So life has been full of work and the sun is disappearing from Vancouver into where it hides for the winter. Despite this, I've happily started working on another record. This one will be full length and I have no idea when it will be done. I spent the entire day today recording tracks. Very few of them will I actually use. My ears are ringing from the 1970's headphones I borrowed from my aunt and uncle over a year ago. Its amazing how recording music can be so simultaneously tedious and exciting. There are very few things in life that can hold my attention for a whole day. Such a pleasure. Drop me a line if you want to play on the new record. Brass and strings welcome. Hand clapping might even be ok.

Musically- things have been paradoxically stagnant and also progressing. I started my residency in internal medicine in Vancouver on July 2nd. Since then, I haven't found the time or energy to participate in very much outside of work. I don't have any current plans to perform other than the possibility of a small function in August and the remote chance of playing in Hope with a friend of mine- which I'd really like to do. However, the beginnings of a new recording are underway. I'd really like to make a full length record- and expand slightly beyond the solitary setting of my apartment. I'm working at collaborating with some other musicians. I don't have any idea of a time line or endpoint- but that will make for a more authentic and thoughtful result. Right now I'm writing songs. I like that part of the process. I have really appreciated hearing from people about the Turning Tide. I hope your summer is more relaxing than mine at the moment. All the best. JR

Just wanted to say thanks to all those involved in putting on Logan's BBQ. There is a videotaped versions of "lean on me/fix you" which is my attempt at playing Lean on Me- by Bill Withers- one of Logan's favourite songs. I tried to learn the song "lean on me" in its original form and realized that musically and thematically it was very similar to 'fix you' by Coldplay so it was a natural cocktail. There is also a two part video of "15 minutes" a song that I wrote for Logan and her family. The whole event was videotaped and it may be possible to have that footage posted either here or on the facebook site. The show in Hope has been postponed until possibly August. Hopefully Dustin is going to be able to record the Hope show. I am due to start my residency in internal medicine on July 1st in Vancouver. Im not sure how prohibitive this will be on my musical free time. Hopefully not too much. Also- I want to mention that my favourite dog in the world "Finley / the Fin" died on June 2nd 2008 due to natural causes. It was nice that I was able to play his song and dedicate it to him "Finley's Christmas" twice recently (at the spring gala and at Logan's BBQ). He was a dog that experienced life with unbridled happiness. He loved people. I'm sure he's having a nice time in heaven, especially if they're having any sort of banquet or dinner party up there at the moment- although they will have to watch him up there with not eating off of well-meaning elderly peoples plates like Francis Whittle.
Cheers
JR

Hi folks. I'm going to be performing live in the near future. On Saturday April 12th at O'Byrne's Irish Pub in Edmonton I will be playing at a benefit concert for for Logan. Logan is a little girl who has been battling brain cancer for several years. Her care has been hard physically and financially on her family. The benefits from this show, along with all of my CDs that sell at the show will go to Logan's family. Friends of Otis from Calgary will also be playing. Tickets are available at the door or in advance from Jesse Mclean Jesse contact: up_to_here@hotmail.com or call 780-660-0794. Please take a moment to learn about Logan through http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganisourangel or the facebook group "logan is our angel"- her story is remarkable.

Other upcoming performances include the UBC Spring Gala on April 26th at the UBC Chan Centre. Tickets are 15$ and available through http://www.ubcmed.com/gala/

Finally- in May I will be playing at the Blue Moose Cafe in Hope, BC, along with Justin Brown- another singer songwriter- more to come on that later.

Cheers
James

There are a couple of live performances in the works I want to mention. The UBC spring gala is on April 26th at the UBC Chan Centre- I will be performing with my new back-up band who I think I'll call the ranch hands. Like, James Reid and the Ranch Hands. I dont know if they'll like that. Either way- tickets will go on sale soon and its a show worth seeing for the enormous artistic talent amongst UBC medical students. There are a couple of other fundraiser concert events in the works that I'll say more about at a later time. I will say- you should direct your attention to a facebook group called "Logan is our angel" which is a support group for a family who is dealing with childhood cancer. I hope anyone who reads this is well.

Cheers
James