“I try to do it all,” is the mantra St. Albert composer/singer Jan Randall lives by. He wasn’t kidding.
The world-class artist, better known for his behind-the-scenes work, has spent the last four decades soaking up blues, jazz, classical and a more than a few stylistically uncharted works.
“I have a unique style because I have so many influences. It’s a competitive field and I’m going for the title,” he chuckles.
Through the decades, the Philadelphia-born, Edmonton-raised musician has developed a reputation that traverses television, radio, theatre, concert stages, music venues and recording studios around the world.
But Thursday night at the Songwriters’ Acoustic Showcase at LB’s Pub, he presents a solo stripped down concert from his 2009 debut CD release Good Fair World.
Randall, who moved to St. Albert after marrying local music teacher Ina Dykstra, has a mixed bag of tricks up his sleeve. Just a week ago he performed at a taping of CBC’s The Irrelevant Show and was contracted to play piano at the Edmonton International Airport in the early morning hours.
“It’s great. I have a captive audience,” he said. “They wave and smile. It’s an international crowd. Mothers come by with their babies and I play Rudolph. Couples are saying good-bye at six in the morning. I had one couple making out in front of me like I didn’t exist and I’m playing Over the Rainbow.”
Back in the 1980s, Randall, received a huge boost to his career as a musical director and composer for Second City, an artistically exciting period that resulted in collaborations with Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara, Ron James, Richard Kind and Ryan Stiles.
After SCTV folded, the veteran musical improviser took on new challenges as founding music director for the live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty where he continues to perform every Monday night at the Varscona Theatre.
“I went with Die-Nasty to England twice where we did a comedy marathon for 52 hours straight. You take a 15-minute break every two hours. But it’s insane. I had to take a lot of B vitamins afterwards and it messed up my sleep.”
Randall also composed three ice ballets for the National Theatre of Canada and scored over 700 television shows for the National Film Board, Discovery Channel and CBC.
Despite Randall’s many high-profile accomplishments, his chosen career highlight was as composer and music director for the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. His assembled cast included the Edmonton Symphony, 7,000 dancers, a dozen acts and a 1,000-voice choir.
“I had to reach out to all the choirs in the area. I got to know directors like Criselda from St. Albert Singers.”
Despite, or perhaps because of his busy schedule, Randall only released his first album two years ago. Good Fair World is an ode to making this world a better place and the central theme encourages people to listen to each other.
“There’s lots of melodrama and fear in the world and it distracts our focus in everyday lives,” he explained. “There has always been a tradition of writing protest and social action songs. We all wanted to change the world, and then I realized it’s hypocritical to change the world and not help people on your doorstep. It’s not just about saving stuff. Let’s go out and do stuff.”
The concert starts at 8:30 p.m. LB’s is at 23 Akins Dr. No cover.
