Album Notes

Sometime in the last few years during time spent in New York, renowned multi-disciplinary painter James Picard commenced a series of watercolour paintings he would eventually entitle "The Cocktail Series". Inspired in part by the variety of characters always available to view in that most cosmopolitan of cities, and by exposure to many people within the context of cocktail parties, socials, and soirees, Picard began a collection of impressions that at once embody a virtually limitless range of human emotion and expression. The series is tied together by a common thread of medium and colour, but the subjects themselves are perfectly unique, reflecting the humanity they portray. Fans and friends of Picard who were privileged to see the collection unfold, inquired about the possibility of seeing a show featuring the paintings, but Picard was holding out for the right environment, which had not yet revealed itself.

A chance meeting in December of 2006 with an old friend in a Vancouver area shopping mall provided the catalyst for a plan. Tony Chamberlist, a Vancouver musician and producer, saw an opportunity to connect some dots, and involved his songwriting/performance partners Glenda Rae and Miles Black. As individual musical entities, Glenda and Miles are revered amongst their peers. They have composed over three hundred songs, and have performed their compositions in Vancouver, LA, and New York. Glenda lyrically has distinguished herself as a great storyteller, and "The Cocktail Party" presented an ideal circumstance for her to mate existing and new material with Picard's paintings. Tony pressed forward to assemble a musical and production ensemble to complement the project. He drafted bassist/producer Kerry Galloway, and guitarist/producer Brett Wade, both highly sought after West Coast music industry veterans.

Now, the die has been cast, and the team pushes ahead to ready its 1st exhibition, planned for March of 2008. Visit www.thecocktailparty.ca, as details will be first published here.