About
the Album
As
a child I was taught that eavesdropping was a no-no. It was rude to
listen in on other people’s conversations. As a musician, I couldn’t
have found my own voice unless I’d listened in.
Music began to take over my life very early on with days split between
high school, the Conservatory, church choir and my first folk/rock experiments.
I listened to as many violinists and bands as I could. Zappa, Menuhin,
Vassar Clements, Jean Luc Ponty, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, The
Greateful Dead, even Jimi Hendrix. I threw off my middle class mores
and ran away with a rock band.
I decided it was time to start figuring out the jazz changes I’d
fallen asleep to on late night radio as a youngster, but I could still
feel the voices of the classical masters I had grown up studying. By
then, other voices had started making themselves heard: I studied South
Indian drumming, music from the Karnatak tradition as well as Celtic
and Klezmer forms. I couldn’t stop listening in.
All this time I was on stage backing up other performers on concert
and festival stages, in clubs and bars, playing in bands, string sections
and chamber ensembles. I’ve had the pleasure of working with so
many fine artists over the years.
Raising a family never stopped me from performing, but for about eight
years, when my children were very young, I found no time to compose
music. When I began to write again, it seemed as if all those diverse
influences and experiences, all the unconnected conversations I’d
overheard had blended into a single, unbroken stream of musical language,
rich in character an flavour, with it’s own tone and texture, ready
to be expressed by one voice, my violin.
This collection of original compositions reflects where I am now - a
veteran performer just as comfortable delivering a simple, heartfelt
ballad as I am rocking out on a wailing fiddle-driven groove. Music
doesn’t make distinctions it finds its way into every heart. I
feel very lucky to be part of this limitless adventure.
A
little more about each song...
1. Latin Stroller
A romp along the sidewalks of downtown Toronto
in February: written while pushing the baby carriage into sub zero head
wind.
Bill Brennan-piano, percussion
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
Wendy Solomon-cello
David Woodhead-fretless bass
2. Lookout
Not a cautionary command, but the name I gave
a dream home that I had planned since childhood. This tune appeared
when I realized that he dream wasn’t going to happen. There’s
something very liberating about letting go and moving on.
Colleen Allen-soprano and tenor sax
Bill Brennan-piano, percussion
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
Tosh Weyman-alto and baritone sax
David Woodhead-bass, 5 string banjo
3. For The Children
For Emma, Miranda, Luke, Riley, Teo, Caley, Jesse,
Raffa, Julia, James, Kit, Tosh, Chloe, Tyler, Melissa, Reed, Kai, Brett
and Jenn-Bo.
This tune is dedicated to all the children around the world whose lives
are so very different from ours.
Bill Brennan-piano, percussion
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar (solo)
Dennis Keldie-accordian
Anne Lindsay-violin
Oliver Schroer-5 string fiddle
David Woodhead- fretless bass, acoustic guitar
4. Smooth Arm
A geographical location or a part of the anatomy?
Either way, it’s a good time.
Bill Brennan-triangle
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Dennis Keldie-accodian (left)
Anne Lindsay-fiddle, scordatura fiddle
Oliver Schroer-5 string fiddle
David Woodhead-$0 bass, acoustic guitar, accordian (right)
5. Eavesdropping
One day I was out for a walk and was inspired when I overheard the unintelligible
but tuneful mutterings of a stranger wandering past me. The cadence
of his speech haunted me all the way home and before I knew it had transformed
itself into this piece.
Bill Brennan-piano, vibes
Al Cross-drums
Andrew Downing-acoustic bass
Anne Lindsay-violin
Kim Ratcliffe-Beardsell electric acoustic guitar
Oliver Schroer-5 string fiddle pizz
6. Emma’s Dance/The Hills Of
Mono
The first tune was written sitting on the back
porch of my in-laws’ farm overlooking the Beaver Valley. As I fiddled
my four-year-old niece came out and started dancing. This jig was written
at my parents’ farm in Mono Township where I’ve been going
since I was one year old. Both farms are my heartland, on the Niagara
escarpment in Ontario, which was recently declared a UNESCO World Biosphere
reserve.
Bill Brennan-piano, percussion
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
David Woodhead- bass, mandolin
7. Rita
A toast to the Muse and those she moves.
Colleen Allen-soprano and saxaphone
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
David Woodhead-bass, lap steel
8. Annie McClelland’s Lament/She
Kicks Up Her Heels
We all feel our age as we get older but here’s
to the moments when we don’t.
Bill Brennan-piano, synth drone
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Denis Keldie-organ drone
Anne Lindsay-violin
Wendy Solomon-cello drone
David Woodhead-fretless bass
9. Blues Not
I started writing this tune and then realised that technically it really
wasn’t a blues. Try introducing this one onstage without getting
into trouble!
Bill Brennan-piano
Al Cross-drums
Andrew Downing-acoustic bass
Anne Lindsay-violin
Kim Ratcliffe- Beardsell electric acoustic guitar
10. Ode To A Coffee Table
As a freelance musician, I find myself in all
kinds of situations, serenading the rich and famous, watching an elderly
person smile at the memory of a melody from years ago, playing for square
dancers under the stars, fiddling up a frenzy for Maple Leafs fans at
the Air Canada Centre. Sometimes I’m useful furniture in other
people’s lives. This tune is my ode to the delight I take in walking
out he door with my violin, often not knowing where my music and I will
find ourselves.
Bill Brennan-piano, percussion
Al Cross-drums
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
David Woodhead- fretless bass
11. Leaves, Koochee, Kingho
One week, a cottage with no electricity, three
young boys and lots of rain. Many games were invented, including this
one. As my youngest son danced in the candle light and the wind whistled
in the trees, this tune found me.
Bill Brennan-piano
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
Wendy Solomon-cello
David Woodhead-fretless bass
12. Harry Brunk’s Adventure
A David Woodhead composition inspired by the somewhat
mysterious model railroad hero Harry Brunk, who is devoted to recreating
the entire Colorado and Southern 3 foot gauge Clear Creek line in miniature!
A deserving celebration for any one who follows an unusual path for
the long haul and defined his own reward.
Bill Brennan-piano
Jason Fowler-acoustic guitar
Anne Lindsay-violin
David Woodhead- fretless bass
13. Cornell
A tune about doing what feels right, for al the
right reasons. Inspired by the playing of Cornell Dupree (Paul Simon’s
guitar player).
Colleen Allen-soprano and tenor sax
Bill Brennan-piano
Al Cross-drums
Dennis Keldie-Hammond organ
Anne Lindsay-violin
Kim Ratcliffe-electric guitar
Tosh Weyman-alto and baritone sax
David Woodhead- fretless bass
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