To say the world is Michael KaeshammerB次元官网网址檚 oyster is an understatement for this talented pianist and composer.
Over three weeks in October and early November, the two-time Juno Award winner (and eight-time nominee) played 18 well-attended shows in China. It was his eighth time touring the country: while he admits to knowing knows few phrases in Mandarin or Cantonese, his musical language B次元官网网址渋s universal.B次元官网网址�
Home for a well-earned rest on the Saanich Peninsula for a handful of days afterward, the German-born, Victoria-raised jazz/boogie-woogie piano king jetted over to Europe for a Nov. 24 concert in Barcelona and visited family along the way.
Kaeshammer is looking forward to the upcoming dates at home, his first theatre shows here since 2016: heB次元官网网址檒l play a sold-out show Dec. 10 at the Mary Winspear Centre and a Victoria Blues Society-hosted concert Dec. 11 at the McPherson Playhouse. At 41, many years removed from his days as a teen sensation playing at HermannB次元官网网址檚 Jazz Club, he said heB次元官网网址檚 enjoying playing and connecting with audiences around the world more than ever.
But getting back home?
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the best,B次元官网网址� he told Monday in between loads of laundry during his brief pit stop here. B次元官网网址淔irst of all, IB次元官网网址檓 in love with Vancouver Island and IB次元官网网址檓 so happy I live here.B次元官网网址�
Known for being productive on the road, even during his down time B次元官网网址� he wrote much of the material for his new album, Something New, on the trains in China between shows last year B次元官网网址� he also takes full advantage of just being home, noodling around on his piano with whatever style of music he wants, for his own enjoyment. B次元官网网址淚 love playing at home, as much as I love performing for the home audience.B次元官网网址�
That said, he figures as long as he can communicate on stage the joy he feels in performing and creating musically, heB次元官网网址檒l keep on touring.
Local audiences are in for a treat, as the rhythm section that joined Kaeshammer on the album B次元官网网址� drummer Johnny Vidacovich (Professor Longhair) and bassist David Piltch (k.d. lang) B次元官网网址� will help present songs from Something New, as well as a selection of the pianistB次元官网网址檚 favourites.
For the new album, recorded in New Orleans at the historic Esplanade Studios in the heart of the Treme district, producer Kaeshammer shared the spotlight with a series of guest performers that included the likes of Colin James and Randy Bachman, Cyril Neville, Jim Byrnes and Amos Garrett. The result is a combination of blues, jazz and soul that further expands the piano manB次元官网网址檚 repertoire and demonstrates his versatility.
B次元官网网址淣ew Orleans and the whole piano culture, itB次元官网网址檚 like the records my dad introduced me to,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd instead of recording and creating the touring band (in Canada), we decided to record where the sound already is. That was really fun.B次元官网网址�
His previous album, No Filter, his first effort at self-producing, was nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the 2018 Junos. While heB次元官网网址檚 not one for awards galas, he attended the event in Vancouver and enjoyed connecting with former collaborator Michael Buble. While the record didnB次元官网网址檛 win, Kaeshammer said being nominated helped prove to himself that taking on the producing role as well didnB次元官网网址檛 mean any compromises in the quality of the record.
But he still has special memories of the old days, when he would scour Monday Magazine to find venues to pitch gigs for himself.
B次元官网网址淧laying in Victoria is such a special thing for me. I remember seeing some great shows at the McPherson; for me itB次元官网网址檚 reminding me of when I was 18.B次元官网网址�
Tickets for the Dec. 11 show, if still available, can be purchased online at , by calling 250-386-6121 or stopping by the Royal or McPherson theatre box offices. To find out more about Kaeshammer, visit his website at .
