The Wild Cards

Posting a little later than hoped for due to computer difficulties, but it’s still Monday! Last week, our first feature was one of our oldest (in terms of years in; he’s one of the originals) members. This week, we go behind the scenes with another member of the sax section - one of our oldest (in terms of years, but no less enthusiastic than our youngest) members. As mentioned, members were given 10 questions and we picked the 5 most interesting answers to share. Here are ...Dave Hadden’s: If you could have personally witnessed any one event in history what would you like it to have been? Dancing in the streets at the end of WWII. (Dancing in the streets at the end of COVID-19 is a given!) What is your top bucket list place to visit? Ronnie Scott’s bar in London, England, where the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland big band played. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? What you think you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Goethe If you were to cast any actor, living or dead, to play you in a film, who would you select? Tim Robbins If you could be on the cover of any magazine, which one would it be and what would the headline be? GQ: Look sharp, play well.

Hello world. Doug Martin here. With the goal of getting to know a little more about each other outside of rehearsal and performance venues, instead of responding to questions, I have encapsulated my life in a couple of paragraphs. A little history first. I grew up in Windsor, ON and went to university there. At age 19, I bought my first car: a 1962 Pontiac Acadian - which had a great radio. At one point, however, the engine block cracked and some damn fool stole it whil...e it was sitting on the garage mechanic’s lot. I was fortunate and reaped enough insurance money to buy another. A few years later, after returning from a motorcycle tour of the USA, I enrolled at Carleton University and subsequently graduated with a master’s degree in neuroscience (nope, not music). This is when I realized that the academic life did not suit me. So I beat it back to Toronto and auditioned for the Humber College jazz program. A couple of years of that was enough for me and I hit the road with several rock bands - not all at the same time. I eventually ended up in Ottawa again, where I have been ever since - teaching, playing, and recording music. http://www.dougmartin.ca https://www.facebook.com/DougMartinProject https://soundcloud.com/dugglas Until the arrival of our favourite virus, on Saturdays, I would drag myself out of bed at an ungodly hour just so I could play with my favourite big band: The Wild Cards. What do I like to do in my spare time? Well, I don’t really have any. But if I did, I would read a lot more. I love all kinds of stuff, but mostly spy and detective novels sprinkled with a little non-fiction here and there. I like mysteries mostly British on TV and, when I can, I will sit down in front of the tube and watch one. A little snack is usually in order and, along with it, I like red wine, beer (Stella Artois only, thank you), and dark rum - not all at the same time. That’s all for now. I’m looking forward to a Stella and Sherlock Holmes on TV later.

Christmas 2020 is unlike any other in living memory, which is why we - after a devastating nine months of not playing together - wanted to share our plans for 2021 and give everyone something to anticipate. Starting on January 4th, we can all look forward to weekly posts featuring one band member. Since we can’t get together until at least next fall, our goal is to complement the MEET THE BAND tab on our website (www.thewildcards.ca) and have everyone get to know the band me...mbers a little better in a different way, as they are offstage. Everyone was given the same questions and we will all be surprised by some of the answers! The posts will run until June, when we usually break for summer. Now it’s time to rest, catch up with family and friends (even if it is virtually), and enjoy some favourite activities. Enjoy the season in good health. The Wild Cards

Today was to have been our 5th anniversary concert. Instead, we are reeling from the death of one of our original members, the beloved Howard Tweddle, due to COVID-19. This is an unprecedented time in our nation's history, but we never expected it to hit so hard and close to us. Howard was a valued contributor from our early days and we are finding it difficult to grieve together but alone. He was a gift to us on so many levels and we're sure music is playing wherever his beautiful soul is now. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and our very best wishes for good health and well-being to you and your loved ones .

Dear supporters of live music and Out Of The Cold, We hope that you and your loved ones are well, and that you are keeping safe and healthy. The COVID-19 situation is evolving rapidly so, in order to protect all band and audience members, the joint anniversary concert scheduled for April 25th has been postponed and we hope to welcome you in the fall. Until then, thanks to all who sent prayers for the musicians whose gigs were cancelled and are struggling; your best wishes are precious to us beyond words in these most difficult times. The Wild Cards