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AUX TV sounds good but what is it?

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A new music channel on Rogers cable in Ontario you say? Something that will just play music that is interesting and ground breaking? Sounds like Much Music ages ago … not exactly says Aux TV president Raja Khanna.

TORONTO — As of Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. EST, the nation will once again have a “music” station when Aux TV launches via Rogers Cable channel 107.

Raja also said in another article that “We’re focusing on groundbreaking new music. If it’s great music, I don’t care who’s writing it. If the Jonas Brothers were writing groundbreaking new music, we would report on it.” Ok, fair enough.

They also claim to be playing about 60/40 Canadian-to-international programming and that would be nice because we seem to be producing so much music these days!

Aux TV’s platform, they claim, is around 70% unique and syndicated shows with approximately 30% videos in their overall scheme.

I checked out their website first and found some neat interviews. I then headed off to see them on Rogers Channel 107, and overall it seems ok but I’ll have to wait a while to view more of their programs when I can.

Has anyone else out there seen some of their programming?

Keep on Jammin’




The Carillon at Metro United Church in Toronto

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A carillon is an instrument that used bells instead of strings to produce music. It’s been around since the 15th century and you’d think that I would of heard more about this thing but nope, never really heard of it before the other day.

thecarillon While waiting for a medical appointment in downtown Toronto the other day, I had some time to kill so I walked outside of the building. Across the street I found a very old house of worship called The Metropolitan United Church of Canada. That morning the church happened to be open to the public, so I walked in. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the ancient style of architecture in this building.

I found myself strolling up to this women at a table in the front foyer, under the bell tower. We talked about the architectural and historical aspects of the building. She was quite informative and witty to boot! She told me to walk in and check out the inside of the sacristy of the church.

I was spellbound by it’s beauty! Unfortunately I had to rush through the building because I had an appointment to be at in around 20 minutes.

As I walked out I ran into this man who said that he was the church’s Carilloneur? I then realized that the instrument he was referring to was called the carillon. I had just read about it in the flyer that the women gave me as I walked in before we talked.

We started this really cool conversation and it lead to him asking me if I wanted to see it! I said “Wow, would I ever!”.Then I almost forgot again about my medical consultation and asked him nicely if I could do it at a later date and he said sure. He also told me to and bring your video camera if I wanted.

Just like everyone else out there, I find that there is never enough time in one’s day to do what they really want to do! I hope that someday I will make it up the tower and check out this unique instrument up close!

Keep on Jammin’

Montreal’s Peace Love and Bongo Festival

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The name of this popular local tourist festival is known as Tam Tams. This event, that is held in Montreal’s Mont Royal Park, is a Sunday afternoon tradition that originated way back in the late 70’s or early 80’s, no one is quite sure.

It is a gathering of people who just want to hang out and have a good time playing music on hand held drums (Tam tam’s or Bongo’s).

My cousin’s husband just came back from Montreal this past weekend and told me of this great event that he just witnessed. To be honest with you, it sounds like freakin’ blast!

Imagine people hanging out playing music with that communal living feel to the gathering. Very young, old and anything in between sharing a peaceful afternoon or should I say vibe.

Tam Tams Montreal: A Mont Royal Tradition
Urban lore has it Montreal’s Tam Tams, named after the French word for hand drums like the bongo or djembe, started in the 80s, maybe late 70s, it depends on the source. According to writer Susan Krashinsky, it began with an African drumming workshop. For a change of pace, students convened in Jeanne-Mance Park on Mont Royal, beside the angel statue. Eventually, non-drummers joined in, dancing along with the ever changing beats until it became Tam Tams, Montreal’s Sunday tradition in the park. By 1994, the city of Montreal took charge of maintenance, security and marketplace permits.

Has anyone out there been to this gathering of the minds?

Keep on Jammin’ (or in this case Tam, Taming!)

Woman who inspired song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds dies at 46

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A childhood friend of John Lennon’s son Julian, was the girl who was really behind the song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds from the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album!

Lucy Vodden is her name and she was a very important person in Musical history. Unfortunately she passed away this past Tuesday in a London England hospital. She had a long battle with lupus and was 46 years of age.

Vodden’s connection to the Beatles dates back to her early days, when she made friends with schoolmate Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s son.

Julian Lennon, then four years old, came home from school with a drawing one day, showed it to his father, and said it was “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.”

I just found this story today and thought wow, is that really what the song is about!!! I like most people today thought that the song was about LSD trips! It a little bit of Beatles trivia that I found neat!

Keep on Jammin’

A guitar coffin, really?

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For all you die hard guitarist’s out there, here is something that may or may not have entered into your mind at least once. The guitar coffin is an idea from the people at Crazy Coffins in the UK. I just came across this thing, really. It’s not like I’m actively looking for this kinda stuff!

guitarcoffin

guitarcoffin2

I really don’t know what to think about this … coffin thing?

Keep on Jammin’

The Danforth Music Hall is 90 years young

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The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto has just celebrated it’s 90th year of operations in my neighbourhood. It’s one of those great buildings that you drive by every day, but are not aware of it’s importance to the area. It’s seen it’s ups and downs over the years and now it’s time to place it in it’s proper place in history!

Originally this great gal on the Danforth was called the Allen Theatre Chain. Back in the day they referred to it as a grand “photo-play palace.” The Theatre chain was owed by Julie and John J. Allen.

This grand venue was home to both Vaudeville and theatrical acts as well as silent movies, which were accompanied by live piano. It has a single screen, holds multiple types of events, has 1800 seats and has been use in many movie scenes. To name just a few of the feature films shot there were Chicago, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, (Studio) 54, Bulletproof Monk and some scenes of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Their first theatre was in Brantford Ontario. In 1920 Julie and John J. Allen returned to Brantford and bought the now Sanderson Centre. After remodeling and redecorating it was opened on February 2, 1920 as the Allen Theatre.

Then the location changed hands in about 1929 and was called Century Theatre. They kept the inside and outside look of the building pretty much as the original.

Some of the past acts that performed at the historic Danforth Theatre & Concert Hall in the 80s and 90s were The Police, Bruce Cockburn, James Brown, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Tom Waits, Barenaked Ladies, The Tea Party and Blue Rodeo just to name a few.

I’ve only witnessed two events there, Amos Lee and Rick Wakeman. Both shows were great, the sound was beautiful, the hall itself was majestic and the seats were GREAT!

So here is to the old Danforth Music Hall and many more years to come!

Keep on jammin’

The Hour on CBC TV

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The Hour is a Canadian TV talk show with host George Stroumboulopoulos. The Hour has had some fabulous guests in the past and I’m more then sure many more to come.

It’s one of those great Canadian shows that allows their guests to be perfectly relaxed to in a public forum. George provides us a candid glimpse into his guests personal and private lives. He it seems to make his new friends feel like they’re all just sitting around the kitchen table, having a coffee and shooting the breeze. in my eyes, George is one of Canada’s greatest interviewers today!

George was first brought to the public’s attention way back when he was a young video VJ from the old Much Music scene. This is a music station in Canada that shares a similar format to music channel MTV in the US.

The musician’s that have been on the show are perfectly suited to his hosting skill set.
Some of the more resent ones that I really liked was the Canadian singer called K-os. George invites him to just relax and chill on his show.

Some non musicians that have been on the show is impressive as well. Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter’s piece was very insightful and moving to my wife and I. You know I did not realize that bob Dylan’s song Hurricane was about this great man, huh!

Has anyone seen The Hour on CBC? If so, what do you think! should he continue in this format Or should he be back at Much Music?

George, Keep on Jammin’

Pope John Paul II made a music CD?

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Last night I was watching the old idiot box(TV) with my wife and we came across an neat bit of holy trivia. We found out that the late Pope John Paul II had recorded a CD at Abbey Roads studio. Well, he never went there it seems, it was just the technical crew who did some work there. It’s called Appa Pater (Polish) “All yours” the Pope used to say.

I realize that this must be old news to some, but it was released March 23, 1999. In some on-line reviews, most people had this idea that it was going to be some form the New Age rip off that was going on during that time period. Some called it World beat, as a way to describe some of the style on this CD.

Now fast forward a few years after the Pope had pasted, some heard it again in a different head space. Most came to the conclusion that this is a great piece of music.

A independent review from Amazon
I am not Roman Catholic. I have never studied the Catholic faith. I never attended Catholic schools. I have strong and irreconcilable disagreements with the Roman Catholic church’s policies in many areas.

That said….

I have this CD of John Paul II’s voice, with accompanying music, saying prayers. I am writing this Amazon review to say that I truly find it uplifting and comforting.

After taking in some turns during that TV show last light, I just had to check out what else was on the CD. A few tunes stood out. I was a little disappointed that there was no Gregorian Chant interpretations on it, I’m a huge lover of this genre!
Vieni Santo Spirito, Padre Della Luce and Madre Di Tutte Le Genti stood out.

The lyrics are in multiple languages, so to add to it’s appeal I guess? They were based on John Paul II’s prayers, statements from homilies, etc. and integrated with an eclectic orchestration along with some nice drum beat and at times had an techno feel to it. At some points I thought they might brake into some electric House music, really! The way they weaved in and out of some Latin chants, Polish prayers, and African rhythms was outstanding!

It was even #1 on the European charts upon it’s release. Is it just me, or was I on some other planet when this happened?! Along with this mystery, I still can’t find out if this CD was done with or without the blessings of the Pope or the Vatican. Another puzzling thing about this thing. The church is great at doing things like this, now aren’t they.

Has anyone else heard of this CD or bought it in past?

Keep on Jammin’

A Tribute to Neil Young

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There was a tribute show celebrating the musical life of Neil Young that was tied into this years Luminato 2009 Festival in Toronto. The line up was fabulous and tickets were gone in no time at all! Man, I wish I was one of those lucky one!

Relive a milestone in Canadian music history.

On January 19, 1971, Canada’s legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young gave a solo concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall. Audiences there heard for the first time several of the iconic songs that would later appear on his albums, including his best-selling LP Harvest – yet the live concert recording itself wasn’t released until 2007.

I was so pissed that I didn’t get any that I put the show out of my mind. Then today I came across this site, with complete audio of the show! It was just out of the blue that I found it and i just wanted to share it with all those Neil Young fans out there. Even the lucky bastards that went to the show!

“There is in Young so much talent and so much quiet charm that he’s bound to stick around for a long time, maturing and writing and rewarding his audiences.” Jack Batten, Globe and Mail, Massey Hall concert review, January 20, 1971.

Listening to Colin James do Heart of Gold was great! He did it in a reggae format, very different. Steve Page, ex-Bare Naked Ladies front man, did his first public appearance at the tribute, since his arrest in Buffalo. He performed Journey through the Past. Sister Euclid did a cool version of Helpless. As a matter of fact, I was in downtown Toronto when we attempted to break the record for most guitarist in an ensemble playing that very song! They called it “The Great Canadian Tune!”.

So check it out, you might just find some neat new versions of an out classic there.

Neil Young just Keeps on Jammin’

Good Times are making me feel quite old!

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Chelloooooo, remember that greeting? It’s from kid DYNOMITE!!!!!!!!!! Ain’t we lucky we got/had ’em, GOOD TIMES!

The theme song is what made we write a post about it. My wife and I subscribe to this TV channel called Deja View and it’s just full of all our old time favorite TV shows! This is one of those songs that keep running through my mind when something I hear reminds me of it.I love this theme song so much that I sing it at work every once in a while.

While bringing patients from the recovery room back to where ever they are going, I hum a few songs here and there, and from time to time, I catch the patients jumping in with words of just humming along with me! It’s a hell of a lot of fun to do this and it really helps make the patients and their family/visitors relax and feel more at home.

This classic 70’s TV show was first aired in February 8, 1974 and ended on August 1, 1979 It taught us many life lessons and helped brake down some racial barriers that existed at the time.

The cast was Esther Rolle (Florida why did they name me Florida Evans, John Amos was James Evans, Ja’net DuBois played Willona Woods(that crazy neighbour), Jimmie Walker was the unforgettable James “J.J.” Evans, Jr., Bern Nadette Stanis was Thelma and Ralph Carter as Michael.

Trivia about the show.

  • This spinoff of the TV series, Maude, centered on the Evans family. In Maude Esther Rolle had portrayed Florida Evans, the black housekeeper, but in Good Times Florida and her family were struggling to survive in a South Side ghetto in Chicago.
    • Michael doesn’t have a room. He sleeps on the couch in the living room with J.J.
    • Posters that appear in Thelma’s Room: 2 of Sly Stone, 1 of Carlos Santana
    • In a rare moment for the early episodes of the series, Thelma actually stands up for J.J. and even says how much she misses him after he leaves. I didn’t see that one coming, did you?
    • Willona states her ex-husband is named Alvin. In the fourth season he is named Ray. I did not know that!

    I have so many favorite episodes that it’s just ridiculous! Which ones do you remember the most or had a lasting memory to you?

    Temporary lay offs. Good Times. Easy credit rip offs. Good Times. Scratchin’ and surviving. Good Times. Hangin in a chow line. Good Times. Ain’t we lucky we got ’em. Good Times.

    Keep on Jammin’

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