The Other Family

After spending many dollars on guitars, and many hours noodling around on them, what do you do with them? You hook up with other musicians, do "show & tell" with your prized instruments, and spend time noodling together.

I have recollections of Dad and his friends gathering in our tiny kitchen for jam sessions. Dad usually played the spoons, and I did my best to keep up on the guitar or mandolin, and we had a blast. Singing, foot stomping, laughter, and rum. Happy times. Those happy times are recreated for me in my current musical groups. They are sort of like family. Friends are the family you choose.

Currently, I play with 3 or 4 divergent groups: a jazz group, a 60's rock group, a scottish dance band, and a couple of worship groups. I spend most of my time with the jazz group. We refer to ourselves as 4 guys and a dame.


In this photo, we are performing at an open mike venue in Oakville. That’s Ed Marion on the left, on Guitar and vocals, Brenda Chisolm on vocals and butterscotch squares, Lawrence Chan on rhythm guitar & sushi, Larry Ault on Mandolin & wine, and yours truly on bass & appetite.
Look carefully at those faces. (Click on the photo to enlarge) No smiles! What gives? Aren't we happy? Aren't we having a good time? You bet we are, but we are zoned out (or in - whatever) really into the song and concentrating on the next chord change. What the photo does not reveal is the toe tapping, the body swaying, the head nodding, and of course, you don't hear the music. Swing jazz. And we do swing. When the set is over, its ear to ear grins and high fives, and let's have a beer! While it may be over the top to say "This is what we live for", (after all we do have lives), it is in fact the reason we play... to be enjoyed by an appreciative audience. The applause is very gratifying. OK, it's a kind audience who would probably applaud even if all you did on stage was pick your nose, but we'll take it anyway.

But what I really appreciate are the people. They are so interesting. Ed has been around the world and done everything but make it all the way to the top of Mount Everest. A doting father and loving husband, he has in the past been a real estate agent, a stand up comedian, a guitar instructor, and is currently self employed as an exquisitely meticulous carpenter. Most practice sessions, he has us laughing so hard, that we need a chiropractor the next day.
You had best be nice to the lovely and talented Brenda - rumor has it that she can bench press 300 lbs! This svelte mother of two and wife of one sings like a bird and can play a fist full of musical instruments. She turned down a modeling career to be a writer. Her family is the most important thing in her life. Yet she manages to carve out some time to sing with a couple of musical groups. On top of all that, her butterscotch squares are to die for!
Lawrence studied Anthropology in university, but that didn't fit his entrepreneurial spirit. He has had several businesses over the years, and his current business is hairdressing. What a great way to meet chicks! He's a fine guitarist, and is a walking encyclopedia of chords. He often brings sushi to the practices to go with Larrys wine.
Larry is our mandolinist. He is an electrician by day, but in his off hours he is a passionate collector of old photographs and antique oil lamps. He fears no power shortage. At every practice, he lays on an interesting bottle of wine for us to savor.

We get together once a week to practice, and I look forward to these sessions as much as I enjoy playing for the audience. They are always interesting and entertaining. Reminds me of those impromptu kitchen gatherings of my youth.

Cheers,
Rick