Sharing the Stage with Johnny Winter

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 Donjon, Salon Etude #?

I’ve been enjoying numerous collaborations with folk-rock musicians in recent months, including recording sessions and impromptu performances and CD launches at clubs along Dundas Street and Queen West. As a classically trained musician, I like being challenged, pushing the envelope in terms of the musical genres that I embrace and dive into, as humbling as that may seem at times!

In speaking with staff at the Latchis, I learned that one of the many great musicians and artists to have graced the stage as part of a recent fundraiser in the incredible art deco, Greek-themed theater, was none other than one of he original bluesmen himself, than the ineffable Johnny Winter.

How could I resist venturing forth onto that same stage and rocking out on some Johannes Donjon? In retrospect, I s’pose I should’ve been playing The Blues, but there you go…next time I bring the band!

One obscure link I stumbled upon suggests that the flute virtuoso and composer Donjon was succeeded by Paul Taffanel at the Paris Conservatoire, who in turn was succeeded by my teacher’s teacher Marcel Moyse. For flute players, the name Moyse and Brattleboro are inseparable. More by accident than by design, I ended up playing music relalting to this great family of flute players in the name of Donjon! I’m not sure what either Louis or Marcel Moyse might have had to say about the Winter Brothers, but I like to think Idid them – all of them – proud on the Latchis Theater stage.

In terms of acoustics, I was thinking of this as somewhat of a comparative study as opposed to any kind of definitive performance. But then I realized that I pushed myself, and, not wanting to bore you, chose another of Donjon’s Salon Etudes. Notice how the acoustics – as fine as they are from the stage here – are markedly different from when I read through the same etude in the resonant lobby. I make no apology for this truncated of the original study: first thing the next morning after 14 hours of driving the previous day, I stand by my spontaneous rendition here!

Since this might be the last post regarding the historic Latchis (at least for the time being!) here are a couple of other glimpses of the magnificent theater:

…and speaking of the Winter Brothers, this Youtube of The Edgar Winter Band’s Frankenstein has got to be one of the great vids of all time! The multi-instrumentalist musicianship demonstrated here is masterful as they jam and laugh their way through this original classic of the rock genre…apparently in one take. This video makes me laugh every time I see it: these guys are the real dope and remind us lame-ass Classical Musicians that music can be fun!

And I’m not even talking about dress-code or alt hair styles.