On Saturday a couple of weeks ago I went to a workshop and concert. Peter Bernstein, a well known NYC jazz guitarist, Mike Rud, also on guitar, who now lives in Montreal and won a Juno a couple of years ago less so, and Alec Walkington on upright who I was unaware of, I guess even less so. The complete early-bird package was about $41.00 CAD for both workshop and concert which was unbelievable value for money, 3 hour workshop and 2 hour concert. I had never been to a workshop before so I didn't know what to expect. It was great. No pretensions. They played tunes and took questions. There were technique questions, most of the people attending play guitar, and then Mike said that someone had asked on Facebook about the possibility of sitting in. A couple of people sat in. Braver souls than myself - 'Days of Wine and Roses', 'All The Things You Are' and a rather wonderful version of 'Embraceable You', with just Peter and, I believe, Sienna Dahlen. As the singer, she got to call the key. It was C. Afterwards Peter checked some chord voicings because I gathered it was not a key he was familiar playing the tune in. You could have fooled me.
After supper the concert took place. No questions, just music. About 50 people. It was intimate. It was chamber music. Improvised. Brilliant.
