Sunday Brunch - Cinnamon Toast Twisted

Everyone knows how to make cinnamon toast, right? I thought so. I know some people make it with white sugar, but it's always been brown in my family. Try these added flavours for a different twist on the original.







INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tbsp Cinnamon (or more, to taste)
dash Ground Cloves
2 tbsp Vegan Margarine
splash Vanilla Extract

In a bowl, mix margarine with vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar with spices. Spread margarine mix over freshly toasted bread and sprinkle with sugar mixture.

A Record a Week: Joe Jackson - Jumpin' Jive

SIDE 1.
JUMPIN' WITH SYMPHONY SID
JACK, YOU'RE DEAD
IS YOU OR IS YOU AIN'T MY BABY
WE THE CATS (Shall Hep Ya)
SAN FRANSISCO FAN
FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE

SIDE 2.
JUMPIN' JIVE
YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH (And I'll Run My Business)
WHAT'S THE USE OF GETTING SOBER (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)
YOU'RE MY MEAT
TUXEDO JUNCTION
HOW LONG MUST I WAIT FOR YOU


The first thing I think of when I think of Joe Jackson is Adam Carolla's constant rants about the current state of music and lots of 'when people are in my car and hear Joe Jackson they like it. Why does terrestrial radio pump this crap down our throats, why can't they expose us to more better music?'

Well, I certainly can say that the music on this record supports that statement. Now, I know radio stations have their 'must plays', but I don't know why they don't fill in the gaps a little better. I am lucky enough to have CBC Radio 2 playing good music most of the time I am in the car, but have definitely worked in locations that played rock stations or whatnot. All day long hearing the songs they must land on 10 times plus the same 15-20 filler songs, ugh.

The horn-swing style of this record may not fit in to most of those stations styles, but certainly is brimming with talent. It's really a record that makes you want to dance, or at the very least, snap your fingers. The only question I have is, why bury the lead? I know Joe Jackson did not write Jumpin' Jive, but if you are going to call the album that, why is it relegated to the 2nd side lead? Maybe the CD version is different, but that's not what I do now, is it.

This record was a real break from Jackson's otherwise New Wave/pop sound, spawning a change to a more Jazz influenced sound from there on.

It would be great background music for a cocktail party or other casual/semi-formal gathering with a touch of the drink, especially if anyone happens to be wearing a smoking jacket.

A Record a Week: Lena Horne - The Lady and Her Music (Live on Broadway)

SIDE 1.
OVERTURE
FROM THIS MOMENT ON
I GOT A NAME
I'M GLAD THERE IS YOU
I WANT TO BE HAPPY
COTTON CLUB REVIEW
COPPER COLORED GAL
RAISIN' THE RENT
AS LONG AS I LIVE
LADY WITH A FAN
COTTON CLUB TO HOLLYWOOD (DIALOGUE)
WHERE OR WHEN

SIDE 2.
CAN'T HELP LOVIN' THAT MAN
HOLLYWOOD (DIALOGUE)
JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS
STORMY WEATHER PT.1
LOVE
BROADWAY (DIALOGUE)
PUSH DE BUTTON
THE LADY IS A TRAMP
YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG

SIDE 3.
DEED I DO
LIFE GOES ON
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS
THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP
FLY
BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED

SIDE 4.
A LADY MUST LIVE
LOVE THIS BUSINESS (DIALOGUE)
THAT'S WHAT MIRACLES ARE ALL ABOUT
EARLY CAREER (DIALOGUE)
I'M GONNA SIT RIGHT DOWN AND WRITE MYSELF A LETTER
STORMY WEATHER PT. 2
IF YOU BELIEVE
STORMY WEATHER (CURTAINS/CROWD/BOWS)

When was the last time a band put out a double record? I feel like there have been a lot of these in my collection thus far and I'm nowhere near done. I know, I know, this is a Broadway piece, which is different than a studio double, but still it begs the question of how long it's been since that was popular practice.

Horne is a multi-award winning artist who rose up from the New York club scene to Hollywood and back to the nightclubs where she used her fame to rise to the top of the circuit. Later in life, she took her skills to Broadway where she recorded this album.

It is no wonder she had such success at every level, because her talent shines brightly on this record. Even with that talent, she must have had a hard time making a name for herself at the time she was famous. She refused roles in Hollywood that pushed stereotypes and fought for civil rights much of her life. This record showcases her life while also interspersing bits of her personal history between songs. The tracks referring to the Cotton Club are about the club of that name where she got her start. Now, if the name brings up any flags in your head, you're probably not far off the mark in your thinking. The club was an all-white club with predominantly black performers (who presumably had a separate entrance, likely the kitchen). The racism didn't only come from one side, though. When she was young, fellow African-American children mocked her light skin and having one white parent. She managed to rise above all of that and become a talented actress and singer. Her life of stories and years of honing her skill come out in fine form on this album, which is a wonderful listen.       

A Different Take on a Holiday Gathering

As a child, it was a day I looked forward to with great anticipation. Each day growing more eager with anticipation. Some years I would get the thing I most wanted and inevitably, some years I would not. However, it was always a day I looked forward to, enjoyed and certainly relished opening gifts no matter what they held. As I got older, the gift giving became as much fun as the receiving; one of the greater joys is watching someone you care about getting enjoyment out of something you have put your heart into.

Even when my parents separated, Christmas tradition took on a new meaning and a new look. On the eve, my dad would take my sister and I skating at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto and we would do our presents with him that night after dinner. We would return to our mom's house and sleep there (some of those years I still lived there) and wake up and do Christmas morning with her. In fact, the new tradition was not only enjoyable, but I think we probably made out a little better present-wise (a thing that is a by-product of some parental separations), if I'm being honest.

My sense of family Christmas-time took a massive blow the year my mother died. The effort of Christmas began feeling more stressful than exciting. Since that time, the skating tradition with my dad has held up and my wife and her family have done a wonderful job of setting up and taking care of dinner on Christmas day. It's a nice solid foundation to have her family all here in London, making for a reliable yearly tradition that I am very thankful to have. With my dad in Toronto and sister in Ottawa (her job has her traveling cross-country yearly leading up to the 23rd of December), it is a sort of patchwork deal as to when we can all get together around Christmas.

Last year, everything worked out perfectly that my sister finished here and her husband (and their dog) came out to join us. That's not always the way, as scheduling and weather is not always on our side. This year, she was in town this past Sunday and being the only holiday time with her, I tried to make the most of the opportunity. My wife's parents agreed to take our daughter so we could enjoy the matinee showing of the show she produces and they would see the evening one. My wife was wonderful and took our daughter so I could stick around for the second showing and join the whole group for a drink afterward. Our son stayed for the first half to get a look at the inner workings of the show and offered to help sell merch during the breaks. I drove him home and returned to the show. I got a feeling it would end up being a subdued sort of evening. They had flown cross-country the previous day and had endured a two-show day and had a week to go.

We left the venue at about 11 and a few people on the bus decided to head to a pub across from their hotel to meet a couple of the singers from the show who were already there. We drank a few beers as the show members 'talked shop' and about upcoming shows. Around midnight, the bar set up karaoke and what I originally thought would be an early night took a wonderful turn. As usual karaoke goes, the group included a range of talent from mediocre to impressive. The trio of wonderful female singers from the show (dubbed the Vinylettes on the tour, but go by The Measure at other showings) got up and did a harmonized version of 'Don't Stop Believing' by Journey that kicked the night up to a different level. All four of the show's singers got up at various times and did wonderful versions of songs and bar patrons had some lively takes as well. I convinced the DJ to let us leap-frog the line and do the last song, so long as I could get the girls to come up. We chose 'Midnight Train to Georgia' as the show-stopper, with the professional singers taking the lead and the rest of us as 'The Pips'.

All in all it turned out to be an incredible night and served to remind me that holiday gatherings can be unexpected, spontaneous and special in an entirely different way than the kind you are used to. I am very thankful for this night and hope that in it in its own way can become a new tradition.

The Measure aka The Vinylettes

Sunday Brunch: Ivory Coast-Style Bananas

Simple one today, but so tasty, especially if you use a banana with a little green on it. Past that chalky phase, but with a little bit of that lemony flavour still in there.
















INGREDIENTS:
Bananas (1 per person. With a touch of green as mentioned)
Special K Cereal (about 3/4 cup per person - Rice Crispies or Corn Flakes would work too)
1/2 cup Sugar (more if needed)
1 tbsp Cinnamon
Peanut Oil

On a large high-lipped plate (or low bowl), crush up the cereal, peel the banana and roll it in the crushed cereal. Fry in peanut oil over medium heat, rolling to make all cereal crispy. This will also soften up the banana in the middle. Sprinkle with sugar mixture and enjoy!