Day In the Life of JOHN GEGGIE

JOHN'S PICKS FOR THE FESTIVAL & MORE

We are all able to think creatively... to see things outside the box, but because of life's oppression we are not always able to remember that. Well artists and musicians (among many other professions) have taken on the burden of thinking creatively for a living.

I thought it would be interesting to ask a few musicians what their ideal "day in the life of".

One of the greatest bass players this city has seen, John leads a great series at the NAC throughout the year, where he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz and improvised music. We are lucky to have John leading the late night Jam Sessions at ARC The Hotel and he will also be seen around the park perhaps playing with some other acts such as with Christine Fagan on Tuesday June 28th at noon. Here is what John had to say:

John Geggie’s Day in the Life....

Beautiful morning, fresh air, birds are busy chirping away from about 5am...a great morning for a bike ride with the promise of a new morning; the bouquet of the many blossoms wafting along with you – the bike path is clear and fast. One can hear the traffic off in the distance....

A healthy breakfast on the deck – fruit, yoghurt and a great coffee (a mediocre coffee doesn’t seem right)..

I like the craft of doing a good warm-up on the bass – enjoying the sound, the creation of the sound, the tactile nature of playing, feeling the vibrations of the bass, drinking in the rich harmonic tone palettes coming from the instrument...like the blossoms wafting along with me...working on various projects and concepts, working on pieces and techniques...lots of sonic exploration along the way..before I know it, hours have passed and I got lost in the music.

Maybe going to the National Gallery to check out the permanent collection – it is pretty amazing and the spatial concept there is great....maybe the new Caravaggio exhibit.

Maybe going to the renovated Museum of Nature...get inspired

Checking out some music by Estonian composers like Erkki-Sven Tuur or Georgian composer Giya Kancheli...might also listen to my friends Craig Taborn and Cuong Vu and their new  recordings (Craig’s solo piano CD is profound and deep while Cuong’s new two-bass quartet turns standards around and around)....

Oh yes, I hear there is jazz festival going on and I am hosting the jam sessions again...looking forward to that – it is always nice to share some music but there are a bunch of great Canadian musicians and their projects to see and hear – like legendary trumpet player Kenny Wheeler, like Daniel Lanois, like Nancy Walker and her quartet, like Darcy James Argue’s band, like various local groups (Brian Browne for example) and of course some spectacular American musicians like Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman. I also want to hear Norwegian guitarist Eivind Aarset....

Lots to do....