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• Winnipeg Free Press – Q/A on November 5th, 2011

  LIFE & STYLE
  Winnipeg Free Press – PRINT EDITION November 5, 2011

  Doug Edmond
  Singer/songwriter

  

  If your house were on fire, heaven forbid, what’s the one item contained within that you would try to take with you? (People, pets and computers not included.)

  My grand piano. It is close to the front door… I would definitely try!
  What’s the one clothing/fashion item you can’t live without?

  My slippers. My kids say I’d wear them to gigs if I could. (And I have.)

  What’s your favourite knick-knack and why?

  I have these small (very cool) metal sculptures of a jazz trio doing their thing, because it reminds me of my band buddies.

  What’s the oldest thing you own?

  Heintzman Grand Piano (built and purchased by father’s family in the 1930s (which I had rebuilt in late 1990s by Stan Kroeker).
  Describe your most beloved piece of furniture. My grandmother’s rocker-recliner, which we had in my kids’ nursery bedroom when they were babies. It was the place we read books, sang Dad songs and rocked my two children, Kate and Thom, to sleep each night.
  Is there an edible item we’ll always find in your pantry or fridge?

  Cream is always in my fridge for the excellent coffee from the special coffee beans in my pantry. The coffee must have cream!

  Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 5, 2011 (photo credits Phil Hossack)

• CD Review – Doug Edmond and Friends Starry Nights Rating **** (four stars)

  By: Deborah Remus
  Taken From: Uptown

  Songwriter, pianist and singer Doug Edmond has teamed up with many other musicians and vocalists for Starry Nights, a jazzy compilation of holiday tunes. While all the songs are excellent, especially I Don’t Like Christmas, it’s the smaller instrumental tracks that really shine. The record starts off with a saxophone, courtesy of Bill Spornitz, playing a small portion of carols such as The First Noel before launching into one of Edmond’s original songs. Guitar arrangements and a piano instrumental between tracks sound beautiful, too. Basically, this is a group of musicians using their talents to make Christmas music a little bit better and a lot more interesting.

  Original Article

• City Musician, Educator Invited to Play in Nashville

  By: Morley Walker
  Taken From: Winnipeg Free Press

  A Winnipeg singer-songwriter is making up for lost time while maintaining his busy career in the education system.  Doug Edmond is busy raising money to fund his band’s first-ever trip to Nashville for an industry showcase in May.

  “This is the way of the biz these days,” says Edmond, 56, who works as the Winnipeg School Division’s director of research, planning and systems management.  ”You put your stuff out there in every form of media possible and play lots of gigs here, there and everywhere.”

  Edmond is also putting the finishing touches on his debut CD, as yet untitled, which he will distribute himself. He hopes to have it done in time for the May 4 showcase in Music City U.S.A. ”If someone likes it, they might want to make a deal for U.S. distribution,” Edmond says. “Or maybe they’ll hear one song that interests them for licensing in a movie or a commercial.”

  To raise the $5,000-plus he needs for the trip, he and his three bandmates are performing 7:30 p.m. April 19 at the Park Theatre. Tickets are $15. He has also applied for travel funding from the federal and provincial music-support bodies.

  The Doug Edmond Band, which mines an adult contemporary vein, consists of Mitch Dorge on drums, Rubin Kantorovich on guitars and Alasdair Dunlop on bass. Dorge is also producing the CD through his recording company, Studio Sis-Boom-Bah.  Edmond, a past president of the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, plays electric piano, flute and harmonica and writes his own tunes.

  “I’m a self-taught piano player who loves to write and sing,” he says.  One of six offspring of a well-known Crescentwood family, he has two brothers who are lawyers and another who runs a wealth management company. One sister is a social worker, the other a career counsellor.
  With two adult children himself, Edmond is a full-time school division manager with a master’s in education. But he has always enjoyed playing music. About two years ago, he decided to pursue his avocation more seriously.

  He has composed dozens of songs and has assembled his band to play gigs at coffee houses, the Folk Exchange and the Winnipeg Squash Club. He also posts his music to numerous industry websites. A Nashville showcase producer heard his song Treat Me Like a Dog on the website sonicbids.com and invited him down to perform.

  “We were surprised and wondered who these guys were,” Edmond says. “But we checked them out and started thinking it wasn’t such a bad idea, given our CD is coming out. And who wouldn’t want to play Nashville?” In his day job, he is responsible for implementing new technology into the Winnipeg School Division. ”There’s no question there’s a connection between a good understanding of technology and music production,” he says. ”What I get to do here is be creative about what kinds of initiatives we employ to benefit students.”

• Singer-Songwriter & Pianist Is No Lounge Lizard

  By: Darryl Sterdan
  Taken From: Winnipeg Sun

  Doug Edmond might look like he should be tinkling the ivories and crooning Send in the Clowns in a lounge somewhere. But the local pianist is no lounge lizard — he’s actually a singer-songwriter who fuses folk, blues and jazz to create a sound somewhere between Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Mark Knopfler. Edmond and his band — which includes former Crash Test Dummies drummer Mitch Dorge — recently released the CD Between the Shadows and the Light. Between gigs a while back, he sent in some answers to my clownish questions.

  Who’s in the band, how old are they, what do they play, and what do they do for real money?

  Doug Edmond (singer/songwriter, keyboards, flute, mouth harp), Mitch Dorge (drums, studio producer), Rubin Kantorovich (guitars), Alasdair Dunlop (bass). Doug is executive manager of technology, education and research services for a school division. Mitch is a music producer. Alasdair is a full-time musician. Rubin is an electronics specialist.

  Give us the history of the band in 20 words or less.

  In 2006 I decided to return to performing. Mitch agreed to play. We welcomed Rubin and Alasdair shortly thereafter.

  Describe your music and/or sound in 20 words or less. 

  My songs draw from folk, jazz and blues — and we play everything with true emotion and intelligent lyrics.

  Describe your look and/or image in 20 words or less. 

  We are about the music — there is no dress code!!

  Why should we buy your CD? 

  Between the Shadows and the Light reflects our live performances with additional instrumental sound and backup singers. My personal/quieter numbers are superior on the CD than during live performances.

  If you’re so great, tell us this: How does your music make the world a better place? 

  Did I say we were great?? The answer lies with the audience — if we can bring some joy and understanding to others by connecting with them through our music, I’m happy.

  What’s your most original quality? 

  I have a interesting voice and our arrangements for certain songs are rather unique.

  Complete this sentence: This band runs on … 

  I prefer to say that the band feeds on the energy of each player, which usually makes our live performance that much better!

  What’s your best song and what makes it so good?

  Treat me like a Dog has become a bit of crowd pleaser! It’s about wanting to be treated as well as a dog by one’s sweetie.

  What’s your worst song and what the heck were you thinking when you wrote it? 

  That song is long gone!!

  Name a song you wish you had written and tell us why: 

  Like a Rolling Stone. It not only reflects the time of my youth but is a timeless tune. My kids also love it — but then again, they were trapped in the back on long road trips with Dad in charge of the CD player … Hmm, sounds like brainwashing to me.

  Name a song you’re glad you didn’t write and tell us why: 

  Any disco song.

  What are your favourite movies? 

  Sophie’s Choice, Taxi Driver, The Graduate, Husbands and Wives, Frost/Nixon. I love movies.

  Your favourite TV shows? 

  Mad Men, Six Feet Under, Seinfeld, The Wire.

  Your favourite books? 

  Infinite Jest, English Patient, Remainder, Tribes.

  Your favourite magazines?

  Hands down The New Yorker!!

  Any other favourite things? 

  I play squash to stay fit and love to bike and sail at the lake!

  What is your most valued possession? And where do you keep it? 

  My grand piano, handed down to me from my parents. It was purchased by my dad’s mother during the Second World War! She played in and around Winnipeg, mostly in churches. My Mom’s mother played piano for silent movies in her early days!

  Got any guilty pleasures? What are they? 

  A well-bodied red wine with a medium-rare steak!

  Name your favourite musical acts. 

  Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan (Blood on the Tracks), Neil Young (solo), U2, early Rolling Stones, early Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Dave Holland, Hey Rosetta!, Jill Barber,

  Who would you be insulted to be compared to? 

  Any disco artist.

  Tell us about your best gig. 

  Jan. 17, 2009 at the Folk Exchange. We had a night of pure musical ease, flow and timing for the band. Some nights, everything seems to be right with the universe …

  Tell us about your worst gig. 

  First time I played McNally’s, I found my voice/piano drifting away into the upper level and coming back to me as a delayed echo. It took me a good 30 minutes to ignore the feedback over the major noise from the crowd eating, talking and ignoring!

  Describe your ultimate fantasy gig. Don’t hold anything back.

  Small- to medium-sized jazz/folk clubs in Europe.

  What’s the best part of performing? 

  The connection between the band members and the audience each night.

  What are your pre-show rituals, superstitions and good luck charms? 

  We do like to have a pre-gig meal to talk about things, and then run through a few different songs as part of sound check.

  How would you like to travel from gig to gig? Limo, rickshaw, dirigible? 

  The travel isn’t as important as having roadies to set up and take down everything … I want a personal roadie

  Pick your superpower: Invisibility, flight or … ? 

  Ageless sound.

  Complete this sentence: I’ll know I’m a success when … 

  I am successful now. I don’t buy some sort of next stage or progression created by someone outside yourself. You got to do this now thing. I would like to become a better musician on stage and in the studio — one can always find new sounds. But I like the tension that comes from wanting to try new things and forcing yourself to just do it.

• Local CD Pile: Doug Edmond

  By: Darryk Sterdan

  Doug Edmond  – Between the Shadows and the Light

  Jazz-Roots

  Between is the operative word in that title. Singer-pianist Edmond’s album finds him betwixt a number of genres and influences. While his raspy pipes and folksy delivery suggest he’s spent quality time with Dylan’s catalogue (the cover of It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue helps, too), some jazzy pop and burbling guitars move things in a Knopfleresque direction — while the mellow saxophone and soulful elements take a detour to Van Morrison’s realm. Rather than being neither here nor there, Edmond makes Between seem like the right place.

• Winnipeg Free Press – Q/A on November 5th, 2011
• CD Review – Doug Edmond and Friends Starry Nights Rating **** (four stars)
• City Musician, Educator Invited to Play in Nashville
• Singer-Songwriter & Pianist Is No Lounge Lizard
• Local CD Pile: Doug Edmond