Welcome,

and thanks for clicking (that’s computer lingo for getting here from where you were before ). I’ll try to be a little less technical from now on…. Now where was I ?

Oh, right… welcome to my website. If you are in a hurry, just read the orange words... that's all of this in a nutshell !

Born in Montreal, I now live in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland.

The stuff between the born part and the living now is pretty boring except for a few intersparced, highly charged situations. Such as when mankind first walked on the face of the moon. I didn’t actually have anything to do with that, but it was one of those situations.

I remember my first armpit hair of course. Eh? What’s that ??? My wife is telling me that’s not highly charged.

Well, you had to be there !

Growing up, I always played music. I had a couple of years on piano with an instructor. I was about 6 or so. Hated every minute of it. What difference does it make if my fingers aren’t curled ?
2 years later I started playing trumpet and persisted with that for about 10 years. I was good (modesty, modesty) but didn’t enjoy the feeling of the sound.

My hat goes off for any professional horn player. A lot of practicing just to stay in shape. I would like to take up trombone some day.. a lovely warm expressive instrument. Listen to Jimmy Pankow’s playing on any old Chicago album from Transit Authority to Carnegie Hall (first 4 albums).
Simply beautiful !

When I was about 15 I started playing bass.
In May 1980 I bought a Guild fretless bass (B301AF) - thank you guys for that tax refund cheque – and realized quickly that it could be played in a more melodic way than a standard bass. I still exclusively use that bass till this day. It has a few nicks and scrapes but it still plays wonderfully.

I also play a De Armond guitar and use the Korg M1 keyboard for more ethereal sounds.

My style has been influenced by various people… Where do I start ?

Terry Kath, of the above mentioned Chicago – the band.. not the movie ! Guitarist extraordinaire long gone before his time.
Peter Cetera’s bass playing…. Chicago again. While we’re on the subject, Danny Seraphin, original Chicago drummer.
Danny if you read this, call me, I would love to work with you !
Listen to his style, tailored to the song melody, expressive just as much as any tunable instrument. I saw the original line-up of Chicago in Montreal, for their 10th album.
The best show ever.

Frank Zappa, another VERY influential musician, once again… long gone and sorely missed. His frankness (forgive the pun) allowed him to express his beliefs in musical form.
I am still working on it !

I just read that last paragraph and I have to admit that it’s a pile of crap. Feel free not to read it again. Suffice to say, Frank, we miss you !

Jaco Pastorius, now it becomes odd… gone into eternal hibernation way too early. A brilliant musician with a unique style, a devastating technique and a flawless performance…
I’ll better stop here because it's beginning to sound like the previous paragraph about Zappa.

That is basically it…

Other great musicians I listen to are KD Lang, Zappa, Joni Mitchell, The Allman Brothers, Chicago, Ella Fitzgerald, and loads of Jazz, Funk, Blues, Zappa, R&B, Mozart, Chicago, Beethoven, Zappa…

I remember my first bicycle. A CCM Maurauder. Not just yellow but YELLOW ! Oh, sorry about that… my mind wanders sometimes.
Still doesn’t beat the armpit hair though.

See you ...

Ian