When everything and everyone comes together.

To you my beautiful readers,

The journey of a musician is a bumpy path with twists and turns, and you can never quite predict where it is leading. I am grateful my path led me to this wonderful man, Patrick.

Our wedding music video to go with my new song “Family” is up now on YouTube. We got so lucky with an incredible photo/video team that absolutely captured the essence of the love and happiness we were all feeling on that fine August day.

Please enjoy, from my heart to yours, and know that this new life chapter for me and for my music is going to be fruitful and active.

NEW SPRING SHOWS ANNOUNCED!!
Friday, May 1st, 9:30pm @ Tyrant Studios
Friday, May 8th, 7:00pm @ Guilt & Co

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

I have two lovely things to share with you today.

First – I have published the long awaited full concert video of Gala Gardens LIVE at Frankie’s After Dark on Youtube. CHECK IT OUT It’s really cool to hear the album come alive and I’m so grateful for the excellent video and sound coverage by David Spidel from Spi-Fi Mediahat beautiful night. Shout out to Infidels Jazz for having us.

Second -- BIG NEWS: I have a concert in Vancouver next week to do it again for Jazz Vespers at St Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson St). Sunday June 1st, 4-5PM.

Jazz Vespers is a presentation imbued with spirituality and depth. The sextet will perform selected songs from Gala Gardens. Improvised sections flowing through refrains over hypnotic beats. It is serene music about rebirth, growth and patience.

Tickets are by donation, all are welcome. 4-5pm June 1st 2025

Anita Eccleston Sextet: 
Anita Eccleston - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vox Pads, Vocals 
Ashley Pearce - Electric Guitar 
Elizabeth Eccleston - Electric Ukulele, Oboe, English Horn 
Dean Thiessen - Keyboards, Piano 
Russell Sholberg - Electric Bass 
Nino DiPasquale - Drums

CDs will be available at the performance by cash or card.

Have a great week! I love you all. ♫

It has been a strange year. 

While tracking demos for a future vocal album a war broke out in Ukraine. I wrote a song for the people of Ukraine. These are compositions I am working to release, however I got sidelined unexpectedly. 

During March I felt overwhelmed. I started learning midi because I wanted to make beats for a chill track, quick and unapologetic. A song for me without any regard for what I had ever made before. I tried to make a lo-fi track in a day. It was so fun. By April I’d created 11 songs. A mosaic of melodies, the songs are comforting and relaxing. Warm vocal harmonies paint soundscapes for intricate refrains and counterpoint. Improvised trumpet and electric ukuleles groove over laid back lo-fi hip hop beats. Being able to create it all on my own was so liberating. I was putting solid ground under my feet and taking control of my life through creation. It felt natural. 

Throughout the pandemic my garden has been a safe haven. A place where I’ve spent many hours, be it in the labour of growing the vegetables, or simply reading in the afternoon sun with my bearded dragon. When reflecting on the feelings I expressed through each song, I found aspects of wonder and a connectedness to the natural world. Where these songs came from and how they were connected to my own relationships to nature. 

I am pleased to release my new instrumental album, Gala Gardens on November 4th, 2022. I wrote, produced and mixed it myself, and brought in Chris Gestrin (Public Alley 421) to master it. I enlisted Emily Valin (EACV Designs) to create the artwork, a fantasy garden fit for a gala. The first single is “Golden Hour” for which I co-produced a super sweet music video with Patrick Collins (Alwaysfurther Films). 

So yeah, I accidentally made an instrumental lo-fi jazz album this year and it’s my new desert island disk. I have changed, grown into a different kind of creator. It is a new chapter on my musical journey and in my life. I remain plotting my next vocal release, anticipating now a shift in style and interpretation. All good things in time. 

Please sit back and enjoy Gala Gardens. It is the best music I have ever made.

Here are some things that you can do to support this work and help it reach to more ears. It all makes a huge impact and means everything to me to have your help. 

• Purchase a digital copy or CD + digital directly from my website
   
• Save it to your library or "heart" it on your streaming service of choice 
   
• Add songs from Gala Gardens to playlists 
   
• Follow me on Spotify and Subscribe on YouTube 
   
• Use these songs as your "sound" on TikTok vids or Instagram reels & stories 
   
• Mention it to friends, play it for them when they visit, share it on your socials, etc. 

Thank you so much! xo Anita

I made you a present. 

'Long Nights' is a cozy new holiday song with a laid-back jazzy vibe, brimming with nostalgia for family Christmases. 

Sometimes songs take a while and sometimes they pour out in a couple of days. I wrote this one quite rapidly last December. I missed my family, and wanted to paint a tribute in song to our memories and traditions together. 

I engineered it at home and banded together with exquisite cellist Doug Gorkoff (The Living) on the recording. Kris Ruston (Death Mountain Sound) mixed and Chris Gestrin (Public Alley 421) mastered the track. I partnered up with Patrick Collins (Alwaysfurther Films) to create a sweet and intimate music video to capture the soul of 'Long Nights.' 

Today I am so pleased to present my new single to you. A personal song from me to you, warm and full of love. Watch and share the video here.

Happy Victoria Day! All kinds of good news and goodies to share with you today. 

NEW ALBUM REVIEW:
So thrilled by this new review from Dave O Rama of More Trumpet in BC Musician Magazine. http://www.bcmusicianmag.com/anita-eccleston-more-trumpet-cd-review/

NEW CMW VIDEOS:
Here's a playlist of videos from my appearance at The Paddock in Toronto with the sensational pianist Steve Amirault, performing at Canadian Music Week 2017. Please share recklessly and muchly!

RADIO INTERVIEW:
While I was in Toronto I also had a chance to sit down with Valerie and Ashley for Mix Sessions at CIUT 89.5 FM (Radio of University of Toronto) for an interview.
You can listen to it here: http://www.ciut.fm/shows-2/the-archive/

Pictured above is the endless sunset I flew into on my way home to Vancouver after the whirlwind trip to Toronto.

Glad to be home and enjoying some time digging in the garden in today's sunshine, all ready and set to perform tonight at my my monthly installment of jazz at The Kino (3456 Cambie - 9PM) in Vancouver. xo