Tag: Luis Deniz

October 28. Issue #146

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date October 28, 2022

Nature’s first green is gold. Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief. So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Robert Frost 1874-1963

Hello all. Welcome to my monthly journal. A place for me to share with you what I’ve been up to this past month. In this month’s journal, Indie Author Book Festival, Toronto trails, books, music and more.

Samba in Switzerland is coming along. The illustrations by Joshua Miller are fantastic. Next month I will have some samples for you to check out.

There are lots of events planned for November. I have a few appearances scheduled. Reading my books for the children in local schools. Get in touch if you want me to bring Scratchy, Samba or Ariela to your school.

1. Indie Author Day is happening and on November 5th I will be at the Richmond Hill Central Library, 1 Atkinson St. The library is hosting an Indie Author Book Fair. Come out and meet local authors and buy some books. I’ll have Samba, Ariela and Scratchy with me. My books will all be on sale for the entire week.

2. Autumn leaves: the colour of the leaves is striking at this time of year. If summer wasn’t my favourite time of the year then fall just might be. The featured photo is one I took during a visit to the Scarborough Bluffs Yacht Club.

I went to the outer edges of Toronto and hiked through the Scarborough Bluffs. I had no idea this treasure existed so close to downtown Toronto.

3. What I’m reading this month is a couple of books, Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, an amazing read. I don’t know how he can make something so bizarre seem so interesting. Just a great storyteller.

Yoga and the Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope. Fascinating! A first-hand account of a retreat at Kripalu Yoga Centre that turned into a life-changing experience.

4. I’ve been in Toronto these past couple of weeks, and the only thing I like about it, is visiting the martial arts dojos. Black Tiger Karate and Dynamic Martial Arts are my favourites.

This past week I took my partner Nina with me to Black Tiger and she taught a beautiful stretch class. The students enjoyed the stretching and learned some new exercises. We may make this a regular Tuesday evening class. Anyone for stretching?

5. My listening pleasure this month, well, when not practising jazz standards on my chromatic harmonica. The music of Cuba.

Master musicians such as Chucho Valdes and Paquito D’Rivera. The Toronto connection to Cuba via Hilario Duran and David Virielles. The trumpet masters, Alexander Brown, and Alexis Baro, an awesome performance by Alexis at Lula Lounge this past year.

Then there are the fantastic saxophonist, Luis Deniz, this Link is of a performance that features trumpeter Alexander Brown too. Yosvany Terry is another sax player whose music is wonderful. Just a couple of names that come to mind and have filled my airwaves with their sweet sounds this month.

Many of these musicians have new albums out now to get more information check: latinjazznet

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 Chucho Valdes, David Virelles, Hilario Duran, Luis Deniz, Paquito D'Riviera, Richmond Hill Library, Robert Frost

Museums Reading

Newsletter 33

Newsletter 33

Hello all and welcome to another week. I hope you have been taking advantage of any spare time you might have to take in the beauty that surrounds you — Nature. Things in my part of the world are starting to bloom, the featured photo is a flower in my garden, a Daffodil. This week I explore museums, books, music and some things to keep the kids busy with.

“If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890) was a post-Impressionist painter whose work — notable for its beauty, emotion and colour — highly influenced 20th century art. He struggled with mental illness and remained poor and virtually unknown throughout his life.

The painting featured: Flowering plum orchard: after Hiroshige

Vincent van Gogh (October 1887 – November 1887)

1.Museums of the world are united in allowing the public to virtually come in and browse. I have been loitering at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. The museum with the largest collection of paintings by the master, Vincent van Gogh.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York opened their doors to self isolating folks. One of my favourite museums, they have one of the best Japanese samurai sword exhibits in North America. They are also offering ten free art books, I am an admirer of Japanese Netsuke and Inro.

Something for the kids too Metkids with Easter just around the corner, how about colouring an easter rabbit. Or maybe an easter egg hunt. A great pass-time for the kids if you have any eggs on hand. Easter egg designs, hard boil the eggs, about 10 minutes, let them cool, get a pencil make a design and paint the eggs or use coloured markers. Make sure to use food grade colouring if your going to eat the eggs.

2.Sound adventures I have been listening to include Canadian bassist, band leader, composer and producer, Roberto Occhipinti. A Bend In The River, is his a 2009 release that features the talents of pianist David Virelles, Alto Saxophonist Luis Deniz and drummer/composer Dafnis Prieto.

3.My love of water has taken me to some interesting places and fostered a love of sharks. Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto is inviting everybody to virtually visit but watch out for the sharks.

4.This week I finished reading The Right Attitude to Rain which is the third of the Sunday Philosophy Club series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith, set in Edinburgh, Scotland. McCall Smith has me interested in Scotland and I am presently reading all about its fascinating history, The Story of Scotland by Nigel Tranter (1909 – 2000).

Another book that I keep coming back to is karate-dô, Perfecting Kumite by Masahiko Tanaka. Tanaka sensei was a champion fighter and he provides the secrets to his success in this fantastic resource. A video, Tanaka, The Champion, went along with the book and has been uploaded to youtube. The quality, while not that good, provides for some different ways to train, there are some great techniques to study here.

5.My book Samba on a Snowy Day is available as part of a promotion Stay At Home Togeather. A group of best selling children’s book authors helping out during this global pandemic by sharing some books. Have a look, most of the books are free and there are some great books on offer.

Samba in Brazil

This week I completed draft three of my manuscript for my next book, Samba in Brazil. My team of trusted advisors have reviewed it and want me to make some changes. Have you heard of Ko-fi? A friend of mine recommended it to me, I check it out and decided I would join up. So I have set up a page and now if you would like to buy me a coffee you can do so at Ko-fi.You can also read the first page of my new book there.

We will get through this together, remember to stay home if you aren’t a front line worker. Stay safe, wash your hands and continue to practice physical distancing.

Love and Light

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, Samba on a Snowy Day is available at Amazon.ca. Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Alexander McCall Smith, Dafnis Prieto., David Virelles, Luis Deniz, Masahiko Tanaka, Nigel Tranter, Roberto Occhipinti, Vincent van Gogh

Books Reading

Newsletter 17

Newsletter 17

Hello all!

Some things that interested me this week, and I hope will be of interest to you too.

Here are my five items, links or suggestions that should get you some inspiration and information.

My book Samba on a Snowy Day is now available as an E – Book. As a special thank you to my newsletter subscribers and facebook followers I have made the book available for a free download at BookFunnel.com. Just follow the link, free download and get your book. But hurry it’s for a limited time and there is a limited amount of downloads. I would really appreciate your honest review of Samba on a Snowy Day, visit Goodreads and if you are already a member, sign in and search my book and then write your review. If you’re not a member, it’s easy to sign up, you can even do it through facebook or with an e-mail. Let me know what you think of my book.
This week I have been listening to Surface by the 106 Collective Quartet. One of my favourite CD’s of 2019. This quartet has a fantastic feel, everyone is on the same wavelength and the rhythm section sets down incredible grooves, giving the saxophone player (Luis Deniz) ample space to blow beautifully. Another audio delight that has my attention is the 2019 CD by Sara Gazarek, Thirsty Ghost.
One of my favourite television shows of 2019, “Working Moms” available on Netflix. A very funny show created by Catherine Reitman. Check out her inspirational talk at Ted Talks on youtube.
Holiday time and that means cooking up fancy treats. I am going to be baking up some Cantucci Alle Mandorle also commonly known as Biscotti, probably the most popular Italian cookies. I am following the recipe of my friend and cousin, Rosemary. One of more than 75 traditional Italian deserts from her cookbook Authentic Italian Desserts.
Christmas is also a time for getting to the market and there is no better place to visit than The Distillery Christmas Market in downtown Toronto. I hope to be checking it out soon and I will be sure to let you know what I thought of it. I have been to the Distillery District many times but the Christmas Market is still on my list of must see spectacles.

Thanks for reading. If you like what you’ve read forward this to someone you think will enjoy it. Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags 106 Collective Quartet, An Italian in my Kitchen, Catherine Reitman, Luis Deniz, Rosemary, Sara Gazarek