What's going on?

Hey Ryan! Didn't you play "the brown study" at Umi Cafe with IMOO last Sunday? Yes, yes I did. But why didn't you post it here? I forgot.

But it was awesome, thanks for asking. Everyone go to IMOO shows. What else is coming up, you ask?

Lots of stuff with Mike Essoudry's Mash Potato Mashers. Recording session tomorrow night with a spoken-word artist (more on that later), a masterclass for some music students visiting from Montreal in April, Irene's on April 9th, someplace outdoors in Aylmer on April 10th, a private wedding followed by an unrelated public gig at Le Petit Chicago on May 14th, and lots of festivals through the summer. This band is taking off! Hop on the bandwagon (wagon not included)!

In non-masher news, I'm going to Montreal this weekend to help develop a piece of theatre with some old friends and some new ones. I'm not really sure what to expect yet, but good food and great people and open-ended art projects are fun things. Mmm... Schwartz's, we meet again.

I've been hired to adjudicate some young brass players at the Saskatoon Music Festival at the end of April. It'll be nice to revisit my primary adoptive province again, and see some old friends who have made their homes there. Also, I love adjudicating. Very rewarding stuff.

I'm writing again, for the first time in over a year. Feels good! This new piece has improvisation, John Dowland, marbles, pizzicato cello, dancing... so, pretty standard Purchase fare. It's a birthday gift for my dear friend and sometime (too infrequent) collaborator Sasha Lurje. Shh! Don't tell her! The title is "Musée" and the tentative date for the premiere is April 17.

Finally, Allene Chomyn, who I've never met, is off to Australia to play in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations Allene! Why mention this if I've never met her? Because she recently performed my most ubiquitous work to date, "Four Poems by Liza McLellan, And One Not," and did a kickass job - see below for proof.