Showing posts with label Robin Pirson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robin Pirson. Show all posts

Saturday, October 11, 2025

'Hug a Bassist' Day Videos with Carrie Clarke

Update of 2020 Post 


Image courtesy of SuZImageZ



Links: Mu Mbana, Fry Truck, More Fry Truck Stories, Video above courtesy of Vesna Trkulja-Stevens

 

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Thursday, October 9, 2025

'Hug a Drummer' Day Videos ft Robin Pirson

Update of 2020 Post 




Video above courtesy of Mule Spinner Live Studio


Links: New Rebel Westerners, More New Rebel Westerners Stories, Video above courtesy of Cultivate Music





Links: Chris Staig, Videos above courtesy of 25musical

Links: Robin Pirson, More Robin Pirson Stories, More Drummer Day Stories
Previous  (New Ben Caplan Album) - - - Next (Hug a Bassist Day Videos)
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Thursday, September 21, 2023

2023 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards Winners!




Below is a list of music-related winners. Click here for full list.

1st Place = Diamond
2nd Place = Platinum
3rd Place = Gold

Special mentions
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Friday, October 11, 2019

Art Blakey's 100th Birthday


Today (Friday, October 11, 2019) would have been the late American Jazz legend Art Blakey's 100th birthday.

We asked a number of local drummers for their thoughts on this unforgettable musical titan. Hera re the quotes:

Sean O'Grady
His peers in the 50’s used to call him Thunder. No holding back and not worrying about sounding polite, Art Blakey along with Max Roach and Kenny Clarke practically invented Be Bop drumming. Be Bop bent and broke the rules of harmony, melody & rhythm that defined jazz music up t’il then. Later as a “hard bopper”
Art also started incorporating elements of R & B and Latin music into his style and his repertoire. As a young rocker , when I first heard Art Blakey I was drawn to his energy but struggled with his sound. The drums were tuned really high and didn’t have the big thuddy decay that I was used to hearing. I later realized that sound helped a drummer of the time cut through on stage and on recording sessions so your parts and licks would speak when you needed to be heard! 
My friend and killer drummer Dave King saw him live shortly before he died. Dave said they had to help him on stage but when he sat down all the fire was still there! If you don’t grow up with jazz music many young players think they need to be quiet and subtle to sound authentic. Certainly dynamics are a major part of jazz drumming but jazz also needs to be in your face and joyful and free spirited just the way Art Blakey played night after night.
He was a mentor to countless young musicians over 30 years of leading the Jazz Messengers and remains an inspiration to me and countless musicians all over the world! Mr. Blakey was also known as an appreciator of not just song, but wine and women as well. He would have fit right in here in Hamilton.
Robin Pirson (New Rebel Westerners)
He was such a musical player! I loved the way he incorporated rudiments into his playing and solos....he had one of the finest press rolls I  ever encountered.... yet his technique never overshadowed his musicality.
Cassius Pereira
He was a legend, I used to listen to A Night at the Birdland a lot when I was younger, it was one of those special records. As a drummer, just a big thank you for being such an inspiration!
Now for some videos from the man himself.



Video above courtesy of 60otaku4



Video above courtesy of DRUMMERWORLD by Bernhard Castiglioni



Video above courtesy of Jazz at Ronnie Scott's

Links: Art Blakey, Other 100th birthdays
Previous (Hug a Drummer Day Videos ft Sean O'Grady) - - - Next (Hug A Bassist Day Videos ft Michael Hickey)
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Monday, July 16, 2018

GOOD LUCK! Local Canadian Country Music Award Nominees!


The 2018 Canadian Country Music Award nominations were unveiled recently and a number of local luminaries have been given the nod. Here's hoping a few of them will be taking home the hardware on September 9, 2018. The icing on the cake is that this year, the incredible event will be hosted by Hamilton!

Hammertown's own Chris Altmann is up for Steel Guitar Player of the Year. Peter Walker, the music director's for Hamilton's CHKX-FM was nominated for Music Director of the Year (Large Market).

Links: New Rebel Westerners, Chris Altmann, More Chris Altmann Stories, Video above courtesy of Vesna Trkulja-Stevens

 In the neighbouring city of Burlington, hometown boy Tebey is in the running for Record Producer of the Year for the work on his own album, Love a Girl.

Links: Tebey, More Tebey Stories, Video above courtesy of Tebey

 Down the road apiece, there's St. Catharines country superstar Tim Hicks, who's up for the Fans' Choice Award. Gavin Michael Booth, the director of his video Slide Over is nominated for Video Director of the Year. The group behind his Loud single is in the running for Creative Team of the Year.

Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories, Video above courtesy of TimHicksVEVO

Other area nominees include Cambridge drummer Rich DaSilva (Drummer of the Year), two members of Waterloo's Western Swing Authority: Shane Guse (Special Instrument Player of the Year) Paul Chapman (Guitar Player of the Year) plus Barrytone Studios from St. Clements, ON (Recording Studio of the Year)

Links: Mac Shepherd, Rich DaSilva, More Rich DaSilva Stories, Video above courtesy of Rich DaSilva

Here's the complete list of nominees.

 Steel Guitar Player
Music Director (Large Market)
Fans' Choice Award
Creative Team
Video Director
Drummer
Special Instrument Player
Guitar Player
Recording Studio
Album
Interactive Artist 
Songwriter(s) 
Bass Player
Fiddle Player
    Keyboard Player
    Music Director (Medium/Small Market)
    Booking Agency
    Country Club
    Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition
    Country Music Program or Special
    Management Company
      Links: Canadian Country Music Association, More CCMA Stories
      Previous  News Roundup: Vaudevillian, Frankie and Jimmy, Jack de Keyzer, Mark McNeil, More) - - - Next (Shakers Videos)
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      Saturday, February 28, 2015

      Hamilton's Mississippi Bends Kick Things Off with an Amazing, Rockin' Americana EP


      Newly minted Steeltown band, Mississippi Bends have unleashed their fury with an amazing self-titled EP.  This is rockin' Americana made by some of the best musicians around.

      The group features incredible singer/songwriter, Mary Simon (vocals, acoustic guitar), in-demand electric guitarist Andrew Aldridge with talented veterans Carrie Ashworth (bass) and Robin Pirson (drums), Each one has an amazing musical resume on their own but together they've forged a high-energy, kickin' Country sound with soul.

      Also adding a little twist to the album is Hamilton legend Tom Wilson, who co-wrote the fabulous Go Boy Go with Simon.

      You can purchase a physical CD at the band's stunning performances or at Dr. Disc in Hamilton.  It can also be download it via their Bandcamp page.





      Videos above courtesy of Mississippi Bends

      Blast from the Past: Mississippi Bends on Barber Shop Podcast

       Links: Mississippi Bends, More Mississippi Bends Stories, More Releases
      Previous (News Roundup w Zilis, Juliana LaChance, Big Rude Jake) - - - Next (Jokela Vogan Cooley Debut Album)
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