The Orbit Is Pre-empted By Summer Vay-cay This Week

No show. Much happiness. Lots of lake.

Walt Whitman: Song of Myself, Part 50

May 25, 2017By Parabola Editors

Part 50

There is that in me—I do not know what it is—but I know it is in me.
Wrench’d and sweaty—calm and cool then my body becomes,

I sleep—I sleep long.
I do not know it—it is without name—it is a word unsaid,

It is not in any dictionary, utterance, symbol.
Something it swings on more than the earth I swing on,

To it the creation is the friend whose embracing awakes me.
Perhaps I might tell more. Outlines! I plead for my brothers and sisters.
Do you see O my brothers and sisters?

It is not chaos or death—it is form, union, plan—it is eternal

life—it is Happiness.

—Walt Whitman, from LEAVES OF GRASS (1855)

From Parabola Volume 42, No. 2, “Happiness,” Summer 2017. This issue is available to purchase here.

Elizabeth Shepherd's Parkdale Album and Corby's Orbit ... Plus Ten Years

On July 13, 2008, I went into the studio at CKLN.FM and I said: "This is your last warning: You are now entering Corby's Orbit." Then I played Music Is Love by Neil Young off David Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name album. Then we were off - and on the air for the next ten years and counting.

Corby's Orbit survived the persecution and assassination of CKLN as performed by its inmates and the CRTC in 2012 by going underground, along with several other CKLN alumni, to a kinder asylum, on Radio Regent in Regent Park, which had newly opened under the direction of  Regent Park Focus Media Arts Center.

The range of talent that has visited me to chat and perform there amazes me when I look back. It is all documented on this blog and much of it is on video at YouTube's Radio Regent and Corby`s Orbit channels.

Coincidentally, also on July 13, 2008, Elizabeth Shepherd released her second album, Parkdale. After creating an international hipster smash in jazz and dance circles with her first album, Start To Move, the transplanted Montréaler settled into a basement apartment in Parkdale, and began work on a new LP, a musical love letter to the neighbourhood that provided her with a new set of responses to her humanistic musical aspirations. Parkdale was a work that expanded the spectrum of Canadian jazz, by skewing towards a more breezy and cosmopolitan lyricism while embracing exotic time signatures, hip hop syncopation and deeply personal content. 

To celebrate these two pivotal inceptions at a distance of ten years, a concert featuring the music of Parkdale and the brightest talents of the Orbital community is coming together on Sunday the 15th of July at the ballroom in the Gladstone Hotel to re-sing, to re-imagine, to re-invent the most specifically Toronto music of Elizabeth Shepherd's career.

Musical director Nick Maclean first came into the Orbit as a band leader / composer for his award-winning band Snaggle, but since then, his management of various jazz tribute nights, especially one for the excruciatingly complex music of Snarky Puppy, made him an obvious choice for coordinating the musical presentation of Parkdale. When he told me he'd secure the original Parkdale rhythm section of Colin Kingsmore and Scott Kemp, I got the cosmic tingles. His horn highness, Brownman Ali, completed the backing quartet.

As Elizabeth's former Do-Right label-mate and occasional co-fabulator of songs, Jessica Stuart was the first candidate that came to mind for the reinvention honours. Her band The Jessica Stuart Few has an international fan base and a set of fine jazz-pop albums that have received widespread airplay. Also, bearing in mind that she is the all-time favourite guest on Corby's Orbit, with four appearances over the decade, I had to recall her memorable radio moments, including the time a dreadlocks called in to keep her from trimming hers (too late), and the on-air transference of an epic virus that I had been bequeathed by Kim Churchill the week before. Music is not the only thing that is communicable.

And after that, every time that I mentioned Elizabeth Shepherd, peoples' eyes popped open. When I went to Chloe Watkinson's major Universe-al tour de force at the Opera House in January, both Tia Brazda and Denielle Bassels came on strong to me about their love of Ms. Shepherd's work. The next thing you know, Denielle was on the bill. Tia is on tour on the week of, but she had had an intense desire to participate. And now suddenly, Chloe has signed on too.

Valeria Matzner came up to the Orbit last month for her CD release party and when I asked about her favourite Canadian singers she immediately mentioned Elizabeth Shepherd. Hired! Jocelyn Barth is a former teaching colleague and a hugely influential and kinetic presence in the right-now Toronto jazz style.

And Carin Redman, on the staff at my current school, just exploded when I brought Elizabeth's name into the conversation. Her current collabo with Yvette Tollar and Thyron Lee Whyte in Red Whyte and Tollar - all Shepherd fans -  will be getting broad exposure soon. 

Rebecca Campbell is about the most called-up singer in town, and when I see her at a show, I am always confident that I'm in for a good night of music. She has been a frequent Orbital feature over the years and was especially treasured when she came down to sing Ron Hynes' magnificent A Good Dog Is Lost during Winterfolk a few years back. Only a year ago she introduced me to her colleague in the Savantes, Collette Savard, who became an instant pal, and who has, btw, put out one of the best albums of original songs that I've heard earlier this year. Along with Megan Worthy they will be performing two tunes, including one of Collette's that bears a fine comparison with Ms. Shepherd's work.

The Memberz are the performers that I am the most proud of having on the bill. I have been playing guitar with them for the last five years, and their ability to revive the quality of innovation inherent in reggae has recently been made obvious with the release of our second single, Work It Out. Our own Charmizelle will take on a Parkdale song and we should have enough energy left over to rock an after party and dance to end the night.

The music will be unique to the night and FIFA will be just finishing up that afternoon, so you may have something to celebrate yourself. It will be a potent and perfect collection of Toronto's best singers, and a great Sunday night to introduce yourself to, or to revisit the swoony and shadowy music of Elizabeth Shepherd's Parkdale, early in the evening of the dark of the moon, and to find out what Corby's Orbit is all about besides. At ten years up and flying, they are both modern Canadian classics.

Tickets are $12 in advance here Parkdale - A Reinvention and $15 at the door.
The Memberz after party will cost $5.

.

Playlist For Corby`s Orbit Show Of 29 July 2018

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

(Brought to you by Rock `n`Guacamole, Country `n` Worcestershire and Raisins `n`Blues )

Guest: Don Stevenson

5-7 p.m. Fridays online http://www.radioregent.com/ and at tunein.com .  

Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

Click on photos to enlarge.

5:00 Coastal Codes

* Rose Cousins ~ I Were The Bird ~ The Send Off

* Okavango Orchestra ~ Dieu Est Grand ~ Okavango African Orchestra ~ @ Cumberland Stage Downtown Jazz Festival Saturday 8:30

* Qristina Brooke ~ Linger ~ LInger NEW DISK

* The Barra MacNeils ~ Living The Dream ~ On The Bright Side         NEW DISK

* The Ennis Sisters ~ Daughters Of Newfoundland ~ Keeping Time    NEW DISK

5:20 Artisanal Lanasitra

* Lido Pimienta ~ Al Unisono Viajan ~ La Papessa 

* Mélisande ~ Je Suis Née En Automne ~ Les Millésimes ~ Hugh`s Room Wednesday 4 July

* Robbie Robertson (75 0n Thursday - born July 5, 1943) ~ Fallen Angel ~ Robbie Robertson 

* Kim Beggs ~ Better Off Leavin` It ~ Said Little Sparrow ~ @ Harbourfront Center tonight





5:40  Don`s Pearly Light

* Don Stevenson ~ Interview / Busking In The Subway / Dog On A Bone (live) / Do You Ever Think Of Me? / Almost Feels Good To Feel Bad (live) ~ Buskin`In The Subway NEW DISK ~ @ Brickworks Saturday





6:15 Infiltration Systems

Sanchez ~ Fall In Love ~ One In A Million ~ @ Woodbine Shopping Center for Family Reggae Festival Sunday

Steely Dan ~ Slang Of Ages ~ Everything Must Go ~ @ Budweiser Stage Monday 2 July

Lake Street Dive ~ I Can Change ~ Free Yourself Up NEW DISK

6:30 Amples & Overages

* Wax Mannequin  ~ Squirmy Wormy  ~ Have A New Name  NEW DISK ~ CD Release - NEW LOCATION @ Rivoli Saturday 14 July

* Florian Hoefner ~ Green Gardens ~ Coldwater Stories  ~ @ Church Of The Holy Trinity Monday 2 July /12:15 p.m. 

* Kellie Loder  ~ I Want It Back  ~ Benefit Of The Doubt NEW DISK

Eric Clapton & Duane Allman ~ Mean Old World ~ The Duane Allman Anthology

Aaron Shragge & Ben Monder ~ There Is Always One You Follow ~ This World Of Dew NEW DISK

Bobby Broom ~ Blues For The Modern Man ~ Song & Dance / Toronto Music Listings

* The Achromatics ~ Lover`s Prayer ~ Give Me That Beat ~ @ Trinity Square Park 12:30

Don Stevenson Busking in Orbit

Once again Don Stevenson returns to rock the Orbit in high style.

At six o'clock he'll be presenting his new album Busking In The Subway. It's a return to his songwriting stride which was so crucial to the sound of Moby Grape and it features Grape-mates Jerry Miller and Peter Lewis on some tracks, as well as Orbital friends Tim Bovaconti and Fergus Hambleton. 

Burton Cummings even pops up on a remake of 8:05 TOO. 

He will be available for live listening in the city soon, at Brickworks in the Don Valley on Saturday and at Sauce on the Danforth next Saturday July the 7th. On Sunday the 8th he will be at Leslieville Flexi Market.

Great new Canadian music every Friday from 5-7 on Radio Regent.

Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show 22 June

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

(Brought to you by Galactites, Spelunker Funk, & Sterelagmites)

Guests: George Crotty, Leah Kerstein, Aline Hornzy & Gabriel DuBruiel of Four String Nomads

5-7 p.m. Fridays online http://www.radioregent.com/ and at tunein.com .  

Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 

Click on photos to enlarge.

5:00 Trouble Bubbles

* Indian City feat. Kzo ~ Dance #5 ~ Colors  Indigenous Arts Festival @ Fort York Saturday and Sunday

Bettye Lavette ~ Things Have Changed ~ Things Have Changed ~ @ The Sony Center Monday 25 July TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

* Justin Hines ~ See You Like I Do ~ Days To Recall 

Lake Street Dive ~ Godawful Things ~ Side Pony ~ @ Danforth Music Hall Monday

5:20 Ruminations With A View

* Gray Matter ~ Eulogy ~ Footsteps ~@ The Rex Hotel Thursday, 28 June

* Louis Simao ~ Um Cantador ~ A Luz ~  @ Nathan Philips Square 3:15 Monday TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

Jill Scott ~ Talk To Me ~ Beautifully Human ~ @ Sony Center Tuesday TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

5:40 Tampering With The Heavy Dance

The Staple Singers ~ Wade In The Water ~ Singing His Praises ~ Mavis Staples @ Massey Hall tonight TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

Ry Cooder ~ Mutt Romney Blues ~ Election Special ~ @ Massey Hall Tuesday

* Don Stevenson ~ Walking In The Fire ~ Busking In The Subway NEW DISK ~ @ Corby's Orbit next Friday

* Tara Williamson ~ Fuck Pretty ~ Lie Low 

Allison Krauss ~ Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson ~ Raising Sand TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

* Willard Bond ~ Danger Pay ~ Jiggery Pokery  NEW DISK~ CD release @ The Painted Lady Tuesday

6:00 Quest & Answer Period

* Four String Nomads ~ Interview / Chasing The Sun (live) / Skylight (live) ~ @ St. Bartholomew.s tonight

6:20 Blessful

Cecile McLorin Salvant ~ John Henry ~ Woman Child ~ @ St. Paul's Wednesday for TD TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

* The Sattalites ~ God Bless (Remix) ~ Reggaefication ~ @ IRIE Music Fest tonight

6:30 Quasi Modal 

* Harley Card ~ Precipice ~ The Greatest Invention ~ @ The Rex Tuesday 5 p.m. TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

* Socialist Night School ~ Julia ~ @ Hazelton Stage ~ Wednesday 8 p.m. TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

Toronto Music Listings

Charles Gayle ~All The Things You Are ~ @ Array Space tonight TONE Festival

* Jerome Tucker ~ Still On Fire ~ @ The Linsmore Tavern tonight           Illustration by Ji Yun Li

The Memberz - Work It Out [Official Video Released 15 June 2018]

The Memberz further their reputation as a significant new recording band in the reggae arena with their second video single Work It Out.

The cinematically-styled video. like their first release, King’s Highway, again features well known Toronto locales, such as the Guild Inn, the Gardiner Underpass Park, and the Christie / Dupont neighbourhood.

Directed by ChaseShotIt, the band is seen performing live to the track, as well as appearing as characters in the storyline. 

Their talent for creating deep rhythms, presenting vital social concerns, and producing persuasive harmony is once again evident in this new original song.

Lyrically, it explores the complexities of maintaining a family relationship when the temptations of day-to-day life can sometimes lead to devastating and life-changing  alternatives.

Please visit host channel Reggaeville here Work It Out to comment or to register your support for new Canadian reggae

Playlist For Corby's Orbit Show Of 15 June

Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby 

(Brought to you by Death In The Living Room, Halo Good-bye, and Forgotten Memories)

Guest: Willard Bond

5-7 p.m. Fridays online http://www.radioregent.com/ and at tunein.com .  

Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/

Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 
Click on photos to enlarge.

5:00 Sonicism

* Ensign Broderick ~ Gasloud ~ Only Love Remains NEW DISK

Elvis Presley feat. D. J. Fontana (March 15, 1931 – June 13, 2018) ~ I Feel So Bad ~ Top Ten Hits

* Aasiva ~ Why ~ One NEW DISK

The Kinks ~ There's Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worryin' About That Girl ~ Rushmore Sdtrk. ~ Screening of Rushmore Wednesday 20 June @ Castlepoint Numa

Alt-J ~ Intro ~ This Is All Yours ~ @ Echo Beach Wednesday 20 June

The Monkees ~ Me & Magdalena ~ Good Times! ~ @ Sony Centre Monday

5:30 Diamonds In The Smooth

* The Memberz ~ Work It Out ~ WORLD PREMIERE

Steven Marley (Fugees Mix) ~ No Woman No Cry ~ Bootleg Versions

Roni Size feat. Wilks ~ Thirsty ~ Return To V

Percussion Orchestra feat. Nana Vasconselos ~ Steeldrum 3 ~ Uhuru Rhythms Of The World

* Coco Love Alcorn ~ Sleepless ~ Joyful ~ @ Redeemer Lutheran Saturday

Bettye Lavette ~ The Times They Are A-Changin' ~ Things Have Changed ~ @ Koerner Hall Monday 25 June

6:00 All Willard No Filler

* Willard Bond ~ I Got What I Wanted / Interview / Liberty Boats (live) / Maybe, Baby (live) ~ Jiggery Pokery NEW DISK ~ CD Release @ The Painted Lady Tuesday 26 June

6:20 Luster Lines

* Steve Bell ~ My Lady And My Lord ~ My Dinner With Bruce / Songs Of Bruce Cockburn

Jimmie Dale Gilmore ~ Borderline ~ Braver Newer World ~ @ The Great Hall with Dave Alvin Friday 15 September

*  Sheesham & Lotus ~ New Money Bag ~  Every Time! 

* Qristina Brooke ~ Diamond Ring ~ Linger NEW DISK

6:40 Historical Prospective

* Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio ~  The NAFTA Anthem ~ Twisted Tunes 1994

The Meters ~ Message From The Meters ~ Saturday Night Fish Fry 
Salt ~ Hung Up ~ Saturday Night Fish Fry 

Young Jessie ~ Don`t Happen No More ~ More Jump Blues

Sonny Rollins ~ Blues For Philly Joe / Toronto Music Listings / Tune Up ~ Newk's Time (Blue Note 1957)