The Jessica Stuart Few

I’ve got hair on my mind, so today’s post is all about retro hairstyles..

1920′s

1930′s

1940′s

1950′s

Both 1960′s

Think any of these would look good on me?
xo
jessica

The Jessica Stuart Few has some cool gigs at the end of May in Toronto & NXNE in June (check right side-bar for details), but we’re so excited to announce our Western Canada Summer Tour Dates! If you’re in BC or Alberta, chances are we’ll be in your city – voila:

• Wed, July 18 – STEVESTON, BC – Music In The Park @ Garden City Park
• Thu, July 19 – VANCOUVER, BC – Cafe Montmartre
• Fri, July 20 – VICTORIA, BC – w/special guests TBA @ Solstice Cafe
• Sat – Sun, July 21-22 – ISLANDS FOLK FESTIVAL, Providence Farm near Duncan, BC.
• Wed, July 25 – VICTORIA, BC – Centennial Square “Music In The Square” series
• Thu, July 26 – NANAIMO, BC – The Corner Lounge
• Fri, July 27 – GALIANO ISLAND, BC – Hummingbird Pub
• Sat, July 28 - PENDER ISLAND, BC – Poet’s Cove Resort
• Sun, July 29 – VANCOUVER, BC – Libra Room
• Tues, July 31 – KELOWNA, BC – The Yellow House
• Wed, Aug 1 – ENDERBY, BC – Lorenzo’s Cafe
• Thu, Aug 2 – BANFF, AB – Elk & Oarsman
• Fri, Aug 3 – EDMONTON, AB – TBA
• Sat, Aug 4 – RED DEER, AB – One Eleven Grill
• Sun, Aug 5 – CALGARY, AB – Mikey’s Juke Joint

And just for fun, some videos from this weekend’s Joni Vespers Show have started making their way to YouTube, so here’s “Both Sides Now” arr. by Jennifer Wakefield, sung by Vespera Women’s Choir with myself & Mark Cashion (double bass) as special guests.

xo
jessica

When people see me play the koto on gigs, I get asked lots of great questions about it, so why not do an informative koto post every once in a while?

Here’s it is, the Japanese koto with 13-strings, moveable bridges (string pitch is changed by adjusting these), made from Paulownia wood, played with 3 finger picks on the right hand, set on the ground while being played. (AND national instrument of Japan!) 
So the koto is derived from the Chinese guzheng which has 18-23 strings, moveable bridges, played with 4 finger picks, set on ground while being played. 
Now I ended up receiving a Korean gayageum as a gift last year (haven’t used it much yet, but have dreams of a double keyboard stand with both koto & gayageum on a gig..) it is a 12-stringer, traditionally, also with moveable bridges, made from Paulownia wood, played with fingers, no picks (to my knowledge), and sits on the lap while being played.  
There you have it!  I’ll finish with the koto in action:

OR how ’bout an unconventional experimental usage here:
Have a fantastic day, and soak up the sun wherever you are!
xo
jessica