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 Quincy Jones 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 Jacob Collier, Alfredo Rodriguez, Sheléa, musical director Greg Phillinganes, 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 bassist 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 Frank Sinatra’s band to audience dancing their salsa hearts out! Stay tuned for all the awesome events at the Surrey Arts Centre! producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller, We Are the World 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) FP NEWSLETTER Vol. 46 www.fusionpresents.com Page 1 of 3 November 5, 2019 FP NEWSLETTER 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 The Beatles “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, Neil Diamond, 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, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and Elton John 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 Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, 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 jazz 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 1960s 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 Eric Clapton 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.