A Word From Our Publisher

Riveting Riffs Magazine is a living legacy to Kent David Montague, my son who passed away suddenly from a lethal arrhythmia on March 1st, 2003, just seventeen days past his eighteenth birthday. During the long journey back, along the road we know as bereavement, I returned to my roots as a journalist, because, as is often the case with those of us in the arts, we find comfort and the ability to express what we feel, in our art form, when we seem unable to speak the words.

Riveting Riffs Magazine is founded upon two sets of principals, the first being values that my son found very early in life, integrity, being the advocate for those less fortunate, who often are not in a position to help themselves, and always remembering to be kind to others. He disliked violence, degradation and the use of illegal drugs, therefore this magazine will not knowingly interview artists whose music promotes those views.

The second influence upon this magazine came from two personal mentors of mine, Dr Kent Brower, a former professor, who served as a professor for many years at the University of Manchester in England, and whose integrity and striving for excellence, shaped my very being. The second was a man by the name of Reuben Welch who, I spent the greater part of a week getting to know, while I was in university. He wrote a book titled We Really Do Need Each Other. The book's message was simple; the strong should always help those who are weaker. The values instilled by those two mentors, coupled with Kent's desire to always help the underdog, serve as the foundation upon which this magazine was established. We strive to bring you interviews with and reviews of, not only some of the leading musicians, composer and singers, but some of the top young and emerging artists in the music industry, because most of us at some point in our lives, had someone reach out a hand to help us.

In the pages of this magazine you will read reviews, columns and other articles by some tremendous individuals, whom I respect an

d I am happy to call my friends. Vancouver pianist, Amanda Chan's CD reviews have already garnered high praise within the music industry. Toronto based jazz vocalist and composer Adi Braun's column brings a warmth and insight to our magazine on a variety of topics. A man whose friendship I have truly come to treasure, Cory "Big Weeds", the owner of a very successful jazz venue, The Jazz Cellar, an accomplished saxophonist and the owner of a great music label Live At The Cellar, shares his views on important issues facing the music industry. Gina Sicilia, Riveting Riffs Magazine will forever be indebted to you, because you were the first writer to join us and I know that your very personal columns, about the life of an artist have served as an encouragement to many. My friend, alternative pop artist Adrienne Pierce contributes her front page blog to our magazine, and adds life and vitality, as she keep us informed about her exciting career. Joe Regan Jr. from New York City has just joined us, and we are looking forward to the contributions of this highly respected writer and musician. As I write this we have a number of new writers poised to join us.  All of them are employed within the music industry and represent cities from north to south and east to west, in both Canada and the United States.

In addition to meeting our writers, you are going to read the stories of some outstanding musicians, singers and composers and wherever possible we have included links to their music as well as to their websites. Please take time to visit them, and please remember that illegal downloading, without paying for music, deprives these individuals of their right to make a living. Think of it as getting to the end of your work week, and finding out that your pay check says zero, because your boss decided that week that you should work for free.

As the publisher and editor of this magazine, it has been my privilege to get to know some very special people, some of whom have become my friends. In these pages you will meet people like Cilette Swann & Rory Morykit, otherwise known as Gypsy Soul. You will get to sit down and listen in on our conversation with blues guitar virtuosos Bob Margolin and Debbie Davis. In separate interviews you will delight as Ada Rovatti enthusiastically talks about her career and her husband, Grammy Award winning jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player Randy Brecker talks about his distinguished career and his brother Michael Brecker. Grammy Award winning country music artist Suzy Bogguss is just as down to earth as her songs, and Americana artist Holly Long's music and candor are thought provoking.

You will also meet the stars of tomorrow, and depending on when we update this section next, they may already be the stars of today. They are rock bands such as Washington State's, Left Hand Smoke, and Vicci Martinez's Band, as well as Toronto, Canada's international sensation Sarah Slean. Let us introduce you to country bands like the Texas based The Band of Heathens or fellow Texan Owen Temple. You get to meet our own Gina Sicilia whose combination of R&B / blues vocals are second to none. Folk rock singer/songwriter/musician Serena Jost is someone whose views and music you will  fall in love with. You will meet rising young jazz stars such as Andrew Neu, Darren Rahn, Craig Pilo and Carolyn Leonhart.

As you read our live reviews, step with us inside venues such as Seattle's The Triple Door & Demitriou's Jazz Alley. Sit in with us on gigs at Tony Starlight's in Portland Oregon or San Diego's Lestats and Humphrey's By The Bay. Discover Vancouver Canada's venues such as The Plaza Club, The Jazz Cellar, The East Vancouver Cultural Center and Richard's On Richards. Travel with us to the east coast, as we bring you gigs from Toronto's Hugh's Room and some of New York City's coolest jazz clubs.

Most of all thank you to you the readers, because without you, we would merely be words on a handful of writers' computer screens. Thank you for taking time to read Riveting Riffs Magazine, and please visit us often. Remember to tell your friends where we hang out.

Joe Montague, Publisher for Riveting Riffs Magazine