Music by The Duke and Harry Connick Jr., A CJO Concert Review

Soulful sounds and funky grooves marked the CJO's final jazz concert of the 2010/11 season. The Calgary Jazz Orchestra played to a full house when members took to the stage Sunday, April 10, 2011 at River Park Church.

The first half of the programme featured the music of Duke Ellington, an American arranger, band leader, jazz composer and pianist from the Cotton Club era. The music of New Orleans actor, composer and jazz vocalist, Harry Connick Jr. comprised the second half. Connick Jr. burst onto the music scene with his soundtrack to When Harry Met Sally.

Opening Act Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School Jazz Band

The Jazz Band from Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School in Calgary, Alberta warmed up the audience with three numbers. They performed “Idiom '59 Part II” by Duke Ellington, “Blue Serge” by Mercer Ellington and “Orange Colored Sky” by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein.

Under the direction of Jonathan Bell, the E.P. Scarlett Jazz Band has performed at various festivals and competitions in Alberta. Most recently, they received the top award at the the 2011 Alberta National Band Festival.

Classic Duke Ellington Featured in the CJO's First Set

Drummer Greg Baker encouraged the audience to help set the tempo for the first number while the rest of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra members were getting ready. The group opened with “Play the Blues and Go”. This upbeat number featured solos by Gerry Hebert on clarinet, Shane Statz on tenor sax, Al Muirhead on trumpet, Dave Reid on trombone, Rich Harding on alto sax and Kodi Hutchinson on bass.

Special guest, jazz vocalist Hazel Proctor received a warm welcome. She came on stage to sing “Mood Indigo”. Proctor performed with the CJO at the December “A Perfectly Frank Christmas” concert. She sings with the Dixie Boppers in Calgary, Alberta and has performed at Dixieland jazz festivals throughout Canada and the US.

One of the highlights from the first half was “It Don't Mean a Thing”. This toe-tapping number featured many stunning solos. Shane Statz presented a weaving solo, while Kim Beachum delivered a fast and furious solo on trumpet. The fingers of each member of the rhythm section were a blur during their respective solos. Rich Harding's solo showcased his superb sense of phrasing. The song accelerated dramatically to the double bar line.

Other songs featured in the first set included “In a Mellow Tone”, “Solitude” and Ellington's arrangement of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite. “Solitude” put the spotlight on Gerry Hebert on soprano saxophone and multi-instrumentalist Dave Reid on euphonium.

Sultry Jazz, Witty Quips and the Music of Harry Connick Jr. Mark the Second Half

The CJO kicked off the second half with “Blue Light Red Light”, a medium tempo number which featured director Johnny Summers on vocals. While the second number was being introduced, a cell phone rang in the audience. “Go ahead and get it,” quipped Summers. “Buy low, sell high,” he added, which garnered a few laughs. Summers really shone in “Jill”. This number featured the rhythm section, as well as Shane Statz.

The programme wrapped up with a New Orleans funk number, “Mind on the Matter”. Special guest Spencer Cheyne joined Greg Baker on drums. Dave Reid's solo included a musical quote of “In the Hall of the Mountain King”. Pianist Egor Ukolloff delivered his funky solo with impressive technical fluency. Johnny Summers sang and later performed a solo on trumpet. Baker and Cheyne traded two's with the rest of the band. Bakers also added his vocals during the head. Other performed included “Last Payday”, “Spot” and “It Had to Be You”, which Connick Jr. sang on the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack.

There was a pregnant pause after the final round of applause at the end of the programme. It was if the audience was waiting for Summers to say something else, or for drummer Greg Baker to yell “Encore!” as he did at the ENTERTAINMENT! Concert.

“Now what?” asked Summers. Turning back to the band, he added that although the programme was done, no one was moving. Only then did members of the audience ask for an encore. “This is the freakiest encore ever,” Summers added. The CJO obliged by performing “Come By Me”. The audience rose to its feet in a standing ovation for several minutes afterward.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Unveils Its 2011/2012 Concert Season

The CJO divulged its 2011/2012 concert season. Upcoming concerts will feature the music of Chet Baker, Billie Holliday and Frank Sinatra. It will also showcase music from Cuba.

Subscribers can buy season tickets on the Calgary Jazz Orchestra website for $85 prior to August 1, 2011. Subscriptions will go up to $90 after August 1. Single tickets will be available for $25 each.

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The CJO was founded by director Johnny Summers in 2004. This concert featured Gerry Hebert, Rich Harding, Dr. Jeremy Brown, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson on the saxophone. Hebert, Harding and Brown also played the clarinet on selected numbers. The trumpet section is comprised of Johnny Summers, Kim Beachum, Gordon Wilhelm and Al Muirhead. Brian Walley, Jim Scott, Mike Thomson and Dave Reid make up the trombone section, while Egor Ukolloff (piano), Kodi Hutchinson (bass) and Greg Baker (drums) form the rhythm section.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra ended its 2010/2011 concert season by performing to a full-capacity audience on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at River Park Church. The concert featured big band jazz arrangements of music by the “Cotton Club King”, Duke Ellington, as well as New Orleans crooner Harry Connick Jr. The CJO's 2010/11 season has been an entertaining ride, with varied programming, well-played jazz and plenty of laughs.

Originally published on Suite101.com on April 13, 2011. Updated August 7, 2013.

Developing My Social Media Strategy

Last month, I was on a mission to find the best Social Media Management Tool for my business. As I was playing around with the trial versions, I started to think about having an actual social media strategy. Now you may wonder "Why do I need a social media strategy?" If you're using any of these social networking platforms for business, you need to think about branding. In short, what kind of image do you want to present to the world?

A Google search will cough up countless articles on how to setup a social media business strategy. It doesn't have to be complicated. Really, it as easy as asking yourself the W5:

• Who are you sharing your message with?

• What do you want to say?

• Where are you going to communicate?

• When are you going to post?

• Why are you sharing your message?

• How are you going to communicate?

Let's look at them in turn:

Who are you sharing your message with?

I have seven blogs which represent different aspects of my business. Initially, they represented the different areas I wrote for as a Suite101 Contributing Writer. Each has a slightly different niche, although they are unified by the Greek Muses.

Sure, I could have used a single blog and organized everything with tags and categories, but I have to think about what is easier for the end user and for search engines.

Will those seeking to strike a healthy life balance want to read about my adventures in geekdom? Probably not. Will readers following Maestro's adventures in health and wellness want to hear about music practicing tips? Not likely.

Rather than have one vague, catch-all blog title, I've tried to carve a different niche and identity for each blog, right down to the title. That is something search engines like.

This helps with the ads that run on each of the blogs as well. There's no mishmash of pet accessories mixed with music theory books. Again, search engines also like that the keywords in the ads match the keywords in my blog entries.

Whatdo you want to say?

Some businesses communicate when they have sales. Others share user tips, while others share their portfolio.

I brainstormed about what Musespeak™ Studio wanted to share. My favourite way of brainstorming is on the floor with Crayola® markers:

From my meanderings on the web, I've noticed the folks and businesses with the strongest following have a clear sense of what they want to share. Not only that, they have a keen sense on how they want to interact with their clients and fans.

Where are you going to communicate?

There are so many social networking sites out there. There's Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Linked In, etc. etc.

My strategy is three-fold. First, use what I am (somewhat) comfortable using. Second, keep in mind what my audience is using and third, determine what is the best medium for each niche that I've carved.

For instance, many of my piano students are on Facebook. The quickest way for me to get a hold of them is through FB. I wasn't keen on the idea at first but really, if I want them to get my messages, I have to use the same medium.

I see that a bunch of them, along with my fellow writers, are on Pinterest. I guess I'll have to explore that at some point.

When are you going to post?

One of my colleagues, LaDona Ahenda, introduced me to the beauty of advance scheduling posts. That way, if I feel like writing six articles in one day, I can space them out throughout the week.

Now that I'm Hootsuite Pro, I can take that to a whole new level. Not only can I schedule my blog posts, but I can schedule my tweets, article shares, meme shares and so on.

The other end of the equation is that you should time your posts to when your audience is online. It's pointless for me to post music practice tips when my students are in school. Better to schedule those posts for when they are home and (hopefully) practicing.

My piano parents tend to do their social networking later in the evening when the kids have gone to bed. Therefore, it makes sense to send messages and posts targeted to them in that timeframe.

My non-music blogs have a wider reach. It doesn't matter when I post them since there are readers worldwide. However, I try to stagger them.

Whyare you sharing that message? 

Everyone seems to get bombarded with spam. Not just that, I've also seen in discussion groups that people don't really like it when one person keeps posting "wily nily".

Each post has to have a purpose. Are you informing? Educating? Warning? Inspiring? Humouring? This shapes what kind of messages you send out as well. Too much of one thing can get to be a bit much.

Howare you going to communicate?

Each social networking platform has their strengths and weaknesses. For example, Twitter's strength lies in those quick hits - upcoming concert announcements, anything geeky and/or quirky. It's the perfect platform to share "all things geek" and all "all things dog".

Linked In is primarily for business networking. It's a great place to share accomplishments and anything that pushes your credibility in your field.

Youtube and Soundcloud are perfect for my music studio. Lesson clips, practice drills and performances can be shown off here.

The only network that I'm currently using that requires further thought and exploration is Google+. From what I can see, it's similar to Facebook but with what I think is an older demographic. More international users too.

I captured my initial ideas on this sheet:

With all that in mind, I began to made a spider web brainstorm of my social media strategy. As with any plan, it's dynamic and will evolve as the needs and interests of my audience changes (mine too).

Further reading:

Why You Need a Social Media Strategy for Marketing Success

Social Media Strategy: No, You Don't Need the Kitchen Sink

Sight-reading Music for Fun

Summer music practicing should be fun, don't you think so? One way that I've been keeping it light but still maintaining my skills is to sight-read. I recently bought a bunch of music while at the music teachers' convention. I plan on doing book reviews on most of them, so I've decided to sight-read my way through them. Sure, some of it is easy peasy for me, but there are enough books in my "To Read" pile that do remind me to utilize the sight-reading tips that my colleagues and I give to our students.

It's been an adventure. I'm not familiar with all the composers or the pieces in these new books so I have no idea where the composers are going to take me.

Give it a try. If you are in need of sheet music to sight-read, head to your local library to borrow some song books. You can also visit your local music store. If you want to buy some music online, there's always Sheetmusic Plus and Musicnotes. Happy exploring!

Calgary Jazz Orchestra A Perfectly Frank Christmas 2011 Review

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra performed a sold-out concert at River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta on Sunday, December 18, 2011. From “White Christmas” to “Long Way to Go”, the CJO presented a wide range of big band jazz, Frank Sinatra classics and Christmas favourites.

The CJO trombone section played a selection of Christmas carols while the audience found seats. Extra seats soon had to be added.

Opening Act William Aberhart Jazz Ensemble Performed Big Band Hits

William Aberhart High School Jazz Ensemble kicked things off with “Idiom 59 – Part II” (Duke Ellington), an upbeat swing number. It was followed by an arrangement of “All of Me” (Gerry Marks and Seymour Simons) a lively number, which Frank Sinatra has recorded.

William Aberhart High School of Calgary is directed by Kevin Wilms. The Jazz Ensemble performs in concerts, competitions and festivals throughout Alberta.

Swing, Call and Response and Impressive Jazz Solos in CJO's Opening Set

Members of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra walked on-stage confidently and in relaxed spirits, sporting festive red ties. The notable exception was the rhythm section, who wore black ties.

The first number was a cheerful arrangement of Sergei Prokofiev's “Troika”. The original theme featured pianist Egor Ukoloff flying across the keys before the music changed to a medium swing. This featured lively exchanges between different sections of the jazz orchestra. Solos were ably performed by Jeremy Brown, Al Muirhead and Sarah Matheson before the music returned to the traditional theme.

An arrangement of “The Grinch” (James Horner) followed. The dreamy opening showcased the piano, flutes and clarinets. The trumpets and saxophones took over, building the excitement until the Grinch theme appeared, played on the baritone sax. This slow swing number featured solos by Muirhead, Matheson and Shane Statz.

Crowd favourite Hazel Proctor sang “Please Come Home for Christmas” (Charles Brown). Wearing a sparkling floral jacket, Proctor dazzled the audience with her soulfulness and wide vocal range. Ukoloff's solo featured numerous runs and tremolos, while Brown's solo mirrored Proctor's earthiness.

Another gem was “Long Way to Go”. Composed by CJO director Johnny Summers, this rousing gospel song was commissioned by the United Way several years ago but was never used. Summers truly shone in this vocal number, delivering the powerful lyrics with a high dose of emotion and skill. Equally moving and impressive solos were performed by Ukoloff, Brown and Rich Harding.

Five more songs were performed in the first set. The CJO played arrangements of “Luck be a Lady” (Frank Loesser), “Just the Way You Look” (Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields), “Ave Maria” (Franz Schubert), “One for My Baby” (Johnny Mercer) and “I Been Lonely” (Johnny Summers).

Sleigh Ride, White Christmas and Louis Armstrong in CJO's Second Set

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra opened with “I Pray on Christmas” (Harry Connick Jr.). This lively gospel song featured Johnny Summers on vocals, Hazel Proctor singing off-stage and rhythmic clapping by CJO members and the audience.

Throughout the evening, Summers asked the audience about their Christmas Wish List and Christmas traditions. Selected responses garnered free concert tickets to an upcoming CJO performance or a jazz CD.

The audience was also polled on favourite Christmas songs. Sinatra classic, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was selected and CJO musicians gamely played while Summers led the sing-a-long. This impromptu addition featured a beautiful solo by Al Muirhead.

Greg Baker surprised new listeners and delighted CJO regulars with his imitation of Louis Armstrong. Exchanging places with Summers, Baker sang “What a Wonderful World” (Bob Thiele and George David Weiss) .

The final number was “I'll Be Home for Christmas” (Kim Gannon and Walter Kent). This medium swing number gave each CJO member a chance in the spotlight. Every musician who could move walked to the front of the stage and played a solo when his or her name was announced.

Five more Christmas classics were also performed, including “Sleigh Ride”, “White Christmas” and “Oh Holy Night”. Sinatra standards, such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “All of Nothing at All” were also featured.

After the last note died away, the audience quickly rose to give the CJO an enthusiastic standing ovation. The jazz ensemble responded by performing “Come By Me” by Harry Connick Jr. for an encore.

The skilled and playful banter – both musically and verbally – made this year's “A Perfectly Frank Christmas” a delightful concert. For instance, a lick played on the piano would later show up in a saxophone solo. Many of the solos drew cheers and whistles from the audience.

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra was founded by Johnny Summers in 2004. Gerry Hebert, Rich Harding, Jeremy Brown, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson performed on saxophone, flute and/or clarinet. The trumpet section included Johnny Summers, Kim Beachum, Gordon Wilhelm, Al Muirhead and André Wickenheiser. Brian Walley, Tim Embree, Nathan Gingrich and Greg Robertson performed on trombone. The rhythm section included Egor Ukoloff (piano), Kodi Hutchinson (bass) and Greg Baker (drums).

Arrangements by Johnny Summers, Greg Baker, Billy Byers and Paul Ashwell were used. Summers and Baker also sang in several numbers.

Jazz lovers will have three more opportunities to hear the Calgary Jazz Orchestra in the 2011/12 season. On January 23, 2012, the CJO and the UofC Jazz Ensemble will perform with Grammy winner Maria Schneider. Billie Holliday and Chet Baker music will be performed on February 12, 2012 and finally, blues tunes and numbers written by CJO members are on tap for May 6, 2012. Earlier in the year, the CJO presented a concert featuring swing, Latin and Cuban music.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra performed to a full house on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at River Park Church in Calgary. This exciting jazz concert featured big band music, Frank Sinatra hits and jazzy Christmas classics that had the entire audience clapping, singing and cheering.

Originally published December 21, 2011 on Suite101. Updated August 7, 2013.

The I Am Here Project

Some Chilean college students embarked on a project to make invisible dogs visible, with the help of brightly coloured balloons. The balloons bore messages such as "Hug me", "Scratch me", "Play with me" and "Don't leave me."

The result is simply beautiful. I hope someone adopted some of those beautiful dogs. There are so many animals out there just waiting to bring happiness and love to a family:

If you'd like to adopt a pet, check out the following places:

Adopt a Pet

Alberta Animal Rescue Crew

Animal Rescue Foundation

Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

SPCA