Deb’s Blog

On May 15, 2008, I was privileged to have been invited to sing as a guest artist at the Third Annual Tribute to Domenic Troiano – a fundraiser for the Toronto East General Hospital, taking place at the glorious on Toronto’s Lakeshore. The night was a perfect spring night – the moon on Lake Ontario was breathtaking, and reconnecting with friends from the music business was such a pleasure. The Lincolns, led by Prakash John and fronted by Steven Ambrose,  provided a dance set for the audience, and the dancefloor was crowded to the max.  What a band!

Last year at the same function, I saw and chatted with Doug Riley for what was to be the last time, so there was a little bitter-sweet involved. I decided to sing “This Little Light of Mine” to honour the bright light always shining from Domenic Troiano and other great musicians such as Doug Riley, Oscar Peterson and Jeff Healey when they were still with us.  In the band, led by guitarist-extraordinaire Bernie LaBarge, were Grant Slater on keys, Rob Gusevs on Hammond B3, Paul Delong on drums and Howard Ayee on bass.  Backing me up in the vocal department were Sharon Lee Williams, Shawne Jackson, Colina Phillips, Lynne Deragon and my dear friend B. J. Cook.  
You can check out my performance on YouTube

DATE:  Feb. 17, 2008

TRANZAC CLUB

ADDRESS:  292 Brunswick Ave.,
(south off Bloor between Bathurst and Spadina)

in the beautiful city of Toronto Canada

TIME:  7:30


Murphy’s Law:  With ten entrants in this “mawkish” song contest, that has gone on for at least 10 years, under the auspices of the Flying Cloud Folk Club, I performed my song “Summer in the City”.  It was a ditty I wrote out of frustration with the renovations surrounding me a few years back.  My philosophy has always been “Make Lemonade” (another of my songs!), and instead of allowing myself to go quite mad with the barrage of noise, dirt and disorder surrounding me daily,  I wrote my song.  Since I was told this “Sentimental Song Contest” was supposed to be with a wry and mawkish undercurrent, I figured I’d perform this “cathart” tune – without the help of my ChoirGirlz, as both were busy that night.  I didn’t care if I won the prize — I am a beer and wine girl, NOT scotch (which was to be the prize, along with a box of Kleenex — very symbolic).  Being a “Sentimental Songs Virgin” — I knew not what to expect, and just wanted to be there to enjoy the songs that other people brought to the table.  I sang my song.  I heard some really fun ones — David Newland played his uke, and sang about crying in the rain.  I heard a song about unrequited love between a lobster and a crab, and about yearning for Charlotte (which I figured would win). Stewart sang an old song about a dog “Old Shep” — I remember Elvis singing this years ago.   When the winner was announced, I was totally aghast that my song “Summer in the City” was the winner of the night.  I think when you go into something not even THINKING of winning, and not really knowing what you’re doing — the chances of winning are quite high.  (Like the time I first joined the Musician’s Curling League in the ’80’s, and we all shot a rock for the chance to win a turkey — because I had NO experience or technique in curling, and not a hope in H*%^llof winning — I shot one of the closest rocks in the competition, and walked home with a turkey for our Christmas dinner that year.   The next year – when I knew a bit more about what I was doing — NOT EVEN CLOSE. )  I guess you win when you’re relaxed and have no expectations.  Now I have this GOOD bottle of scotch.  Hmmm.

January 2007

Well folks, last year was a very busy year in my life.  The JAZZ part of me did a few gigs with my band — Orleans Newmarket, Gate 403 and the revered Montreal Bistro.  Just a few weeks after I appeared there with my band – Bruce Harvey, Jack McFadden, Donnie Vickery  and  John MacMurchy the favourite Jazz room in the city of Toronto closed its doors for good.  Although there are still a few small places in Toronto for jazz musicians to play, there was nowhere like the Montreal Bistro — where the  grand piano was always tuned, the food was amazing, and there was a “no talking” policy while the musicians played and the singers sang.  Can’t get more special than that.  We are still mourning the loss, and hope that Lothar and Brigitte Lang will be opening another venue soon in Toronto.

The CHOIRGIRLZ part of me took up about 75% of the year – arranging and co-producing our second CD entitled “Girl Time” during the summer.

Mary Ellen, Dorothy and I during photo shoot for our 2nd CD “Girl Time”

 It’s an album we are all proud of, and it features the swingin’ Bebop Cowboys backing us up.  The band is led by Steve Briggs on guitar and mandolins, the co-producer of the “Girl Time” CD, and incidentally – -my guitar teacher.  In the band along with Steve, are John Adames on drums, Victor Bateman on upright bass, Burke Carroll on steel and dobro, Denis Keldie on Accordian, the totally amazing Drew Jurecka on fiddle and Duncan Fremlin on banjo.  Produced at Soundhole Studios owned by uber-talented   Ray Montford, it all fell together like clockwork.  The CD may be ordered and listened to via the ChoirGirlz website.   Choirgirlz have done a lot of performing as a result of the new recording, and we’re reaching  ever wider circles of appreciative fans .

Steve Briggs, co-producer of Girl Time, takes a sunny moment.

GREG KING has a slew of great photoz he’s taken of both me, and Choirgirlz — we even have a special page on his website.  Go to gregking‘s website  to check out the talents of this fantastic photographer.  He did the cover of our CD, and there are photos on his site of the CD cover shoot.

The CLASSICAL part of me had a very busy year with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Because of my involvement with

Noel Edison conducts Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, as they record Xmas CD “Festival of Carols” in a heatwave, during June 2006.

ChoirGirlz and Jazz, I chose not to be a member of the Mendelssohn Singers — the smaller 80 voice unit made up of the creme-de-la-creme of the Mendelssohn Choir.  I was part of the recording of Christmas music that was done in June, and released just before Christmas this year. It is a lovely recording entitled A Festival of Carols, and will be a seasonal favourite for years to come. I also enjoyed going to Elora to sing the Mozart Requiem and the mighty Mahler 2nd Symphony — better known as “The Resurrection Symphony”.  What a thrill to sing both those amazing works under the baton of Noel Edison with full orchestra!  We will be performing the Mahler again this year – I think in April.

The Hampton Avenue 4 part of me enjoyed thoroughly reuniting with Suba Sankaran, Dylan Bell and Tom Lillington as we sang carols at First Canadian Place and The Atrium on Bay before Christmas in 2006.  The wonderful arrangements in our book just rang out pitch-perfectly, and I felt my life was full-filled musically.  We don’t get much chance to gig together any more — Suba is heavily involved in recording and touring with her jazz/Indo/fusion group  autorickshaw .  Dylan has just left the talented group  Cadence to pursue more writing and recording, as he is becoming greatly in demand for both these talents.  Tom is busy with his piano tuning business, and also tours extensively with the Canadian Chamber Choir.  With ChoirGirlz’ busy schedule, it’s really difficult to find a window of time to just get together, let alone do a gig.

PLANS FOR 2007 include:
Getting my jazz trio back on the rails and doing more gigs around the GTA.
Performing with ChoirGirlz — Winterfolk is our first 2007 gig — the weekend of Feb. 9 – 11th.  It’s free admission for all, and taking place in the Broadview-Danforth area.  Go to  Winterfolk  for more info about venues.
Practising harder on GUITAR and taking a few more lessons from Steve Briggs.
Getting back to a more healthy workout regimen at Metro Central YMCA.
Writing more jazz vocal arrangements and having a few more “singoffs” with members from Hampton Avenue and Cadence.
Writing more music for my wonderful church choir to sing (St. Pauls Bloor St.)
Writing more songs for ChoirGirlz.
Laughing more.  Enjoying my granddaughter Sadie.  Spending time with friends.  Eating healthily, and drinking good beer, enjoying life.
 It’s gonna be a busy year!

June 2005

Parti-Gras, the weekend before the Beaches Jazz Festival, took place at the Distillery district.  Debbie and her quartet were to follow the wonderful June Garber in the afternoon.

Rain began to fall, and the outdoor “Tankhouse Diva Stage” was protected only by overlapping patio umbrellas.  By the time Debbie and her band stepped onto the stage, the rain was coming down steadily, and dripping onto the drumstool.  The kit was moved to slightly drier ground, tarps were loaded atop the floor monitors to protect them, and to successfully muffle the sound coming out of them.   Nobody seemed to think about protecting the singer, and Debbie stood in a puddle while holding a mic and singing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On Your Head” as a soundcheck tune.

A few diehard fans took to the tables and chairs, wrapped in protective raingear, and prepared to get up and dance anyway!  During Debbie’s third song, a massive series of “poofs” took place in the speakers, which immediately lost power along with the piano,  and that was the end of that!  Debbie felt very frustrated not to be able to sing her songs for the audience who had come to hear her, however she was saved from electrocution, and lived to tell the tale.

September 1, 2005

Debbie had a busy run of gigs in May and June 2005.   She guested to a full house in Markham, with the marvellous Sgt. Pepper’s Quartet consisting of the great Norman Amadio on piano, Frank Wright on vibes, Jack McFadden on bass and Don Vickery on drums.  These guys swing their patooties off — and Frank Wright is downright amazing as he continuously dances like a twenty year old from one end  of his vibes to the other!

The Distillery Jazz Festival was fabulous — if a little chilly.  The crowds were out to have a good time, and Debbie and the boys got them up and dancing in front of the stage!  Debbie’s catchy tunes usually do that — it’s hard to stay in your seat with the infectious rhythms — swing, bossa, Latin — ole!

For more photos of Debbie and her gigs, check out Greg King’s website — Deb has her own special feature page.

Debbie appears at the Distillery Jazz Festival in May

Photo by Greg King

LE SELECT BISTRO – DOWNTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL

Debbie, Jack McFadden and Bruce Harvey appeared at Le Select Bistro during the Downtown Jazz Festival.  A white-tuxed Bob Segarinni and his very nattily dressed party of four graced the narrow aisle at LeSelect with some fancy ballroom dancing while Debbie filled their requests.