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Wednesday, November 24, 1999 Oakville Campaign THE OAKVILLE BEAVER OUR GOAL $3.1 m illion Way For more info: 845-5571 Arts & Entertainment Editor: Carol Baldwin 8 4 5 -3 8 2 4 (Extension 254) Fax: 3 3 7 -5 5 6 7 Classics ` J azzed up 'classical and Christmas m usic By C arol B aldw in ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR P aul Mason puts a different spin on classical music - he likes to jazz it up. In fact, the former Oakville resident, who began his classical training on the piano at about age 9, soon found clas sical music too restricting for his curious "The music was always on the page, and the only freedom you had was to interpret that music," he explains. "I'd get in trouble a lot with my teachers for taking these classical Beethoven pieces and jazzing them up. Some people liked it and some people didn't. I still do it to this day, and I get mixed reviews on it when I do." This urge to experiment with music has, of course, endeared him to the world of jazz, where injecting your own style is a given. However, Mason claims that his affair with jazz comple ments his classical music and vice versa. And his concerts, many of which are held in Oakville, try to reflect that classical/jazz complement. His next concert in town, Classics at Christ mas II, will feature "a little bit classical, a little bit of jazz, a little bit of Christmas music," at 8 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 27th) in Calvary Baptist Church, 1215 Lakeshore Rd. W. And the Paul Mason Quartet, a jazz ensemble, will join him for the Christmas portion of the show. On his recently released CD, Perfect Time, Mason features the music of Frederic Chopin. And although this first album of his is all classi cal music, it has managed to pave the way for him in jazz circles as well as leading to more classical concerts and orchestra gigs. "It seems to have boosted my reputation in various circles and I'm getting more jazz gigs as well," says the 33-year-old pianist, noting that he really doesn't prefer one genre over the other. "Depends on what I'm playing. If it's a really mind. Photo by Peter C. McCusker Paul Mason practises for his Oakville concert on Saturday. good classical piece of music, I'm all for it. But if it's kind of a second-rate piano concerto with a small orchestra, I think I'd rather have a nice jazz combo at a jazz club. It depends on the mood, I guess." The mood of his next CD will, of course, be jazz, and he plans to feature a collection of jazz musicians to complement his piano. Like his first CD, this next one will probably highlight the work of one composer. "I've been toying with the idea of Gershwin or Duke Ellington," he says. In the meantime. Mason will continue to offer classical and jazz concerts in and around Oakville, including the jazz concerts he presents every so often in Second Cup at Lakeshore Road and Navy Street. Those intimate concerts are possible, he says, thanks to Anne Fabiano, owner of that particular coffee shop, who is an avid sup porter of the arts. "She is the number-one supporter I've ever come across, and I've performed all over the place," he says. "I'm never met anyone as sin cerely open to helping (artists)." Mason's concert this weekend is not a fundraiser, although he did suggest it. However, the concert pianist used to run Concerts With a Cause, a series of concerts in Toronto that sup ported various children's charities. "It was really nice work, giving cheques to the Sick Kids Hospital or Children's Aid. But it became a little overwhelming," says the father of two, who was, at the time, juggling fatherhood, performances and teaching piano. Tickets for Mason's Saturday concert are $12 and are available at the door or at the Lakeshoreand-Navy Second Cup. For more information about Mason or his upcoming concerts, call (905) 702-0118. m mu, 4wm H i mm m Shows fa d s W owV Wftwf to SNOWFLAKE Timberland N o wO p e n You're invited to our new flagship store in downtown Oakville. Just like our boots, everything in our store is there for a reason, to bring you into the great outdoors. That's why we built it in the same wa) we build our legendary boots. We use fine craftsmanshi uncompromising attention to detail and the enduring qualities of wood, slate and stone. Look inside. Be outside. NOV. 28 AT 1 PM & 4:30 PM HAMMERSON HALL The urban 90' s meet C harlie Chaplin! Comic genius G ale Laloye is Snowflake, a street character with quirky antics and a n imagination as big as his heart Snow flake's magical performance and his message o f love, compassion and joy will leave audiences o f all ages spellbound. Tickets: $35/$30/$20 ($5 off for children*) The FAMILY FUN is reCoMMewded Ages up. Can 905-306-6000 or toll free at 1-888-805-8888 4141 Livins A rts Drive, Mississausa Hwy 403 & Hwy 10 (west of Square One) 216 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville (90S) 849-4190 LIVING ARTS MISSISSAUGA A Showcase Concert by some of Canada's top prize-winning young musicians (age 8-26) mam Nov 27th through D ec 7th Featuring a once in a lifetime offering of a complete collection of limited edition prints encompassing Trishas twenty year career ART SHOW & SALE OF th e century ! Presenting a program of classical favourites for Piano · Strings · Guitar · Voice Host: Roberto de Clara Music Director, Oakville Symphony Sunday, November 28 at 3:00 p.m. Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Tickets $15 and $10 (Students & Seniors) Box O ffice 815-2021 Sponsored by & Almost all o f these rare limited editions wiU be print ' l An excellent selection of prints, originals,, posters and gii giftware w ill i be available "The K itchen E lf" 'H arrop G allery 345 Steeles Avenue, Milton 0 0 5 )8 7 8 -8 1 6 1 "B right Eyes" OPEN DAILY A nom inal admission donation is requested to Help the Epilepsy Research Fund Hwy 25 North to Steeles Ave. Turn West onto Steeles to Harrop Gallery Callfo r details on our preferred customer preveiw Nov26th