Sunday, July 17, 2016

CANADA: Flute Bits - July 2016 - Bill McBirnie


(1)  JAMES BROWN…& ME…"GET ON UP"… :-) (COURTESY OF WM.S. HAYNES CO.)


Wm.S. Haynes Co. came across a casual clip of me practising along with a James Brown track with one of their vintage instruments and decided to it was worth developing a profile around.  You can see and listen to the clip here:


I have never made a secret of the fact that I play Haynes flutes.  A couple of years ago on its 125th anniversary, the Wm. S. Haynes Co. formalized a roster of designated "Haynes Artists" and (along with one of my longstanding inspirations, Hubert Laws) decided to include me.

My longstanding choice of Haynes flutes is the same as that of some of my earlier significant influences, including classical flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal, jazz flutist Herbie Mann and fellow Canadian flutist Moe Koffman!

Finally, thanks to the European "Artist-In-Residence" at Haynes, Gareth McLearnon, for developing this profile.  (By the way, the original, unedited clip is located here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8CYnkdNePA )

[ NOTE:  I’m thinking of maybe doing something else like this…So if you have any suggestions, then just drop me a line at extremeflute@look.ca …(Prince perhaps?)… ]


(2)  JOCELYN BARTH SINGS, "I LIKE THE SUNRISE"

Jocelyn Barth is a very talented young vocalist here in Toronto.  She recently performed at a spontaneous, live-off-the-floor video at Asylum Artists for which she literally plucked her sidemen from the audience (and one of them happened to include me).  What was rather surprising about this clip is that none of the musicians she called to play (Bernie Senensky on piano, Artie Roth on bass and me on flute) had ever heard of this tune, much less played it, before (…and it’s Duke Ellington tune!…) Anyway, as you will hear, Jocelyn picked an obscure gem and gave it a gorgeous rendering…Here it is…


(Thanks to Jaymz Bee and Don Dixon of Asylum Artists who arranged and produced this video series, which is designed for both established and emerging vocalists here in Toronto.)


(3)  A FEW MOMENTS OF FELINE COMIC RELIEF!

This 20-second vid clip absolutely begged for a caption, so the one I came up with is this:

"…And don't you EVER play that high C again!...Ever,..ever,...EVER!…"



(3)  SOME FORTHCOMING GIGS

The following gig listing is in DESCENDING order.  Please note that you can always find a current/updated list at the following link:  http://www.extremeflute.com/contact.html 

Finally, if you need or want any flute, alto flute or piccolo work (…or any flute/improvisation coaching…), then do not hesitate to contact me at extremeflute@look.ca

Sat., Apr. 7, 2017 at 8:30 p.m.
The Jazz Room (located in the Huether Hotel)
59 King St. N.
Waterloo, Ontario
With BERNIE SENENSKY’s Moe Koffman Tribute Band

Sat., Jan. 7, 2017 at 8:30 p.m.
The Jazz Room (located in the Huether Hotel)
59 King St. N.
Waterloo, Ontario
With WILLY JARVIS and the Con Gracias Latin Band

Sun., Dec. 11, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
St. Christopher's Anglican Church
662 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario
A Charlie Brown Christmas with the JIM SANDILANDS Trio

Sun., Oct. 16, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Church of the Incarnation
15 Clairtrell Rd.
Toronto, Ontario
Jazz Vespers with the GEORGE MARTON Trio

Fri., Oct. 14, 2016 at 9:00 p.m.
Eight Hundred Degrees
99 Mississaga St. E.
Orillia, Ontario
With the JOE HURON Trio

Sat., Oct. 1, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Beach United Church - Jazz and Reflection (Theme: Love)
140 Wineva Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
With the MICHAEL LALONDE Trio (including DYLAN BELL)

Sat., Sept. 17, 2016, Time TBA
Brantford Jazz Festival
Harmony Square - 89 Dalhousie St.
Brantford, Ontario
With BERNIE SENENSKY’s Moe Koffman Tribute Band

Wed., Sept. 14, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.
Princess Margaret Hospital - Jazz In The Atrium
610 University Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
With BERNIE SENENSKY on piano

Sat., Aug. 13, 2016, 2:00 p.m.
Huronia Arts Festival - Lakehead University
500 University Ave.
Orillia, Ontario
With BERNIE SENENSKY's "MOE KOFFMAN LEGACY QUINTET" (including JAKE KOFFMAN, KIERAN OVERS & TERRY CLARKE)

Thurs., Jul. 21, 2016 at 8:00 p.m.
The Peppery Cat (part of the Beaches Jazz Festival)
1953 Queen St. E.
Toronto, Ontario
With GREG PILO (including BOBBY BROUGH, STACIE MACGREGOR & ARTIE ROTH)