Musicianship Shines Through
Tonight I spent the evening in Moose Jaw with the Scott Benson Band. Scott got asked tom play a couple of sets at a special Christmas Show with Jeffrey Straker and his band, "The Handsome Strangers".

So, we did a sound check at 5:30, had something to eat at Scott's place, and then back for the show. We were first on after the intermission, so we took the opportunity to sneak into the theatre and catch his show. It turns out, Jeffrey was just back from recording in Nashville, and he threw together the band. There was a cellist and violinist, a bass player, drummer, his sister Jill singing back-up vocals, and Jeffrey on piano and vocals. He's an energetic, Elton-Johnish kinda performer, and he put on a great show.

Pretty much everyone except Jeffrey, his sister and the drummer had music to play from, and this was not a highly rehearsed act. And yet, it was really good. The players all stepped up, and delivered what they needed to, on cue, and with flair. It came together, and delivered a whole band picture that you might not have expected knowing the limited preparation as a band. And that got me thinking.

The CRPB is a bit like that at the moment, and what is necessary to pull things together after the holiday, is that we all take our musicianship seriously. Come with instruments and music prepared, and with a willingness to "be in the moment" and deliver what we need, when we need it.

I know that pretty much everyone in the band thinks that way anyway, and so this is not a "you do this" kind of post, but more a "Hmmmm, this has the potential to be good" kind of thought. Looking forward to pulling it together.

And here's a little Jeffrey for you: