general info about zootcase

FOR VIDEO, GO TO YOUTUBE; SEARCH 'ZOE CHILCO + ZOOTCASE' ;
also go to- zchilco.blogspot.com - to read all about my gigs, or sometimes, just me ramblin' on.
MUSICIANS/TRACKS ON THE CD ‘ZOOTCASE’
there you were 5:30 from the CD Up the Highway 2005; Victor Bateman, bass; Ron Davis, piano; John Deehan, saxophone; Howard Gaul, drums; Chris Whiteley, trumpet.
sweet summer morning 4:20 Up the Highway 2005; Norman Amadio, piano; Jack McFadden, bass.
brand new lover 5:43 from the CD Warm in a Cool Place 2007; Jason Agouris, piano; Henry Heilig, bass.
heart and haley 4:33 from the CD Feme Sole 2002; Jason Agouris, keyboards; Eddie Baltimore, guitar; Fergus Hambleton, sax & clarinet; Dennis Pendrith, bass; Gary Orme, drums.
ferzootin' 4:41 from the cassette Between the House & the Barn 1998; Victor Bateman, bass; Wally Brooker, sax, Maureen Brown, drums; Bill Westcott, keyboards; Chris Whiteley, trumpet; Dan Whiteley, guitar.
flying shadows 3:12 recorded Feb. 2007; Norman Amadio, piano; Dennis Pendrith, bass.
love solo 5:56 from the CD Mbodeo 2000; Howard Gaul, drums; Dennis Pendrith, bass; Kim Ratcliffe, guitar; Chris Whiteley, trumpet.
havelock street 4:21 from the CD Feme Sole 2002; same as heart and haley
hijack heart attack 4:06 from the CD Warm in a Cool Place 2007; Victor Bateman, bass; John Deehan, saxophone; Howard Gaul, drums; Chris Whiteley, guitar, trumpet.
cycling 4:02 Up the Highway 2005; Norman Amadio, piano; Jack McFadden, bass.
true blue 3:02 Up the Highway 2005; Norman Amadio, piano; Jack McFadden, bass.
mr. alone 4:07 Warm in a Cool Place 2007; Jason Agouris, piano; Henry Heilig, bass.
see you again 3:37 recorded Feb. 2007; Norman Amadio, piano; John Deehan, flute; Dennis Pendrith, bass.
appearing tonight 2:37 recorded Feb. 2009; Norm Amadio, piano

all music, lyrics & vocals, Zoe Chilco / all songs c. Z. Chilco, 2009

Here's a post-Minden pic of three performers plus friend; Norm had to run to another gig.

MORE PHOTOS

starting at bottom:

Huntsville performance

The rehearsal at Minden

Three pics from Minden show

feedback

OK, the shows have been played, the audiences have been wonderful, and here are a few comments that people have made or emailed:

“Zoe has created a kind of contemporary opera in Zootcase, bringing the audience into an intimate moment of a young woman's life as she meets and becomes involved with the legendary Zoot Sims. There's magic in her songs, and revelation in the lovely monologues between the songs. This is really very special.” M.F., Minden

“The last two hours have flown by like a bird released from the heart; a tender, wonderful thing!” E. B., Toronto

“More moving than all of Nuit Blanche put together”. B.B., Toronto

posted Sept. 23 on Jian Ghomeshi’s Facebook page:
Jian, check this out! Don't miss this Toronto!"Zootcase" by Zoe ChilcoBancroft, Bala, Huntsville, Minden, & Toronto, Ont.This is a story in words (narration) and song (originals) about Zoe Chilco and Zoot Sims; their love affair, his influence, her growth musically and spiritually. With Norm Amadio, piano; John Deehan, sax; Ron Johnston, bass; …’one of the best shows I’ve ever seen’ – Lila

“Wonderfully courageous; fabulous songs. I'm so proud of you, dear friend”. S. L., Toronto

“The show was fantastic. I didn't know what to expect, but it was great – the music, the script. ....and the musicians were wonderful”. M. B., Toronto

“It is an impressive showpiece that you have put together. ...your descriptions of scenes from the late 70’s brings back a lot of memories for me. I admire your honesty and courage to mount a piece like Zootcase.” M.B., Minden

“You should make this into a movie…I could visualize all the scenes.” L.B., Bancroft

“I loved the line you had in which you said you forgave the young person you had been” S.M.,Toronto

“It was a provocative (and evocative) piece. We loved it”. A.L., Toronto

“….like a good book that you think about afterwards.” C.B., Minden

"You were fantastic! Brilliant. ....A beautiful, quality, expert performance...It was a WOW!" S.W., Minden

“I loved it, and could relate to it in so many ways”. P.A. , Huntsville

“I was so impressed. You wowed everyone with your honesty and passion. It was so nice to hear the stories and the music.... I could see several people (women AND men) wiping away tears in their eyes.” R.C. Toronto

“The incredible candour and personal content of the show...and the 'magic' and heart of 'that jazz', won me over.” C.M., Bala

“I fell in love 100 times at Zoe Chilco’s ‘Zootcase’.Wish I could be there again!” L.S., Minden

“Everything was wonderful!....Keep doing it.” B.P., Toronto

“... not just a talented musician but actress as well – wow – a beautiful story teller... I thoroughly enjoyed this ...musical theatre...a combination of a book and live theatre...a reality show with intelligence” K.G. Toronto


“A reflective evening with Zoe Chilco, jazz vocalist, and trio at Bala Bay Inn. Through narrative, music and song, Zoe speaks her heart about 'I love you…what a happy day' and
'…fear took second place to knowing you.' ” T.M., Bala

“I was very touched by the show; it was a brave story”. M.S., Minden

“It moved me very much”. S.C., Bancroft

“...how wonderful it was to see your show last week. We really enjoyed it. Your natural honesty was captivating and what a treat to hear that caliber of the music!” N.C., Minden

“Thanks for bringing your show to Bancroft. We all apprecaited your performances and the fellows in the combo were exceptional. Hope you return soon.” S.S., Bancroft

A couple from Alberta : “Admirable, enjoyable and impressive.” Bala

The start of the summing up

WAAAAH! It's over (almost).
very sorry to say, the final show of ZOOTCASE is almost here (for a while, in any case).
It's been great, and the audiences have been wonderful, and have expressed a lot of appreciation for the production.
Needless to say, my musicians - Norm, John, and Ron were fantastic. - and you can still get out to the Black Swan - Danforth & Broadview, Toronto - this Sat. Oct. 2 8pm
Join us.
Meanwhile, a couple of pics.
from the top:
Minden performance;
two 'happy gang' pics, post-Bala;
pre- and during Huntsville;
the sign at Bancroft.

HERE IT IS: THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULE OF SHOWS FOR THE SUMMER AND FALL

ZOOTCASE; the Road Within

a story of love and music

with Norm Amadio, piano;

John Deehan, saxophone; and Ron Johnston, bass

Zoe Chilco, vocals/narrative

Sat., August 7, 2010 8pm

The Dungannon Recreation Centre

Hwy 62, South of Bancroft, Ontario

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8pm

Bala Bay Inn, 3063 Muskoka Rd.

Bala, Ontario

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 8pm

Trinity United Church

33 Main at West, Huntsville, Ontario

Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 8pm

The Royal Canadian Legion

Hwy 35 & Road 121, Minden, Ontario

Saturday, October 2, 2010 8pm

The Black Swan Tavern

154 Danforth Ave. at Broadview,

Toronto, Ontario.

PHOTOS:

Top: Zoe, January, 2010

Middle: Zoe, July, 1976 (just after I met Zoot)

Bottom: Tout le tout for creating Zootcase; the piano at home

bringing in the deep

ok - time to take a minute and relax - sort of. i've spent most of the morning trying to get a lot of details arranged for the show. everything seems to take longer and longer.
however
it's all coming along: got all but one venue settled, and some props organized, although i'm still looking for a 'zootcase' - a nice, weathered, old-fashioned box type; looks more like cardboard, but it's the one i want. if anyone comes across anything like that, let me know....
and please, let's all take a moment here to say a little prayer that another organization that says its aim is to 'support jazz and jazz artists' will in fact support this wee show of mine. don't want a lot, as the song says, just an eeny weeny bit.
it's very gratifying to see it all actually come into shape and reality. hope m. zoot likes it too, wherever he is.

side by side

doing all the prep for the show - charts, scripts, press releases, lobby pictures and info, programs. it was a real surprise/delight to discover that zoot and I have actually been listed on some web links together. I found this when I searched for music listings on the net, and there we were, lined up side by side, in a way that would otherwise be impossible today.

the strangest thing was that on a couple of those listings, the songs of mine that had been cited, or played on the same program, were tunes that I had written about Zoot - brand new lover, and mr. alone. it gave me a little start to see that synchronicity, but it was lovely just the same.

alors, on continue.... lots of work to do, and unfortunately, no money from the powers that be in the funding bodies, so i will be very proud to say that i am doing this totally independently.

with a little help from my friends, bien sur.

soon, i promise: some photos.

25 years later

so this week marked the 25th anniversary of zoot's death. i walked by the wildest shore of the lake, down by the bluffs, in the grey drizzle and wind. it seemed fitting. zoot was sort of like those wild waves crashing onto the sand, rolling strong and breaking spectacularly; and the calm too, of the huge swells and flowing waters.

hard to believe so many years have passed.

and in the meantime, life goes on. we're all getting so used to the loss of elegance and propriety, and just plain goodness. 'tis a pity; but i'm glad i knew someone who came out of a different era, and who was a gentle person. a gentleman.

got all the venues lined up. it happened fairly quickly, after all. now i just have to find people who will come out to the show. that's the next job. pr. advertising. schmoozing. begging. marketing. hoping.

and i certainly trust in the power of love to be there for me, and guide things along even when i don't know how to make it happen. so go, love, go. get on out there and start to make your presence known and subtly influence the success of my creation.

Please?

truly, madly, deeply

had a friend ask me about the show the other day. wondering about my personal take.

the show, of course, is the story of my love affair - yes, literally, - with Zoot Sims. it's also the songs i wrote about him over the years since his death. but it's the personal story, of him, the person that i knew, just as a person, not a star, and it's also the story of myself, and how knowing him influenced me and my eventual musical path. it's a love and music story.

so the friend wondered if perhaps i had interpreted our affair with only my outlook, and maybe i was imagining more things true than were. what can i say? it is my outlook, my interpretation, my story. the man has died. but i did know him. and the tale is my honest feelings and portrays him as he truly appeared to me. i loved him; i think he loved me, even if it was a part-time relationship, and our lives were separate. what a person conveys about themselves can be felt, and i think Zoot was an honest person too.

it's taken me a long time to even tell the story publicly. it's been in my soul for a lot of years. i'm very sensitive to exposing it, and do not want to risk any false colourings. i want it to be real, like Zoot himself. it really is a simple story. i want to honour him.

follow zoot's lead

rehearsing the script; it's crazy - condensing all the years and time spent and feelings and whatever i think i learned; my portrait of all those years back. all boxed up and wrapped with the lovely songs. my isle of love.

what would my younger self say? probably would be out somewhere, doing, rather than thinking. to be sure.

here i sit, a-sewing, with my words and music. and to quote the beegees: "words are all i have to take your heart away"

some help slowly coming in from friends, answering the call for donations. (well, not donations, just advance ticket payments for the show and cd). - gotta get the cd's made. and a couple more good possibilities for the shows in august - venues, that is. some preliminary posters, press releases, and a marketing postcard. as we make our way onward.

but if anyone out there has some bucks for an independent musician and wants to see this project come to fruition, then i would gladly accept. a worthy endeavour. one i hope zoot is encouraging from his heavenly venue, and in-between sax solos, so why not you too?

friday facts

don't normally write so often, but after yesterday's post of the strange dream images, i just googled 'black rhubarb', and was astonished, amazed, stunned, and ok, gobsmacked too, to discover that not only is black rhubarb a real thang, but its description, on the website i found, was downright spooky, considering what i had written, - old, crazy, dream-influenced and unconscious psychic sponge person that i am. here's what they said:

Black Rhubarb
This plant is not actually a member of the rhubarb family nor is it not a plant at all. It is a fungus that an extinct race of people used in a mysterious levitation ceremony. The flavor of the stalk is very similar to rhubarb, but if ingested causes a temporary oxygen infection in which the blood fizzes and renders tactile senses reversed while the consumer experiences a feeling of flight. It is believed that if enough is eaten, one could possibly overcome gravity.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Perhaps I am the only one left of that extinct race, and I am mysteriously levitating and having feelings of flight in my bed at night. - or at least remembering the good old days.

well, lead me on, and take me to that showtime in the sky.

got two venues confirmed today.

the website that spoke of black rhubarb said to search "the dreamiest dalliances of your own heart". is this not what i am doing?

black rhubarb, white roses, true blue

it's the dreams, the dreams; they weave in and out, they sail in silvery ghost-like form, they nudge me in the deepest dark of the night. and what's it all about, alfie?
the rhubarb was being harvested; looked evil, but apparently was healthy and full of good things.
the white roses had been abandoned in a garage so many years ago, but there they were: blooming and lovely.
the true blue is what i aim for in my heart; the inspiration of zoot's heart, love and generosity; the song i wrote of that name specifically for those dark moments....
but at 3:30 AM last night, my mind was racing with the job of my supposed waking hours: the venues. the costs. the show itself. the negativity recently dropped in my path.
negativity, real or perceived, is of course spread around by people, and they too make their little cameos in my dreams, informing me of my failure to measure up in the way that is expected. sorry, my dear.
but lo, in the dream, i reject them and their superficial success. i say no, it's not what i seek, and no, i am not wrong. image, although tempting, is not the whole package. i don't want to be superimposed on a ready-made scene. i want to dig my own groove, and have others dig the package i create.
wherever the negativity springs from, even if it's created by myself in the fearful depths of my own insecurity, i'll stick with my black rhubarb - nutrition for the body; and white roses - beauty for the soul; i'll turn away from the fear of not appealing, or blooms unseen.

simple black and white. and then, in colour, - the truest blue possible.

hibernating & hatching

it is the dark time of the winter; the perfect environment - quiet and cocoonish - for sleeping and dreaming; for creating new ideas and scenarios for stories. i have to say that my dreams of last night - rain dripping onto my living room floor and a discovery that the water is leaking profusely into my upstairs bedroom - is a little confusing. in "reality", i am trying to get this show, zootcase, on the road, still searching for the perfect venues; that's the main issue, outside of audience and advertising, and, oh yes, money to do it all, a small detail.
in the dream, the party of young people just moved into the room next door, to avoid the soggy problems.
zootcase is my dream-coming-to-reality, after all, though based on the real-life story that i experienced with zoot, the man. ain't nobody gonna rain on my parade? is that the message? i'll just adapt and move into another room? sure. there's plenty of space in my head for alternatives ....there are a million roads in the naked heart.
meanwhile, on this dull, greyish sort of day, i awaken with the realization that spring is less than a month away. so i'm packing my 'case', and movin' to the good room.

cutting some figure eight's

the most glorious morning earlier, and so perfect for a runthrough of 'zootcase', the show, as i glided on the just-zambonied ice, in the full sunshine, and down by the lake.

i went from end to end, and circled, and flashed my blades to a sudden stop, and waved my arms in counterpoint to the backward motions, - a special tribute to the upcoming winter olympics; from toronto to vancouver - performing all these skating moves whilst reciting the forthcoming epic i am planning to perform this summer and fall.
i cut quite a figure as i simultaneously cut mercilessly into my work of art, honing it, 'murdering my child', i think they say in the trade, to perfect clarity and conciseness. all this, while multi-tasking even further as i attended to the inevitable running nose, thanks to the biting cold.

beautiful; ya shudda bin there. but failing that, i hope you're there when the show is ready.

burning up the road

thought this was pretty funny: looking for venues, as mentioned yesterday, and got this notice today:
"your project sounds interesting; there was a perfect venue in ________, however it burnt down recently".
you know how they say, "when a door closes...."; i assume another, better place will be built.

we will prevail.

first words

the show is coming along; i'm going to have the first public run-through, with an invited few, to see how it all flows, as they say.

meanwhile, searching out venues and planning the itinerary for the summer. it's fun to plan, but we'll see how the actual plays out.
applied for some funding, and will attempt to be very positive in my visioning. oh there i am, getting the letter that says, yes!! we will give you some money to get this amazing venture out there to the public. yay!!!! thank you, so much. everyone.

please add your positive thoughts to this show-plan of mine. i think it's worthy.

and i thank you.

the birth process

it's a quiet wednesday; sort of grey outside. it makes for a contemplative kind of mood, which i think is fitting for the history of this website; also makes for a peaceful birthing, and it augurs well for the contents, which will be to come.

ok, i'll tell you: this blog is to let you know about a show that i have created and will be presenting this coming summer and fall. a story and some original songs, all about the wonderful zoot that i had the privilege of knowing.

more to follow, although it might be 'slow as molasses' in the winter months.

a plus tard.....