Volume 19 Issue 9 - June/July/August 2014

WE ARE ALL MUSIC’S CHILDRENJune’s Children Diane Leah, Julie Michels, HeatherBambrick – BroadswayMJ BUELLThe WholeNote is preparing to celebrate 20 seasons, and this is the 96th edition of We Are ALL Music’s Children.Remarkably their collected wisdom tells us that a parent who’s a working musician is not what makes or breaks a future life in music. It’smuch more important to grow up in a home where music is enjoyed: where radio and recordings are heard, where music-making happens atfamily gatherings or parties, where people sing or play because it makes them feel good – or at least better. Early teaching and concert outingsdon’t always make a difference but seeding musical pleasure and opportunities for self-expression through music cannot start at too young anage – and this has little to do with skill.We’ll launch a new contest in our September edition. Meanwhile please take your inner child, or even better take along a real child, to thewonderful live music southern Ontario has to offer at summer festivals, outdoor concerts, summer camps and workshops. Share the love, singin the car, and viva la musica!Broadsway is a trio of hugetalents, whose shared appetite forshow tunes brought them togetherto create this successful cabaret. Itfeatures, and sometimes parodies,classic and contemporary musictheatre, jazz, R&B and pop musicplayfully woven together by veryfunny and occasionally suggestivebanter. If they leave you breathlessand wanting more never fear: theyare career musicians with ferociousindividual schedules.Diane Leah was born in London,Ontario. Julie Michaels was bornat Fort Dix army base in NewJersey but lived in three countries(ten cities and six schools) beforelanding in Toronto at the age of 12.Heather Bambrick was born in StJohn’s, Newfoundland.Earliest musical memories?Diane Leahcirca 1954,London ONDIANE: … watching a guy play the accordion at a party. My parentsplayed classical music. My mom played the piano and told storieswith music.JULIE: … Holst’s Planets – “Jupiter,” Brubeck or Booker T. & theM.G.’s doing “Green Onions,” and lots of my mom singing.HEATHER: … Len Taylor – the guitar player in my dad’s band –singing “I’m an Old Cowhand.” He eventually taught me to singthat song …Musicians in your family?DIANE: My mom was a very good piano player and singer. Mybrother still plays the drums.JULIE: My sister and I both played guitar. There was an uncle backin Russia who supposedly was a wonderful violinist.HEATHER: My dad’s a very good musician. He played in a bandJulie Michelscirca 1959,Munich GermanyHeather Bambrickcirca 1973,St. John’s NLfor years and still plays occasionally.My uncle was also a part-timejobbing musician, playing guitar ina band very similar to my father’s.Youngest memory ofmaking music?DIANE: At about three –climbing up on the piano benchand playing the piece my motherwas teaching my brothers.JULIE: I can’t remember whenI wasn’t singing some thing oranother. I sang with my mom andsisters...and sometimes my dad.Harmonies were natural and wesang everything from show tunesto medieval songs in Latin.HEATHER: I would sing “DeltaDawn” until the cows came home– I was maybe three or four - foranyone who would listen.A first instrument, other than your voice?DIANE: I am not a singer primarily – I am a piano player. Accordionwas my first instrument. I have played many others either as a hobbyor at university.JULIE: I play a profoundly mediocre guitar.HEATHER: … Len Taylor gave me little guitar as a Christmas gift.He tuned it so that it played a chord all open-stringed. I would strumaway on that, singing “I’m an Old Cowhand”An important first music teacher?DIANE: My mom, and Lou Wahl – my accordion teacher.JULIE: David Jorlett. He helped me realize I was a singer and thatthis was worth something.HEATHER: Abso-Freakin-Lutely!!! Karen Oakley – my teacherin grades 5 and 6. She’s the reason I am as passionate aboutmusic as I am.CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!Read our extended interviews with Diane Leah, Julie Michels and Heather Bambrick,including details of their busy summers, online at thewholenote.com.Meanwhile don’t miss BROADSWAY, presented by the TD Toronto Jazz Festival at theHard Rock Cafe, June 27 (10pm): an unforgettable evening of everything from Gershwinto Gaga, Sondheim to Schwartz, and a whole lot of laughs. Pairs of tickets have beenwon by Judith Kidd and Jonathan Giggs.Broadsway’s debut recording Old Friends has been won by Richard Smith. If you’d likeyour own copy, visit thebroadswayshow.com and click on the album cover.Music’s Children gratefully acknowledges Anna, Ori, Katie, Mike & Lou, Hugh & Madeleine, John & Joan.72 | June 4, 2014 – Sept 7, 2014 thewholenote.com