The Monday Morning Paradiddle

-After reorganizing my CD collection and relocating it to a new spot in my basement last week, I made of point of cataloguing and listening to all my favorite albums that feature Canadian Jazz drummers as band leaders. Here's a few that I particularly enjoy:

Andre White- "Signal"

Barry Elmes -"Different Voices" and "Time Warp"
(I actually have an original copy of their first album on vinyl from the late 70s!)

Terry Clarke - "It's About Time"

Chris McCann - "Froggin' Around" and "Calypsony"

Ted Warren - "First Time Caller" and "Songs For Doug"

Karl Jannuska - "Liberating Vines"

Dave Robbins - "At The Mark"

Joel Haynes - "The Time Is Now" and "Transitions"

Morgan Childs - "Time"

Barry Romberg - "Random Access"

Mark McLean - "Playground"

Nick Fraser - "Drumheller"

Thom Gossage - "The Now Beyond"

Michel Lambert - "Drum Duets"
(you can find these amazing tracks here)

- And a few other outstanding Canadian Jazz drummers that I would like to hear leading their own recorded groups on CD
(this is my own selfish plea here... : )

Bob McLaren
Dave Laing
Jesse Cahill
Jim Doxas
Dan Skakun
Anthony Michelli
Kevin Dempsey
Ian Froman
Jim Blackley
Brent Jefferson

- Hey does anyone know if Jerry Fuller or the elusive Claude Ranger ever led any recording dates as a leader ???

-Alrighty, after caving into popular demand from several people here is my tried, tested and true crepe recipe (courtesy of an old tattered copy of the Betty Crocker cookbook !)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter, melted

How to make the crepes:

Measure and stir in the ingredients in a large bowl until smooth.
For each crepe, lightly butter a skillet and heat over medium heat until butter is bubbly.
Pour scant 1/4 cup of the batter into the skillet and immediately rotate pan until batter covers bottom.
Cook until light brown; turn and brown on other side.

Most people are amazed that you don't need one of those special crepe griddles, like the ones you see in restaurants. I use a large Wok and find that it works great !

Serve with large quantities of maple syrup and enjoy !



- Hey check this cat out ! I've never heard of him but he sounds great.

-And last but certainly not least, here's a clip of my good friend and percussionist Memo Acevedo from an old SCTV clip with John Candy. There are also a few other Toronto Jazz musicians who make a guest appearance in this bizarre skit. Mambo !