Donna Durand http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:00:57 -0800 Fuzz.com en http://www.fuzz.com/ http://www.fuzz.com/_/images/logo/blimp.png http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Roots-on-Rails-Has-Happened http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Roots-on-Rails-Has-Happened#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:54:43 -0800 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Roots-on-Rails-Has-Happened http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Name-dropping-of-star-studded-rehearsalees http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Name-dropping-of-star-studded-rehearsalees#comments *played at bistro with Ross Stafford- gifted songwriter and bistro host, had a little rehearsal prior and tested out my new trick- harmonica in C!
*speaking of which- harmonica teacher- Ron Halliday has taught me so much my brain hurts. So much about being a musician, call and response, sweetening every note...BEING REAL!
*getting ready to play the benefit concert- so a practice with Justin Stewart and Curtis Phagoo. What a lovely time together. So looking forward to the event! This is like a reward for doing some good deed in a former life- I am so happy to play with these two!

*presented at a wellness conference in Rocky Mountain House and I ended with One More Round which folks seemed to like...farming, singalong song
*gig at the Velvet Olive and Curtis surprised me by bringing in Rob Goodwin. Rob is so funny and plays a mean snare. A simple little folk song can really come to life with this addition. So fun!
*then another rehearsal this time with Curtis and Lee Cocolicchio to prepare for Lynn's special birthday. Oh my- we sat in my little studio and honest to God, we played a few songs that I wished were recorded off the floor right then right there. It is so good to sit close and really listen to each other and honor each other by adding to the song in a unique way
*and then, 3 times throughout this period of time my neighbor and friend Kaley Zunino and I got together to get ready for gigs coming up.I have been praying for years to be able to connect with another female musician who is easy to play with as she is a roots musician and she couldnt give a fiddle is there are 6 measures or 10 and we lay down the song, get the structure and let it rip! We sing our prairie girl hearts out with sincerity. I actually am blown away by this girls natural ability and her excellent tunes. And the harmonies!!!!!!!!!Plus she plays guitar like a guy! Ha!
So a belated Happy Thanksgiving and a giant message to the universe for bringing me such beautiful and gifted people to learn from and to share with. Thank you thank you thank you...]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:11:58 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Name-dropping-of-star-studded-rehearsalees http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Medicine-Hat-Folk-Club-Prickly-Pear http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Medicine-Hat-Folk-Club-Prickly-Pear#comments And love at first listen- the Nelson boys played and we swooned. Two enormously talented young guys- Brett and Owen. We really want to do a show together. Wow- the more I go outward with my songs the more I realize the giftedness of prairie singer/songwriters.]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:48:22 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Medicine-Hat-Folk-Club-Prickly-Pear http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Happy-Birthday-Dear-Dad-Merchants http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Happy-Birthday-Dear-Dad-Merchants#comments Sooo... I came back home Saturday after a lovely hike and meal with my parents. And this is what songwriting is for me... circular... now I can write a song about singing and playing songs on this day of my Dad's birth.]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:26:31 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Happy-Birthday-Dear-Dad-Merchants http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Roots-on-Rails http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Roots-on-Rails#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:15:04 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Roots-on-Rails http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Another-very-good-session-recording-at-Rorys-studio http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Another-very-good-session-recording-at-Rorys-studio#comments Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:03:21 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Another-very-good-session-recording-at-Rorys-studio http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/The-Kadonnas http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/The-Kadonnas#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:02:32 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/The-Kadonnas http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Folke-Fest-this-past-Saturday http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Folke-Fest-this-past-Saturday#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:22:18 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Folke-Fest-this-past-Saturday http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Catch-up http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Catch-up#comments Friday night Curtis and I played to a full house at the Velvet Olive and I thought for a second JDawg was going to show. I am missing Justin's awesome music and pleasant personality.

Just now we have added another twist to the mix that has taken the music to a very rootsie sound. We went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning and packed 'er in when it was apparent we were going to spend the morning in sound wars. So we headed to a park and started working out our sets for a house concert we were to play at in the evening. Curtis brought his banjo and he showed me a chord progression and I was hooked. I love the banjo and was able to actually play it on a few songs. Okay, so my awareness on this day was know when to fold it...seek out the music and remember the ocean refuses no river.]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:22:23 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Catch-up http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/O-Canada http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/O-Canada#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:27:01 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/O-Canada http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Land-of-the-Midnight-Sun http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Land-of-the-Midnight-Sun#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:18:38 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Land-of-the-Midnight-Sun http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/FANDANGO http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/FANDANGO#comments Everybody and I mean everybody was in such a great mood- there was definately a beatnik vibe going on. Justin (guitar) and Curtis(upright bass) joined me for my evening set and it was so beautiful. I love this music- these 2 add another dimension to my tunes. I got tons of great feedback. Backed new friend Paula up with tub bass on her set. Later we formed an impromtu girls band that was a mind blower! Erin Bouke on tub bass, Beth Arrison on vocals, Paula Summer on banjo and me- guitar and vocals. A few different folks on drum and Troy jumped in with sax. I so enjoyed this set. Met 2 new friends- Kali and Roland and both want to jam and see where our music takes us. Yup best day ever- music music music art art art! And then to top off this already crazy good day to go to a pub and hear Curtis in his dance band - oh my! Mardi gras!]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:04:32 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/FANDANGO http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Inaugural-singer-songwriters-circle-May-28-08 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Inaugural-singer-songwriters-circle-May-28-08#comments Fri, 30 May 2008 12:55:18 -0700 http://DonnaDurand.fuzz.com/blog/entry/Inaugural-singer-songwriters-circle-May-28-08