I do get a little thrill! We’re not talking numbers by any means, we’re talking locations, a pleasant little journey of the mind on a rainy day is all. Amo, amas, amat, amamo, amatis, amant. There, I remembered my high school latin 😉
I know I know it’s a ways off and all but we can write new music and practice like mad and perhaps dream of an OPERA featuring a Sasquatch with a lisp in there somewhere as well…and why not?! Frankies will be with Holly Burke & The Naturalz on Sunday January 18th, 8 pm. tickets here: http://www.frankiesjazz.com and Valentine’s Day at the Blue Frog will be with Don Stewart and Friends. It’ll be a total blast with lots of room for solos, yes? fun fun fun, and what good company. In other news my poem-song “Love is a Traveller” will be published in the upcoming winter edition of Persimmon Magazine. Yea…it feels good to be fruitful and flute-full, despite life’s challenges. My heart and my flute Seraphina are happy. She’s always been my passport to good things. Let’s see what happens next!
At this interesting and evolving time here in Canada, I am indeed grateful for so much, the band! Kristian Alexandrov on piano, Randall Stoll, drums, Brent Gubbels on bass, Nick Apivor on vibes (that’s the full festival band) and most of all my beloved Bill Runge on saxophone. I couldn’t imagine having more compassionate and talented players to create with, or a more wonderful audience. Our colourful friends and family, my grand-cat Ishi who was lost AND found today (!) for having hands and a brain, any kind of brain, and a body that is able to dance and explore and do things I like to do. It’s so wonderful to be in touch with you and share our creativity with you!
Say…it’s not too late for a fall poem is it? there’s still some sumac out there – like this.
Flames of Sumac
The fall brushed air swirls around my face and ruffles my hair
I see runes written in the moss that grows
along the stone wall by the lagoon
There are dandelions still standing
stretching as long as they can
toward the falling green and golden light
flames of sumac
be inside it
and the wind lifts these pages ))) )))) )))))
Wishing all of you fine folks a very good festive season, and good cheer in 2026 and beyond! 🎄🌹🦒🐰🌈🌟🏆🎹🎷🌎 See you at Frankies January 18th🌟💥 and the Blue Frog on Valentines February 14 ❤️❤️
hb and the Naturalz ~ the end continues...ok I borrowed that from Spinal Tap 2 🤣 – highly recommended!
*merch is available here: please do! https://hollyburkeandbillrunge.bandcamp.com/album/dreamride
https://hollyburkeandbillrunge.bandcamp.com/album/nature-girl
‘The Flute Player’ by Angela Brown
Well helloo! Springtime friends and Naturals fans…You are warmly invited to come hear us http://www.frankiesjazz.ca in a refreshing new way! that’s right! NEW and IMPROVED! (as they say – lol) You must be curious? I know I am…freshness is exciting, so is poetry. I’m having my first poem published this fall in Persimmon, an online magazine, so happy to say, and an honor for sure. In fact, we’ll be performing the poem/lyric/song ‘Love is a Traveller’ on Saturday June the 7th, LIVE and IN PERSON. Tingle-time!
I encourage you to beat the rush and book your reservations SOON for Saturday night June 7 at FRANKIES ~ our favourite downtown Vancouver jazz club. Here’s Bill Runge ~ one of the best saxophone players in Canada and a true legend in Vancouver. The ubiquitous Andre Lachance will be joining us on bass, Magick Kristian Alexandrov on piano, and master drummer Randall Stoll. What a bouquet of wonderment, yes? YES! superlatives fall short of the experience…
Andre Lachance ~ consummate bassist.
“Music can be made anywhere, is invisible, and does not smell.” W.H Auden
Composing is like making love to the future. Lukas Foss – NY Post
I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows of and senses in the universe. John Coltrane
I’m not online,
I’m not offline,
I’m between the lines…
HB 🦩
Looking forward to seeing your shining faces June 7th!
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!
if desired: unsubscribe with abandon!
This weekend brings the peak of Summer! We’ve had the fireworks, we’ve had Pride and now the great celestial Perseid meteor show takes over…up to eighty meteors an hour and fireballs will be somehow silently whooshing over our heads this very weekend! I kid you not! So get away from the city lights if you can and enjoy the greatest show off earth…
“great fireballs of fire!” – A guide to the Perseid Meteor Shower
Actually it’s a lot more mellow than that 🙂 Here’s our tune “River of Stars” for your starry enjoyment over this beautiful Summer weekend…how I wish Summer could last forever!
Now for a haiku by Mike:
rainless sky for weeks
photons drizzle down in the
perseid shower
|
|
Against all odds a calendula flower I sprouted from seed has managed to bloom in November. This event coincided with some new piano music coming to me, I’m happy to say. Hey, I really think I’m getting better now! I can play the piano q u i e t l y now – perfect fifths… low down… are so soulfully! (sol-fa-ly?) satisfying!! There might not be a sun in the sky these days, but I do have a small sun shining on my balcony.
Exhibit A: 
And the juncos are really digging the peanut butter suet I put out for them. And here’s a little treat for you, dear friends, if you have time. Last November we started working on a new album. Here is a glimpse of the work that we yearn to complete after my recovery:
Thoughts of sunny haciendas and social media-ocrity sweep through my mind…
Hey aspirational! Hey blookup! Hey all you dog gone great followers and fans! Let’s Face-book it:
Oh yes, this is a truly virtual blog now! I talked to Mike.Brown and he creates the post. These are my words coming through him! Thanks, Mike. (You’re welcome! 😜 )
When I’m out with my love dove, Bill, we frequently have to contend with the horrors of corporate background music. Last night we endured two hours of repellant looped robotic music that only drinking could improve. Oh I guess that’s the point, isn’t it?
Hey, come on… We’re human beings… We want to feel! To be touched… To imagine! It’s sinister how corporate decides which satellite (sat-elite?) channel will hold sway over the diners and the rest of us can just lump it. While it’s true I’m extra sensitive and still recovering from my head bonking last December, I think I’ve always been sensitive. Silence – you know, the space between the notes – can be powerful. Then, I want to put in a video clip of oh no nonononononononono leave it it’s wonderful. We will find this on YouTube…
Can’t wait to play with my Naturals again! And also check out Randall’s splash cymbal on “We are Golden”! My camera did something cool and unusual.
The late Canadian composer Harry Freedman said it best:
Are you an informed listener? Do you take the trouble to protect your ears and your musical appetite? Do you cancel your order and leave a restaurant if the manager does not turn down the Muzak?
Happy Year of the Monkey, everybody! Super excited that we’ve broken $2500 as we begin our final push toward the Valentine’s Day weekend! Can we double that amount by then? Only with your help! Operators are standing by to take your contributions – no matter how small bananas! 🍌
Holly Burke Music & Poetry 