??????
Leg 2 is officially underway. We played Chalkers Pub last night in North York. I was hoping for a much bigger crowd especially given the amount of press that the show received. I did an interview on Jazz FM91 with Walter Venafro (two couples heard it and came down), a Critics Choice in the Toronto Star, apparently it got mentioned in the NOW and I did an interview on Rob Fogle’s radio show (the station escapes me at the moment). All that great press only to get out 38 people? I know that press doesn’t always directly relate to bums in the seats but I got some good press! It didn’t help that there was a massive thunder/rain storm about 30 minutes before we played but still. This is Toronto! There are 4 million plus here. Is it unfair to assume that with the kind of press we got that I should’ve expected more than 38 people? Okay enough of that, lets get to the special folks that were there. Shannon Gunn (and old Vancouverite, singer who taught me at Cap College), Iris Page (mother of Bill Coon), Fern Lindzon and Maureen Kennedy (two great Toronto singers that I have become friends with), Mark Miller (the fantastic Canadian writer). He’s coming out with a new book in November on Herbie Nichols! Rob Fogle (radio host and jazz maniac). Doug Randle who is a friend of Ross Taggart’s. Colin Story (friend from Vancouver who now lives in Toronto and is studying at U Of T). The people that were there dug the hell out of the band (for the most part) and it was good to see some friends supporting us in the audience.
Im not too sure if Im the guy to ask about how it went musically. Everyone in the band seemed to dig it. Pat Collins (bass) sounded great. The piano was horribly out of tune but Ross being the great sport that he is sucked it up and sounded great. Jesse was happy because he had his endorser (Cannopus) bring down a set of drums, Jim always sounds good. I hung in there. I was tired and stressed about making sure everything was cool.