Elling at Cap College

[chandra]

Wow. What a show. Second time for me seeing him up there. That man's got lungs. But I'm actually here to gush about someone else...Bravo to Morgan Childs. It's the first time I've seen Morgan play, and my friend and I couldn't get over how amazing he is. Good Job! Morgan - we once had a chat about how you thought my friend Karl Jannuska was a good drummer - I think you may just give him a run for his money. Also, I have to say how impressive Mike Zachernuk is as well. I know comparisons are too easy and a little unfair but I can't help but thinking Brad Turner when I see Mike play.

Anyway, just wanted to give the up n' comers a little applause there. They certainly deserve it.

Cheers,
Chandra

[Morgan Childs]

Wow.... um.... thanks. That show was a lot of fun, I'm really glad you both enjoyed it so much. Kurt was very, very cool, and really made it easy to make that show great. He even came to our house afterwards and hung out. Man, it's so nice of you guys to say that kind of stuff. Mike Z is one of my dearest friends, a fantastic musician who has taught me a lot over my past 2 1/2 years at Cap. There are really a lot of great players that go to this school, I'm honored to be able to play with them all. Thanks again, and I'll see you at the show...

[chandra]

Pardon me while I bring up old news, but yesterday I seemed to have lucked out in getting a tasty little download from www.audiogalaxy.com. (http://www.audiogalaxy.com.) Kurt Elling and the Cap College band doing Cold Duck Time. I thought the soloists might be especially jazzed (no pun intended) to know that it's out there in the Cyber ether. The only name I caught of someone I know of was Morgan's. Still a fabulous drum solo by the way. Anywhoo - if anyone would like a copy of it email me at avalon_events@hotmail.com and we'll figure something out. Either that or just go to the aforementioned website and get yourself the little peer to peer software thingy and get it yourself.

And just to add in a little self righteous lecture - please - anyone who downloads music from independant artists especially, use it as a sampling, but please still go out and buy the music. Unlike huge signed artists who only recieve about 5 cents per cd sold and a few hundred downloads matter not, indy artists need cd sales to actually pay for even putting that cd out in the first place. Lecture over.

And of course, that being said, that Elling song isn't even recorded anywhere so please enjoy guilt free.

Chandra

[Steve]

That's the first time I've pulled a bootleg of a concert I've played in off of the net and I'm not sure whether to be flattered or pissed off. Probably a little of both. I'm a little annoyed they didn't get the night where I played a little better but that's the way it is. It isn't like I'm getting scammed out of the royalities. C'est la vie.

[Morgan Childs]

Thanks Chandra, that sounds interesting. I wonder who put it out there, as not even myself nor any other members of the band have heard ANY of the recordings yet!!!

Anyway, I'm up at the Beautiful Banff Centre right now, surrounded by fantastic musicians from all over the world, and Kenny Werner and all those guys. It's only the second day of the program, and I'm just having the best time ever... amazing. Anyway, hi to everyone in Vancouver, and I'll see ya in a few weeks.

[chandra]

Steve - I say be flattered. Like you said, it's not like you'd be getting any money for it anyway. Besides, isn't it just nice to know that hundreds, if not thousands, of people are listening to you?

Morgan - sounds like in fun in Banff. If you want a copy of the song and can't download it, let me know. Also - did ya notice - Karl Jannuska's coming back to town for the Jazz Fest. Yay!

Cheers,
Chan

[Skunk]

A good point was made about indie artists needing the money to pay for the cost of the CD. But generally speaking, recordings are there not as huge money makers, but as both a way of getting exposure and as a calling card for future work (and audience). So if somebody downloads or borrows and records a disc, don't be upset. It will help you in the future. It's better to have as many people as possible listening to your music, because that will pay off in other ways, like gigs with an audience and future work in other cities. I think the artists and agents who try and stop this kind of activity are really shooting themselves in the feet.

[chandra]

I also totally agree, but I still stress the "support the independant musicians" part of it. Being someone who works for an indie band, we really appreciate when people buy the cd as opposed to just downloading it. However, with that being said, if that person who just downloaded the music then goes to a bunch of the bands concerts - all the better.

And that's really what's great about downloading music. I've discovered so much great music that I never would have otherwise heard, and yes, I will be buying that ticket to see those musicians when/if they ever come to town.

The record industry can go stuff itself.
Sorry - my petulant side seems to be coming out.

Cheers,
Chan

p.s. wow, that got off topic.