Mindful (Live in the Studio)

I’ve wanted to do a live in the studio video of “Mindful”, from my 2007 EP “5”, for quite a while now. Never really saw the exact imagery/vibe that I was looking for, until, a little over a week ago, the sky changed. Changed from the almost relentless sun we’ve had here in Vancouver to this way more interesting, at least to me, mix of dark and light clouds moving at a fair clip. I literally dropped what I was doing and headed outside to grab a bunch of cloud/sky shots that I knew would help tell the story of “Mindful”. I originally played the album version of this tune on a Godin Multiac Grand Concert nylon string guitar through a bunch of distortion (I know, not the most common approach). Unfortunately, that guitar was stolen back when I was living in Toronto and I think the electric works great on this live in the studio video. Anyways, as always, thanks for listening and I hope you like the music!

500 Miles (Live in the Studio)

There are songs that just seem to speak to me on an emotional level. “500 Miles” by Hedy West is exactly one of those tunes. The timeless melody coupled with the painfully poignant lyrics paints the kind of song to which I’m personally drawn. I know lots of artists have covered “500 Miles” (I love the Peter, Paul and Mary version), but I thought I’d give it a shot putting my own spin on the song. As always thanks for listening and I hope you like the music!

Within (Live in the Studio)

Sometimes it’s hard to believe how much time has gone by since I’ve released some of my music. “Within”, from my 2000 album A Perfect Tomorrow, is one of those tunes that feels like I wrote and recorded it yesterday. In some ways, A Perfect Tomorrow was a tough album to make. The building I was living in Toronto back in 2000 was having a ton of construction work done to the exterior. Basically, non-stop grinding and drilling for seven months. My studio, which was in my condo, sure wasn’t soundproofed, so I was doing guitar takes in between all of the noise. Fun times. Anyways, this track has Sonya Mitlewski on keyboards and Jack Vorvis on drums and percussion. As always, thanks for taking the time to listen and I hope you like this live in the studio version of “Within”!

Week’s End (Live in the Studio)

From my 2007 EP 5, here’s a live in the studio version of “Week’s End”. The album version had a nylon string guitar lead, but I thought I’d mix things up a bit and play electric on this video. Moving between acoustic and electric changes a few things technically (and artistically) and can give me a new (or different) perspective on a tune. Thanks for listening and I hope you like this “electrified” live in the studio version of “Week’s End”!

Art Focus Artists’ Association’s 2023 Spring Art Show and Sale Opening Reception

Playing the Art Focus Artists’ Association’s 2023 Spring Art Show and Sale Opening Reception, this Friday (May 5th) from 7-9 PM. Please drop by and check out all of the talented artists!

“There to Now” – Artisan Music Reviews

“There to Now” – Artisan Music Reviews by R J Lannan

I have always known Jamie Bonk to be a brilliant guitarist. I haven’t heard his music for a while now and here he comes with a new album that is so far afield from what I am used to that I had to check the label twice. Now the new album’s title makes so much sense. There to Now. This ten track album is an intoxicating mix of vocals and instrumentals that range from contemporary to jazz to the fringes of New Age, but just barely. What intrigued me was the finely crafted ballads that were intermingled with the instrumental arrangements.  

Last Thing First opens the album and sets the tone. The instrumental music is complex using a lot of tools and voices. It is an animated song with a lot of quick interludes by other instruments. The background is full of swaying vocalise. It is the gathering of energies. Good Start.

The next song is a vocal featuring singer Wendy Irvine called Hopefully Me. The song has this quirky intro that is part banjo and part electric guitar. (No banjos were injured during the making of this album). The song is about second chances. Bonk’s well-rounded composition could be an intro to any modern day rom-com on the box. 

“This time I’m bound to find a way back to the start

This time you’ll see hopefully me right side up”.

Here Is turned out to be a slow, descending instrumental with Henrik Bridger on bass answering to Jamie’s bright, seductive fret work. It is the kind of tune that will have you close your eyes and begin the fantasy. Lot of that lucid dreaming going on in this album.

Get ready for some great jazz-flavored flute on the tune Inlet. The song is dynamic and well-tooled and it sounded as if it was an improvised thing. The band has a good time on this one as you can hear the energies floating around in the air just like Bill McBirnie’s flute notes. Everything is alive. One of the best cuts on There to Now. 

Jamie’s polished guitar plays friendly ally to a possible pop/country song called It Always Will. The tune, full of regret and angst, features the gravelly voice of well-known song writer Ron Scott. The midtempo, expressive ballad would be comfortable on any stage where story songs and good music mix to give the weekend some purpose. 

Look Closer is another instrumental that blurs the lines of specific genres, but it grabs and pulls you along. Bonk’s fret work really stands out on this one as its sets the tempo and timbre on a song describing the journey more than the destination. This is another favorite.

The final track is called So Now I Know and the fluid, provocative jazz theme just drips off the tune like candle wax at the end of the evening. Bonk uses the surreptitious interchange between Bridger’s bass and his sultry guitar like a hushed conversation of late night lovers. You are going to want to play that one again.

Other tracks include Anything At All, Pull You Up, and On the Line. 

There to Now is an album you play when friends are over and they say, “Who’s that?” and you get to tell them about the artist and the pleasure his music gives you. The heads nod and they make the promise to explore more later on. This is Bonk’s seventh album and I hope he creates more. His music is a refreshing break from the FM radio claptrap that we are subjected to these days. It is a Play and Repeat album for just about any time. Highly listenable. 

– R J Lannan, Artisan Music Reviews

Spiral Path (Live in the Studio)

Took a bit of a break from getting the word out about my new album, There To Now to shoot another live in the studio video. This tune, “Spiral Path”, I released back in 1997 on my self-titled debut album (“Jamie Bonk”) and have loved playing it live ever since. I stayed pretty close to the album version of “Spiral Path” for the melody sections, but the solo definitely takes a bit of a different road. Hope you like the video!

“There To Now” – One World Music Radio

Thanks to Chrissie and Steve at One World Music Radio for all their help in spreading the word about my new album, There To Now! They set up a terrific artist page for me on their website along with an audio interview. Also on the page is a very sweet mini playlist that includes music from Mick Overmere, Steve Hewitt, Timea Göghova & Caro D’lirium, Thermo and Fiona Joy Hawkins as well as a couple tracks from my new record. So nice to be on a playlist with these talented artists — definitely going to be digging deeper into their new music. And lastly, Steve Sheppard’s review of There To Now beautifully encapsulates the album — very much appreciated!

“There To Now” – New Album

Just released my new album, There To Now!  I truly feel this album (my seventh full length release) is some of the best music I’ve ever made. The record has ten tracks (five guitar-based instrumentals and five vocal tunes) and it draws on a fairly wide range of styles (mainly Jazz, Pop and Folk with a little bit of Classical and Rock as well). In the past, I’ve made music where it’s just me and myself alone in the studio, but There To Now absolutely could not have been made without the help of all those who worked on it. So a big thanks to Henrik Bridger (bass), Dave Patel (drums), Wendy Irvine (vocals), Bill McBirnie (alto flute and flute) and Ron Scott (vocals). And also thanks to my wife, Sonya, for the cover photography – never would have been able to compose the shot and definitely wouldn’t have been awake (and functioning) at the break of dawn!

If you’d like to check out the album, you can stream it here: There To Now