Love That Can Be Me (Live in the Studio)

My latest “Live in the Studio” video is a vocal version of “Love That Can Be Me” from my 2018 album Who Said It Was Easy? After moving from Toronto to Vancouver (well, Port Moody to be exact) in 2016, Who Said It Was Easy? was the first music I recorded in my then-new hometown. I’ve often thought about how a locale changes music (or even if it does). How would this tune be different if instead of recording the track in Port Moody, I recorded it in Frankfurt? Or Tokyo? No answers here, just questions. As always, thanks for listening/watching!

Port Moody (Live in the Studio)

I don’t think it’ll come as a huge surprise that “Port Moody” (from my 2007 EP “5”) was indeed written for my current hometown of Port Moody. Now some of the music I write is specific and some more nebulous; “Port Moody” is somewhere in between. It really is about the feelings I had (and still currently have) for the area. But it’s also about the sky that can have stunning dark clouds, the incredible wildlife, and of course, the ever-present mountains.

I wrote “Port Moody” in a bedroom in my mother-in-law’s house in Port Moody and recorded the track back in my condo in Toronto. For this Live in the Studio video, I went back to the original recording to try to capture the overall mood for this now-over eighteen-year-old piece. I stuck mostly to what I recorded back in 2007, but there are a few minor changes to the guitar part.

As always, thanks for taking the time to watch the video, and I hope you like it!

Summer in the Round (Live in the Studio)

Toronto in the late seventies/early eighties was an incredible time for music. Even for someone like me, who was a little too young to get into the clubs, there was so much great live original music happening. Got to see Yes at Maple Leaf Gardens, Kraftwerk at the Masonic Temple and the Police (and a bunch of other terrific bands) at the Police Picnic.

All of that was (obviously) amazing, but what really stands out to me was the Ontario Place Forum. For just the cost of getting into Ontario Place (I think it was something like $5), I was able to hear music SO many first rate bands/artists. Like who? How about Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Chuck Mangione, UZEB, Michael Hedges and many, many more.

Which brings me to this “Live in the Studio” video of my tune “Summer in the Round”. For those of you who don’t know the Ontario Place Forum, it was an outdoor, covered venue that was built around a circular, revolving stage. Of course, being an outdoor venue, the concerts were held during the summer and the seating was festival, so it was first come, first serve. I would get to the venue crazy early to get front row seats (if they were available), and often I could listen to the bands/artists soundcheck. So… circular stage/venue, summer concerts… “Summer in the Round”… never said I was a deep thinker : )

This “Live in the Studio” version of “Summer in the Round” features Dave Patel on drums and Henrik Bridger on bass. The piece was originally on my 2009 EP “St. Joseph Street” which, in addition to Dave and Henrik, also featured the phenomenal Bill McBirnie on flute.

As always, thanks for listening/watching and I hope you like the video!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – New Single & Video Release

Just released a new single and video of the Christmas classic, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.  The track blends my nylon string acoustic guitar with fretless bass (played by California-based bassist/composer Henrik Bridger) and is supported by an ever evolving orchestral meets jazz meets pop arrangement.  Henrik also played upright bass and recorded both his parts in his own studio (with some great gear!) — so a huge thanks to him for all of his creativity and work!

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is my third single release for 2024 following “Drivetrain” (April 2024) and “For All” (September 2024).  I have a number of releases planned for 2025 as well as continuing my Live in the Studio video series — so stay tuned.  You can listen to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” right here by playing the video or you can check out the music on pretty much any streaming service (I put a couple links below).  As always, thanks for listening/watching!

— Stream “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” —

Apple Music

Spotify

Art Focus Artists’ Association Art Show & Sale


This Friday (October 25) from 7-9 PM, I’m playing the opening reception for the Art Focus Artists’ Association Art Show & Sale .  I’ve had the opportunity to play at previous opening receptions (thank you Art Focus for having me back again!) and it’s always been a great time!  The show is being held at the Outlet, Leigh Square (McAllister Avenue) in Port Coquitlam this Friday (7-9 PM), Saturday (11AM – 5PM) and Sunday (11AM – 5PM).  Hope to see you there!

For All – New Single & Video Release

Happy to announce the release of my new single (and video), “For All”. I’ve always loved introspective, poignant ballads that feature a blend of acoustic sounds and synth textures. This track really is defined by that blend, with my acoustic nylon string guitar floating above a slow moving, rhythmic synth pad. “For All” is available right now on just about any streaming service (I’ve included a couple links below) and/or you can check out the music right here by playing the video. As always, thanks for listening/watching and I hope you like “For All”!

— STREAM “FOR ALL” —

Apple Music

Spotify

Violet Skies (Live in the Studio)

There’s just something about contrast in music that I’ve always liked. On “Violet Skies”, from my 1997 self-titled debut album, I tried to capture some of that contrast. I put percolating percussion loops right beside programmed drum machine parts, played an ambient synth pad to compliment my fast strummed rhythm guitars, and I think just as importantly, I wrote a (mostly) slower melody that floats on top of the overall “up” vibe of the track. On this Live in the Studio version of “Violet Skies”, I went back to the album track and learned the solo pretty much note for note.

I have to give a huge thanks to my brother Randy for putting together this video. He’s been an amazing help in getting me (somewhat) up to speed on the videos that I’ve edited in the past and, with his stellar work on “Violet Skies”, I know I sure have a lot more to learn about video in the future. As always, thanks for listening and I hope you like the video!

God’s Counting on Me, God’s Counting on You (Live in the Studio)

The rarest, and my personal favorite, type of protest song is a positive one.  Pete Seeger and Lorre Wyatt’s “God’s Counting on Me, God’s Counting on You” brilliantly combines protest lyrics with a sense of community and personal responsibility wrapped in an instantly catchy melody.  It’s just the kind of song I love.  But, I think what drew me to this song initially was as much about the song as seeing a Pete Seeger video of him playing the tune live.  He had an amazing ability to connect with the audience and was able to get everyone singing right along with him.  Literally putting the folk in folk music.

I did a video of this tune years ago in a stripped down format  — just guitar and voice.  Sometimes all you need is three (or four) chords, the truth and a guitar (or, in Pete Seeger’s case, a long neck banjo), but I wanted to do a more arranged/produced cover of the song.  So that’s what’s in this video… As always, thanks for listening and I hope you like the music.

Quiet Tones (Live in the Studio)

From my 2009 EP “St. Joseph Street”, here’s a Live in the Studio version of “Quiet Tones”. This tune features the incredible rhythm section of bassist Henrik Bridger and drummer Dave Patel. I know this tune is now 15 years old, but, like many of my other tracks, it truly feels like I was recording it yesterday. Thanks for listening and I hope you like the video!