Wednesday, July 5, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C3 Local songwriter performs at jazz test ` B oomer'Jones and his acoustic guitar will entertain ja zz fans at La Cucina this weekend O when I start writing and getting into my day," he says. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR His most recent CD is available on line akville's Jam es Jones, known in the through www.boomerjones.com and is listed in music world as Boomer, will be play the on-line catalogue at HMV.com. It will also be ing his own brand o f jazz at the Down available at the jazz festival. In fact, he quips, town BIA Jazz Festival on Friday, July "Anyone who stops and listens will be obligated buy , 7th and Saturday, July 8th, beginning his to first ofone." On a more serious note though, the three nightly sets at about 7 p.m. "I'm interested in a lot o f older music. There's singer/songwriter says his musical career, which a little country in it; there's a little blues in it; began as a lead guitar player for a number of there's a little jazz in it, and some pop roots as bands, soon became boring. "I started writing songs and singing, and that's well from when 1 was a kid listening to the radio," Jones says, explaining his particular style when I found that was very satisfying," he says, of music. "So, I'm one of those people who does explaining that it was about 10 years ago when n't really fit into a category. I'm trying to form he discovered the joy of songwriting. "Instead of becoming a piece of a puzzle, which is what you my own category." And the staff at La Cucina (149 Lakeshore are as a lead guitar player, I was now the puzzle." The title of his first independent CD, The Chi Rd. E.), where he will be performing with his acoustic -- itar on both nights, must think that his anti Bros, was inspired by his favourite wine and his favourite friends as they commiserated over unu ic category will fit in just fine with their lots in life. His second and most recent CD DatT > will be downtown this weekend also includes a song titled Chianti Bros, Which, zz in all its forms, ars ago, jazz festivals used to incor- he says, reflects his philosophy on life: "We get so caught up in what is olues, folk, acoustic going to happen tomorrow pop and ja z z ," explains "T hirty years ago,ja z z festiand how w e're going to Jones. "I find music is so vals used to incorporate retire, that we forget about much more stratified now. the joy of today," the 39Everyone is pigeon-holed." blues, folk, acoustic pop and year-old paraphrases. And it's that pigeon hol ja z z . / fin d m usic is so much And the Oakville song ing that the O akville m ore stra tified now. Every writer lives by his philoso singer/songwriter is trying phy, making ends meet on to avoid. Like his perfor one is pigeon-holed." his music with only the mance in the jazz festival, occasional shift waiting on Jones's second CD, Boomer, features him and his acoustic guitar. tables. "I worked in the service industry for a long That's all. And that's because, he says, he is hop time, and I do it occasionally now," he says, ing to sell his songs to other recording artists. "W hen you record a song bare bones, as it adding that waiting tables "sucks the soul out of were, record people can listen, and they can hear m e ...If you want to be successful in the music more artists involved in recording it than if you business, you really have to do it full-time." produced it heavily yourself," he explains. "The And, of course, it isn't completely about suc more you produce it, the more it sounds like a cess, he adds. Music is a passion that keeps particular kind o f music." pulling him in, despite a number of attempts to And, since the Oakville songwriter plays by get along without it. Once the Oakville jazz festival is over, Jones ear, his songs are all sung rather than written down. "I write up basic charts - how many is hoping to take his music to Britain and Europe, bars...the chords. Music is about feel," he con probably in the fall. "I've been getting e-mails from different pro tends. "You can teach technical stuff...but you can't teach feel." moters in Europe who are interested in North Jones leans towards the emotional when he is American style artists like me for small tours in writing and recording songs, perhaps because he Europe," he explains. is inspired by classical music, psychologically at "If I could miss a Canadian winter, that would least. "I usually listen to classical in the morning be great." B y C a ro l B a ld w in Photo by Peter C. M cCusker James `Boomer' Jones hopes to tour Europe this fall with his acoustic guitar. But his im m edi ate plans include this weekend's Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival. I f you have an Arts or Entertainment story or tip, caU 845-3824, ext. 254. p,ese°'s The White Oak Folk Club The Forever Young Folk Festival Featuring · John Prince & a Piece of the Rock · David Bradstreet · Don Bray · Nonie Crete · Eve Goldberg · Donald McGeoch · Glen Reid · Sirens as well as a wealth of local talent Saturday, J u ly 8, 2000 at the Oakville Rod & G u n C lu b 36 U pper Middle Road East, Oakville, Ontario O pening Cerem onies @ 11:30 am w orkshop and perform er spotlights to 5 pm evening concert com m e nce s at 5:30 pm food, raffles, d oor prizes E r m a RECREATION WEEK OPEN HOUSE at Ontario's Loveliest Nudist Park Sunday, July 9,h 10amto 6 p m · Free Entrance and BBQ fo r first time visitors Blues band in town Friday Set aside this Friday night to see Stu Heydon and the Blues Persuaders at The Roxbury in Oakville. (The Roxbury is located on Kerr Street, just south of the railway tracks.) The California-based band is cur rently on the Ontario leg of its latest tour, which will see members hit sev eral major blues festivals in Windsor and London. The tour is in support of Trouble, the band's new smoldering CD, which just hit the stores last month. Featured is Stu Heydon on guitar, Catharine St. Clair, vocals, M ike Branton on guitar, A1 Farrell on drum and Danny Abrams on B3 organ. Included in the tour line-up is Oakville's own Tony Wachnuik on bass. Heydon has been a staple in the blues music business for more than 30 years, playing at blues and jazz clubs from Chicago to New Orleans and fes tivals from San Francisco to Montreal. In 1996, he was given the Lifetime S ee B lues Persuaders a t Roxbury Ju ly 7th. Ponderosa Nature Resort Call 659-3410for more information Member Club - American Association for Nude Recreation Tickets: $25 For more information and tickets, phone: (905) 842-7960, (toll free) at: 1-877-263-WOFC (9632) Tickets also available at: Notes Music, 35 Lakeshore W., Oakville Paynes Music, 222 King E., Hamilton website: www.pathcom.com/-jeremiah/WhiteOakFolk.htm FESTIVAL OF C LA S S IC S In association with THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents Stu Heydon and Catharine St. Clair Achievement Motor City Blues Award for his contributions to the industry. Heydon now lives in Carmel-bythe-Sea where he performs, teaches, produces the blues, and is director of the Carmel Youth Centre Recording Studio. MUCH ADO ABOUT NQTHING SHAKESPEARE'S delightful romantic comedy directed by MICHAEL SHAMATA jfP MONDAY to SATURDAY at 8:00 pm Let your creativity soar to new heights A R T & PO TTER Y CLASSES ADULTS · CHILDREN · TEENS y T he Oakville Art Society's experienced instructors offer a wide variety of programs. From beginner to advanced, you're sure to find a class best suited for your skill level and busy schedule. Classes commence as early as July 10 and are held mornings, afternoon or evenings. Children's classes are held after school or Saturday mornings. CORONATION PARK Oakville Tickets $15 · General Admission (905) 815-2021 CLASSES BEGIN AS EARLY AS JULY 10 WATERCOLOUR - MIXED MEDIA DRAWING, POTTERY CHILDREN'S ART AND POTTERY ___________TEEN CARTOONING________ Register today! G ive us a call or drop in to the O A S studios fo r a descriptive class brochure Tickets available at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and Bookers Bookstore, Oakville | « t v Iftw j 'j ^ I . | RovAifcLi .. SUNALLIANCE JS n Z JG Z C =f B o o k e rs ^ _ f lit t ^ fa tte n s ROYAL BANK FINANCIAL GROUP GUARDIAN I I ST. LAWRENCE I t CEMENT ^ C T m O ^ Y iL L tB e A v tn THE GLOBE AM) MAH. The Oakville Art Society Teaching art in your comm unity for 35 years www.oakville-art-society.com c h w o iz s o 5 6 0 Bronte Rd. 8 2 7 - 5 7 1 1 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. GUST 12th 2000 1 6