Herb Hicks combined his loves of jazz music, art and hunting for fossils and his family into his autobiography “ To and From Gigs, Challenges, Choices, Chances, Changes.”
It chronicles his life growing up in Williston, North Dakota, though his life in the airforce, playing with his brother, Bob, and first jazz jams in Santa Barbara through to his post as one of the first art professors at the University of Lethbridge to  his life today playing gigs in and around town.

“ I love jazz music because you have a set chord progression but you can express yourself through improvisation. It’s that improvisation that I love,” he said.

“ It’s always a new experience,” he continued.
 Seeking that new experience and finding new ways to express himself was one of the reasons why he decided to write his autobiography.
 That and his three children kept asking him to write down his stories.

“I’ve always been interested in the arts and I’ve always wanted to express myself in words,” said Hicks, before one of his regular monthly gigs at the Mocha Cabana with his jazz quartet and vocalist Sheena Lawson.

“I’ve done self portraits in various media like painting and etching and had the urge to  express myself in another way,” he continued adding the book is also a tribute to his brother and long time band mate Bob, who passed away in 2005, but also a present to his children.

“ It was also a great opportunity to  write about  history and the close relationship I had with my brother who played a lot of music with me and who passed away  too early. We played a lot of music with him so the book is a tribute to him as well,” he said.

“ I was prompted by my children to write down some of the stories I’ve had in my life,” he continued.

 Local guitarist and pianist Kevan Tolley is excited to not only participate in the MS run, May 3 in Indian Battle Park, but also to host his own fundraiser at the Mocha Cabana, April 27 from 5-9 p.m.

The event features featuring Adam Tolley, Ian Hepner, Bud Haycock, Paul Holden, D'Arcy Kavanagh, Dale Ketcheson, Sheena Lawson, Barb Marchuk, Sheila Mulgrew, James Oldenburg and Kevan Tolley himself.

“Most of the performers are people who I know and who have played at the Mocha Cabana, so I contacted Karen Ohno and asked her if she would be willing to host the event and she was all for it,” Tolley enthused, adding he has been living with MS since 1991. Jackie French and Lori Williams Freeman were originally scheduled to play, but are unable to make the gig.

“ So there will be a little bit of a buffer in case some people want to play longer,” he said.

 In addition to the music, there will also be draws for 20 pounds of ribeye steak and a raffle for a guitar donated by Long And McQuade.

It is another excellent week for local music.
 The big local event of the week is the official CD release party for  the Dirti Speshuls’ brand new, huge sounding debut CD “Long Time Coming.”
 If you like bands like Queens of the Stone Age and Treble Charger, you will love this  long awaited CD from vocalist Todd Carter, drummer Dean Wilson, bassist Rick Beres and guitarists Jon Vornbrock and Rob Cooper, plus John Brooks, who has since moved to Japan.

 The CD release party takes place at the Slice, April 25. It is a pay as much as you want for CD and admission. It will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Cosmic Charley and hip hop musician Riko Ra will be performing as well.

 Another excellent show at the Slice for progressive rockers features Lustre Creame and Orillia, Ontario progressive rock trio Like Animals, who are touring the country in support of their new EP “ the Wild.”
 They play April 23. Tickets cost $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

 You can bang your head at the Slice, April 26 with Vancouver based progressive metal band Tribune plus SS Doom, formerly known as Sacred Savage, Trancide and punk duo MK Ultra. There is a $10 cover. Tribune are touring in support of their latest CD “Tales.“