Music in Pouch Cove - Dan Rubin

Things have gone really well in the holiday so far, all we had planned has happened, and the things that we hadn’t planned which happened have made the holiday even more pleasant. Well tonight was an example of the latter. At no point did I think that we would be spending an evening in Newfoundland listening to the playing of one of the islands renowned musical producers who runs his own studio in Pouch Cove and lives next-door to Points East. I couldn’t have imagined it, but that is exactly what happened!

Karen and Lee

At breakfast this morning we met a lovely couple who had arrived late last night, they were called Karen and Lee Gazey and had frequented Points East for 11 years. They hail from Ontario, but also have a home in Heart’s Content, a village we had driven through the day before. Karen is Senior Vice President responsible for the Atlantic Provinces for Sheridan Nurseries. Her Dad and Grandad having been influential players in the development of the company as outlined in its history.
Well Lee likes to play guitar and two years earlier had been introduced to Elke’s next-door neighbour, so they played together, and Lee had arranged to do the same while they were at Points East this time.
Well it turns out that the next-door neighbour is Dan Rubin, who has produced and performed on numerous albums. He is the President of the St. John’s branch of the Canadian Federation of Musicians and here he was in the sitting room of Points East playing some tunes with Lee, with us as the audience. What a treat. Dan is not just interested in music though; he also chairs Pouch Cove’s Heritage Committee.

Dan Tuning for Lee

Lee and Dan

Though this was the third time Dan and Lee had played together you would have bet that they had been practicing for ages to achieve the quality of music they performed this evening. They started at about 8.30 p.m. and finished at around 12.30 what a wonderful evening.
Many of the songs, especially those Dan led were written by Dan and others were ones that he has produced in collaboration with friends. It was truly a virtuoso example of a musician in great form.Not only was he playing the guitar, but he moved to the viola and the violin at will, what an amazingly talented guy. I loved the live interactive nature of the songs, performed not in a studio, but by two men in their socks in the room outside our bedroom door.

 

For those of you not lucky enough to be there, above is the song Dan wrote at the death of his mother, and which he spoke about so personally to us this week at Points East. The video is from an earlier performance recorded by someone in St. John's and shared on You Tube. You can also hear some of the music Dan has produced for and with Atlantic Union.
I hope you can get the message that I was blown away by the unexpected, unusual, yet wonderful experience. Thanks Dan and Lee.