I implied last week that I am largely uninspired by most of the overwrought and overthought holiday musical fare that comes like the snow this time of year (whether you want it or not). But I’m not in fact a mean one like Mr. Grinch, because I do in fact love that classic song, along with many of the other great cartoon tunes that still make me smile.
It was only a stray line in the paper recently, but it hit like hammer: Gordon Lightfoot was performing at a small venue in Oakville, Ont. on the weekend. To be sure, the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter hasn’t been entirely out of the news in recent years, but the about-to-be 84-year-old (Nov. 17) is still going strong filled me with delight.
I never knew, met, nor (I confess) was even aware of Sandra Jaffe, but in hindsight the remarkable woman has without a doubt played an influential, unexpected role in my life. Jaffe, after all, was co-founder of Preservation Hall in New Orleans, an iconic institution that I have previously proclaimed my favourite place on the planet.