February 26, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Readers, thank you all for the comments on last weeks SMNP, I would’ve replied to some of them but I was on vacation in Ottawa and Quebec City, which were both great to see.
Anyways, the subject at hand is Vancouver’s reputation as “No Fun City” and one of the things people seem to agree on are the “archaic” liquor and licensing laws in Vancouver. So I thought I’d ask my favourite club owner Cory Weeds, (The Cellar), just how ridiculous it was. His answer? Not what I was expecting, please read for yourself… more…
February 19, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Last week the question was put forward “Is Vancouver a “no fun” zone when it comes to support for the arts.”
The ensuing for-and-against argument that took place was heated, epic, and glorious. Apparently, even films were made to celebrate the event.
Now it took a while, but the numbers are in and the votes have finally been tabulated… more…
February 12, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!!
Readers, last week I caught a show, it was a great indie-folk type thing and after the show, the drummer, upon hearing that I was from Vancouver, went on about how Vancouver and Victoria were “so uptight.” “I was touring out there last month and every club we played in had to stop the music by midnight,… like, that’s it, not a minute later. Can you believe that!?”
As someone who’s a couple months away from moving back there, I ask you IS Vancouver really such a buzz kill for the arts?
Just to clarify, I am more…
February 5, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!!
Readers, as you’ve no doubt noticed, I’m a Renaissance man. As such, when I’m not on the interweb brilliantly opining about all things jazz, or playing hot licks on the clarinet, or singing indie-electrojazz songs,… I like to indulge in a little photography.
So here are some photos (taken with my iPhone) of Montreal’s winter, pre and post snow. All in my neighbourhood of Little Italy (except the one of the dragon in the subway). more…
January 29, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Readers, have no fear,… the state of the Danderfer is strong!,… if somewhat slow, a little unsure, and, um,… hesitant in general. But still strong!
Let’s start (and most likely end) on the music front…
Voice lessons continue for the 3rd year in a row and they’re still fun and fascinating. And yes, I am improving,… albeit slowly. What I love about singing is how incredibly direct it is, both in the physical aspect (because the singer IS the instrument) and the story-telling aspect (it’s not more…
January 22, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Here goes, the third and final part of my long-winded dissertation on jazz composition,… Part 3: How Helpful IS Music Notation Software?
Back in the day, I started composing music with a pencil, manuscript paper, and a very large eraser; and really, (my songs being pretty simple at the time) this worked just fine for me. Then one day during my undergrad music studies, I found myself enrolled in an arranging class which required assignments to be done on computer. Since computer printed charts looked quite “pro” anyways, I dutifully learned to use Finale music notation software, and unwittingly began down the path of composing on computer (almost exclusively) for the next 12 years.
The allure of composing on computers is simple: instant gratification and more…
January 16, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
This weeks SMNP is a continuation of last weeks. The subject: How to get started with jazz composition. more…
January 8, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Well readers, your questions continue to flood in week after week. My apartment is starting to look like Santa’s mail room on the 24th of December,… red sack after red sack just brimming with letters. Now, I am a giver but I’m afraid there’s only so much time I can devote to answering all of your questions. Plus, my elves are overworked as it is and I can’t afford to pay them any more. So please, let’s ease up a bit.
Anyways, I decided the only fair way to do this would be to swan dive into my Olympic size swimming pool full of letters (a la Scrooge McDuck) 
and more…
January 2, 2011
Hello, good morning, welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Now that everyone’s first hangover of 2011 has subsided, let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we?
Resolutions. I’m thinking about them. You’re thinking about them. We’re all wondering what the hell is the point, right?
Perhaps, like me, you also grit your teeth year after year whenever you think of the last batch of resolutions you cooked up and how they remain unfulfilled. Off the top of my head I can’t even remember what mine were last year,… awesome. Thankfully, I keep a weekly blog, so let me just have a look back and copy and paste that bad boy…
2010 Resolution #1: Resolve not to more…
December 25, 2010
Hello, good morning, welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post! and Merry Christmas!!
Readers, can you believe it? The celebration of the birth of Christ AND an SMNP on the very same day. Exciting. Almost,… overwhelming really.
Now, this being Christmas day, and me being a jazz musician, I should probably talk about my favourite jazzy Christmas music. However, more…
Hello, good 
