Hiya People.
Well, what can I say about the Bands "SHOW" last night at the Wise Hall because thats exactly what they did for all of us, put on a show.
If that had been in Vegas it would have got rave reviews and with people panting for more. Do humans still "pant"? All i can say is there were quite a few tongues hanging out there toward the end, any dog would certainly have understood
My ears are still ringing (It's the bells you know, they make me deaf). The sheer volume of sound was just unbelievable, cascading around the room, literally bouncing off those old wooden walls. Was it only me who quite expected Shakespeare to make a sudden appearence from the balcony? Thought for just a minute I actually spotted him, turned out to be Collier with his video camera, pity really but one cannot have everything.
Folks, I wish I had the words to describe properly the "Coming of Age" the "Loss of Virginity" of the SoTight Band with Miss Nadine last night but words fail me, it was exciting, it was stupendous. Have you EVER seen a group of people,mostly of a certain age, just dancing their hearts out and having so much fun?
Do we even understand how lucky, how fortunate we are to be even a little part of this, if you DON"t then show me ANY band in ANY local community that puts out so much effort and has the respect and loyalty they have gained in such a short period of time.
Just try to imagine how it must feel for THEM, for each individual on that stage, looking back and seeing a mass of humanity out on the floor, big, big smiles--nah---HUGE GRINS on all the faces,people from all walks of life,colours,creeds the less fortunate in wheelchairs just 'bopping' away. (can you still say bopping, well it works for me) It must give each one of them a sense of real pride and I'm sure, not a little surprise,that this is happening for them, lets face it, turn the clock back a few years and the SoTightBand would have been out of here and on the road.
I cannot go through all the individual performances, it would surely be unfair to single out any one of them, THIS was a BAND performance and truly remarkable. Having said that lets give a huge hand to Nadine's mum, a huge hand to the class shown by Sotight with their flower presentation to wives, girl friends and helpers, they ALL worked so hard to put on this event, we had only to show up and PARTY. I understand they were there from 11 am setting up, decorating the hall etc and then taking everything down after we were safely tucked up in bed, thats roughly 15/16 hours. I can only applaud each and every one of them.
I would also like to mention the care and attention given to the wheelchair bound folks who had such a great time, you are very special and devoted people, may your god go with you.
I also want to take this opportunity to applaud each and every one who came, you are a truly wonderful group, never a sign of "trouble" and in this day and age that, in itself,is a blessing we should not ignore, give yourself some applause just stand up and put your hands together, you deserve it.
OK PLEASE...IT"S YOUR TURN. WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF IT LAST NIGHT?
Which solo or number sticks out in your memory? What did enjoy most about the whole evening? Andra, get YOUR fingers working, I know you have something to share, what about some others? Kathy, your'e up, find a way to give us your thoughts, if you or anyone else is unsure HOW to add a comment, send me an email at sotightbandblog@yahoo.ca and I'll be glad to help.
Final note to band, fire that announcer you had, he will want to sing next, LOL
Great stuff Boys and Girls, this boy had a ball. THANKYOU.
Remember..Keep it Tight--Keep it SoTight
Richard Winn
White Rock
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Professionalism
Hi Folks.
Took my wife and daughter to Rossinis on saturday. They both were very sceptical of my enthusiasm for "THE BAND" feeling it was just a good excuse for yours truly to "Get Single" for a day as my wife puts it and come home generally worse for wear but smiling. Well, "She who must be obeyed" is 100% correct but then as I have discovered, she always is.
I confess to being a little leary of taking them this last weekend knowing that JT was not playing and it was bound to have an effect on the overall SOUND of the band, in fairness Mr Platt also brings such great personal presence in addition to his amazing ability on the sax.
It was a strange day and took some time for the Band to really get going. Also perhaps due to the earlier start the place was eerily empty, here is me telling my "family" to be prepared to be surrounded by a bunch of loudmouthed drunks shoulder to shoulder with no room to breathe (naively thinking they wouldn't want to go) and blow me down it was very quiet, too quiet, I'm getting anxious and jumpy, I've told my daughter this is the best party band in Vancouver and she needs to book them for her upcoming 40th Birthday, which immediately pisses her off to be reminded of, another carafe of wine , waitress please, make it two.
The sheer professionalism of the SoTight Band comes through and i must give huge credit to KENT WALLACE who all afternoon was simply amazing in his ability to play what were surely saxophone parts on the trumpet, no matter his ability on that instrument it just MUST have been something of an ordeal to front the band at it's "Home Base" and carry it off the way he did, you are something else Mr Wallace, kudos too you and hope the later Salsa gig went well.
Then there was Miss Nadine. The more I see of this lady the more excited I get for her future, like Kent it cannot have been easy for her, and in addition seemed a little tired, maybe not well and yet she stepped up to the plate, got it going and just WORKED her tail off the whole afternoon. I know at some point, just by looking at the reaction of both members of my family they were simply astonished by her range, her presence, her command of the audience and as my daughter put it, her obvious love for what she does. (Actually, Nadine says she would really have rather been a comedian, interesting isn't it, mind you I would rather have sung like Sinatra but the s.o.b got there first) Which reminds me when is Mr Buble going to pay his dues to this city and give us a song or two at Rossinis (no cover charge Arni) No time soon methinks.
There is no doubt that the second and third sets got everybody going, the place was filling up and the dance floor was starting to rock. In those sets I thought PETER's keyboard playing was superb, really relaxed and into it, and along with the always wonderful and hard working guitar playing of Cliff all is well. Or is it?
Mr Marr was strangely quiet, no solos, no vocals and was often seen playing with his back to the audience. Turns out poor Robby had done some serious damage to his back and probably should not have been there at all, so definitley struggled all afternoon but NEVER let the others down and THATS professionalism. Get well quick Mr Marr.
Drummers never get the accolade they should and yet in Rob Neumann the SoTightBand simply could not have a better one. Here is such an unassuming guy who takes his art seriously, listens intently to what is happening around him, supports the soloists very, very well and on saturday let his hair down with the best solo effort I have seen from him yet. Perhaps being allowed to solo without having to play around the beat of the song still prompted by the others, his true ability to show his technical expertise shines through. I DO know this is just the beginning of what is coming from Rob and wasn't it absolutely seemless the transition from drum solo back to the band, loved every minute of it Rob but then I would wouldn't I.
So it ends up, the band showed a wonderful degree of (that word again) professionalism under difficult circumstances. My daughter can't sit still and wants to dance and best of all cannot believe how a bunch of 'old buggers' can possibly have so much fun on a Saturday afternoon. My wifes impressed and wants to come every time the band plays now so I'm quitting effective immediately.
Did you hear the great news that the SoTightBand is having a BOAT CRUISE on Sunday JULY 15, I just had a call from my daughter who has returned home to Edmonton to make sure we book tickets for her and husband and for her sister and husband which together with my wife and son makes seven of us. The point here people, is the SoTightBand and the excitement they ALWAYS create to anyone around them NEW and old. BRING NEW FRIENDS to any of this bands gigs and they will always become SoTight Friends.
OVERHEARD AT ROSSINIS,
1) Outside ladies washroom,excellent aroma of marridgeuanna:
"When the F%%% do you think they'll fix the leaks?"
2) Passing comment from lady regarding Mr Wallaces expertise;
"He sure can BUMP-IT with that TRUMP_IT"
Gotta love those ladies.
Richard Winn
White Rock
Took my wife and daughter to Rossinis on saturday. They both were very sceptical of my enthusiasm for "THE BAND" feeling it was just a good excuse for yours truly to "Get Single" for a day as my wife puts it and come home generally worse for wear but smiling. Well, "She who must be obeyed" is 100% correct but then as I have discovered, she always is.
I confess to being a little leary of taking them this last weekend knowing that JT was not playing and it was bound to have an effect on the overall SOUND of the band, in fairness Mr Platt also brings such great personal presence in addition to his amazing ability on the sax.
It was a strange day and took some time for the Band to really get going. Also perhaps due to the earlier start the place was eerily empty, here is me telling my "family" to be prepared to be surrounded by a bunch of loudmouthed drunks shoulder to shoulder with no room to breathe (naively thinking they wouldn't want to go) and blow me down it was very quiet, too quiet, I'm getting anxious and jumpy, I've told my daughter this is the best party band in Vancouver and she needs to book them for her upcoming 40th Birthday, which immediately pisses her off to be reminded of, another carafe of wine , waitress please, make it two.
The sheer professionalism of the SoTight Band comes through and i must give huge credit to KENT WALLACE who all afternoon was simply amazing in his ability to play what were surely saxophone parts on the trumpet, no matter his ability on that instrument it just MUST have been something of an ordeal to front the band at it's "Home Base" and carry it off the way he did, you are something else Mr Wallace, kudos too you and hope the later Salsa gig went well.
Then there was Miss Nadine. The more I see of this lady the more excited I get for her future, like Kent it cannot have been easy for her, and in addition seemed a little tired, maybe not well and yet she stepped up to the plate, got it going and just WORKED her tail off the whole afternoon. I know at some point, just by looking at the reaction of both members of my family they were simply astonished by her range, her presence, her command of the audience and as my daughter put it, her obvious love for what she does. (Actually, Nadine says she would really have rather been a comedian, interesting isn't it, mind you I would rather have sung like Sinatra but the s.o.b got there first) Which reminds me when is Mr Buble going to pay his dues to this city and give us a song or two at Rossinis (no cover charge Arni) No time soon methinks.
There is no doubt that the second and third sets got everybody going, the place was filling up and the dance floor was starting to rock. In those sets I thought PETER's keyboard playing was superb, really relaxed and into it, and along with the always wonderful and hard working guitar playing of Cliff all is well. Or is it?
Mr Marr was strangely quiet, no solos, no vocals and was often seen playing with his back to the audience. Turns out poor Robby had done some serious damage to his back and probably should not have been there at all, so definitley struggled all afternoon but NEVER let the others down and THATS professionalism. Get well quick Mr Marr.
Drummers never get the accolade they should and yet in Rob Neumann the SoTightBand simply could not have a better one. Here is such an unassuming guy who takes his art seriously, listens intently to what is happening around him, supports the soloists very, very well and on saturday let his hair down with the best solo effort I have seen from him yet. Perhaps being allowed to solo without having to play around the beat of the song still prompted by the others, his true ability to show his technical expertise shines through. I DO know this is just the beginning of what is coming from Rob and wasn't it absolutely seemless the transition from drum solo back to the band, loved every minute of it Rob but then I would wouldn't I.
So it ends up, the band showed a wonderful degree of (that word again) professionalism under difficult circumstances. My daughter can't sit still and wants to dance and best of all cannot believe how a bunch of 'old buggers' can possibly have so much fun on a Saturday afternoon. My wifes impressed and wants to come every time the band plays now so I'm quitting effective immediately.
Did you hear the great news that the SoTightBand is having a BOAT CRUISE on Sunday JULY 15, I just had a call from my daughter who has returned home to Edmonton to make sure we book tickets for her and husband and for her sister and husband which together with my wife and son makes seven of us. The point here people, is the SoTightBand and the excitement they ALWAYS create to anyone around them NEW and old. BRING NEW FRIENDS to any of this bands gigs and they will always become SoTight Friends.
OVERHEARD AT ROSSINIS,
1) Outside ladies washroom,excellent aroma of marridgeuanna:
"When the F%%% do you think they'll fix the leaks?"
2) Passing comment from lady regarding Mr Wallaces expertise;
"He sure can BUMP-IT with that TRUMP_IT"
Gotta love those ladies.
Richard Winn
White Rock
Monday, May 14, 2007
A Fantastic Week
Hello again.
Not sure that everybody understands what happened with the SoTight Band this last week but I do know the band themselves understand.
With Kent on Trumpet the SoTightBand played for three consecutive nights at The Yale and the Fairview Pub on Broadway.
It cheeses' me off big time that having to travel from White Rock and having a fancy for a drink or two,I cannot be there more often. Translink does not care for music lovers beyond Midnight. Time to move downtown me-thinks.
I WAS at The Fairview on Saturday and just sat back and enjoyed what was happening around me. It took a while but by 11pm the joint was jumping and for me what was so great to see, was so many of the 'younger set' ( that hurts) out on the dance floor, and that is a wonderful testament to this band,just people showing up, looking to enjoy a night out and then finding out this was something Different and Special.
I remember particularly two folks I know from Rossinis, Jackie, who said 'Take a Look At The Waitress" who was serving us, she was singing along and doing quite amazing things with her hips(NNNIICCE Hips) while plugging in customers orders on the computer, and Darlene who came over to our table basically saying we looked like a Panel of "Experts "ready to hold up our cards of approval or otherwise. All 6.0's for me.
If anybody out there was at the Yale or at the Fairview on Friday perhaps you could let us know what happened, good, bad or indifferent. I can say without reservation that the interaction between Kent and Jt was awesome to listen to, no doubt that the three consecutive nights really helped those two. Also they all looked so relaxed up there, had some fun with their "stage routines" that they are so good at and not able to do at Rossinis' I am liking the way that Nadine is getting more and more involved with the audience,going all over the place and getting up front and personal while singing away, she is a truly remarkable performer and growing in confidence with each gig, how she hits some of those notes so spot on every time is quite amazing, at least to me.
What do YOU think about Nadine? Do you think she is "good" "very good" or like me "special". To me she fits this band like a glove and seems to get along so well with each member of the band.
Great to see Mr Marr doing more vocals, just excellent on Mustang Sally and Take me to the River, down and dirty Robbie, down and dirty.
Thanks to Rob Neumann for giving me a DVD he has made of his favourite drummers, they remind me of why I quit.
Thanks also to Andra for what she had to say about the Billy Dixon thing, I wish I could write like you Andra, would you consider getting a divorce from that Guitar playing fellow that always has such a huge smile on his face on stage, surely he cannot possibly be so nice at home. WE could have a lot of fun writing blogs on anything and everything that nobody has any interest in whatsoever.
With regard to Mr Dixon, time to move on,not doing anybody any good. Billy is a consumate performer and business man who has been extremely successful over a long, long period of time and i know the SoTight group wish him well and hopefully he feels the same toward them. Life's too short for any animosity and anyway there are not enough superb musicians in this city to go round, lets all enjoy the ones we do have. It would be a wonderful thing if Billy, at some point in the future, came on at Rossinis (or anywhere) for a guest spot with the Band. I'm going on one of his Boat cruises, haven't heard his new band yet.
As this blog is not getting much attention, very few people seem to be interested, I will be making some changes over the next few weeks, It's no fun bothering if it has no value. We shall see.
Thanks to the folks who HAVE shown an interest in their support of the band and this blog, particularly to "MrAllNight6" "AncientDen"(who delights in telling me he is younger than I am) Rossinis dance mob and the Band themselves.
Looking forward to Rossinis on Sat with Kent on trumpet(no JT, seems to feel he needs a holiday) and also don't forget the Band is at the Yale Wednesday the 16th.
Keep it Tight...Keep it SoTight
Richard Winn
White Rock
Not sure that everybody understands what happened with the SoTight Band this last week but I do know the band themselves understand.
With Kent on Trumpet the SoTightBand played for three consecutive nights at The Yale and the Fairview Pub on Broadway.
It cheeses' me off big time that having to travel from White Rock and having a fancy for a drink or two,I cannot be there more often. Translink does not care for music lovers beyond Midnight. Time to move downtown me-thinks.
I WAS at The Fairview on Saturday and just sat back and enjoyed what was happening around me. It took a while but by 11pm the joint was jumping and for me what was so great to see, was so many of the 'younger set' ( that hurts) out on the dance floor, and that is a wonderful testament to this band,just people showing up, looking to enjoy a night out and then finding out this was something Different and Special.
I remember particularly two folks I know from Rossinis, Jackie, who said 'Take a Look At The Waitress" who was serving us, she was singing along and doing quite amazing things with her hips(NNNIICCE Hips) while plugging in customers orders on the computer, and Darlene who came over to our table basically saying we looked like a Panel of "Experts "ready to hold up our cards of approval or otherwise. All 6.0's for me.
If anybody out there was at the Yale or at the Fairview on Friday perhaps you could let us know what happened, good, bad or indifferent. I can say without reservation that the interaction between Kent and Jt was awesome to listen to, no doubt that the three consecutive nights really helped those two. Also they all looked so relaxed up there, had some fun with their "stage routines" that they are so good at and not able to do at Rossinis' I am liking the way that Nadine is getting more and more involved with the audience,going all over the place and getting up front and personal while singing away, she is a truly remarkable performer and growing in confidence with each gig, how she hits some of those notes so spot on every time is quite amazing, at least to me.
What do YOU think about Nadine? Do you think she is "good" "very good" or like me "special". To me she fits this band like a glove and seems to get along so well with each member of the band.
Great to see Mr Marr doing more vocals, just excellent on Mustang Sally and Take me to the River, down and dirty Robbie, down and dirty.
Thanks to Rob Neumann for giving me a DVD he has made of his favourite drummers, they remind me of why I quit.
Thanks also to Andra for what she had to say about the Billy Dixon thing, I wish I could write like you Andra, would you consider getting a divorce from that Guitar playing fellow that always has such a huge smile on his face on stage, surely he cannot possibly be so nice at home. WE could have a lot of fun writing blogs on anything and everything that nobody has any interest in whatsoever.
With regard to Mr Dixon, time to move on,not doing anybody any good. Billy is a consumate performer and business man who has been extremely successful over a long, long period of time and i know the SoTight group wish him well and hopefully he feels the same toward them. Life's too short for any animosity and anyway there are not enough superb musicians in this city to go round, lets all enjoy the ones we do have. It would be a wonderful thing if Billy, at some point in the future, came on at Rossinis (or anywhere) for a guest spot with the Band. I'm going on one of his Boat cruises, haven't heard his new band yet.
As this blog is not getting much attention, very few people seem to be interested, I will be making some changes over the next few weeks, It's no fun bothering if it has no value. We shall see.
Thanks to the folks who HAVE shown an interest in their support of the band and this blog, particularly to "MrAllNight6" "AncientDen"(who delights in telling me he is younger than I am) Rossinis dance mob and the Band themselves.
Looking forward to Rossinis on Sat with Kent on trumpet(no JT, seems to feel he needs a holiday) and also don't forget the Band is at the Yale Wednesday the 16th.
Keep it Tight...Keep it SoTight
Richard Winn
White Rock
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Rossinis
Good morning. (After reading this I promise to keep away from so much "personal stuff" not directly related to the Band, just could not resist this one time so I hope you will indulge me and not fall asleep)
Another amazing saturday afternoon at Rossinis. You have to love this place and I'm quite sure most of the 'regulars" understand just how fortunate we all are to have such a remarkable venue. I was about to say 'institution" but we surely are not there yet and have many more years of fun, conversation and entertainment ahead of us.
In my case it's a real throwback to my playing days in England, we would invariably have a gig on a Sunday lunchtime from 11am 'til 2pm at some pub or other sometimes out in the middle of nowhere but because Sunday lunchtime has always been major get together and boozing time for Brits the atmosphere was just as elbow to elbow as Rossinis and still is today.
Pay was appalling but the beer was free (to us) and good but of course the best thing was the sheer number of bands that got to play, lots of "Guest Players" and sometimes, if we were in the Countryside with only the local bobby to be of concern about 2pm closing then we could and did just jam for as long as the landlord would stand for it.
Before finishing on this and so as not to bore you anymore than I have already was the fun we had with the Americans, they just could not understand this Sunday "thing" at all. I lived in North Yorkshire and for a day job sold Restaurant Equipment and my best account was the US Spy Listening Station at Menwith Hill just outside Harrogate so over time i got to know American musicians from all walks of life and all corners of that great country. They were really anxious to be a part of the community and many, many times I would phone one or the other at 8 or 9am on a sunday morning and relate that the band was playing at such and such pub and would they like to come watch and perhaps sit in. They were convinced we were completely nuts but bleary eyed and unbelieving they would show up and I don't know one over the years that did not have a ball.
If you ever get the chance there is one single venue I would suggest you visit, if you are ever "over there" and want a taste of the very best Jazz the UK has to offer on a Sunday morning then go to 'The Bulls Head"(Established 1684) at Barnes on the south side of the Thames. www.thebullshead.com
The pub, which is always packed has had jazz of all descriptions being played there without a break since 1959 and some of the worlds best musicians have played there and still do, check the site out it is such an interesting place. For me when I was not playing I would regularly get on the Train and travel from Leeds to London (200 miles) catch the number nine bus across the river and arrive just as the doors were opening, didn't matter who was playing it was always first class.
AND now you know why I love Rossinis, particularly when its jam packed to the rafters which it always is rain or shine when The SoTight Band is performing, the energy of the people in the room is fantastic and in my Canadian experience very unusual. I was always told how reserved and quiet and a bit boring the people of this nation could be (something us Brits have been wrongly labled with for centuries) well I ain't seen it and very much the opposite at this little spot in Kits. Great stuff, I love it.
Now, back to THE BAND. I have decided to leave it up to others to comment on any particular gig, most know my feelings about this group so other than drawing attention to things that stand out to me personally I would really appreciate what YOU think of the Band, its members,Rossinis and other venues. That is what this Blog is for so don't be shy,step up and give us YOUR input. That is what is going to help the band the most, lots and lots of people offering their thoughts WHATEVER they may be. I am grateful to the few who have shown interest so far "Ancient Den" "Mr all-Night6" (Hell of a handle sir) the Rossinis Dance Group etc and also for the Band themselves who have an appreciation of what we are trying to do here and believe me they DO read this "Blog Thingy" as JT loves to call it.
As I have mentioned before we will be adding different features to the Blog to keep it informative and interesting such as Photos, a new section called SPOTLIGHT ON........... a member of the band AND on individuals who support them (wives and friends IF they'll let me) and YOU so watch out.I eventually want to do this by Video if possible but this is just as new to me as it is to you so not sure I can carry that off, bit scary but WOULD be fun, we shall see.
I am glad to see the Link to this Blog is up on The SoTight Website, thanks to the Band and Andra for that, the more we all co-operate the more interesting it will become.
If you have suggestions as to what I should add or what YOU would do in my shoes I need all the help I can get, if you don't want to send them via the Blog then send to 'sotightbandblog@yahoo.ca'
Don't forget to keep checking the Band's website for where they are playing next. This month is great, this weekend Fri and Sat with KENT at The Fairview Pub on West Broadway,The Yale on the 16th, back at "HOME" Rossinis on the 19th and a very special occasion on the 26th, the SoTightBands very first "Party" at The Wise Club on Adanac Street, that will be something else.
Last, this is what I noticed about the Band's performance on Saturday which really impressed me. As always with the "practiced" part of each number they were as Tight as ever but the fun came with the new "Looseness" they are each giving when soloing, there is a freedom being given here to really let the individual FLY and they are really starting to understand that. It is just so intriguing to see the growth in such a short period of time as they grow more comfortable with each other, with Nadine (who was simply wonderful, didn't she LOOK great and leads from the front when singing) and the fact that they know their audience so well and so obviously grateful for it. So TELL US WHAT YOU THOUGHT about saturday, what stood out for YOU? Was it a particular band member or something else that happened?
Forgot to mention there is one NEW AREA of this blog that I need your participation with and people we are going to have some fun with this. It's amazing how, with so much noise generated at Rossinis that one can pick out a few words of presumably private conversation here and there quite clearly whether standing still, moving about, on the dance floor and very often in the area where the washrooms are. This will be called "Overheard at Rossinis" and should be no more than a sentence or so long. No names please.
My own this last saturday stuck with me all the way home to White Rock and what gave me the idea.
Very Attractive Woman to man standing next to her near the bar.
"I HAVEN"T HAD SEX FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS"
What an opening line folks, wish we men could get away with that one.
What have YOU heard" Just try to keep it RELATIVELY clean.
Keep It Tight, Keep it SoTight.
Richard Winn
White Rock
Another amazing saturday afternoon at Rossinis. You have to love this place and I'm quite sure most of the 'regulars" understand just how fortunate we all are to have such a remarkable venue. I was about to say 'institution" but we surely are not there yet and have many more years of fun, conversation and entertainment ahead of us.
In my case it's a real throwback to my playing days in England, we would invariably have a gig on a Sunday lunchtime from 11am 'til 2pm at some pub or other sometimes out in the middle of nowhere but because Sunday lunchtime has always been major get together and boozing time for Brits the atmosphere was just as elbow to elbow as Rossinis and still is today.
Pay was appalling but the beer was free (to us) and good but of course the best thing was the sheer number of bands that got to play, lots of "Guest Players" and sometimes, if we were in the Countryside with only the local bobby to be of concern about 2pm closing then we could and did just jam for as long as the landlord would stand for it.
Before finishing on this and so as not to bore you anymore than I have already was the fun we had with the Americans, they just could not understand this Sunday "thing" at all. I lived in North Yorkshire and for a day job sold Restaurant Equipment and my best account was the US Spy Listening Station at Menwith Hill just outside Harrogate so over time i got to know American musicians from all walks of life and all corners of that great country. They were really anxious to be a part of the community and many, many times I would phone one or the other at 8 or 9am on a sunday morning and relate that the band was playing at such and such pub and would they like to come watch and perhaps sit in. They were convinced we were completely nuts but bleary eyed and unbelieving they would show up and I don't know one over the years that did not have a ball.
If you ever get the chance there is one single venue I would suggest you visit, if you are ever "over there" and want a taste of the very best Jazz the UK has to offer on a Sunday morning then go to 'The Bulls Head"(Established 1684) at Barnes on the south side of the Thames. www.thebullshead.com
The pub, which is always packed has had jazz of all descriptions being played there without a break since 1959 and some of the worlds best musicians have played there and still do, check the site out it is such an interesting place. For me when I was not playing I would regularly get on the Train and travel from Leeds to London (200 miles) catch the number nine bus across the river and arrive just as the doors were opening, didn't matter who was playing it was always first class.
AND now you know why I love Rossinis, particularly when its jam packed to the rafters which it always is rain or shine when The SoTight Band is performing, the energy of the people in the room is fantastic and in my Canadian experience very unusual. I was always told how reserved and quiet and a bit boring the people of this nation could be (something us Brits have been wrongly labled with for centuries) well I ain't seen it and very much the opposite at this little spot in Kits. Great stuff, I love it.
Now, back to THE BAND. I have decided to leave it up to others to comment on any particular gig, most know my feelings about this group so other than drawing attention to things that stand out to me personally I would really appreciate what YOU think of the Band, its members,Rossinis and other venues. That is what this Blog is for so don't be shy,step up and give us YOUR input. That is what is going to help the band the most, lots and lots of people offering their thoughts WHATEVER they may be. I am grateful to the few who have shown interest so far "Ancient Den" "Mr all-Night6" (Hell of a handle sir) the Rossinis Dance Group etc and also for the Band themselves who have an appreciation of what we are trying to do here and believe me they DO read this "Blog Thingy" as JT loves to call it.
As I have mentioned before we will be adding different features to the Blog to keep it informative and interesting such as Photos, a new section called SPOTLIGHT ON........... a member of the band AND on individuals who support them (wives and friends IF they'll let me) and YOU so watch out.I eventually want to do this by Video if possible but this is just as new to me as it is to you so not sure I can carry that off, bit scary but WOULD be fun, we shall see.
I am glad to see the Link to this Blog is up on The SoTight Website, thanks to the Band and Andra for that, the more we all co-operate the more interesting it will become.
If you have suggestions as to what I should add or what YOU would do in my shoes I need all the help I can get, if you don't want to send them via the Blog then send to 'sotightbandblog@yahoo.ca'
Don't forget to keep checking the Band's website for where they are playing next. This month is great, this weekend Fri and Sat with KENT at The Fairview Pub on West Broadway,The Yale on the 16th, back at "HOME" Rossinis on the 19th and a very special occasion on the 26th, the SoTightBands very first "Party" at The Wise Club on Adanac Street, that will be something else.
Last, this is what I noticed about the Band's performance on Saturday which really impressed me. As always with the "practiced" part of each number they were as Tight as ever but the fun came with the new "Looseness" they are each giving when soloing, there is a freedom being given here to really let the individual FLY and they are really starting to understand that. It is just so intriguing to see the growth in such a short period of time as they grow more comfortable with each other, with Nadine (who was simply wonderful, didn't she LOOK great and leads from the front when singing) and the fact that they know their audience so well and so obviously grateful for it. So TELL US WHAT YOU THOUGHT about saturday, what stood out for YOU? Was it a particular band member or something else that happened?
Forgot to mention there is one NEW AREA of this blog that I need your participation with and people we are going to have some fun with this. It's amazing how, with so much noise generated at Rossinis that one can pick out a few words of presumably private conversation here and there quite clearly whether standing still, moving about, on the dance floor and very often in the area where the washrooms are. This will be called "Overheard at Rossinis" and should be no more than a sentence or so long. No names please.
My own this last saturday stuck with me all the way home to White Rock and what gave me the idea.
Very Attractive Woman to man standing next to her near the bar.
"I HAVEN"T HAD SEX FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS"
What an opening line folks, wish we men could get away with that one.
What have YOU heard" Just try to keep it RELATIVELY clean.
Keep It Tight, Keep it SoTight.
Richard Winn
White Rock
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