Category: Music

September 30 . Issue #145

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date September 30, 2022

“The land is in a constant state of birth,
Giving life to all who live on Earth.
Our carelessness and fears
Have taken a toll over the years.
Her land is parched and scorched
As man continues to light the torch.” Sophia E. Valdez

My monthly journal, this month features end-of-summer events, book 3 in the Samba the Dog series, music and more. My featured photo is of the Rockwood Conservation Area by Nina Yanuziello.

1. New Earth Village and Lovefest in beautiful Adjala is happening this Sunday, October 2nd. Nestled amongst the trees in a beautiful valley and overlooking a pond, you are surrounded by nature.

This will be my third visit. A beautiful way to spend a Sunday. Come out and enjoy, I will be offering a reading of one of my books and I’ll have lots of books available at discount prices.

And that’s not all, you’ll have the opportunity to shop locally and support sustainability in the community on sacred land. Some of the incredible offerings include tallow balms, tarot readings, community acupuncture treatments, pine needle tea, health and wellness products, and so much more — all intentionally charged with love and wellness.

2. My draft version of book 3 in the Samba dog series is coming along. Samba in Switzerland, Samba the Bernese Mountain Dog and his best friend Ariela explore and have fun near Samba’s hometown of Bern, Switzerland.

At our last meeting, illustrator Joshua Miller and I went over the draft sketches, and we tweaked and fine-tuned the visuals. I think it’s looking fantastic. I can’t wait to give you all a glimpse at this wonderful artwork.

3. Some of my end-of-summer adventures have included these events, SweetWater Music Festival in beautiful Owen Sound.

A fantastic festival featuring world-class musicians playing the classics. Outstanding piano, strings, clarinet and french horn.

Elephant Thoughts, the event I had planned to attend was cancelled but I was invited to tour the Riverstone campus. Incredible space and I’m looking forward to contributing in some manner or another.

4. My first writer’s festival, the Eden Mills Writers Festival was a smashing success. I did it large, renting an Airbnb and spending time at the nearby Rockwood Conservation Area. Canoeing, swimming, snorkelling and hiking. So great!

The next day, a tour of Guelph’s Arboretum. A beautiful 400-acre garden and spending time enjoying the sites, the sounds and the food in the University City of Guelph.

Sunday, an early start and off to the festival to set up our table. Meet some other small press authors, meet the book-buying public and generally speaking have a grand time.

5. What I’m listening to this week Donnè Roberts Band. I caught them at the Markham Jazz Festival and then once again a short time later at a private event.

Energy, excitement, spirit, enthusiasm, love, peace, and kindness are some of the words that come to mind in the makeup of this 2 time Juno winner. A part of the band’s performance from the recent Markham Jazz Festival.

Thank you for reading, if you think someone you know would be interested in my newsletter please pass it along.

All of my books are now available at your favourite bookstores, support local bookstores with your online purchases. Make sure you get out and about this summer. Visit a book store, or the library and pick up some books. If you’re looking for a great early reader chapter book get my book Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends. Or one of my picture books, Samba on a Snowy Day or Samba in Brazil.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.

Tags Donné Roberts, Eden Mills, Guelph, Markham Jazz Festival, Rockwood

Children's Books Festivals Music Reading

July 29 . Issue #143

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date July 29, 2022

“Let us come alive to the splendour that is all around us and see the beauty in ordinary things.” Thomas Merton

1. Summer in the country and village festivals. I’ve completed two so far this summer, both were at the New Earth Village Festival. Great times! I got to read my book Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends to some children and children at heart, I sold some books and I had lots of fun.

Scratchy the Squirrel at New Earth Village

2. Classical Music festivals, jazz music festivals – Symphony in the Barn, I have tickets for Saturday’s performance. I am super pumped to witness this cool idea of blending classical music and farm country life.

Yes, this is life, listening to live music, oh yeah and Arts in The Park too. Thank you to the Dance Migration for sharing their art in Walter Saunders Park in Toronto this past week I must not forget to mention my report, now published, in That Canadian Magazine about all that Salsa on Blue Mountain.

3. My reviews of some music that I checked out, see Paul J. Youngman at Latin Jazz Network – Gregory Porter show review, Toronto Jazz Festival reports.

4. Finding book stores in small towns like Flesherton’s, Speaking Volumes Books and Creemore’s – Curiosity House Books is a fantastic pass time. You meet some great people and you browse the books.

I picked up some great books from both bookstores. Including, A Bird Chronicle, written by Rina Barone with illustrations by Ruth Ann Pearce, at the Curiosity House Books store.

5. Get out and enjoy the trails – but be careful. I was depending on my walking stick, which I found on the trail, and took a tumble. Luckily I was not severely injured, dislocated the index finger of my left hand and scraped my right shin. A small cut on my head, just to the side of my right eye and I tore my pants. Oh well, either get a good walking stick or don’t depend on the forest stick.

I’ve had a lot of experience falling, ukemi, in martial arts training, so this could have been much worse.

The trails, Niagara Escarpment and Bruce Trail, the forest bathing, are excellent and I go for a dip in the Beaver River every morning, so great!

Thank you for reading, if you think someone you know would be interested in my newsletter please pass it along.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.

Tags Arts in The Park, Curiosity House Books, Gregory Porter, Latin Jazz Network, New Earth Natalie, New Earth Village, Rina Barone, Ruth Ann Pearce, Speaking Volumes Books, Symphony in the Barn, That Canadian Magazine, The Dance Migration, Toronto Jazz Festival

Festivals Music Reading

June 24 – Issue #142

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date June 24, 2022

“Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” — Hans Christian Andersen

Hello all and welcome to another month. Summer has arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere. Join me as I share 5 points of interest: things to do, things to see and something to read too.

The featured photo is of my garden in the Grey Highlands, the peonies are in full bloom.

1. The summer solstice happened this week on June 22nd, 5:13 AM, to be exact. I missed the sunrise, I was up a couple of hours later and working out before setting out on a trail adventure. Hiking on one small part of the Bruce Trail.

International Day of Yoga is on the same day, I always mix in some yoga in my training. This year’s theme is Yoga for Humanity.

2. My friends at Settle Stories celebrated Summer Solstice Storytelling with some great stories for the children from Internationally-renowned storyteller Dominic Kelly.

I watched it live, however, a recording will be available to watch until 12pm on the 5th of July. To access the recording you will need to register for the event. Enjoy!

3. Events for summer are happening, live and in-person, a first in over two years. This week I visited Toronto and spent time at the Italian Food Festival. My family and I also ate dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, Bella Vista Trattoria.

I have signed up for accreditation to the Toronto Jazz Festival. I’ll be writing for the LatinJazzNet. Most of the events are free, I’ll be looking to catch up with some great Canadian talent.

I received my tickets to Kuné, performing at the Collingwood Music Festival. This will be my first time attending the Collingwood Festival.

This weekend my daughter is performing at Blue Mountain as part of the annual Salsa at Blue Mountain. Guess who will be at the Blue Mountain Village this weekend cheering her on.

4. My summer reading looks like this: Spirit Dance by Douglas Smith, a novelette that I just completed reading. Smith is a master of short story fiction. This story is just perfect for National Indigenous History Month.

A story of indigenous lore meeting modern ways. Nature versus mankind in a war of shapeshifters, the animal kingdom and the righteous government of the day. A great story.

Speaking of books, my next book will be the third in The Samba Dog series, Samba in Switzerland. My illustrator Joshua Miller and I will be meeting later this week to discuss the layout for the illustrations.

5. My musical tastes have run the gamut from classical to the blues. One new release that has received plenty of spins, is, El Tinajon from saxophonist Luis Deniz.

As you may have surmised the album is Latin Jazz with heavy influences of Afro Cuban Jazz. I dislike labels though, the primary element is simply good toe-tapping music.

Deniz plays soprano and alto sax’s on the album, his playing is magnificent on every track. He is joined by a group of stellar musicians who provide beautiful accompaniment and wonderful musical interludes.

Thank you for reading, if you think someone you know would be interested in my newsletter please pass it along.

All of my books are now available at your favourite bookstores, support local bookstores with your online purchase.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.