Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Jeans 'n Classics 2011 Holiday EP is ready for download!




Hope you're all enjoying your favorite foods and people right about now!


The Jeans 'n Classics 2011 Holiday EP is ready to download ... get your copy here (and help yourself to last year's EP if you'd like) ... We've extended an invitation to the whole organisation this year, and you'll be hearing a new take on some seasonal favourites as well as a few songs to enjoy post-holiday.

download the Jeans 'n Classics 2011 Holiday EP


This year's PDF also includes Andrea's fabulous signature cocktail recipe and Lis's favourite mushroom appetizer recipe ... download the whole EP and the PDF will be included.

See you in 2012! 




Saturday, December 17, 2011

Holiday download in the works!



Hi there,


Just wanted to let you all know that we're working on this year's holiday download ... and we're extending an invitation to the entire Jeans 'n Classics family to take part this year, so stay tuned to see who will be contributing some joyful vibes for 2011!


Wishing you all a wonderful season.


Cheers,
Lis


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Lost & Found (Kathryn)


Over the course of the weekend performing on the Amazing '80s show with Orchestra London in London ON on November 18 & 19 (a wonderfully fun show filled with performances by Andrea Koziol, Neil Donell, Aaron MacDonald, and Gavin Hope, and myself, with host/pianist John Regan), I managed to lose a fab jacket (pictured here):
(Just had it drycleaned too!!)


...and then I lost a shoe on the way home. I might still find it if I go to the VIA Rail lost & found. Note to self, do that....

Is there anything sadder than one lonely shoe at the side of the road?


At least I didn't lose the mate to this fabulous friend:


I think my JnC friends would attest, I am someone who pays a lot of attention to detail. To lose things really gives me a pain in my side. What then, could account for such rampant and flagrant recklessness?

I'm not sure. But this might have had something to do with it... (Post show pic out on the town)


Yes, I lost some items in the big bad world that weekend. But I also found myself, ladies and gentlemen, in the trunk of a car at approximately midnight on a Saturday night in downtown London, and I wasn't even being kidnapped, nor was I as drunk as it may appear (very cheap date)... And that, is Priceless.


In honour of Movember, this is the "Tom Selleck" (hand knit by my friend Margaret Beach.)

xo KR

PS: Hey London, look out... I'll be back on Dec 16 & 17 for the Ladies Rockin' Christmas show. Keep your paws off my stuff... : )




Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Time for some updates!


Hi,

It's been a while since we posted ... as with orchestras, the Jeans 'n Classics season is busiest from September to June, and it can be a wee bit hard getting back in the swing of things as the season opens — but starting now, we'll be posting (at least) weekly with a variety of topics, so come on back to see what we've got for you!

We've performed so far this season in Texas, Illinois, Ontario, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Indiana — and we've got concerts coming up in Ohio, Alberta, Alaska, Nova Scotia, Mississippi, Manitoba, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Nebraska, West Virginia, Minnesota, Saskatchewan, Michigan, Maine, Iowa, plus more shows in Texas, Ontario and Pennsylvania. (You can see more details on our website at http://www.jeansnclassics.com/concerts.asp)

Here are a few shots from a rehearsal with the wonderful Chattanooga Symphony, where we did an Eagles show on October 15. We hope to be in one of your cities soon — please come say hi when we are!

Cheers,
Lis

































perspectives

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

JnC Memories: Katalin v.s. Balcony



While visiting Regina recently we stayed in a lovely hotel where the rooms had balconies with an incredible view, so even though I am extremely afraid of heights, I decided that I would indulge.

Just my luck — as I was taking in the beautiful view of downtown Regina, I became locked out!  Funny thing; the bar that usually keeps the sliding door from opening SLID DOWN and I was stuck outside on the balcony.

I panicked for a few minutes, but luckily kept a clear head and soon figured out what to do.  There was enough of a gap to reach in and grab the rod that pulls the curtain back and forth, so I pulled it free (doing a little bit of damage, but not much) and then reached inside with it to lift the bar that usually keeps the bad guys out.

I successfully let myself in, went to bed and had a great night's sleep — thankfully, because the Michael Jackson show the next night was a great success and a very fun evening with the RSO! 

So I guess my parting thought is that if you're ever stuck in a desperate situation, there is always a way out ... or in.    :-)

Love, Katalin

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Proof that Fresno was HOT!!



This past weekend three Jeans 'n Classics ensembles performed — some of us were in Bartlesville Oklahoma (Beatles), some in Regina Saskatchewan (Michael Jackson) ... and some of us were really roughing it in Fresno California (Eagles). Rique Franks captured a couple of Fresno moments here: 

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

West Texas sunshine ... plus pickles (Andrea)


Spent last weekend in Big Spring Texas, and I wasn't prepared for a few things.

Big Spring is the first place I've ever seen a "pickle in a pouch". It's a single, giant pickle in a clear plastic bag (think the way you bring your new goldfish home from the pet store) and they come in varying spiced flavours. People who know me know that pickles make my heart sing, and won't be surprised to hear that this new discovery has altered my hotel room noshing forever. Thank you Big Spring, for introducing me to my new favorite salty single serving snack while away from my own refrigerator.

I also wasn't prepared for how lovely and generous the friendly folks associated with the orchestra would be. Dathan and Suzanne, who are orchestra board members and also staff at the Big Spring YMCA, took exquisite care of us. (Being a proud YMCA member here in Canada, I was so happy to hear about the wonderful work the Big Spring Y is doing.) The orchestra was a delight to work with, as was Milt, the most high tech gadget sound man I have ever met.

And finally ... I really wasn't prepared to get a wicked sunburn on my shoulders on this trip to Big Spring. Kathryn Rose and I set up shop (laptops and wifi and catching up on work) just outside the hotel the afternoon before the show. The weather was so beautiful, we couldn't bear to stay inside. I'm not complaining, but these shoulders just aren't tough enough for that gorgeous West Texas sun.

It was a great show, and I sure hope we find ourselves back in Big Spring before too long.

-AK

tips & tricks: makeup brushes



After having spent a lot of money on makeup brushes over the years — many of which I left behind in hotel & dressing rooms, and one particularly expensive set that was lost mid-flight — I finally wised up and started buying my makeup brushes from art supply stores instead.

These come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, bristle types (synthetic and natural), and price ... many of the inexpensive choices are better quality than the low-end brushes you can find in a drug store, and even the most expensive ones cost less than a typical "professional" makeup brush (and in my experience last longer).

So next time your eyeshadow brush needs replacing, head to your local art store ... it's worth the trip anyway (art stores are divine)!


xo Lis

Monday, January 17, 2011

tips & tricks: iVoice (iPhone music app; key/tempo changes)



Sometimes when we're learning material for Jeans 'n Classics shows the the key of a song changes from the original, usually because it's not in the right range for the person who's going to sing lead on it. For both lead and bg vocalists, it's best to have something in the right key to practise with, but often there isn't a recorded version in that key.

However, we found an iPhone app called "iVoice", and gave it a try for the Canada Rocks show last week with Orchestra London (all Canadian songs — fantastic show!). Katalin and Kathryn and I were rehearsing in the hotel on Thursday night and realised Kathryn would be singing "Let Go the Line" by Max Webster a third higher that the original, so we fired up iVoice.

It worked beautifully, a very useful tool for anyone who might want to hear/practise a song in a key other than the original; in the old days (last month, that is ;-) changing the pitch of a song meant either speeding it up or slowing it down to make it higher/lower.

It does take a little time for the processing (the message reads "Please wait. We are doing our magic."). However, the resulting file can be saved into an archive for later playback.

The app is $1.99; definitely going to get my money's worth out of that one! Perhaps some of you could find a use for it too — check it out here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ivoice/id403483119?mt=8#

... or search 'iVoice" in the iTunes App Store.

Cheers,
Lis

p.s. Kathryn did a beautiful job of "Let Go the Line", BTW. :-)