Category Archives: Vancouver news

‘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

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!

Progress Report and Invitation 😀

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Dear Friends,

Seraphina (my flute) and I have been noticeably quieter this last year and a half as I continue to recover from my little accident. (I fell off my mother’s bed while clipping her toenails and went backwards into a chest of drawers! strange but true!) Although I’m not back to performing yet, I have been enjoying writing at the piano, very much. Bill asked me to collaborate with him on a piece for the jazz festival. It’s called “Lagoon,” and I’d love to share this new piece with you. I’ll be there in the back row probably, with my ear plugs and shades…but feeling very happy! Eventually we’ll get back to the Naturals recording we were working on. Can’t say exactly when. I certainly am learning a lot about the brain though, neuroplasticity and all that. Brains are cool 🙂

Hope to see you on next Sunday, June 25 at the Atrium at the Woodwards Building! Performance is at 5pm!

Be Well,
Holly

Tristan the Swan

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Tristan loved Thea, his mate of many years. Together they floated over the lagoon with royal elegance, bestowing their grace upon all who saw them…

The parks board never did provide a safe place for the swans of Lost Lagoon. Tristan got bumble foot from the concrete and gravel around the lagoon and was sent to the vet for a couple of weeks. While she was left unprotected on her nest, Thea was fatally attacked by a coyote. This should never have happened. The thing is, there was a swan love triangle between Tristan, Bijan and Marika – a swan Tristan had briefly been involved with a few years back. With Thea’s passing, Bijan corralled poor Tristan into the swampy area of the lagoon. Perhaps he was trying to prevent Tristan from reuniting with Marika.

Many thanks to Fiona and Ziggy, loyal swan-keepers of many years, who organized relocating the swans to a dream home in Langley where they have soft grass under their feet, and abundant clean lake water to enjoy.

It is my hope that the parks board will recognize the legacy and value of the Stanley Park swans and with public help, launch a campaign to make the lagoon safe for all wildlife, including the once and future swans of Lost Lagoon.

Here is an actual photo of Marika and Tristan “making hearts” – taken by Fiona:
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View the Instagram Page for the Stanley Park Swans

Visit the Swans of Stanley Park web page

Art in the Garden, Dino DiNicolo and the Rare Gangetic Dolphin

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I am so fortunate to live on Stanley Park in the spring when the trees leaf they seem to rise up and surround my balcony like a canopy filled with bird song. Zephyrs of wind move through the trees and I can sometimes hear the little children at the Pooh Corner Daycare playing capriciously and singing “Jingle Bells” at the top of their lungs!

What could be more inspiring than playing with Dino DiNicolo in a beautiful garden surrounded by trees, flowers, and art? Dino and I have done this tour for years, sometimes in the rain, which has its own special atmosphere, but we expect nothing but sunny skies. The flowers are getting ready for their great performance! Art in the Garden is a tour of 16 gardens in West Vancouver and North Vancouver with a very reasonable charge of one dollar for each garden, each one unique featuring a visual artist, a musical duo, and of course the beautiful plants and flowers that have been nurtured all year.

Dino and I are scheduled to perform:

Saturday May 28th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Garden #14: 2820 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Sunday May 29th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Garden #12: 5570 Woodpecker Place.

Come and smell the roses… and everything else!
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And let’s not forget..

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The rare, and uniquely beautiful, Ganges River Dolphin. (Just look at that smile!)

It’s Cherry Blossom Time!

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You’re invited to a delightful intimate performance I am involved with. This will be the world premiere of Haiku Mime, a whimsical physical interpretation of haiku poetry submitted from around the world. Weaving text read by yours truly around the expressive movements of Yayoi Hirano, I simply love the quick interplay we are able to discover as we illuminate these modern haiku poems together. Please join us and be a part of the blossoming of this novel cultural collaboration.

March 24th, 2016; 12:30pm-1:00pm at the courtyard above Burrard Skytrain Station.
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April 8-9 Sakura Festival

Silent Dentistry, leaf blowers and Heironymous Bosch

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Hello. I’m quite sure people in the future will look back on our 21st century urban experience and feel great compassion for us…somewhat like the way we feel about people who had to have their legs taken off without anaesthetic in WW2, for example, or god forbid, being drawn and quartered in the Middle Ages. Heironymous Bosch comes to mind.

The amount of NOISE we endure on a daily basis is frankly, inhuman. Against human.  Against humanity. Not to mention the aesthetic laws being broken and the heavy fines that should be applied to anyone caught with a leaf blower in their hands. And how do you feel about dental drills?

Anyone else out there for the invention of silent dentistry?

Heironymous

Holly Burke & The Naturals Proud of Pride and the Freedom to Love

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…and how much the celebration of our freedom to love means, on the world stage.

St.Andrews Wesley Church and Jamie Croil of Jazz Vespers are kindly hosting us.

Where: The Wall Centre Outdoor Stage – Burrard/Nelson right across from the church.

When:  Saturday August 2nd  4 – 5 pm.

So c’mon…jump in!

😉

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