Doug Cox: Blog

This weeks article was not supposed to be about MusicFest. I was going to write about Music, Family and Nature. Pretty West-Coasty, huh? I just came home from an inspired family trip where we went on a journey including all those things. There was wonderful family time at my nephew's wedding in Northern Alberta with cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. We watched in wonder as all the Albertans young and old, two-stepped their way into the wedding celebration!
There was more music, including a stop off to perform at the Komasket Festival in Vernon with Anela Kahiamoe and getting the chance to sit side stage for a heart stopping concert at the Edmonton Folk Festival with Bobby Blue Bland and Van Morrison.
And there were nature-stops in Banff and Jasper with other places of wonder in between. All in all, this perfect family trip reminded me of the important things in life, like spending time with loved ones and celebrating music for music's sake.
On the last day of our trip we were devastated [...]

“I push the first valve down
The music goes down and around
Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho
And it comes out here...”
 
Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven
 
 
 
We did it again! This year's MusicFest was a beauty. Sure, I am biased, but I can honestly say as a musician who plays Festivals world wide, that there is none better than our own. It's mainly because of our site, our volunteers, our board of Directors and our staff. But also, I believe we are far enough off the beaten path that many musicians come here with their hair down a little more than the Festivals they consider to mainly be 'career moves.' They are more willing to take chances. We get to witness musical happenings at Musicfest that are a once-in-a-lifetime thing. The collaborative spirit among the musicians who play MusicFest is second to none. They mostly treat us as we treat them ~ with magic!
So as always, the Festival ends and our Production Manager, the fearless Cresslynn Fay leads her army of volunteers [...]

 
This weeks column is coming to you from the luxurious Days Inn in Revelstoke. I am on a quick tour with my world fusion group, Slide To Freedom. Salil Bhatt (fondly referred to as the Eddie Van Halen of Indian slide guitar) has come from India to do a few dates as we are work in our newest band member, tabla player and Indian Ghazal singer extraordinaire, Cassius Khan. Last night, we played at the Commodore in Vancouver for the Vancouver Jazz Festival. It was a fantastic night, ending in a standing ovation from the audience. I sit cross legged on the floor with my musical colleagues, Indian style, and due to the fact that we haven't toured for over a year and a half, was barley able to stand after a 70 minute set to take a bow. Ouch!
We are now on the way to Calgary to perform at their Canada Day celebrations in front of thousands of people. It should be a great event. As I sit here typing away, the hilarious 'Flight of the Conchords' is on my TV set in the background and I can't [...]

 
“A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians.”
Frank Zappa
Ah... music!
It's one of the things we collectively take great delight in, regardless of taste, music is something we all have in common. It brings people together and is with us from the moment we enter this life til' we return to dust.
Music is here before us and will be here long after we are gone.
Music allows us to touch into different dimensions and spiritual realms we don't have the ability to reach any other way due to our human physical limitations.
Music can not exist in frozen time as time must move forward for music to exist. Yet, music allows us to touch the past, present and future.
Music is celebrated and used in the rituals of every religion and culture. We have Birthday Music, Learning Songs, Fun Songs, Work Songs, Graduation Songs, Travel Songs, Love Songs, Holiday Songs, Death Songs, Rebirth Songs [...]

 
“Some people live long lives and merely glow. But others live short lives and burn brightly. I believe that I am one of those”.
Oliver Schroer
 
 
There are musicians who reach people; not just through music, but through the inspiration they spark among students and fellow artists. I strive to be that kind of musician myself and hope to include as many like minded players as possible in our lineup every year at MusicFest.
There are two documentaries being shown this year at the Festival, both featuring performers who match that description to a tee. The filmmakers themselves will be on hand to introduce their work and answer questions.
The first film is called 'Shining Spirit' and is centred around the touching story of Tibetan musician Jamyang Yeshi. Performing at MusicFest this summer, Jamyang has been living in the Cowichan Valley for the past few years, in exile from Tibet. The documentary tells the story of how a crew recorded Jamyang in Banff and brought [...]