Today I go to Bowen Island to perform a set for 20-some people at Christine Fedina’s home. She has a huge garden where guests will spread out to enjoy a short set of music which I’ll post here later. it is officially the end of my tour, although I have one more performance scheduled in Vancouver. More on that later… Today’s concert honors the memory and spirit of Melissa Langer, who just passed away a couple days ago, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Her husband is a wonderful musician and incredible human being. So, Christopher, I’m thinking of you and Melissa as I play tod ..read more

Today’s concert in Kelowna is dedicated to a few individuals who are in the midst of dealing with the harsh realities of cancer; Jason Hall, Christopher Langer and his beautiful and courageous wife. I also want to salute the indomitable Charles Barber, who succeeded twice to beat this terrible disease. http://jasonhall.ca/music/covid-19-facing-the-music/ please donate to my fundraising efforts for cancer research links at the bottom of the blog (keep scrolling all the way down ) we performed duos, and trips with a helicopter hovering nearby! It reminded me of Stockhausen’s Helicopter Quarte ..read more

When driving back to Toronto after two years living in Vancouver, Joe Sorbara stopped by Slocan Park, BC to visit his old friend and inventive trumpetist Emily Denison, who’d relocated there with her husband. he was so blown away by the beauty of the place that he told me to contact Emily to see if I could make a stop there on my way to Vancouver. Emily responded enthusiastically to me visiting them. I stopped near Nakusp for a cold night of camping, before heading south to Nelson to visit this lovely town. Not only do I have the pleasure of travelling through the Kootenays to visit, I get to ..read more

Having lived in Banff for most of two years, in 1984-95 and 1987-88, this place holds so many fond memories. My first time there was the first year away from my native Quebec. I found myself surrounded by mountains, wilderness, and lots of fantastic musicians! The friendships built over my time there are still alive today, with the likes of extraordinary people such as Jean-David Coen, Bryan Pezzone, David Travers-Smith, Sue Gould, Brenda Fedoruk, Don Ross, to name but a few who have helped me find my voice as a musicians. And then the incredible winter sessions at The Banff Centre, organized ..read more

Today on my way to Banff to play on Tunnel Mountain tomorrow morning. Kyle Brenders has gone camping with his family and won’t be back in time to join me, which is too bad because I was so looking forward to a rowdy duo at this location. I decided to drive through the Columbia Icefields to toot a bit of my clarinet at the foot of the glacier. I was there for the first time in 1984. The glacier has receded by so many meters since that you can’t even see the glacier from the 1982 marker, in comparison to the 1992 marker. The rate of melting has increased by several meters when you compare the di ..read more

As I make my way through Saskatchewan and Alberta, the breathtaking view has a very calming effect. Ian simply blown away by the beauty of the prairies, the stillness and solitude. After a week on the road, playing and meeting with friends after 3 months in Quebec, I can’t help but think how hopeful and positive everyone is, and that ultimately we will have learned a lot from this current pandemic situation. about tonight; I met Chenoa when I began my involvement with the Vancouver New Music Scene in the early 90’s. We hired Chenoa several times to perform really difficult music with my new mu ..read more

As I’m working my way through Manitoba and Saskatoon, I can’t help but reminisce about the last week, at how wonderful it is to see old friends, play and share music with folks who have not heard anything “live” in weeks! I am thrilled to be performing duos with the ever so creative singer Helen Pridmore this evening in the park w/ sculpture/statue installations just off a walking trail on the U of Sask campus. Its behind the Education building.  Please come say hi and listen to our duo premiere if you’re in town! and please remember to make a donation to my fundraising campaign for cance ..read more

After a few days of back to back concerts, I hit the road to work my way from Guelph all the way to Saskatoon!!! I have to be there by tomorrow afternoon for my concert with Helen Pridmore! the concert in Toronto at Joe Sorbara’s place was so much fun! Thank you Joe, and all who came to listen (shout out to Nick Fraser and Bea Labikova for coming out!). We live-streamed the concert on Facebook! (Video below) Before heading out, I met with this extraordinary man, Sean van Sluys, director of Musagetes Foundation, who regaled me with stories of his recent trip to the Brazilian Amazon. My drive t ..read more

For Toronto, I’ve decided to connect with my great friend, wonderful human being, and killer musician Joe Sorbara. It was a tough choice as there are so many amazing musicians in the Toronto area I would have loved to connect and play with, including Jean Martin, Nick Fraser, Kevin Turcotte, Tim Posgate, Lina Allemano, Rob Clutton, to name a few. I would say that the scene there has blossomed at an incredible pace towards more open forms of music, while retaining an incredibly inventive jazz and world music scene. Maybe I should move here!!! Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! Today ..read more

This was my first time ever seeing Niagara Falls. On this trip, I hope to take the time to stop and see iconic Canadian places such as this, to remind me of what it’s like to be living in such an amazingly beautiful country. The sound of the falls created a powerful backdrop for a simple melody that popped into my head, as I was thinking about my family, my brother, and all the friends I’ve seen so far on this trip. My spirits are high on account of all that ..read more