Gypsy Jazz

Today we came back from being on Mont Royal and we walked back through Park La Fontaine. We stumbled upon a group of guys playing gypsy music at the main portico. These guys were real good and we listened for a solid hour. It was better than anything I've payed money to see in the last few years. It was really a good time and lots of people stopped as they were pedalling by to listen for a few minutes. And they weren't really out passing the hat around for tips or anything, they were just playing for the fun of it.

Chat Noir

Here in Montreal at our bed and breakfast the Sur la Route de Berthier there is a cat that lives upstairs. His name is Cain. It's pronounced something like Cah-ahn, but I call him Cane. He doesn't seem to mind. The house is really cool and our hosts are called Pierre and Guillme. Montreal is very laid back.

Toronto

Union Station

We arrived in Toronto this afternoon around 5 oclock. So far it is a very cool city.

Aldershot, Ontario, Canada

So I'm goin' to ride this train Lord until I find out 
What Jimmie Rogers and the Hag was all about 
- Ronnie Van Zant, Railroad Song

Niagra Falls, Canada

We've arrived in Canada and are presently on the train to Toronto. This train is slooooowww.....

Paco receives honorary doctorate from Berklee

The guitarist and composer Paco de Lucia has received a doctorate honoris causa by the Berklee College of Music.

Paco de Lucia (Algeciras / Cádiz, 1947) thus becomes the first Spanish guitarist to obtain a recognition that other musicians such as David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Chick Corea,  George Benson, Duke Ellington, BB King, Quincy Jones, and Pat Metheny  have received.

The guitarist from Cadiz was sworn in May 8th, "his music and his artistic vision has influenced generations of musicians and helped to spread flamenco between international audiences. "

The Guitar Trio

In the 80's Paco teamed up with American Al Di Meola and Englishman John McLaughlin. They formed a trio that gained tremendous notoriety. They recorded three albums together.

It's my opinion that neither Di Meola or McLaughlin belonged on the same stage with Paco, with McLaughlin being especially lost. Di Meola played the entire time using a pick and a steel string guitar.

It's clear though when listening to the album "Friday Night in San Francisco" the audience response to Paco is overwhelming. And whether it is rhythm or lead playing Paco's mastery over the others is clearly on display.

Di Meola is no slouch on the guitar by any means, but coming from an electric guitar style background his lead runs on the record just do not have the same fluidity or depth that Paco's leads have. The Ovation steel string guitar also gave his notes a kind of tinny sound.

Di Meola has been regaled and sometimes criticized for playing fast just for the sake of playing fast. His style was satirized by Frank Zappa in the song Packard Goose, where near the end the vocals say "Sounds like an Elegant Gypsy" (Elegant Gypsy was the title of Di Meola's 2nd album) while Zappa plays sarcastically staccato runs.

Zappa did later invite DiMeola on stage to jam with his band.