Thanks Google

July 1, 2009

canadaday09

It seems taboo to acknowledge Canada Day in Quebec.

So thanks Google.

Bossa Nova

July 1, 2009

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Saw Luciana Souza sing with guitarist Romero Lubambo at Club Soda on St Laurent tonight. Her opening song of  So Danco Samba (my all time favorite Getz) was lovely and she and Romero scatted Brazilian style through two sets of bossa nova and two jazz song: You Go To My Head and But Not For Me. Hey, it’s Jazzfest, they have to do a couple classics.

In my opinion scatting is never ok and sets off a fit of laughter as inappropriate as giggling at a funeral but I can’t help it (i.e. sorry Kurt Elling for having to rush to the ladies room when you started to shoo boo bee boop at Birdland a few weeks ago).  When Luciana did it tonight, it was more of a marvel at her telepathic ability to move her mouth as quickly and melodicly as a guitar being plucked in perfect tune.

With shows all over the city on outdoor stages and indoor venues starting at 1pm through midnight for the next ten days there aren’t enough hours in the day to take in all of Jazzfest. I’ll do my best.

Familiar Faces

July 1, 2009

NYMarcia

Met up in Manhattan with the ladies from L.A. a few weekends ago. Thanks to Miss Fancy Pancake for sharing pics. So great to see some familiar faces on the east coast.

Montreal Jazzfest

July 1, 2009

And so it begins.

Tens of thousands of visitors arrive in Montreal this week for the 30th annual Montral Jazzfest. Last night Stevie Wonder opened up the festival with a free outdoor concert. Tonight I’m going to see some Brazilian basso nova featuring Luciana Souza with my co-worker.

Photos from what is the city’s biggest festival of the year, to follow.

Really WordPress?

June 25, 2009

Wow.

I’m surprised and dismayed that in March I sent a request for help in importing some images from my old blog at Blogger.com into my shiny new blog at WordPress. I just received a response today.

3 months for customer service? Yikes.

Breadcrumbs

June 17, 2009

Breadcrumbs: the random specks of reminders of where you’ve been or where you want to go,  found in day to day life.

i.e.

A song you’ve had in your head for days is playing in a city you’ve never been to as soon as you arrive.

Your initials on a bumper sticker on a foreign car.

A fountain coming to life right after you’ve made a wish.

Everyone needs a sign now and again letting them know they’re heading the right way.

Le Jardin – more

June 16, 2009

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More of Le Jardin

June 16, 2009

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The Montreal Botanical Gardens are amazing. Big, lush, impressive.

Swine Flu Hits Home

June 16, 2009

Well, work really but with as much time as I spend there it might as well be home.

Two co-workers on my team have been quarantined with the flu. They sit within a couple of meters of me (that’s about 7 feet for you yankees). Nobody has grown a tail but they are out for the week.  Crazy.