Podcast episode 341ish: Shauna Johannesen & James Danderfer

Johannesen on the set of another film

We've got some catching up to do so let's get to it. In this episode, newlyweds Shauna Johannesen and James Danderfer talk about creating a movie musical in eight days. They were one of six teams that were part of the Crazy8s film making challenge. And their baby, Bed Bugs: A Musical Love Story is a winner. In this episode, we learn about the specific challenges they faced and we hear all four songs from their 15-minute musical. Trust me, you'll be humming them for days after listening to this.

Check it out. You can listen to the whole thing right here, or check out iTunes (which is notoriously late but it'll be there in time, don't you worry), Stitcher or the always reliable PodcastLand.

Mar. 2: Shauna Johannesen & James Danderfer

It's Oscar night so we have two filmmakers in studio with us. Last night, Shauna Johannesen and James Danderfer, both former WSF? guests on their own, premiered their 15-minute short film at the Crazy8s Gala at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. Over 1000 people roared their approval for Bedbugs: A Musical Love Story. I loved it. So fun and funny and bright.

James Danderfer conceived it, Shauna Johannesen birthed (wrote) it, James composed the music, Shauna starred in it, and they both produced it. (It also co-starred 3-time What's So Funny? guest Toby Hargrave.) You might know Shauna as the "Shut the front door!" reporter on the A&W commercials; James, of course, is a jazz clarinetist extraordinaire with many CDs to his name.

We'll get all the details tonight about the Crazy8s process, what it's like working together as husband and wife, and where they go from here. Maybe we'll see them at the Oscars one day.

Tune in tonight to CFRO, Vancouver Co-op radio, 100.5 FM at 11pm to midnight. If you're out of earshot, you can always livestream us at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 230ish: James Danderfer

I spent Friday night at the Cellar Jazz Club watching last week's guest, James Danderfer, noodling on the old licorice stick. Opening for him were comics Graham Clark and Ivan Decker. Comedy and jazz, just like God always intended. It was a fun night.

Today's podcast episode takes us back in time one week, before the big Cellar gig. Jim Dandy talked about his dreaming of getting his jazz chocolate in the comedy peanut butter, told some musicians jokes, and informed us of the surprising comic who blew the musicians away on a cruise ship before getting fired. And along the way we played some very funny comedy clips, many of which lampooned his chosen art form. We heard from Paul F. Tompkins ("Jazz"), the Fast Show ("Jazz club"), Martin Mull ("Straight Talk about the Blues"), Mike Storck ("Cruise Ships"), Bill Burr ("Being a Mother") and The Mighty Boosh ("Jazz Trance").

Oh, and if you're wondering about the theme song on this episode, it's an original track from James' album, Run With It (Cellar Live, 2006), called "Cafe & Beignet".

Listen to the episode right here right now or download it at iTunes.

May 1: James Danderfer & Joe Poole

Jazz musicians on a show about comedy? Say what? It's not as strange a notion as you might think. Especially if you've ever seen James Danderfer in action. Not only is he one of the best jazz musicians in the country (and, I daresay, the best clarinetist), he's also a very funny dude in his own understated way. Half the fun of going to one of his shows is listening to him talk between tunes. But James is also a huge comedy fan. And, as such, has decided to marry the two art forms. Again. There's a bit of a tradition going back years and years. I remember Jimmie Walker told me that he used to open for Miles Davis at the Cellar Door in Washington, DC. And that's just one example. But it's a rarity these days.

Now we've got two of Danderfer's favourite local comics, Graham Clark and Ivan Decker, supplying the professional jokes while Danderfer's trio (featuring Joe Poole on drums) will supply the swinging tunes at the Jazz Cellar on Broadway, near Alma, on May 6 & 7. I can't wait. Comedy and jazz? What's not to love about that?! (By the way, if you think you don't like jazz, I bet you really do. You just need to experience it live.)

Both Danderfer and Poole have played cruise ships and have some stories about that experience. One of them involved Bill Burr's brief stint as a cruise ship comic. So we'll share some stories and also play some music-related comedy, from Paul F. Tompkins' hilarious take on jazz to Martin Mull talking about the blues to the 2000-Year-Old Man explaining music. And a whole lot more. So tune in tonight at 11 PST on CFRO, 102.7 FM or livestream it at coopradio.org. If you want to hear/read more of James' thoughts on music and life, read his most excellent blog. And for even more, read an in-depth interview I did with him in 2009 for vancouverjazz.com. We even talk a bit about comedy.