THE JAZZ CHILL CORNER Blues Legend Tom Lavin Becomes UCW's 11th Honorary Degree Recipient

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Blues Legend Tom Lavin Becomes UCW's 11th Honorary Degree Recipient Posted: 02 Aug 2016 12:00 AM PDT If you were to think of University Canada West's (UCW) newest honorary degree recipient as a book, his true depth would likely escape you, unless you knew him as a book with many covers. Tom Lavin, UCW's 2016 honorary degree recipient, and the university's 11th to date, is primarily known as an accomplished musician and record producer who was a founding member of Canada's legendary Powder Blues Band in 1978. On July 15 in a convocation ceremony that begins at 11 a.m. at Vancouver's Italian Cultural Centre, Lavin will formally be awarded his UCW degree before the university's 28 graduands of 2016 are granted theirs. UCW President Arthur Coren will preside over the one hour and 15 minute ceremony, which concludes with a reception at 1 p.m. Media and the public are invited. Despite major record labels' initially cool reception of the Power Blues' debut album, Uncut, the now world-famous band has gone on to sell more than one million records worldwide and has toured continuously for the last 38+ years. Known for its mix of swing, blues, jazz, rock & roll and r & b that gets people of all ages bopping, the band's sound has garnered numerous international awards. Among the highlights are Canada's Juno in 1981, Canadian Music Industry Association (CMIA) awards for Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter and Producer of the Year in 1980 and the LA Reader Award for the Indie Film Score of the Year-Dennis Hopper's film Out of the Blue in 1980. Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues have also appeared in concert with the Who, ZZ Top, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, James Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughn and the Doobie Brothers.  They headlined the internationally lauded Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1983. Lesser known are Lavin's achievements as a high tech, venture capital consultant, CEO of several public companies and founder of a private college. In 1992, the Chicago-born blues musician was appointed managing director of a film SFX software firm at George Lucas' Lantana Complex in Santa Monica, California. In 1994, Lavin started one of the first Internet services in Canada (Axion.net) and took it public on the Canadian Exchange (CDNX).  In 1997, he became CEO of MegaChain.com Ltd., which traded on NASDAQ. He consulted for venture capital firms on projects including on-line gaming, virtual reality, GPS technology, wireless communications, stereo endoscopy, frequency counting technology, audio processors and micro electro-mechanical systems.  In 1999, he founded and wrote curriculum for Pacific Audio Visual Institute (PAVI), a government-accredited private post-secondary technical college, and acted as its director until its sale in 2015. Ironically, UCW purchased much of PAVI's classroom and office equipment. Lavin's Socratic approach to learning is the likely architect of the many covers that would have to adorn any book telling his professional story. "Learning, musically or otherwise, is all about exploration," says Lavin, who moved to Vancouver in 1969 to study film and work as a recording studio musician. "There is a time and place for learning in solitude, in pairs and in groups, however, first and foremost to me is the importance of 'beginner's mind'  -being able to approach an investigation without preconception." "For example, my music production generated an interest in echo, which led to my pursuit of digital delays. This in turn caused me to investigate digital information packets, which resulted in my creating one of Western Canada's first public Internet services," offers Lavin about his learning journey. But Lavin admits it's not just his gift for connecting ideational dots that has propelled his Renaissance man-like career path. It's his passion for business communication, a very fitting attribute for UCW graduands to emulate going forward into the business world. "A famous successful jazz musician once said that the music business properly pursued is 50 per cent music, 50 per cent business.  I think this can apply to all fields. It's not enough to have a great idea; one needs to be able to communicate the concept," advises Lavin. "Be ready and able to share your vision verbally in three minutes. Refining a statement like this will also aid in making it clear to yourself what your true goals are."  Reaction to Tom Lavin becoming a UCW honorary degree recipient  •"Tom Lavin is a fabulous musician who`s made a large contribution to music and Canada. As a bandleader he should be used as a model for others in that position. Those fortunate enough to work with him are treated with respect and dignity." •Gary Kendall, (Maple Blues All Stars Awards - Downchild) Multiple winner of Canadian Bassist of the Year  •"Tom Lavin accomplished the amazing feat of bringing not one, or two, but many blues songs to mainstream radio. I cannot believe this has gone unmentioned for this long. He defined for me what a Canadian blues guitarist sounded like.  I love the guy. Congratulations Tom!" •Bill Johnson, Juno award winning blues guitarist  •"Not only being a wealth of knowledge, Tom brought to Canada the soul of a true Chicago blues man. His songs and voice evoke true artistry." •Matt Petley-Jones, petley jones gallery, Dealers in Contemporary and Historical Art

Sting: The Studio Collection - Solo Career-Spanning Vinyl Box Set On 180-Gram Heavyweight Vinyl To Be Released September 30th Posted: 02 Aug 2016 12:00 AM PDT On September 30, A&M / Interscope Records are proud to release The Studio Collection, a career-spanning vinyl LP box set featuring all of Sting's seminal solo studio albums brought together for the first time. The Studio Collection includes eight essential A&M Records albums across eleven LPs – The Dream Of The Blue Turtles (1985), ...Nothing Like The Sun (1987) (double LP), The Soul Cages (1991), Ten Summoner's Tales (1993), Mercury Falling (1996), Brand New Day (1999) (double LP), Sacred Love (2003) (double LP) and The Last Ship (2013) – with both Brand New Day and Sacred Love available on vinyl for the first time ever.    All of the included LPs appear in exact replicas of the original artwork presented in an exceptional slipcase package, with brand new vinyl masters cut at the legendary Abbey Road studios to ensure exceptional audio quality. Contained within The Studio Collection are some of the most iconic albums and songs of all time, including numerous GRAMMY® Award-winning tracks as well as a plethora of multi-platinum, platinum and gold worldwide awards. Beginning with Sting's first solo album, the revelatory The Dream Of The Blue Turtles from 1985 – featuring the cream of America's young jazz musicians in a politically-charged set – through 2013's The Last Ship, exploring the central themes of homecoming and self-discovery in the North East of England, The Studio Collection showcases Sting's meticulous song writing, evocative storytelling, and continual innovation in a ground breaking mix of musical genres and styles that have continually evolved throughout his remarkable career to date. From perennial favourites 'Englishman In New York', 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You', 'Fields Of Gold', 'Seven Days' and 'Shape of My Heart', to the political 'We Work The Black Seam' and 'Russians', the gospel-tinged 'Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot' and 'Fill Her Up', the bossa nova 'La Belle Dame Sans Regrets' and 'Big Lie Small World', through to the French hip hop of 'Perfect Love...Gone Wrong' and the arabesque 'Desert Rose', The Studio Collection combines the full breadth and power of Sting, the composer, singer, activist and timeless songwriter, on high-quality heavyweight vinyl. The Studio Collection is out on September 30th and available to pre-order now. Click here to see the first look teaser. To complete The Studio Collection, Sting's new album 57th & 9th will be released November 11th. TRACKLISTING: THE DREAM OF THE BLUE TURTLES (Original Release: 1985) Side A: 1.     If You Love Somebody Set Them Free 2.     Love Is The Seventh Wave 3.     Russians 4.     Children's Crusade              5.     Shadows In The Rain              Side B: 6.     We Work The Black Seam 7.     Consider Me Gone 8.     The Dream Of The Blue Turtles 9.     Moon Over Bourbon Street 10.   Fortress Around Your Heart …NOTHING LIKE THE SUN (Original Release: 1987) Side A: 1.     The Lazarus Heart 2.     Be Still My Beating Heart 3.     Englishman In New York Side B: 4.     History Will Teach Us Nothing 5.     They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo) 6.     Fragile Side C: 7.     We'll Be Together 8.     Straight To My Heart 9.     Rock Steady Side D: 10.   Sister Moon 11.   Little Wing 12.   The Secret Marriage THE SOUL CAGES (Original Release: 1991) Side A:  1.     Island Of Souls 2.     All This Time 3.     Mad About You 4.     Jeremiah Blues (Part 1) 5.     Why Should I Cry For You? Side B:  6.     Saint Agnes And The Burning Train              7.     The Wild Wild Sea 8.     The Soul Cages              9.     When The Angels Fall TEN SUMMONER'S TALES (Original Release: 1993) Side A: 1.     If I Ever Lose My Faith In You 2.     Love Is Stronger Than Justice (The Munificent Seven) 3.     Fields Of Gold 4.     Heavy Cloud No Rain 5.     She's Too Good For Me 6.     Seven Days Side B: 7.     Saint Augustine In Hell 8.     It's Probably Me 9.     Shape Of My Heart 10.   Something The Boy Said 11.   Epilogue (Nothing 'Bout Me) MERCURY FALLING (Original Release: 1996) Side A: 1.     The Hounds Of Winter 2.     I Hung My Head 3.     Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot              4.     I Was Brought To My Senses 5.     You Still Touch Me Side B: 6.     I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying 7.     All Four Seasons 8.     Twenty Five To Midnight 9.     La Belle Dame Sans Regrets 10.   Valparaiso 11.   Lithium Sunset BRAND NEW DAY (Original Release: 1999) **available on vinyl for the first time Side A:  1.     A Thousand Years 2.     Desert Rose (feat. Cheb Mami) 3.     Big Lie Small World Side B: 4.     After The Rain Has Fallen 5.     Perfect Love...Gone Wrong Side C: 6.     Tomorrow We'll See 7.     Prelude To The End Of The Game 8.     Fill Her Up Side D: 9.     Ghost Story 10.   Brand New Day SACRED LOVE (Original Release: 2003) **available on vinyl for the first time Side A: 1.    Inside            2.    Send Your Love (feat. Vicente Amigo) 3.    Whenever I Say Your Name (feat. Mary J. Blige) Side B: 4.    Dead Man's Rope 5.    Never Coming Home 6.    Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing) Side C: 7.    Forget About The Future 8.    This War 9.    The Book Of My Life (feat. Anoushka Shankar) Side D: 10.  Sacred Love 11.  Send Your Love (Dave Audé Remix)  THE LAST SHIP (Original Release: 2013) Side A: 1.    The Last Ship 2.    Dead Man's Boots 3.    And Yet 4.    August Winds 5.    Language Of Birds 6.    Practical Arrangement Side B: 7.    The Night The Pugilist Learned How To Dance 8.    Ballad Of The Great Eastern 9.    What Have We Got? (feat. Jimmy Nail) 10.  I Love Her But She Loves Someone Else 11.  So To Speak (feat. Becky Unthank) 12.  The Last Ship (Reprise)