The Best Time of Year

June 25th to July 4th

The Victoria International Jazz Festival.

No big deal. It's only my absolute favourite time of year.

It tops Christmas...

I mean the family, romance and Christmas cheer is nice.

I like snowboarding, snowmen and gingerbread cookies...

But jazz? In the Sun? And most likely a coffee in my hand?!

No doubt its number one.

The music, the people, the smiles, the good times.

Its Jazz Fest baby. And it's almost here.

Before you keep reading, make sure you have at least 20 minutes to spare.

Okay good. Go here.

And check out the AMAZING line up this year.

There are audio samples, biographies, show details and more.

Here are some of my recommendations:

(I've linked the names to their websites for you)

George Benson

June 25th

8pm - Royal Theatre, Doors at 7

$96.50 & $76.50

Well duh... I mean what can I say? He's George Benson. He's one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history. I guess I could add he's a 10 time Grammy Winner and can play in just about any style with extreme taste. Please, is there a reason not to go?

Bananafish Dance Orchestra

June 26th

3pm - Centennial Square

It's a free show! I also went to highschool with some of these boys. They are very talented 7-piece powerhouse groove sensation. Oh yes, get your dance on.

John Scofield Piety Street Band

June 28th

8pm - Royal Theatre, Doors at 7

$52.50 & $48.50

John Scofield is my guitar hero. He is a legend. He is fresh. He is fantastic. But he is also a guru of groove with one of the MOST distinct sounds in jazz. He will take you way beyond the 12 bar blues and back again.

Five Alarm Funk

July 2nd (No minors)

9:30pm - Victoria Event Center, Doors at 9

Only my lucky friends have heard my Five Alarm Rant. You can head into your Friday night with high expectations and a desire to have a good time... When you walk out of there after the show, your original expectations will be completely blown out of the water leaving only awe and amazement. I, Gabrielle Kind, guarantee this will be one of the BEST live shows you will ever see... once, twice, again and again. Prepare to be funked!!

There are many village 900 artists playing throughout the festival too!

Franca Masu

Sara Marreiros

Elisapie Isaac

Miranda Sage

Niyaz

Alboa

Check out the schedule, or pick yourself up a Jazzfest calendar with all the details.

I can't wait!

See you there!!

Who's Paul Metsa?

This is Paul Metsa.

On my show this morning, I played a tune I had never heard before. Another Man's Chains from Paul Metsa. I introduced it not knowing what to expect, but as it turns out, it is SO GOOD!

So now, as I'm waiting to voice a Ska Fest promo, I'm doing my research on Mr. Metsa. Well, I say research, but in reality, that just means I listen to his songs online and develop my own opinion of him. (I'd be a terrible scientist)

But, what a guy!

His voice! Raw. Sexy. The sound of a smokey, bluesy, folk singer. Paul has a way with words too. While writing primarily with guitar, he says the trick is to match his poetry and prose to the proper melody, chord changes and satisfying rhythms; a trick he's certainly mastered.

How do I describe his music? With labels comes limitations, and he's much, much more than one genre. Folk, blues, country, bluegrass, jazz and rock and roll. Just have a listen!

The first tune I heard was enough to spark my interest in Mr. Metsa. The second song, Black Cadillac, sealed the deal! Turn on your speakers, plug in your headphones, you can listen to it for free on his website! The electric solo, mmmm.

Enjoy your research! ;)

Interview with Clive Langton

Clive Langton - Eating Raw Food, Feeling Alive

Clive Langton is the Director of the Raw Food Society in BC, and one of the founding members of Canada Earthsave. He began his 'Raw journey' in September 2002.

In this interview Clive shares why he started a raw food diet and the changes he noticed. What's Raw? Why bother? How to start? Its all here!

Interview with Hazel Loewen

Hazel Loewen - Love Relationships and a Heart Connection

Hazel Loewen has been a psychotherapist for more than 20 years. She has a private therapy practice in Sidney and Victoria. She also works part-time at BC Families in Transition, an agency that provides counselling services for individuals, couples and children going through family changes

In this interview Hazel discusses some of the myths surrounding adult relationships, and the steps you need to take to develop a true heart connection with your partner. She also touches on heartbreak and loss.

Interview with Emma Beaton

Emma Beaton

Emma is the lead vocalist of the popular folk band Joy Kills Sorrow. She's young, sweet, talented and from Qualicum! This interview is a quick look into her life in Boston, her music, and the new album "Darkness Sure Becomes this City" from Joy Kills Sorrow.

Interview with Carolyn Herriot

Carolyn Herriot - The Zero Mile Diet

Carolyn is an educator and regular columnist for GardenWise and CommonGround magazines. After 20 years operating The Garden Path Nursery she now grows certified organic ‘Seeds of Victoria’ at The Garden Path in Victoria. Carolyn’s new book The Zero Mile Diet – A Year-round Guide to Growing Great Organic Food.

All you need is 12 inches of soil and you can grow your own food! In this interview, Carolyn talks about the importance of growing you own food, what grows well here and shares details about her own experience.

Got the blues? Dance it out.

Hard driving blues, funky reggae, and fiery jams.

I like the sounds of that!

Harris Gilmore and the Mojo's play monthly shows at Bartholomew's and Swans here in Victoria, and boy oh boy, they know exactly how to burn up the stage! They even have an original song called We're Goin' To Bartholomew's.

These are men who radiate passion and fire during their intense live performances; their hearts kept young through music.

HARRIS GILMORE: singer/songwriter, harmonica, slide guitar, percussion

AL SABOURIN: lead guitar

KYLE SHICK: drums, backing vocals, quips

STEVE DUBEN: bass guitar, backing vocals

Check them out Friday and Saturday.

June 11th and 12th at Bartholomew's.

9pm-1230 and its FREE!

Before you go, watch this video and watch them tear it up at the Walk for Social Services!

Insane harmonica skills hey?

What to do this weekend?

FRIDAY JUNE 4th

Victoria Shamrocks vrs Nanaimo Timbermen
7:45pm Bear Mountain Arena

Check out our lacrosse team! They are number one in the league right now!
Get your cheer on and enjoy an action packed lacrosse game tonight.

I guarantee at some point during the evening you will hear one of the following.
"Wait, slow down, where's the ball..."
"Um, did he just DIVE across the front of the net and score?"
"I wish I had high-speed coordination like this."

Warning: loss of voice may occur.

www.victoriashamrocks.ca

The Idlers, The Novamatics & Bananafish Dance Orchestra
9:00pm Lucky Bar

All together in one sweet show!
The Idlers are an eleven-piece reggae circus from St. John's, Newfoundland. Their unique sound comes from a love for reggae, ska, and afro-beat, peppered with a little Celtic.
The Novamatics are one of the tightest ska bands to come out of Victoria in quite some time. The band has a full horn section and plays solid ska/rocksteady/reggae/jazz tunes. Good luck trying not to dance!
Bananafish Dance Orchestra are one of the freshest bands from Nanaimo right now. Their fusion of Latin, jazz, reggae funk will blend perfectly into this show. Music from Ska, Celtic, reggae, jazz, funk and more.

Tickets: Lyles Place, Ditch Records

www.victoriaskafest.ca

SATURDAY JUNE 5th

Leeroy Stagger & The Wildflowers
8:00pm Hermanns Jazz Club

Celebrating the release of his new album, Leeroy and the Wildflowers are here to make their mark. The album, Everything is Real, is a gritty, honest collection of songs that aren’t afraid to rock, sway, or break a few hearts. Leeroy is a celebrity with a new band, a more mature look on life and fabulous new music. Don't miss it!

www.hermannsjazz.com

Oak Bay Tea Party
June 5th and 6th @ Willows Beach

So much happening!

Annual Pancake Breakfast - 7:00 to 11:00 am Saturday and Sunday. Its at Willows Park thanks to the Capital City Lions Club... Yum!

The Tea Party Parade - 10:30 am Saturday. Begins at Windsor Park, the parade winds through the streets of Oak Bay, ending at Willows Park about 45 minutes later.

Stage Entertainment - 12pm Saturday. Goes all day!

Bathtub Race - 1pm Sunday. Come out on Sunday afternoon and see real bathtubs zoom along the water!

Airshow - 2pm Sunday. The airshow will have demonstrations such as skydivers landing on the beach, military aircraft, aerobatic aircraft, a sea rescue demonstration and the Coast Guard helicopter static display

Plus: Amusement rides, kayaking, and a new floating tea cup challenge!

www.oakbayteaparty.com

SUNDAY JUNE 6th

Xavier Rudd & Izintaba
8:00 pm Victoria Curling Club

Check out my last blog post for all the details!

www.xavierrudd.com

Time To Smile

Xavier Rudd & Izinataba - June 6th

Victoria Curling Club

Wow. Okay. I have been a Xavier Rudd fan for quite some time now, the voice, the didgeridoo, the whole one man band vibe... but never have I been this impressed with his music!

In a collaboration project with Izintaba, he recently released a new album --Koonyum Sun--

This album has a sound that takes you on a totally different Xavier journey. The recognizable elements are still there, but add some back up vocals/chanting, a solid bass line with some heavier percussion, a taste of electric, and deeper lyrical content... now you have Koonyum Sun.

Its passionate, spiritual, and takes you somewhere else. The Koonyum Sun ushers in a new day in New South Wales, and that is exactly what the album portrays: refreshment and rebirth.

Xavier admits that this new album marks a new musical and spiritual awakening. It's so apparent in the lyrics, in the music and in his voice.

Izintaba is the name taken by Tio and Andile, the two men Xavier produced this album with. Izintaba is the Zulu word for “mountains,” and Xavier says that whether he's playing or simply being, he feels as though he’s “standing on a mountain."

SO FABULOUS!

And they are playing here this Sunday, June 6th at the Victoria Curling Club!

Check out this tune from Xavier Rudd and Izintaba:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrqQPSZXpOc

It's a youtube music video, the song's called Time To Smile and he sings...

"Summer is coming, its time to smile"

So true! Enjoy.

xoxo

I'm going to start a blog...

That was my brilliant idea of the day. How great!

Now I can keep everyone on the same page as I mumble about music and babble about local events.

Since, I'm only on air from 6:30-9:30am, there is a limited amount of time I can spend talking about fun, exciting and important things. This is my place to expand! I will post links, videos, pictures, stories and more...

You'll find those pesky web addresses and phone numbers without having to frantically scrawl them on a napkin as you're eating breakfast, or worse, driving.

Also, you will be able to comment on my posts so we can stay connected, and I can get to know you too.

Let's get started!