I know I said "don't miss it" and everything, but in case you did...

Enjoy a taste from the magic of Youtube!

If you are in Toronto...don't miss this one!

Long a favourite of Toronto’s Cabaret fans for his rich, velvety voice and engaging stage presence Michael Lamont-Lytle has appeared in the Mirvish Productions of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast and has toured the country in productions of Chicago, Dreamgirls and other hit shows. While his repertoire includes some of the show tunes that you would expect from a veteran of the musical theatre stage, Lamont-Lytle’s flavour has always been decidedly more R&B and Jazz tinged. No surprise really, when you consider that Lamont-Lytle is the son of famed jazz vibraphonist Johnny Lytle.

Considered one of the top vibes players in the world, Johnny Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship. He was also a songwriter and wrote many of his own hits, including "The Loop," "The Man," "Lela," "Selim," and the jazz classic "The Village Caller." Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Tuba, Jazzland, Solid State and Muse. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Timmons and Roy Ayers. Lytle was such an admirer of the music of the Miles Davis that he wrote "Selim" (Miles spelled backwards) in honor of Davis, which features Davis' former pianist Wynton Kelly.

Appropriate then, that Lamont-Lytle will be, along with treating the audience to some of his favourite standards and show tunes, paying tribute to his late father by performing some of the material that he made famous, with Jim Clayton on vibes.

Although he will be playing vibes at Hugh’s Room, Lamont-Lytle’s frequent collaborator Jim Clayton is best known as the co-leader, pianist and composer for The Clayton/Scott Group. The band won Group of the Year, 2005 and 2006 at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards and Best Jazz Recording, 2004 Canadian Urban Music Awards and has received prominent radio play all over the world.

These days, Jim is in demand for corporate events and is a favourite of clients like The AGO, The ROM and The Granite Club, which makes club appearances like this one rare and not to be missed!

Thursday, May 22, 2009 at 8:30pm
Michael Lamont-Lytle with The Jim Clayton VIBES Quartet
Hugh’s Room
2261 Dundas Street West

Box Office – 416-531-6604

In Toronto? Come see the Robeau do his thing!

On Saturday May 16th, come on down to Dominion on Queen to catch Jim Clayton and his VIBES Quartet in a rare club performance. Not to be missed!

The show starts at 8pm and there is a very reasonable cover of $8.

Dominion on Queen boasts a warm, inviting atmosphere and a stellar menu. More at: http://www.dominiononqueen.com

More about Jim:

Jim Clayton is best known as the co-leader, pianist and composer for The Clayton/Scott Group. The band won Group of the Year, 2005 and 2006 at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards and Best Jazz Recording, 2004 Canadian Urban Music Awards.

These days, Jim is in demand for corporate events and is a favourite of clients like The AGO, The ROM and The Granite Club. For more information, visit his website: http://claytonmusicservices.com

Group Think, Valentines and Stuff.

Allow me to set the stage for you. Sunday morning. Three girls get together to enjoy a quick coffee and yes, a less quick mimosa before going to a fourth girl's baby shower. This shower has been a couple of months in the making, and our three girls, they were in on the planning of the event with the fourth girl's sister. That's just how tight these girls are, you see? The best of friends for more years than I, as one of the aforementioned three girls, care to mention. So off we trundle to points West, our Pottery Barn Kids wrapping paper gleaming in the mid-morning sun. Our heels clicking on the pavement. Why, Zee Noixy even wore a skirt. Bunz was wearing her snazzy overcoat, the one she wears when her bebe isn't around. I used the diffuser to dry my hair that morning, Bloggy McBloggerson. The diffuser! We went all out. We were all in and ready to toast Rachel and her "bundle". Everything was perfect, except for one small detail. Through some sort of horrible, group think malfunction we showed up a full 24 HOURS LATE!

Gulp.


We are so on the ball! Let's go to a baby shower!


Wait a minute...we're LOSERS!!!!


...thank goodness Rachel is so forgiving. I personally think that having to deal with such flaky girlfriends is giving her a head start on the whole motherhood thing. After us? A baby will be a walk in the park.

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And now, because my darling CeCe asked, a quick recap of Valentine's Day at Chez Nolan/Robeau. I spent the evening alone because the Robeau, bless his hard working self, had a gig. I hung with the cats and drank vino. We're not too good with Valentine's Day or our Anniversary, the Robeau and I. New Year's used to be a big issue, but we're getting better at that as of late. We're good 363 days a year, but when we're supposed to be good, it just doesn't happen. And this isn't some sort of rant against "Hallmark" holidays. It's not. We just don't have it down yet. We get awkward. Something to do with expectations, I guess. I'm giving it another five years and then we'll see where we're at before I give up on the idea of observing these days all together. That said, he came home from his gig with some roses for me, and I made him this card, with my own hands and cold sense of logic. I think he liked it.