by Steve Bell

I got to know Mike Janzen back in 2001 (ish).  Due to scheduling complications, the keyboard player hired to play on my Waiting for Aidan tour had to cancel  just weeks before it began. In a panic I called bassist Fergus Marsh and he suggested I call Mike who I ended up hiring on the spot – solely on the strength of Fergus’ enthusiastic recommendation. A week later, Mike showed up for rehearsals and I haven’t done a band tour without him since.

Each artist can point to significant events and encounters which are landmarks in their development. Meeting Mike is one such event for me.  His disciplined musicianship has changed how I think about music and performance.  His character and faith has humbled and emboldened me. His  compassion for the disenfranchised is more than admirable. And his humour has put me on the floor in spasms of laughter many, many times.

rehearsing in Edmonton

Last year, Mike toured with myself, Jon Buller, Roy Salmond and Kerri Woelke as we criss-crossed the country promoting the new album Devotion.  At each concert we had Mike do a solo piano number and most evenings he pulled out his exhilarating/ nutty version of I Have Decided; an old gospel hymn with the fortitude to withstand Mike’s time-altering jazz instincts and whims.  It was always a highlight of the concert.

And now,  we have it on film! This came as a surprise late last week when Mike sent me a link to two versions of this video to get an opinion of which one was better.  He produced this film so he could use it as a promotional tool for his own jazz trio which includes the legendary George Kholler (bass / Holly Cole) and drummer Ben Riley (Bruce Cockburn).

The shoot itself is simple and unaffected but very well done capturing the dynamism  between these three brilliant players.  The location is a recording studio in Toronto  and  so the sound quality is also excellent.  Note: this is a performance video, not an entertainment video – so the playing is live. Yay!

As soon as I saw this, I knew many of you would love to see it as well. Mike graciously consented to have us put it up on the Signpost Channel at YouTube.  So… Enjoy! Share it with friends. Leave a comment (below)  for Mike if you feel so inspired.

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Of course, should you find yourself intrigued, Mike’s two solo albums are available on this site. See sidebar for Mike’s brilliant Mombacho CD. Click HERE for his first solo CD: Beginnings