Six provinces. Twenty-three cities. Twenty-four shows. Twenty-seven days. Thousands of kilometres.
Those are the broad coordinates of Michael KaeshammerB次元官网网址檚 current cross-country national tour that opened with a show in Pictou, NS on Nov. 9 before wrapping up with two shows at SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Mary Winspear Centre Dec. 5-6.
So how much is the North Saanich resident, who has developed a global audience thanks to extensive touring and being featured on American television among other forums, looking forward to sleeping in his own bed?
B次元官网网址淲e are counting down the days, maybe even the hours,B次元官网网址� he says with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淲e had a great time, but it was on purpose that we wanted to finish it in Sidney with a couple of shows. I love travelling across Canada, or even to other countries (but) I love the community so much. This is the pinnacle for us, the best for last. That is how we booked it, and yes, IB次元官网网址檓 very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.B次元官网网址�
But as much as Kaeshammer looks forward to the comforts of home, the current cross-country tour has been revealing as well. While some stops along the tour did not offer opportunities to see anything other than airports, concert halls and hotel rooms, this was not the case in Nova Scotia. B次元官网网址淏esides Halifax, we played a couple of smaller communities and we were able to drive there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hese areas I was not familiar with, B次元官网网址� he said.
They included Church Point. B次元官网网址淭he Acadian community is prominent there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 really speak French, but it was interesting to hear the way the Acadian community speaks there, because it is so different,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd it looks so quaint, so beautiful as well, just like it is on the West Coast, but different. That was for me the highlight, to experience something outside the show and travelling. IB次元官网网址檓 really glad I did and that is a memory that will stick with me for a long time.B次元官网网址�
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Among CanadaB次元官网网址檚 many regions, Acadia holds a special mythical place, in part because of its historical, ethno-linguistic and musical ties to Louisiana, itself a deep well of musical traditions, many of them flowing through KaeshammerB次元官网网址檚 own music. So did Kaeshammer have any chance to sample local musical traditions? B次元官网网址淚 try to do that whenever I can, but on this tour it was not really possible because of the schedule,B次元官网网址� he said.
While Kaeshammer seeks out local musicians whenever possible when on tour, he also wants to chart his own course. B次元官网网址淚t is very important to stay current and bring something of your own,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢ost of the music that we play is original that I wrote, but it is influenced by those different music styles B次元官网网址� jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, pop music, gospel. But I think it is important that you write your own music as an artist.B次元官网网址�
Kaeshammer does not want to be pigeonholed as a jazz musician but rather sees himself as a pianist unbounded by rigid musical categories. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 get influenced by listening to music but more nowadays by stuff that happens in my life or how I feel about a certain subject,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he way it sounds, it just happens to be very much jazz influenced because that is how I play the piano. But I donB次元官网网址檛 see myself as a jazz musician. ItB次元官网网址檚 very upbeat music and the best compliment I always get from people is, B次元官网网址業 actually donB次元官网网址檛 like jazz, but I like that show.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
So what is on KaeshammerB次元官网网址檚 life these days that has found its way into his music? On his new recorded album due to be released in March 2023, he pays tribute to his late aunt, who passed away just before the pandemic. B次元官网网址淪he was a huge supporter of me playing when I was a kid,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 was very close with her in Germany.B次元官网网址� The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the importance of family, something that found its way into his music. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always known that it was important but I have never really written about it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely something that I feel strongly about, because life is short. ItB次元官网网址檚 based on where you come from. In my mind and to my dad, IB次元官网网址檓 still this 10-year-old kid.B次元官网网址�
But boy, can that kid play now and Kaeshammer promises something special.
B次元官网网址淭he band is very tight, itB次元官网网址檚 very good. We are having a great time, not just playing music but also hanging out,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd over the last few shows, there are always things that are happening in the moment that might not have happened the day before.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e are all coming from different places. IB次元官网网址檓 from North Saanich. The sax player is from Vancouver. The bass player is from Hamburg, Germany, the drummer is from New Orleans. And after these two shows, everybody is going home. In the back of your mind, you know these are the last couple of shows we get to play and hang out togetherB次元官网网址� and I think everybody is just going to bring their A-game to the table.B次元官网网址�
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