November 5, 2019

FP NEWSLETTERWelcome to the November FP Newsletter, Vol. 46, our monthly publication giving you our music news! TOP STORIES In the last week of October, Ayla Tesler-Mabe was invited by California-based JammCard, The Music Pros Network, and Productions to participate in a jam event celebrating the music of legend Quincy Jones. Flying down for a quick two day trip, Ayla and Sami had the opportunity to meet and connect with some of Quincy’s amazing artists, including , Alfredo Rodriguez, Sheléa, musical director , and many others! At the end of 2.5 hours of jaw-dropping performances by QJP artists, JammCard founder Elmo Lovano kicked off the JammJam “in proper JammCard fashion” and Ayla rocked the stage for 25 minutes, jamming with Jacob Collier, maestro Munir Hossn and many other QJP and JammCard pros. It was incredible and the best way to kick off November! This month, Ludic gets to experience another milestone by once again performing at the Commodore on Nov 19 and opening for multiple Grammy Award winning artist, Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes). Tickets are allegedly sold out but maybe, just maybe, you can snatch a couple of last minute extra releases by Live Nation! So exciting! It’s also grant-writing season, with a major Career Development Grant offered by Creative BC due on December 11. All BC artists looking to further their career can apply for funds to help in the recording, video production and marketing of their musical projects. FP will be applying for a number of musical projects and so should you! To Music legend Quincy Jones with Ayla Tesler-Mabe and Sami Ghawi at learn more about all the funding opportunities offered by Creative BC, please click here! JammCard’s JammJam in Hollywood, FUSIONpresents and the Surrey Board of Trade continue to lead the way in bringing more quality music to Surrey California on Oct 30, 2019! What an honour to meet and converse with the through our Surrey Music City initiative, helping develop Surrey’s growing music economy and community! On man who has truly influenced the world Saturday October 26, FUSIONpresents and the SBOT Music City Initiative brought Salsa in Surrey to the Surrey with his creativity and music, from Arts Centre as part of their Come Dancing Around the World series! It was a smashing success with a sold-out before leading ’s band to audience dancing their salsa hearts out! Stay tuned for all the awesome events at the Surrey Arts Centre! producing ’s Thriller, and beyond. Live music continues strong at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey in the MIXT Lounge on Fridays and Saturdays, The Bennett in Port Coquitlam on select Saturdays and at West Beach in White Rock, 5 nights a week from Wednesday to Sunday! Please enjoy all our great content in this newsletter and remember, FUSIONpresents wants YOU to ROCK, so please come out to our jams and join us on stage!!! And on one final note, if you’re at a live music show, and you happen to love the artist, show them your appreciation! Enjoy :) NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS FRI 1 Blue Voodoo @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) FRI 1 Ben Dunnill Band @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) SAT 2 Shawn Miller Band @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) Ayla on stage with Jacob Collier, Munir SAT 2 Ranj Singh Duo @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) Hossn, Daniel Rodriguez and others at FRI 8 Wingnuts @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) the Oct 30 JammJam in California! FRI 8 Gabriel Mark Hasselbach Trio @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) SAT 9 Scary Lizards @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) SAT 9 Allegro Trio @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) FRI 15 Robert Graves Band @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) Through the Amplify BC Music Company FRI 15 The Apartment @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) Development Fund, FUSIONpresents was SAT 16 James Shepperd Trio @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) given the funds & opportunity to SAT 16 Stephanie Pedraza Duo @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) redesign & develop a new website! Our SAT 16 The Apartment @ The Raven, North Van (8-12) new site is LIVE! Thank you Creative BC and the province of British Columbia! TUE 19 Ludic @ The Commodore Ballroom, Van (8pm) Learn more about Creative BC’s various FRI 22 Orphan Alley Band @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) funding programs! FRI 22 John Lee Duo @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) SAT 23 Mike Kelly Trio @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) WEEKLY JAMS & SHOWS SAT 23 Jen Lewin Duo @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) FRI 29 Benito & Friends @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) FRI 29 Heidi McCurdy Duo @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) FRI 29 The Apartment @ Woodys, Coq (930-130) SAT 30 Jokers Hill Band @ West Beach, WR (730-1130) SAT 30 Benito & Friends @ MIXT Lounge, Sheraton, SRY (7-11) SAT 30 The Apartment @ Woodys, Coq (930-130)

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BC ARTIST HIGHLIGHT : BRUCE’S CORNER JEN LEWIN by Bruce Connick Many years ago when I was a teenager, I had found a love of music and started a journey of discovery. I had older siblings and was first introduced to the music they were listening to. The first record that I remember listening to was “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and on the flip side “I Saw Her Standing There”. As the years went by, I listened to whatever they brought home. The Monkees, , Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens and, of course, more Beatles.

As I got older my friends were my influence. This brought about The Rolling Sones, , , and just to name a few. There were so many excellent artists and it was always exciting to discover another band or artist that offered more great music. This is what eventually led me to Rolling Stone, the magazine.

One of the best discoveries early on was Bob Marley. It was around 1976 when he landed on the cover of Rolling Stone. He had just released a new album, Exodus, and after reading the interview and the review of the album I took a chance and bought the album. My friends were sticking to rock, or as we call it now, classic rock, so I really didn’t know anyone who knew anything about Marley or reggae but I figured if Rolling Stone thought it was worth 4 ½ stars then I should check it out. There really wasn’t any other way to hear new music unless they played it on the radio, which they didn’t, or you knew someone who had already discovered him, and I didn’t. A versatile, experienced, and accomplished singer and pianist, Jen plays with sensitivity, joy, and a That discovery really did open a new world for me. From Bob Marley & The Wailers to Peter playfulness that belies her love of music. Jen has had Tosh, Jimmy Cliff and even Eddie Grant, reggae became such an important part of my life. the privilege of having performed for audiences the As the years went by, I discovered , , punk rock and alternative world over, and her song list features a wide array of music. I bought music by artists from different genres and although I didn’t always hit a styles ranging from to pop to soul to R&B home run, I’ve listened to some mighty fine music over the years and my sense of discovery through to rock and current top 40 covers. started with Bob Marley.

As someone who enjoys variety and new challenges, Jen can be heard playing in groups ranging in size from solo piano all the way up to her 10-piece passion project, Deep Cutzzz, and beyond! Catch the Jen Lewin Duo at Mixt Lounge on Sat Nov 23rd from 7-11pm! Beware of Mr. Baker by D.M. White As one pulled up to his South African home, behind the gate read the signs; “Beware of Mr. Baker - Private”. It was past this gate that documentary filmmaker Jay Bulger came to meet, survive and briefly live with a rogue relic of British Rock music, the world famous drummer and wasted madman of sorts. Ginger Baker. Peter Edward Baker was born in England as war broke out and counted the sound of bombs exploding as his first exposure to loud noise that would always fascinate him. He started off in jazz and took over from Charlie Watts to play in Alexis Corner’s blues band with bassist Jack Bruce. With Jack, they would later team up with guitarist to form the supergroup Cream. Just like any band that Ginger was in, Cream didn’t last long, just over a couple of years but they produced 4 albums and were of considerable influence to popular Rock music of the day. Ginger and Jack complimented each other musically with the virtuoso Clapton somewhere in-between, but their ruckus personal relationship sometimes became violent. A break-up of the band seemed inevitable. Another stint with Clapton and with Steve Winwood in the group Blind Faith, produced fine musical results but that was even more short-lived. Ginger spent much of his next years in different bands, in different locales throughout the world. Africa would become his base on different occasions, where he lived harmoniously with its drumming rhythms. When things in Africa would go sour, he would return to England or try acting in California. Later in life, good paying jobs were hard to find even for a man of his stature. His newfound passion for polo and his on/off again problems with substance abuse drained him financially. In 2005 he re-united with Clapton and Jack Bruce once again for a series of Cream concerts in London and New York. This brought him back into the big-time limelight again and helped economically. Ginger, who related to jazz drummers more than his British contemporaries Moon and Bonham, passed away recently in 2019. Jay Bulger’s 2012 documentary “Beware of Mr. Baker” is an amusing historical piece of a unique and gifted rhythmist. He was a Ginger alright.

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ARTISTS WE LOVE & WORK WITH FUSIONpresents MUSIC SERVICES MAYA RAE FUSIONpresents is proud to have offered the highest quality services in professional artist development, music entertainment, and creative music services for over 17 years. We have entertained thousands of delighted guests, mentored hundreds of aspiring artists, and collaborated with countless amazing people. We love what we do and are passionate to do more of it. Contact FUSIONpresents today.

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We’ve been working with Maya since she was 9. We were the first to get her up on stage for her first time, and she got a standing ovation. She’s LESSONS in GUITAR, BASS, VOCAL & LIVE been recognized by CBC as one of Canada’s top 35 under 35 in jazz, but PIANO, DRUMS & MORE PERFORMANCE TRAINING this artist ventures beyond just jazz to explore folk, rock and pop rnb in her original songs. She’s the real deal and we couldn’t be more proud and honoured to work with her and be part of her musical journey from the very beginning. CLICK FOR MORE INFO CLICK FOR MORE INFO Follow MAYA RAE on Instagram

The Apartment feat. Maya Rae JUST FOR FUN Song PROFESSIONAL DEMOS of The Apartment is working with Maya Rae on a pop rnb single written by Recordings & Videos ORIGINAL SONGS Maya Rae & Sami Ghawi and co-produced with Brayson Wong and Myles Philpott, with input from many other Apartment collaborators! The video will feature XbA dancers and choreography and will feature scenes from various Surrey locations! We’re gearing up to release the single and video in spring 2020. Stay tuned! CLICK FOR MORE INFO CLICK FOR MORE INFO

FP FOOD FOR THOUGHT SING WITH THE BAND - MUSIC FOR LICENSING - Live Band Karaoke gets Use our songs on websites, Imagination is the voice of the daring. everybody involved! TV, radio & movies Henry Miller

Inspiration is intention obeyed. Emily Carr We help artists do what they love. 778-892-7625 or 604-800-0989 We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with [email protected] ourselves www.fusionpresents.com Dalai Lama

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