I've been lazy with my MySpace page for awhile now. But I've uploaded a new song called Loved One from Tambura Rasa's new album Kamanala. It has Ivan Tucakov on guitar and vocals, Michael Fraser on violin, Pepe Danza on percussion, and Trevor Grant playing drums, and me playing bass. Ta da.

Hopefully I'll be adding something from some nice recording with Marnie Mains which is underway and sounding lovely.

I put up a new song from Mary Ancheta.  On the recording is myself, Trevor Grant on drums, Mary on vocals and keys, and Jon Anderson on guitars.  Jon also produced the track and engineered and mixed it at his studio.  At this point it is still a demo asd we don't have any solid plans for a release yet, but I'm so glad to have been apart of working with these people and making this track.  I'm happy with the results and I really loved the process of creating it.  Afterall, they are all great friends of mine and who better to make music with?  Speaking of which, it's time to head to a rehearsal with Marnie and Curtis.

Last year saw me taking some new gigs and learning lots of new music and having to stretch myself into slightly different musical roles (all on the bass of course) and I had a great time learning and growing from it.  This year looks like it will be a continuation.  I've got some recordings to do with some great people including Radiogram, Mary Ancheta, Craig Jacks, and perhaps Marnie Mains and Jaidene Veda (fingers crossed).  I may find myself on the road with Joel Kroeker and/or The Town Pants.  And who knows what opportunities will arise and the year reveals itself.  But the thing I look forward to the most is not the recording or the travelling but simply playing live shows.

So to everyone that hired me and played/worked with me last year thanks so much for all the great time and music as well as for all I learned in the process.  Looking forward to an excellent 2007 filled with even more great music.

Every musical genre seems to have a subculture that is shared by the people who make the music and the people who are fans of the music.  So where does that leave someone like me who enjoys playing in and listening to a variety of genres from alt. country, nu-jazz, world fusion, hiphop, DnB, downtempo, and classical?  I roll up to a Town Pants show blasting Public Enemy with Aaron Chapman or a Mary Ancheta show listening to Neil Young, or a Tambura Rasa gig getting down to a Bob James break.  Sometimes it leaves me feeling like I don't really belong anywhere or to any group of people, then I remember I'm John Bews... and that's kind of a micro subculture of one.  hahaha  Then I think that's very egotistical and I puke.

A couple of days earlier in December Mary, Trevor and I went into Jon Anderson's Buena Vista Studio to record 4 new songs.  The goal is to have them finished and mixed by mid-January.  I am posting a couple of pics and a video that Mary took of me tracking the intro for one of the new songs.

....rules.  Haha..  not the guy from Yes, but the guy from White Rock who now lives in Langley with his family and his studio.  I've had the pleasure of working with Jon in a number of different musical contexts from the early years of Jonathan Inc, and the entire time I've been with Radiogram.  He produced Paula Toledo's album so I got a chance to see him step into a situation where parts and directions existed and saw how he was able to shape and bring the best out of the players and the songs.  This summer we began recording another Radiogram album out at his place and again I was impressed with his musical maturity and understanding.  And now, tomorrow night, I get to play with him again as he'll be joining Mary Ancheta and the Mantra at the Media Club openning up for the No Luck Club CD release with Calamalka also on the bill. 

My first gig with his was in February 1997 and I've learned so much from him over the years as a player.  I owe a lot to Jon Anderson.  If you are looking for someone to record you or produce you or play for you.. hire him.  He's worth it.  :)

Craig Jacks.  Incase you don't know Craig Jacks, he's kinda like a Fred Willard character that every once in awhile God seems to choose to speak through him for a second just to fuck with you.  Craig is one of those gigs that I was lucky enough to get recommended for from Darren who was getting too busy and wasn't able to continue performing with them.  Lucky me.  At first my thought was, "Why do people keep giving me roots gigs when all I listen to is hiphop?  I don't know any of this music."  But what I've learned playing with Craig has affected every other project that I play with.  He's taught me about how music is in the moment and reminded me to throw my heart and soul into each line and melodic fragment that I put out there.  What may be the right thing one time may only be right for that moment and the next performance may be better a different way.  To always search and never think perfection will ever be found, but work towards it as if it's just around the corner.

It is long past the time when I should have thanked the vocalists and songwriters that I've gotten to work with over the past several years.  Not merely for giving me nice music to harmonize with but for teaching me about music and melody.  People like (and I'm sure I'll forget some) Jon Anderson, Jack Harlan, Mary Ancheta, Paula Toledo, Marnie Mains, Harmony Trowbridge, Ken Beattie, Adrienne Pierce, Christina Maria, Joel Kroeker, Jon Wood, Belinda Bruce, Christa Couture... have taught me and reminded me that it doesn't take a lot of notes to say something beautiful, it just takes someone musical to place them where they need to go.  If it's not singable, it won't be memorable, and if it's not memorable then a tacet would probably do better.  So...  THANKS.  :)

I learn a lot from different musicians that I get to play shows and work with but lately I've been thinking about conversations and things that I've learn from various drummers. One of the biggest things that I learn and re-learn from drummers is the balance between techinique and free expression. I think that it will be a lesson that I will have to continually revisit as I grow as a musician. But thank-you to drummers like Steve (Radiogram), Niko Friesen (lots of people), Trevor Grant (Mary Ancheta), and Curtis Mathewson (Swarm) who have taught me so much through playing with them. And there are other drummers out there who I am looking forward to having a chance to work with and learn from in the future.