April 2014

talk radio 1010

April 6, 2014

in News

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I had a really fun chat with Ted Woloshyn and Bill King on Talk Radio 1010 today. We chatted about my new release, bookstores, arranging, silent movies and teaching. They even played a few excerpts. Have a listen over here

Fern Circle In A Spi#42BE25I’m super excited to be releasing my new CD, Like a Circle in a Spiral, on May 8! I have so many people to thank for their beautiful contributions to this project: George Koller for your excellence as a producer, musician and human being; David French, Michael Davidson and Nick Fraser for your stunning playing; Jeremy Darby and David Travers-Smith for your magical engineering and mastering; Susan Michalek for your gorgeous CD design; Peter Bregg and Ashlea Wessel for your fabulous photography and Mark Miller for your beautiful liner notes. It takes a village and I’m humbled.

The opening track, Jazz at the Bookstore came out of a chance encounter with Ron Sexsmith on the train to the Juno Awards in 2012. I told him that I’d love to arrange one of his songs and he was thrilled! Thank you, Jazz.FM91 and CBC radio for adding it to your playlists!!

Like a Circle in a Spiral takes its title from the opening line of Michel Legrand’s wonderful song, The Windmills of Your Mind. It has been my dream to come up with an arrangement for this song and the idea of circles, spirals and wheels was the inspiration for the circular patterns in the bass, piano and vibes. The repertoire for this record comes from all kinds of places: the Great American Songbook, Israel, Europe, Brazil and Canada. The songs deal with the crazy windmills of our inner thought, love and loss, joy and sorrow. But hope always wins. As the lyrics to Mishaela say, “In the east I see a rainbow. That is all I need. What more could I want? It is all I need.”

Please join us at the Jazz Bistro on Thursday, May 8 for our special release celebration. See shows page for details.

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upcoming concerts:

Friday, April 4 City Girl at the Toronto Silent Film Festival
Thursday, May 8 Like a Circle in a Spiral CD release at the Jazz Bistro
Sunday, May 18 Rhythm and Jews opening night of Jewish Music Week at The Rex Jazz Bar
Thursday, May 22 Year Round Jazz Festival at the Home Smith Bar, Old Mill