Turntable Treasures

On a recent trip to Tacoma, Travis and I stopped in at a record shop - Turntable Treasures. This place was filled with old San Francisco gig posters, electronic equipment and of course, LPs. Walking down the never-ending isles of records, I came across the 'Bagpipe' section. Small in size but I knew, just knew, that there were going to be some gems waiting to come home with us. Turntable Treasures did not fail me. 

Amongst the usual riffraff of Scottish ceilidh music, Triumph Street Pipe Band's first album (released in the early 1970s) was sitting there for $3.00. But my excitement skyrocketed when I flipped to Strathclyde Police Pipe Band Champion of Champions. For $3.00 too! 

I told the shop owner that these were legendary albums and because he thought I was crazy and probably just wanted to get rid of his bagpipe record collection....he swung Travis a deal (he was also buying a turntable and a lot of vinyl). 

Once the player was set up back at Travis', the first LP to go on was of course, Champion of Champions! Oh, the crackle of the needle hitting the vinyl, the snappy snare drums, the brisk tempos and the brilliant playing - I was in heaven. Talk about inspiration.

That band has played a big role in the development of the Troy family as players. Our cousin, Gordon Magee, was lucky enough not only to get on the force over there but be a part of the Band Division. First class group of people with top shelf professionalism that produce quality playing and are of legendary status amongst us players. 

It's a damn good thing we bought that album when we did with the recent news of the fate of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. Read the full scoop on www.pipesdrums.com. To think that an institution such as the Polis might be axed is heartbreaking and would leave a huge hole in the pipe band community.  Please show your support and add your name to the ever growing online petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/strathclyde_police_pipe_band/?

-JLT

Happy Birthday to James P!

In honour of James P's birthday (which was yesterday), I have posted a gem of a picture, circa 1998. This was taken just shortly after all of the original machines arrived from Scotland and the shop was set up.

Jamie's birthday weekend got off to a great start on Friday, the 6th after a great performance at the semi-finals of the BCPA Knockouts in Vancouver. Along with Andrew Bonar, Andrew Lee and Jori Chisholm, he advances to the final round which will be held at the Scottish Cultural Centre on March 14th, 2009. 

On Saturday the 7th, back in Victoria, the Vancouver Island Piper's Club (look for the website coming soon) hosted Dr. Gordon Pollock and the small pipes group that he belongs to up island. It was a night filled with Northumbrian and Irish pipes as well as flute and some guitar. Playing to a full house, they put on a fabulous show. The next meeting for the Piper's Club will be on March 14th at the Bay St. Armouries, with Cowichan Pipes and Drums as the entertainment. 

Something to keep in mind.....JWT Reedmakers is going to start a Spring series of mini workshops, starting April 2009. They will be held in the shop and will cover a different topic each month - bagpipe maintenance, reed manipulation, ensemble issues and more. Stay tuned for more details. 

-JLT

And now for something completely different....

Ryan and I headed over to Vancouver yesterday to attend a book launch for the much anticipated Penguin and the Cupcake, written by my good friend, and former tenor drummer, Ashley Spires. She has illustrated a number of books but this is the first she has entirely written and illustrated. The launch was hosted by the beautiful children's book store, Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush (28th and Main St.) and was packed to the ceiling with Ashley's adoring fans, friends, family and of course, cupcakes. 

Ashley and I used to play in the Vancouver Ladies together when we were in our pre-teen and teenage years. These years were pretty integral, not only within the pipe band, but in the sense that I formed some of the best friendships I could ask for. 'The girls' were there yesterday to support Ashley, spend some time together and have a little fun. We all live in different places and it takes a lot of planning to get us all in one place at the same time but at the end of the day, it's well worth it. 

Ashley's book can be found at Chapters. 

-JLT