing and I don't have to play again until Thursday night. The rehearls, although long, went well. More importantly, the Forever Plaid shows are going very well. My most uncomfortable part of this show is that I'm on stage with the curtains drawn by myself for the opening of the show warming up while the audience files in. Although a little uncomfortable for myself, I actually don't mind some of that attention. Anyway, I'm glad to be a part of this show pounding away on my double bass.

Quote of the Week

Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.
- Peter Ustinov
A happy childhood is poor preparation for human contacts.
- Colette
A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something.
- Wilson Mizner
WHAT???
- BassBassDude

Forever Plaid @ Herongate

I'm back up at theHerongate Barn Theatre playing double bass for the musical "Forever Plaid".
This is the story of "The Plaids", a classic 1950's all male singing group, who were killed in a car crash on their way to their first big gig! "The Plaids" come back to perform some of the 1950's greatest hits: "Catch a Falling Star", "Three Coins in The Fountain", "Love is a Many Splendored Thing", and "Magic Moments".
"Forever Plaid" runs from March 30th - May 12th(Matinees on April 1st & 15th). For more info, please visit herongate.com

Herongate Barn Theatre
2885 Altona Road, Pickering, Ontario Canada
Award Winning Dinner Theatre
905-472-3085

Recap: Wine and Cheese Show '07

This past weekend went really well with MV at the Toronto Wine and Cheese Show. We had a lot of great compliments from the show manager, vendors, patrons and fellow musicians at the show. Although my hands are a little torn up from all the playing, we had a lot of fun playing and discovering new wine. Thanks to all that came out to show their support.

Just on a side note, I found a California Cabernet Sauvignon that I really enjoyed. I plan on picking up a couple of bottles some time this week.

Toronot Wine and Cheese Show

The Toronto Wine & Cheese Show is Canada’s largest and leading show of its kind. In 2007, the show will have reached 24 years of continued success and I will be a part of it. This year, I will be playing at the Wine and Cheese Show with Melodious Vibes. We'll be playing all weekend and we hope to see you there.

Here's the details:

March 23-25, 2007
The International Centre
6900 Airport Road, Mississauga



Friday, March 23: 12noon – 10:00pm
Saturday, March 24: 12noon – 9:00pm
Sunday, March 25: 12noon – 6pm

Enjoy the Show... Please don't drink and drive.

Must be 19 years of age or older. No children, no infants.

Quote of the Week

There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.
- Victor Hugo
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.
- Peter Steiner
On the Internet, everybody knows you're dodging work.
- BassBassDude

Quote of the Week

The only time to buy these is on a day with no 'y' in it.
- Warren Buffett
Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.
- Lily Tomlin
I worry about being a dog in a dog-eat-dog world.
- BassBassDude
Love thy neighbour as yourself, but choose your neighbourhood.
- Louise Beal

Marlowe Tonight

Tonight I'll be playing with Melodious Vibes again at Marlowe

Here's the details:
155 Yorkland Blvd
Unit 1
Richmond Hill, ON
L4B 3B4
905-771-8645
7pm - 9pm

visit: www.themarlowe.ca

Quote of the Week

Nothing is more admirable than the fortitude with which millionaires tolerate the disadvantages of their wealth.
- Rex Stout
When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.
- William Hazlitt
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.
- EF Schumacher
Me no Genius
- BassBassDude

SPO Rehearsal

This rehearsal went a lot better and with a lot more members present. From my perspective, I felt I kept up very well and I'm finding that I can hold my own with a bit of confidence. I just have to be careful that I don't stick out like a sore thumb in my section and try to create a nice tone. Overall, I'm happy with the way things are going and look forward to the next rehearsal and the following concert on February 4th.

Quote of the Week

Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made.
- Otto von Bismarck
Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation.
- Kin Hubbard
Nine out of ten people would agree that you cannot trust stats.
- BassBassDude
A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done.
- Fred Allen

Yoshihiro Gavotte-Rondeau from Partitas J.S.Bach by Solo Double bass

I enjoy watching this player's energy.


From what I understand, Yoshihiro doesn't read music. Fun watching, though.

visit www.youtube.com

Quote of the Week

Rage is the only quality which has kept me, or anybody I have ever studied, writing columns for newspapers.
- Jimmy Breslin
Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.
- Rabbi Julius Gordon
Man is the only animal that laughs and has a state legislature.
- Samuel Butler
Man, am I tired
- BassBassDude

Rehearsal Recap

With winter finally arriving last night in Toronto, it made for my very first Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra to be very interesting. Last night's snowfall proved to be tough for many of the orchestra members to venture through and were unable to make it to the first rehearsal of the year. Having so many people away was only one of last night's obstacles. The concert coming up is a Pops concert. Unfortunately, a good selection of music parts were missing and so we had to pass on a number of songs. From my perspective, sight-reading music was not and is still not my forte. Being a Pops concert, I thought that I would be able to get through with no trouble at all; I was mistaken. The music moves quickly with many key changes and tempo changes. Although I had dropped many notes, I still felt as though I was doing well. At least I know where my weaknesses are. Since moving into fifths, my strength lies in the key of C, F and G. When the songs quickly moved into Db and Ab, I found myself taking a few 'mental breaks'. Anyway, I had a good time and I will sound better next week.