5 on Friday - Set 181

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Birthday boy time -- here are five tunes featuring musicians born in July.

1 - Red Sector A - Geddy Lee from Rush

I woke up after the second Rush concert two weeks ago with this song going through my head. It's the perfect way to begin celebrating these musicians' birthdays, as Geddy Lee came very close to not being here at all.

His parents were both young Jewish prisoners in Auschwitz, having come from different towns in Poland. Despite the harrowing circumstances of their meeting, Mary and Morris maintained contact with one another until the war ended and they were liberated.

Morris tracked down the young woman for whom he'd bribed officials and guards in order to send her shoes and other items to ensure her survival. They married as soon as they could, eventually emigrating to Canada and becoming parents to three children -- one of whom is Rush bassist and lead singer Geddy Lee.

The lyrics of this song were written by drummer Neil Peart, but the song belongs to Geddy's parents. A very, very happy  60th birthday to Geddy. 

2 - The Other Way of Stopping - drummer Stewart Copeland from The Police

I've got musicians from three trios featured in the July birthday set. Considering that July is mainly a Cancer birthday, and Cancers are intensely family-focused, it comes as no surprise.

3 - Somewhere Down the Crazy River - Robbie Robertson

Hey, why not lip sync a complicated spoken-word song during a music video while looking directly into the camera?

If the director says so...well...he probably knows what he's doing...especially if he's Martin Scorsese...

4 - Christmas is Coming - Vince Guaraldi Trio

As a Christmas maniac, I'm always in the mood for Christmas. Especially when it's Vince Guaraldi's kind.

5 - Soul Sacrifice - guitarist Carlos Santana and the Woodstock performance of Santana

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today

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5 on Friday - Set 180

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

This week I'm handing the set list over to my uncle, Charles Doucet (father of my historical-romance-novelist cousin, Julianne MacLean.)

My uncle has been a musician, among many other things, for most of his life. He's heading off today for a three-day art show with his painterly photography collection at Victoria Park, across from the Public Gardens on Spring Garden Road, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. If you aren't in the area, you can check out his web site where all pieces are available (just contact him through the web site.)

Brad and I are heading over this afternoon to visit my aunt and uncle at the show -- that's them pictured above at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration last summer.

And now...over to you, Uncle Charlie.

~~~

Charlie Doucet’s 5 Tunes from Musicians of Influence

1 - St. Thomas - Barney Kessel

Barney Kessel:  My first and greatest influence as a beginning teenaged, potential jazz guitar player! Bought his album, “The Poll Winners, with Ray Brown on Bass, ( another major influence!,) Shelly Manne on drums. Wore the album out attempting to duplicate what I heard thru my 331/3 LP player in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

2 - All the Things You Are - Hank Garland

Hank Garland: A very tasty guitar player… I learned his tune, “Relaxin”, back in the 1960’s and it’s in my repertoire to this day.

3 - Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me - Ed Bickert

Ed Bickert: A Canadian, working out of Toronto, is recognized as one of the best jazz guitarist in the world. He plays guitar on the Moe Koffman hit, “Swinging Shepard Blues.” Also backed up Paul Desmond, the alto sax player formerly with Dave Brubeck of “Take 5” fame.

4 - Django in Paris - Joe Pass

 Joe Pass: A superb and truly amazing  jazz guitarist! His playing is immaculate, every note true and crystal clear, even at fast and furious tempos. I have a number of his teaching DVDs…too bad he has passed away… a real loss to up and coming guitarists looking for a creative path to follow!

5 - Lady Be Good - Ray Brown

Ray Brown: A Bass Player of impeccable talent. The foundation of time for any musicians he played with… such as Barney Kessel, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitsgerald and countless others. At 76 years old, he had just finished a golf game, went to bed in his hotel room for a nap before an evening performance… and didn’t wake up… another great loss!

5 on Friday - Set 179

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Brad and I just got back from our anniversary trip, which I'll share more about next week.

Our vacation was launched in style with a Lyle Lovett concert, and I'm home in time for two Rush concerts which I'm seeing with my Rush-superfan sister Michelle.

So here's a wee taste of those shows, plus some extra fun thrown in.

1 - You Can't Resist It - Lyle Lovett

Lyle had a 5-piece band for his show here last week, and they did this one to great appreciation from an adoring crowd.

2 - Angel - Haywire

This band hails from Prince Edward Island, where Brad and I began our vacation. Go, drummer Sean Kilbride! Brother of my high school sweetheart.

4 - Butterfinger's Medley - JP Cormier and Dave Gunning

And now up to Cape Breton. JP Cormier is a Cape Bretoner, while Dave Gunning hails from Pictou County, just a stone's throw from the island on Nova Scotia's mainland.

This begins with a story -- music begins at the 1:28 mark.

4 - Various traditional Celtic tunes - John Allan Cameron

Here's the musician to whom they were paying tribute in the previous tune. If you look closely in the background of several different performances in this tribute clip, you'll see a very young Anne Murray, Bruce Cockburn and Ashley MacIsaac. 

5 - YYZ - Rush

Woo hoo! Tonight, babies!

And then again on Sunday night!

YYZ is the airport code for Toronto, my other home and my honey's hometown. Kind of full circle after my Big City man went on his first vacation exploring the Maritimes to have a slice of Toronto drop on by this weekend.

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today

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5 on Friday - Set 178

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

It's that time again, kiddies! Time to revel in all things American.

Happy 4th of July to all of my fellow American bloggers, readers, fellow writers and authors. Have a great long weekend.

Brad and I are off on our 21st anniversary vacation trip. It's the first vacation we've taken where we weren't reuniting with family or combining work with play. It's almost like a honeymoon.

I'm going dark on social media, so I'll return your visits when I get back.

1 - Beautiful Dreamer - Rachel Fannan

2 - Run On - Elvis Presley

4 - If I Had a Boat - Lyle Lovett

4 - Round Midnight - Dexter Gordon

5 - Shotgun - Jr. Walker and The All Stars