MY NEWS!

Since I picked up the clarinet again, after 10 inactive years, I have attending a weekly practice session with Rice Honeywell(of Red Beans and Rice Jazz Band fame). The photo shows Rice(Cornet), Peggy Thomson(piano), and Bob Jadis(trombone). The Tuba player is Buddy Apfel of The South Burgundy Street Jazz Band out of California. Bob Jadis is a transplant from Ottawa where he was the founder of the Souper Jazz Band. Still going strong! He was quite touched when I gave him a CD of Souper Jazz courtesy of Bob Godkin. The South Burgundy Street Band was featured at the Vancouver Dixieland Jazz Society Festival last October. This also had Black Swan, Uptown Lowdown, Grand Dominion, Phoenix, and the best of the local groups. It was fantastic musically but there was a 25% drop in attendance probably due to worries about border crossing, the threatened flu pandemic and a clash with Canadian Thanksgiving. This was most likely the last year that VDJS will receive a grant from the Lottery Corp., due to changes in Government policy Grrrr! Luckily we have enough cash reserves to put on a fest next year, but that could be the last unless we can scare up sponsorships from other sources. Bands are already booked including Climax JB. This booking was made possible by a generous grant from The White Rock Trad Jazz Society. WRTJS continues successfully with weekly dances and we have had some remarkable sessions. We have 240 members and would be in serious trouble if they all showed up at the same time. This month we had Uptown Lowdown, and are looking forward to Bria Skonberg and the Big Bang JB followed by Simon Stribling's New Orleans Ale Stars. WOW!!

Those who know me will be glad to hear that I have received word that my Bankruptcy has been discharged. Thats good except that my status as an ex-bankrupt remains on my record for SIX years.

Looking forward to a merry Xmas - Diana will be in from Montreal and Sarah will host the feast.

In case you are wondering about the Siamese cats(see last post or maybe play it) They appear to have contracted the same disease possibly as a result of close encounters with neighbourhood racoons. There is no connection with the fact that Landlady's companion moved out shortly afterwards.

More to follow when something interesting happens!