TO CD OR NOT TO CD?

Not to rock the boat or anything cause I'm really just an ankle bitin' blues biscuit.. but I've been thinking lots about this whole "release your first CD thing." Seems like that's the question on many minds and although I understand the sense of accomplishment and completion that goes along with producing a so- called 'creative icing on the cake'..I'm not so sure it's what I want to do.

Will I be taken more seriously as a performer and recording artist if I put out a complete album? Should it matter to me what others think of my decisions regarding my music career? Most indie albums are produced at the expense of the artist and barely sold these days.. "here sir! have a free drink coaster with some of my original soul lazered into the grooves"..Not to dis the process..I have unlimited amounts of respect for the many multi- talented and productive musicians in this town but I'm feeling it in a totally different direction. 


Yes I want radio airplay, yes I want to share my music on a massive scale and yes I would love to make even a little bit of money off my labour of love. I'm simply unsure if having stacks of cracked plastic jewel cases gathering dust in thrift stores is worth the energy when it runs the risk of de-railing me from live performance and interacting with other music lovers..which happens to be my true passion and driving force.

Is it a rite of passage to produce a CD?  Is it a token of gratitude to the listener or an homage to all the other artists who have put tremendous amounts of time, talent, not to mention MONEY into what seems to become nothing more than a ritual process? Where do those albums really end up anyway, other than popped into the computer, downloaded then transferred to a digital device of some sort. 


What means more to me than anything is connecting with my audience and earning the respect of my peers and all the other players around town who I look up to and learn from. Somehow I don't think they would care one way or the other. The question seems primarily industry- based and I'm not convinced that impressing the industry is a priority for me right now. I just wanna play good music with great musicians. I'm fortunate enough to be doing that now so I guess I'll stay the course!

Speaking of great stages and great audiences..the next show is at Cory Weed's Cellar Jazz Club and I'm honoured to share such a stage with my amazing 'Dirty Swing Band' Jack Lavin, Dave Webb and John Nolan.

THE MAN I MISS THE MOST

My only regret in regards to my latest musical endeavour is that my own father never got to be involved with my little project.  Besides my own inner passion to perform well and succeed, he is the main reason I pursued music with such vigour in the first place. Countless hours of practising Bach and Brahms on my cello with him hovering over my shoulder telling me to "play it again and play it better, biscuit!" Prompted me to refuse practising in his presence altogether as a teen. 

John Daniel Le Van Jr. never played an instrument, but sang a deep encompassing baritone that filled the church every Sunday. Singing the bass lines of the hymn book, we were embarrassed as children by his booming, reverberating  vocals. Yet he loved the attention from all the old church biddies, and performed for them from his pew with heart, soul, perfect pitch and timing.


He would wake us up every Saturday morning much to our dismay crooning 'Ramona' at the top of his lungs, drowning out our groans of discontent....

He was a French Hugenot from the Ozark Mountains of Springfield Missouri. He never knew a life without music and wanted nothing more from me than to become a professional musician. How terribly disappointed he was when I quit the cello in the mid 1990's and took a detour from music altogether just a few years before he died. 

He gave me the moniker 'Wendy Biscuit' the day I was born apparenty because i was fat and round like the southern breakfast staple...'biscuits and gravy' He even composed a little jingle and sang it to me every Sunday morning while we walked to church. Here's how it went...

Little bitty Wendy Biscuit

Little bitty Wendy girl

Daddy gotta biscuit

Little bitty baby girl

As a teenager he embarassed me further by calling me "biscuit" in front of my punk rock friends who snickered and poked fun at my hated nickname. Only since last year have I learned how precious were the gifts he gave me. I can boldly say that the Wendy Biscuit Blues Band is an offering to his memory and I mourn the fact that he will never be in the front row where he always said he wanted to be.

LITTLE 'BLUES' ENGINE THAT COULD

Well, Still chugging away on the Biscuit Train. 

'I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN' has a whole new meaning for me. 

Building a musical project in this unforgiving town has been a steep hill with a heavy load..but I have no room for self doubt and haters..so CHUG CHUG CHUG! (That goes for the booze too)

Fortunately, I am surrounded by many talented, kind players and well- wishers who have all been tremendously patient while I figure this out. Believe me, there's lots more figuring to do!

Jack has been a dream..assisting with set list construction, producing the beginnings of my first jazz and blues CD-  not to mention being a great friend and the best damn bass player around. John Nolan is such a gentlemen...and newcomer Dave Webb adds some seriously fun dynamics on stage as well as incredible competence...nice to have you on board, Dave! I really don't deserve such a great band..I don't know enough yet. So I thank my lucky stars and try to do right by them. I've learned to shut up and listen lots..

My calendar is as full as I want it to be. My goals for 2012 include booking a tour.. just a small one..but I don't really know how to do that yet, so hopefully its not too complicated.. naive right?

The new tunes are getting out there on two radio stations..and the next live performance is tonight at Guilt and Co. I love playing there. I'll keep posting the new bookings as they come up..

Until then, ALL ABOARD!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!

I'm finally feeling better. looking forward to my next show at falconetti's. I need to concentrate on healing the vocal chords, they feel damaged. That was a terrible flu. Searching for new tunes to add has been stimulating- there is so much amazing music out there past, present, inside and out. 

Its my mom's 70th this January. Any folks who know my mom are also invited to join us in the celebration of music, friends and fun.

 

HAPPY  2012!

WHAT WOULD FRANK DO??

Sinatra had it right. Not only was he handsome, talented, cocky and in command..he had his own style.


I get alot of advice and critcism from alot of people. One thing I know for sure is that I respect every word of feedback I receive. I don't however, always adhere to it.


Since completing half of my Blues album, I'm more convinced than ever that I can only creatively produce what I have dwelling inside of me. If this means that I'll never be a commercially viable musician than so be it. Music has always been a personal journey and celebration that I share with others who enjoy what I'm capable of. I don't expect anything from my efforts. Regardless, I am driven forward to discover whats exciting and new, while staying true to what moves me musically and connects me with others who I learn endlessly from.


Pretty happy to be at home in my pyjamas this Saturday night and hoping that I'm doing what's right by following a passion greater than anything I can understand. Not worried about failure, cause there's nothing to lose.


Except money- 


What would Frank do? 

BOW DOWN, MERCURY!

Mercury goes into retrograde today. Bad time for starting new projects, signing deals and communication. 

Mercury is the messenger and when he appears to be moving backwards because the Earth is traveling faster alongside him, anything involving comprehension and correspondence runs the risk of going awry. If you believe in that crap. 


Mercury in retrograde is just about the only astrological function I respect and fear. Simply because I have had direct experience with numerous endeavours swiftly sailing south within the approximately 3 week duration of challenge and confusion. This particular period starts today and ends Dec. 13th 2011.


So what does it all have to do with the music? Well if I told you, I'd be inviting the little red planet to invade my plans and inspiration only to dissuade and diffuse whatever schemes are brewing up in my brain. So that being said- I won't be doing anything until after Christmas- and maybe even longer. Regardless, its been a busy year and my kids could use a mommy around the house at night time during the holiday season and beyond.   

WENDY BISCUIT - a year in review...

I think it's been almost exactly a year since i posted the first live performance of 'Wendy Biscuit Blues'
at The Main on Main with Wayne Evans on bass and Steve Ranta on keys. I felt like the luckiest gal in the world playing with those boys and nothing's changed...except a lot. 


We've covered a lot of stages this past year with my little project as well as players..(mostly drummers) 
but I'm quite content to settle with these current gentleman, whose presence i'm honoured to share.


Here we are at Falconetti's at our Commercial Drive debut last week. That's Willie MacCalder on keys- and yes he's a dreamboat (check him out @ 1:33 mark in above video)...but we know how smitten I am by him....Jack Lavin on bass who so wonderfully stepped up to the plate after Wayne Evans - my favourite person in the whole wide world-  told me he was too old and too tired to play regularly. Mr. John Nolan on drums who has spent the last 8 years booking and backing the best jazz piano/singers at the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown Vancouver. By the way - Falconetti's was a full house....:)


Tomorrow we hit the studio. Five of my own tunes are up for grabs (produced by Mr. Lavin himself) and I am just plugging forward like I always have without letting fear and insecurity overcome me. I know these guys are better than I can ever hope to be..and so I just take the leap of faith and hope for the best. What else is there??


Then Tues. Nov. 22nd takes us to 'Guilt and Company' in Gastown. Thank God Wayne and my mom will be in the audience. Makes it so much easier knowing my most loved ones are hanging around! Wayne doesn't drink anymore, so he can give my mother a ride home!!