School just started today and August, actually July too, was crammed full 'til bursting with events. One of the highlights of my summer was going to Swing Camp* with Daddy*. We both took workshops on Jazz soloing and Swing fiddle--we had a blast x 20. Doesn't that make the speed of light? Anyway, it felt like the week went by at the speed of light, and by the time the last day “swung” around, our heads were exploding with ideas and new info. I have pretty much been practicing non-stop ever since. It seemed like all the teachers (world class artists, right down to the swing dance instructors) had a bad (or very good!) sense of humor. Bad puns and cheesy jokes floated past all week. We had an absolutely, and here words fail me, fantastic, awesome, incredible and life changing time (you choose your favorite adjective).
Our teachers were :
Jennifer Scott: voice
Rene Worst: bass
Kate Hammett-Vaughan: voice
Bill Coon :guitar
Karen Plato: voice
Ron Peter: guitar
Brian Tate: voice
Joe Vinikow: guitar
Nancy Thorwardson: guitar
Bruce Clausen :guitar
Greg Glassman: guitar
Craig McGregor: guitar
Neil Fraser: guitar
Radim Zenkl: mandolin
Tom Keenlyside: horns
Paul Elliot: our violin teacher
Michael Creber: piano
Lauri Lyster: drums
* “Swing” music is an era of Jazz from the 20’s-50’s.
* Swing camp took place in Sorrento, (near Kamloops) for a week in mid August.
