tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9330142794500164992024-03-13T19:01:48.548-07:00River Heights Music Winnipeg, ManitobaMusings on music pedagogy, jazz, life as a musician and other boring stuff.Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-35572921623593541412016-05-21T15:20:00.002-07:002016-05-22T08:41:48.161-07:00Grote Guitars Review 7 string arch top So I was looking for the impossible. A beater 7 string jazz box I could take on vacation, on planes, leave at my music school www.riverheightsmusicschool.com. Do I ask for the impossible?
I presently own 2 arch top guitars. Both are Ibanez and 1 is in fact a 7 string. Let me assure you the 7 string version of most types of guitar is not something you just go to your local (or even big box) musicFly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-24891525086871794572015-06-23T11:26:00.000-07:002015-06-24T08:18:31.173-07:00Jazz Festival Winnipeg 2015 Edition Good times (but all is not forgiven)So usually before this time each year it would be my annual tirade against the NoJazz Winnipeg Festival. Admittedly at first glance I may have thought (and posted ) that it was another crappy, self serving, jazz hating joke. The first things I saw in the line up were; Buddy Guy (yet again) a weekend opener with almost no jazz and the same blatant favoritism to a handful of younger locals.
But Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-65476484209516317832015-03-11T12:27:00.002-07:002015-03-11T12:27:42.229-07:00From the Gig FilesI play a lot of solo guitar gigs. In my city (a small one at that) I am basically the king of solo guitar. Some can do it better on selected (transcribed) pieces but no one beats me for repertoire, execution and variety.
So I equate so solo guitar versions of songs to doing impressions. If I do them right you know the song if I do them wrong I have to tell you and you then recognize it and it I Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-58724647311264752282014-09-29T10:31:00.000-07:002014-09-29T10:31:04.269-07:00Chick Corea in WinnipegSo little ole Winnipeg was very lucky to have Chick Corea come to town with his new band of wonderkins entitled The Vigil. Chris Smith, local jazz 'columnist' (and festival stiff) incorrectly called the new album 'Vigil' Dear Chris...please pay attention.
Now you can got to his 'review' (more like a score card...'this song followed by the new, with nice solos, names of the band members, blah Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-81646354481202178082014-07-07T08:39:00.001-07:002014-07-07T08:39:11.314-07:00I Never Do This...I never write a 3rd blog about our no jazz festival but I am making an exception. One week to the day after my 'After Math' post, the Free Press jazz columnist / festival apologist did a thinly veiled 'interview' with the no jazz festival director.
Addressing things like whether they made money, what shows made money. Almost as if they read the blog and felt the need to counter little ole me...Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-15123641741322136752014-06-26T18:19:00.002-07:002014-06-26T18:19:33.569-07:00Jazz Fest After Math - AKA The Dumb, the Bad and the PettySo the 11 day, 80+ event called an international jazz festival is over. Last year they had 100 the year before 90 so quite the drop in acts. Gee I wonder why? Maybe it has to do with the colour RED!
The thin jazz content and the elements conspired to create one of the worst events ever.
So we start off with having very little jazz and only 2 international jazz acts.
Add sopping wet Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-55462768466189979292014-06-12T10:56:00.001-07:002014-06-12T11:07:34.015-07:00The Usual Terrible Jazz Festival Again But Capitalism is Good Right?? Usually at this time of year I write about our horrible excuse for a jazz festival. I have written about it before and it is basically the same thing. Jazz doesn't sell so let's have pandering commercial music to aid the jazz, have zero concept of marketing anything and then blame the jazz. Since nothing has changed for the better and in some ways has changed for the bleaker, so it won't Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-75887144183078232712014-02-07T14:57:00.000-08:002014-02-07T15:54:20.060-08:00So, You Want To Become a Full Time Professional Musician?Well good luck with that.
Just kidding. I never wanted to be one of those "PREWS" I met when I was an up and comer that constantly told up and comers to do something else, the music business has changed, can't make a living, etc.
I didn't listen to them (as most young folks don't) and if you are young you might not take any of this to heed but maybe you will or at least it might give you more Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-368696647390576812013-06-13T08:21:00.000-07:002013-06-13T08:21:33.228-07:00Come and Get Your Steaming Pile Of Jazz Fest
Long past due for my yearly diatribe on the local excuse for a festival that is supposed to be about furthering an appreciation of jazz music through presentation, promotion and outreach.
I won't go whole hog this year because, quite bluntly, all of the same problems are still there and much has gotten worse. I don't think it has been this bad since a failed punk rock bass player ranFly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-66696354665732598262013-04-16T13:31:00.003-07:002013-04-16T13:34:56.926-07:00My Winnipeg Part One: The Weather and Skeeters
I now this is not music related and maybe later installments will.
Nonetheless here is the first of "My Winnipeg"
A few years
ago Guy Ritchie made a movie by that title. The horse heads and oblique imagery
won some awards but I didn’t see “MY” Winnipeg there. I have lived here since
2000 and not that I would be considered a ‘pegger’ by local standards (I think
you have to be born, Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-55893616385914862382012-12-12T10:39:00.001-08:002012-12-12T10:56:33.474-08:00Wow nothing since June!!
Wow
I have written, but not here since June. Not like nothing's happened.
In the summer we went to NB and did a coupla impromptu porch concerts. Got back and I chopped my left hand index finger with a new sharp ax but still had to play a bunch of gigs (solo guitar and duo's with voice) so quite the deal! But I will maybe one day write a piece on MacGyver type solutions for guitarists Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-72834431278631108112012-06-26T09:26:00.000-07:002012-06-26T09:42:00.414-07:002012 Jazz Fest AfterMATHWell the Fest is over with a whimper. The best and (to my knowledge) the only sold out/non local JAZZ show was Vijay Iyer. At least the early set was sold out I don't know if the second set was as well.
So what else happened?
Phrases in Italic indicate text taken from festival press and ads.
Well Aqua Books bailed on the Fest. Other than slavish loyalty to a business owner who has Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-21355345983714117732012-06-14T07:06:00.000-07:002012-06-14T13:23:44.206-07:00Winnipeg 2012 Jazz Fest (yawn)I won't repeat everything I wrote last year about the jazz festival we have this year (so much of it still applies). You can read about it in an earlier post about the jazz fest.
Bluntly I just don't have the time or the energy to do as in depth analysis as last year. I opened a music school , I have 45-50 of my own students and I have 13 gigs (a whack by my standards)&Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-43576562267940085142012-03-09T14:03:00.000-08:002012-03-09T14:03:58.489-08:00On Becoming a Better Guitar PlayerAs Barney Kessel said in his video. Music has 3 elements melody, harmony and rhythm. Which ever you are weakest at work on it!
http://www.riverheightsmusicschool.com/Be_a_Better_Guitar_Player.phpFly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-78719462497389582212012-01-27T12:31:00.000-08:002012-01-27T13:17:13.779-08:00The Economics of the Music Business at Street LevelTackling the economics of any business is a task beyond my abilities but I am not going to address or resolve the industry here. This is merely an essay/observational on some strange things I have seen from my little corners of the world.
Actually it is less an essay and more a random thought generator. Some of these things I'm currently, or have been, guilty of and some are Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0Winnipeg, MB, Canada49.8997541 -97.137493749.759702100000005 -97.334490699999989 50.0398061 -96.9404967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-53363518733898778392012-01-13T08:36:00.000-08:002012-01-13T08:36:49.608-08:00How to Buy That 1st or 2nd GuitarWhether people, or their kids, are just starting out in music lessons or have attended music classes for a while, a common question we receive at our Winnipeg Music School is "how do I buy a musical instrument?".
Now the first person you should ask is probably your music teacher. They know you or your child's needs and abilities. The last person you should ask is the sales person at Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-71264039406280565722011-12-12T12:36:00.000-08:002011-12-13T07:46:28.296-08:00Robert Burton's "Left Handed Christmas"So I have released my first CD, my first solo recording and my 1st Christmas album all in one fell swoop.
"Robert Burton's Left Handed Christmas" is a collection of lesser known seasonal songs.
Some Clarifications
By 1st CD I mean I have recorded and/or performed on many CD's (as well as records and tapes) but this CD is mine in almost all ways including using only my own money. No Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com1Winnipeg, MB, Canada49.8997541 -97.137493749.759702100000005 -97.334490699999989 50.0398061 -96.9404967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-45268558318971297942011-10-27T13:36:00.000-07:002011-10-27T13:36:36.698-07:00The Electric Bass is NOT a guitarYou don't strum it by the Campfire and they don't make capos (I hope) for them.
Read more here Bass vs Bass Guitar
Winnipeg Music Lessons and Music ClassesFly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-5218884243045164322011-10-07T11:32:00.000-07:002011-10-07T11:32:01.262-07:00Blog on Blog LoveI haven't had the time to write in here as I have been real busy with my new Music School here in Winnipeg Manitoba. And while I have managed to put up a few re-runs on m and trip reports on my Fly Fishing Manitoba Blog , I haven't had the time to write anything original for this music blog...lots of ideas just no time to put them down in words.
But on the blogish area of my church's web Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-74540711601721208622011-06-30T19:32:00.000-07:002011-06-30T19:36:58.996-07:00Last Word on our "Jazz" festival (till next year)Well the Jazz fest is over and the organizers are declaring a victory. It "was a huge success with 25 sold out shows" Well it's very hard to figure out that math with only 10 formally ticketed events to sell out and 2 of those for sure did not sell out (Robert Plant 'the big draw non jazz money maker' and, unfortunately, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra) I Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0Winnipeg, MB, Canada49.886083 -97.15292099999999249.746031 -97.349917999999988 50.026135 -96.955924tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-23738775024281087182011-06-15T11:10:00.000-07:002012-12-12T11:12:57.692-08:00Jazz Music Takes the Backseat to Popular Music yet againImagine you went out to a fancy restaurant and found your favorite romantic dinner place now had a lounge, VLTs and loud dance music. When you asked the manager why, she responded by telling you that they were "trying to attract a younger crowd" making you and your money feel irrelevant.
What if you made your food choices on strictly moral grounds and your night out was a Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com2Winnipeg, MB, Canada49.886083 -97.15292099999999249.746031 -97.349917999999988 50.026135 -96.955924tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-84030132138875255842011-05-09T08:43:00.000-07:002011-05-09T08:44:23.981-07:00Free Music LessonTake your Paradiddles move them around your drumset add in some bass drum groove.
I don't speak slow or clear enough but it is my 1st web tutorial
Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-44179634351378110792011-04-04T10:11:00.000-07:002011-06-03T08:43:06.200-07:00Spring is here!Spring is here and in the music lesson business that is not always a good thing. On one hand it is a great feeling when the snow melts and the bird chirp and (at least here in Winnipeg) you don't need a hazmat suit to go outside. Many music schools are planning their recitals and we plan our year end recording sessions.
It is the time of the year when we in private music education lose varying Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-23614752520552483512011-02-04T14:34:00.000-08:002011-02-04T14:34:04.402-08:00A Little New Music With My 7 string guitarPics are mine as well
Winnipeg Music LessonsFly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-933014279450016499.post-43902220751326202192011-01-06T08:49:00.000-08:002011-01-06T08:50:22.252-08:00Long time no write/ Happy New Year/Todd RundgrenWell it has been a long time since I have written but that is because shattered my elbow, had re-constructive surgery and i am now in the middle of 1½ years of rehab (ya it's that serious). If you have the stomach for it you can read about it here.
So Happy New Year and I will re-enter the blog-o-sphere with a little praise for one of my bigger influences as a musician...Todd Rundgren.
12Fly Fishing Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00608250670066013515noreply@blogger.com0