Graffiti Heaven 1
Graffiti Heaven Improv
For me, this is where it’s at: exploring unusual sites in Toronto, flute in hand: it’s like tagging with sound!
This burned out church on Shaw Street - a derelict site for at least three years and slated for proverbial condos development for almost as long - should actually be a U.N.E.S.C.O. site, don’t you think?
Here is UNESCO’s
Belly of the Beast
Well, not to ruin it for you if you ever have a chance to visit here under the Golden Gate Bridge, but this is what you might find there! This armoury, directly under the arches at the south end of this fabled bridge, and originally built to guard the narrows leading into the San Francisco Bay, absolutely caught me broadside.
The incessant wind ripping
4′33”, San Francisco-style!
Cage, 4′33″
Are you familiar with what might very well be the most important composition of the 20th Century?
Scouting online a few weeks ago before my first visit proper to San Francisco, I had a sense that there might be some kind of John Cage connection, and sure enough, I immediately stumbled upon a radio interview from decades ago with the composer
Westbeth, New York City
In A Monastery Garden
Speaking of revolutionary art studios, NYC’s late-60’s transformation of the de-commissioned Bell Labs building into the arts colony Westbeth is near-mythological in stature. I had an opportunity to visit and get a sense of it - at least from the perspective of this outdoor courtyard - on the last morning of a recent visit to NYC, and it continues
‘Shroom with a View
Caccini, Aria
The Toronto Sculpture Garden is one of my favorite public spaces, immediately across the street from the massive Saint James Cathedral. So when I caught a glimpse of a colour photo of this incredible mushroom building in the National Post a few weeks ago, I knew I had to drop by! I found the gates locked and the artist hard
Spots in Time
Bach Suite (excerpt)
Urban Flute is not just about flute adventures, as you might have noticed. It’s also about ambient city soundscapes, concert adventures of all description, as well as chance encounters with street musicians, as offered here.
Wordsworth called his restorative forays into nature ’spots in time’. These experiences offered him solace long after the fact, as he found even the recollection of a walk by a
Mission: Find Dolores Mission!
Freeway Flute
I had been told that San Francisco is a walkable city, and indeed it is if you don’t mind a steep hill now and again! But I must confess that despite maps and guidebooks, I spent what seemed like two hours going in a confounding, zig-zag fashion through one of the roughest parts of town in search of the historic Dolores Mission.
Fenghuang
Purple Bamboo Melody
Just so you know, I did make it back in time to visit the extraordinary Asian Art Museum after a full day exploring San Fran. My camera batteries had just about died at that point, so this seems as good a place as any to slip in my rendition of Purple Bamboo Melody, recorded at the top of the beautiful and historic
The Good Luck Phoenix
The Phoenix Means Good Luck
It seemed auspicious to have just left City Hall and discover this ancient painting depicting a solitary flute player and the magical phoenix-bird.
I had just checked the hours of the nearby Asian Museum, but it wasn’t going to open for at least an hour. Since it was staying open late - being a Thursday - I decided I might
Historic Hotel Whitcomb, San Francisco
Puccini, Un bel dì vedremo
After taking an early morning commuter train from Sunnyvale, California, south of San Fran, with the prospect of a full day of gallivanting around this fabled city, I found myself killing a bit of time before the incredible City Hall opened its doors at 8 a.m.
One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new city is to
San Fran City Hall: Brother, Busted Again!
Puccini, Madame Butterfly Aria
Shades of my run-in with authority in the foyer of NYC’s Empire State Building where I was asked to cease and desist once before. And I have a funny feeling it won’t be the last time!
I had just finished recording a couple of improvs on my North American Love Flute, getting thumbs up and smiles from the few
A Love Flute in City Hall
North American Love Flute, Improv
Well, it is a big day here in Canada, as today’s news has been a long time in the making: the top levels of our government fully acknowledged the systematic removal of earlier generations of Canada’s First Nation peoples from their indigenous communities. Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially apologized for the ’sad chapter’ of Residential Boarding Schools