Music and the Heart

Gabriel Mark Hasselbach

It is going to be a really fun weekend in Vancouver, and I hope to see you! All the patio seating should be open and inviting....

Saturday 4-7 pm ~ I play with Billy Dixon and Soultrain Express at Luxe Lounge (1180 Howe St) - Soul and 80's favs!

Saturday 7:30-10:30 pm ~ I am at Ten Ten Tapas (1010 Beach Ave on the Seawalk) - The lineup of guest performers is always exciting, c'mon down!

Sunday 11:30-2:30 pm ~ I am playing JAZZ BRUNCH at Ten Ten Tapas (1010 Beach Ave) - Amazing view, amazing food!

Sunday 4:00-5:00 pm ~ I am playing original material with a full band at Jazz Vespers (St Andrews Wesley Church, Burrard @ Smithe) - Rene Worst, Chris Haas, and Jason Decouto will join me.




Music is one of the most powerful forms of healing in the Universe. As a singer and performer I can testify to that as each time I finish a performance I feel enlightened, joyful, free and satisfied. Until recently that is. Most of my experience as a performer has been on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. That is actually where it all began for me. I just decided one day I wanted to sing and while at a jam at Peter Light's fire circle in Gibsons, B.C. I got up and sang a song and I never stopped. I have participated in many plays, music events, whatever felt comfortable for me; comfort being the key word here. I left the coast about three years ago and moved back to Vancouver and just recently have been attempting to enter the music community. Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, one of Canada's leading jazz artists facilitates a music jam at Ten Ten Tapis Restaurant and he offered to do a recording for me. After working hard for about a week on my songs (struggling) I went to his studio. I have never struggled so much with my voice and at the time I was clueless of what was going on. Gabriel is a kind and compassionate man with a sharp ear for music and I have seen him work with other musicians and he is amazing at guiding them and helping them to realize their potential. I think he would be great at facilitating workshops and/or one to one, teaching musicians/singers to reach into themselves to find their full potential. He took me step by step through what I needed to do to reach my voice and I knew everything he was saying was what I had been telling myself all week but alas I was still stuck. We did a recording which is awesome but when I listen to it I feel like my throat is stifled.

I thought about everything I knew and what he said, (it is so helpful to hear things from other people) and I realized what my real issue was. I had been out of the music community for so long that I was coming back into it with fear. Fear of not fitting in, fear of failure, fear of being judged,.... so much fear that I was stifling myself. Also when I began singing again I also began to experience this amazing heart opening, but the fear was getting in the way of the process. So I let go and began to breathe again and let the music sit in my Creative centre (sexual centre and centre for joy - 2nd Chakra) where it belongs and I went to bed and slept on it. I woke up with a song, sounding absolutely wonderful (as well as one can sound first thing in the morning). I'm back!!! Feeling comfortable and relaxed in my body once more I am ready to move forward. Thanks Gabriel what I received from you was a gift, you are truly awesome!

Gabriel Mark Hasselbach can be seen on Saturday evenings at 7:p.m. at Ten Ten Tapis Restaurant on 1010 Beach Avenue where he plays music for about an hour and then invites other performers and musicians up to join him. He also plays music here on Sunday morning brunch. Check it out I promise you will not be disappointed.
Listen to his music at one of these sites:

Pesonal site: www.gabrieljazz.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/windtunnelmultimedia