Canadian Musician articles from January 2001

Canadian Musician archives from January 2001

Are cassette tapes dead?
January 1, 2001... Have CDs taken over? Are cassette tapes coming to an end? After speaking to some Canadian custom duplicators, it's clear that CDs have certainly stolen the popularity that cassettes once had. But according to Linda Evans of Ambassador Records...

54-40 celebrates 20 years.
January 1, 2001... Vancouver-based 54*40 celebrated more than just bringing in the year 2001 this past New Year's Eve. The momentous occasion marked the 20th anniversary of the band's first show, and with the recent release of their 9th album Casual Viewin', it...

SOCAN honours Ben Dunk.
January 1, 2001... Song writer Ben Dunk with his first SOCAN No. 1 plaque at the Living Well Cafe in Toronto, ON. The song "Horseshoes" was recorded by Adam Gregory and it appears on Gregory's debut CD, "The Way I'm Made" released by Sony Music....

Remembering Scott Smith.
January 1, 2001... On November 30th Scott Smith, bassist for Loverboy, was sailing four miles off San Francisco's Ocean Beach when he was swept overboard by a 25' wave. He was travelling with two companions who were below when the powerful wave hit his 37'...

Since August signs with The Agency.
January 1, 2001... Loggerhead Records latest signing, Since August, has been picked up by The Agency. The New Brunswick band, formerly known as Even, signed its first record contract with Loggerhead Records in August 2000. Ralph James of The Agency said, "The...

Offline Web site promotion.
January 1, 2001... A large part of your promotional efforts should be spent on search engine placement, linking strategies and other online activities but don't forget to spend an equal amount of time on offline promotion. Some of the busiest sites on the...

Resources (on the Internet).
January 1, 2001... ... Tritone is a new interactive music site for online lessons. The site provides musical educational services for public schools, at home and distant learning environments. With a musical instrument keyboard, MIDI and an Internet connection, a...

Conn Vintage One trumpet.
January 1, 2001... Recently I've been hearing some rave reviews about the new Conn Vintage One trumpet. As implied by the name, this is a horn based on the old Conns, but built to modern-day standards. I was happy to have the chance recently to play this horn for...

AKG emotion D440 and D550 microphones.
January 1, 2001... Impressions It seems as if every microphone manufacturer is taking advantage of new manufacturing techniques and materials to attempt to build a better entry level product for musicians and other financially-challenged consumers (myself...

Zoom PS-02 palmtop studio.
January 1, 2001... It fits in the palm of your hand and looks like an MP3/MiniDisc player. It's really small, made of plastic, feels like a toy and if you drop it, argh! But this is one of the most amazing and interesting palmtop studios I have ever seen and had...

Chord voicings.
January 1, 2001... This article is about chords that sound interesting and are useful in modern music. It is up to you the reader to use them creatively. Chord voicings. What in the @#$% is a chord voicing, and what good are they? A chord voicing is how the notes...

Keyboards: warming up.
January 1, 2001... A good warm up prior to performing is essential. Not only to make sure you're limber and well prepared, but to achieve a state of concentration, comfort and focus, and maintain it both before and during a performance, even when all hell sees...

Bass: jack of all trades.
January 1, 2001... We've all heard the expression Jack of All Trades, Master of None, well I like to think that as musicians it is important to be a Jack of All Trades Master of At Least One. It is crucial to have an understanding of a lot of different styles...

Percussion: relaxation is the key to health.
January 1, 2001... I was speaking with a fellow drummer a few weeks back and as we were comparing war wounds from many years of hard playing he uttered the words "I used to play drums like I was in a fight." I had to laugh because I realized that I had played for...

Woodwinds: suggestions on functioning physically in non-classical contexts: part II.
January 1, 2001... This is part of a series of articles that is dedicated primarily to those who play flute in non-classical contexts. However, this series is likely to be of relevance to most wind players. So, whenever you see the word, "instrument", feel free...

Brass: trumpet player wanted?
January 1, 2001... So, you have learned all your scales (some better than others) and can hold a double-C for 17 seconds or until you pass out. You've attempted to play Giant Steps in several keys, can triple tongue really fast and know the melody to "Girl From...

Digital music: the power of MIDI.
January 1, 2001... Well, it gets more and more interesting as time goes by and technology skyrockets, I get a number of requests about the original MIDI columns in CM and questions regarding the difference between Digital Audio and MIDI. I have written a short...

Vocals: warming up is the key.
January 1, 2001... This issue, CM chats with Nickelback's lead singer about his vocal techniques that help him maintain his performance night after night... Chad Kroeger: I just started barking into a microphone, doing covers in a garage. One guitar player...

Our Lady Peace.
January 1, 2001... Spiritual Machines is the title of the latest album from Our Lady Peace, to be released two weeks after the writing of this article, and a little over one year after their previous release, Happiness... Is Not A Fish You Can Catch. In...

Gob.
January 1, 2001... This has got to be a first: An entire interview with a member of Vancouver punk band gob and not one scatological reference, no talk of bodily fluids or orifices, not even a lively curse word. Was that realty guitarist and singer Tom on the...

Nelly Furtado.
January 1, 2001... Nelly Furtado's debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, was released this past fall to critical acclaim in both Canada and the US. There is a charm to Nelly's songwriting that is both honest and naive, sophisticated and earnest, much like the 21-year-old is...

Music education: how do your play that?
January 1, 2001... So, you've finally reached that stage where a trip to the music store is no longer shrouded by the leering stares of the lofty players of the elite inner circle. Even the store's staff seems more amiable. You actually feel comfortable trying...

Writing: write for yourself first.
January 1, 2001... After John Lennon and Paul McCartney had achieved some success it is rumoured they would look to each other and say "Let's write a swimming pool today. They had that magical ability to write the most creative and artistic songs, all the while...

Live sound: mic selection.
January 1, 2001... I've heard it said many times that the mic is the most important element in the audio path because it's the first thing to come in contact with the sound being created. Well, we might have a lengthy debate over that one, but suffice it to say...

Recording: pre-production, part I.
January 1, 2001... This is part one of a three-part manifesto covering as many aspects of the putting together of a typical pop/ band studio recorded album as can reasonably be crammed into these pages. Each installment will present information in its own...

Business: licensing music for the internet.
January 1, 2001... A wonder of the Internet age is that anyone can become a global broadcaster or music distributor with some inexpensive gear and a little savvy. Thousands are doing just that, offering radio-style "Webcasts", audio downloads or background music...

Hot gear: (new equipment for musicians).
January 1, 2001... AKG C 3000B AKG Acoustics recently introduced the C 3000B large-diaphragm condenser microphone that features a 1" gold sputtered diaphragm specifically tuned to produce a warm and transparent sound. The C 3000B's cardioid pattern...

Ronnie Hayward.
January 1, 2001... Who: Ronnie Hayward Where: Calgary, AB What: Genuine country Blues to make Ol' Hank proud Contact: #6 - 2516, 17th Street, S.W., Calgary, AB, T2T 4M8 (403) 244-7484 Everyone knows that there's only one place to go to make a...

Roland Nipp.
January 1, 2001... Who: Roland Nipp Where: Richmond, B.C. What: Guitar instrumentals from the wank-free zone Contact: 6980 Miller Road, Richmond, BC, V7B 1L3 (604) 278-6580, roland_nipp@hotmail.com, www.mp3.com/rolandnipp Roland Nipp is so...

Alex Baird.
January 1, 2001... Who: Alex Baird Where: Toronto, Ontario What: Genre-bending singer-songwriter Contact: Alexbaird@hotmail.com, or Marty Menard, Hunt the Sandman Inc., (416) 407-4169; Promotions/Publicity: Last Tango Productions (Yvonne Valnea),...