Barbra Lica Live To Air

A while back, while on one of Jaymz Bee's JazzFM jazz safaris, Handsome Man and I 'discovered' Barbra Lica. We had heard her music many times on Jazz FM but had never caught her live. We were quite impressed. So this past week, on December 19th 2013, when we were given the opportunity to attend a Live To Air broadcast featuring Barbra, we jumped at the chance. 

A night with Joey D, his phenomenal B3 and maybe a crystal ball!

Photo courtesy of Janet Jardine

For quite some time in the early 2000s I was an 'Orbit Room Girl'.The Orbit Room is one of the very FEW places anywhere that has an original B3 Organ. Its a musicians bar. Only those serious about music, and fun, go to The Orbit, and only the best play there. I hung out at Orbit A LOT. It was at The Orbit Room that I first saw Joey DeFrancesco dazzle on the keys. The LAST time I saw him, he was battling on the B3's with Brian Auger and his Bolivian Express at The Mod Club. That was WAY back in 2005. AWESOME night!!! Unfortunately,  I just haven't been able to catch any of Joey's other gigs since then. Something I have always regretted. But then JazzFM came along and convinced Joey D to perform alongside The JazzFM Youth Big Band as part of the Sound Of Jazz Concert Series at The Old Mill. Well,  actually, I doubt it took much convincing. Joey has always been incredible at encouraging the younger generations. Handsome Man had never seen Joey live so we grabbed tix right away. As usual we were Keeners, arriving second in line to only one couple. While waiting, Marty and the other new friends we made at the Dick Hyman Sound of Jazz performance showed up, and wonderful music discussions unfolded. But in reality,  we were all just chomping at the bit, waiting to get in to hear Joey. What we didn't expect, all of us that is except the first couple in line, was that Joey would be taking a back seat that night.

Mike Murley at The Homesmith Bar...... and how I USED him!

Mike Murley at Homesmith Bar

Ok, I admit, I'm a Mike Murley groupie. That's NOT my confession, but just had to get that out there first. I've been catching his gigs for a decade now. I first saw him one Sunday afternoon when I popped into The Pilot for some afternoon jazz. I was blown away. He is one of the foremost Jazz Sax players around, and that's not just groupie-me talking. His music speaks for itself. One of my favourite CDs (wearing thin now!) is Mnemosyne's March, and Reflections is on my Christmas list. I have seen Mike at Montreal Bistro with David Occhipinti (still my fave gig of all time!), The Pilot quite few times, China House and various JazzFM Sound of Jazz concerts. But my favourite venue to see and hear Mike Murley is Homesmith Bar in The Old Mill Inn.  

He was there last Saturday.

And The Fifth Caller is.... ME! Live to Air with Jimmy Webb

If you know me, you'll know I'm an avid listener of JazzFm here in Toronto. You'll also know I NEVER win ANYTHING. But this particular time, I was really TRYING to win. Jimmy Webb was to be performing in the Long and McQuade Performance Hall within the JazzFm studios, a small venue, or a large studio, not really sure which description is more appropriate. The ONLY way to attend was to win tickets. And I WANTED to go! I kept calling in during Heather Bambrick's morning show, determined, but unsuccessful.

'The Jazz Effect' - Why does Jazz make you H-O-T?

One of the first things I discovered about Jazz, and it wasn't difficult to figure out, was the actual physical effects it has on your body. 

Jazz is arousing.