Category Archives: Blog

Celebrating Spring: A Poetry Showcase at VPL

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Hi Dear Readers,

Spring is sprung- da grass is riz

I wunda where da boidies iz?


I’ll try to do better than that at my poetic maiden voyage April 1. Seriously though. Spring is going beserk without much coaxing from the weather at all. Yet there is…more light. Let’s move towards it!


I’ll be reading selections from the collection I’m working towards entitled “Travelogue.” Come on by! there will be four readers. The Montalbano Room, 8th floor. 6:30-8pm. I would leuuuv to see you there!

May you have a Spring in your step, dear reader.

The Poetess of Lost Lagoon*

*(which is not lost – it’s right there on the map!)

(Artist: Simone Viegas, Portugal )


Click here for the full event details!

Reunion Concert: Experience the Naturals Live Friday January 3

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Hi There Wonderful People Third is a funny word now I look at it. Must be a truly ancient brit one methinks. Here I am holding the flute. amazing. next we’re in the pool. very very groovy indeed. Such great smiles! can’t wait to share the Naturals music with you again 🙂 at Vancouver’s premier Jazz Club, Frankies! and warm Season’s Greetings to all 🎄🌟🌲✨🎄🌟

It feels so amazing to be singing and playing again! I mean what’s ten years between friends? I hope this wee note finds you well and happy and full of mischief! We’re alive! and happy to be so. There’s going to be a great outpouring of beautiful Naturals music at our much anticipated reunion Concert Friday January 3rd 8 pm at Frankie’s Premiere Jazz Club 755 Beatty St. Please do join us for this exciting concert and groove to our greatest hits (visualize scrolling titles here with deep male voice-over- lol) thrill to “Serengeti” drift away with “River of Stars” be warmed by “Let me Stand Next to your Fire” as well as gorgeous and tuneful new material as well. Get your tickets ➡️ here ⬅️ for a passionate night of musical magic and mystery with the Naturals!

me actually singing

Bill Runge – saxophones and inspiration 🌟🔱💫👑

Randall Stoll – drums and heartbeat 🥁 ba-doom ba-doom

Kristian Alexandrov – piano – our magic sorcerer – ha!🔥🌪️

Brent Gubbels – bass – holding it all down ⬇️ and 🆙

Nick Apivor – good vibes and percussion

Holly Burke – voice and flute – so very delighted to participate🕊️🪭






So let’s be together and wish each other a very happy New Year and beyond ))) )))) ))))) 🌟🐣🌈🕊️🌴  hb and los naturales sending out love to all but especially you 🆙🌻🐋  pass it along 🙂 and see you there!





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August is the Ripest Month🍓🍑🍇🍋🍉🥭🫐🍒

				

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August is the ripest month…





when our fruit becomes heavy and round





and fully sugared ~





so full of yearning and heat and life





you don’t know what to do with it all





like the dusky hues of an August evening





my purple plum’s tangy skin hides the sweet and tawny fruit within





clinging to a stone 





and I realize





this is the pinnacle





Perseid meteor showers above 





and heat upon the land





nothing could be richer





deeper or more magnificent





than this moment in time





from amber – to umber – to ombre





August is the ripest month





HB 2024





Thanks for reading, friends. 





Let me know if you enjoyed it!





holshouse@shaw.ca






			

	
	



			
				


	

		
Come on a Dream Ride Sunday September 4

				

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Dear Fine Folk… you are warmly invited to come on a Dream Ride with us September 4, 4pm @ St. Andrews Wesley Church in Vancouver.






DREAM RIDE






Can’t believe eight years have passed since I bounced off the end of my mother’s bed and into a very different head space! 





All was not lost though. Beautiful new music has come to the surface, twenty pieces for solo piano and new project called Dream Ride. Serendipitous events that have urged us forward in surprising ways, like finding baritone Pablo Romero in the forest. 












Featuring Linda Lee Thomas, renowned VSO pianist, also known as the “Queen of Tango”. Dream Ride explores the Tango idiom while venturing into realms of pure lyric beauty.





Next Performance: September 4 @ 4 pm – 5 pm





St. Andrews Wesley Church (Burrard and Nelson) Vancouver. By Donation *no upward limit! free parking under the church.





Dream Ride ~ the music of Holly Burke and Bill Runge





Featuring: 





      Linda Lee Thomas – piano





             Pablo Romero – vocals





                    Bill Runge – soprano saxophone and clarinet





                              Holly Burke – flute





Here’s a video taste of what you’re in for…





On the subject of heads…here’s another cool thing I stumbled upon in the forest.










This amazing carving known as “Twin Spirits” is just off of Rawlings trail in Stanley Park, not far from Second Beach.





The Parks Board in their greater wisdom do not “acknowledge” this remarkable creation because the artist failed to go through their application process. Hey maybe the artist didn’t know where the office was – didn’t have a computer – was living in the park? I’m just so glad this carver went ahead with their vision, their inspiration for all the people to enjoy.





Thank you, Park Banksy. Love to know who you are and meet you one day ❤️





 





 





                                       “Cos you know two heads are better than one” – Twisted

			

	
	



			
				


	

		
‘Two Eagles’ takes flight January 8 @ Frankie’s Jazz Club

				

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Yes, it’ll be the first public performance of Two Eagles ~1000 hours later…or is it ten thousand hours later…Bill has meticulously finished the band arrangement of ‘Two Eagles.’ Can’t wait to hear it played by Bill’s stellar band  The Bill Runge Quintet. Miles Black on piano, Bernie Arai on drums, André Lachance on bass and Nick Apivor on the magical vibes. It was a full circle type of experience with this tune. It began on a cold clear February day when I spied two magnificent eagles in the large evergreen just off my building. They were there for hours…just hanging out. I went to the piano and found a figure I liked, and a couple of potential places to go and Two Eagles was born (I kept running back and forth from the piano to the window to the window to see if they were still there.) Last week, Bill was completing the full band arrangement and looked out his window to see two glorious eagles soaring around his building. “We’re not changing the name!” said Bill. 





Listen to an excerpt of “Two Eagles”!





Can’t help but get a little excited about stepping out onto the new terrain of a new year. The forever hope of things being better. Things will be better, it always feels that way, even this year. So here we are sending some good vibes your way ))))) 





Your buddies, 





Holly and Bill











			

	
	



			
				


	

		
What a Difference a Note Makes (24 little half tones )

				

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Greetings Fine Folks!


Shirley Granger Album Cover


We used to do that tune, “What a Difference a Day Made” as a nice bright samba cookin’ along at about 120 bpm. I also sang it in the present tense, using “makes” rather than “made” it seemed more vivid that way somehow. Shirley Granger was the first performer I worked with who did the tune that way and it just stuck. Shirley’s band performed all over Vancouver in the 70’s along with Clive Guard and Gary O’Bray.  We played places like the International Plaza, the Cave, and all over Gastown. Shirley had a larger than life pirate-like steel-hulled sailboat with her husband Alex called the Black Eyes, famous for its wild parties. Many a fond memory of Shirley, our gigs together and all the fun in between.


Hurtling from the disco era into the present, Bill and I have been busy creating our latest labour of love. It’s a collection of Twenty Interesting Pieces for the Contemporary Pianist with lots of beauty and character and treasures for the ear. For example, we had just finished one of our new pieces and suddenly found ourselves singing and dancing ‘What a difference a note makes – twenty four little half tones…’all over the living room. Stay tuned for more on these tunes!


SPRING!Spring starts making her entrance long before the calendar says it’s official and proper to be Spring, eh? It’s undeniable, unstoppable, and the most welcome thing in the world. A signal that maybe the cosmos does care about us, after all. Climate change notwithstanding, is it wrong to enjoy some early warmth in February and March?


 

			

	
	



			
				


	

		
Bill Runge’s hot new Quintet steps out!

				

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I wanna tell the world how wonderful it is to have such a creative and accomplished partner! These musical flowerings are nourishing for all of us. Like my swirly leafed begonia plant…it’s been in bloom for weeks now! But plant music is tremendously quiet <PPPPP>


Bill’s new Quintet is exciting! dynamic! filled with verve! His writing is peerless and he’s chosen his musical companions well.  Come and find out tonight!


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Featuring a bucket list of favourite tunes from Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Don Grolnick plus some of Bill’s best original pieces from his recordings. Bernie Arai – drums, Nick Apivor – vibes/perc, Miles Hill – bass & Kristian Alexandrov – piano. Reservations recommended.


Aaaand at Frankie’s too this Saturday:


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Are you the type of person that scrolls all the way to the bottom? Well here’s your reward! A sneak preview of this hot new band!



			

	
	



			
				


	

		
Kozmik Dancing September 16!

				

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Yes Friends,


A thrilling dance experience can be yours this weekend! I’ve written a bunch of new music for the Kozmik Keyboard to accompany YOU, while Jacob Larmour speaks inspirationally, and you, of course, dance.


Rain or shine 2-6 pm @ Davie and Bute st. You know, the rainbow walk! Jacob Larmour and I will be on from 3:30 – 4:30 for a fascinating guided experience of the human story.  Not to be missed!

			

	
	



			
				


	

		
I just discovered the bass function on my Kozmik Keyboard 🎹 ✈️ 🗽

				

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Here I am playing a new tune called ‘Reunion.’ I just discovered the bass function on my Kozmik Keyboard – super fun. I may have overdone it though, ‘cos the arpeggiator broke shortly after making this little video.  hmm…


Please enjoy!




 


 


 


 


 

			

	
	



			
				


	

		
Horns at the Atrium – July 22 – 5pm

				

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Standing in the echoing expanse that is the atrium in the heart of downtown… 


      notes float…


                      quivering quavers…       and semi-quavers…         and demi-semi-quavers until a trill fills the sonorous soundscape….         and then a saxophone…


     deep drone from the trombones… Ellen and Andrews’ auditory ovation to the next wash of sound to gently caress your malleus, incus and stirrup to pure ecstasy! 


Will you please join us tomorrow?


2-4 open rehearsal, 5-6 show

SFU Woodwards Atrium (London Drugs)


   ….here is a harmonious historical recollection of last year’s happening…




 


 


HRO-Atrium-Voices-Poster-2018-Digital