ESO 101: Brian Jones
Meet Brian Jones, Principal Percussion for the ESO. A graduate of the University of Alberta, Brian studied with Forrest Clark and Earl Hatch in Los Angeles. He has performed with numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Capetown Symphony Orchestra in South Africa, and won first prize at the Percussion Arts Society Timpani Competition for Southern California.
When was your earliest recital and what did you play?
1971, Hora Stacatto (that’s all I remember).
How long have you been with the ESO?
Forty-eight years.
How many instruments do you know how to play?
Hundreds!
What is your musical guilty pleasure?
The Beatles.
What is the last album you purchased (digital or physical)?
John Adams.
What was the last song/piece of music you listened to?
Listening all the time, so hard to say.
What would your DJ name be?
Rocky.
Who would be your partner on the Amazing Race?
Arnold Schwarzenegger.
What would your personalized license plate be if you had to have one?
MARIMBA
What is your pre-concert ritual?
Arrive early and pace the backstage area between Barney’s (the musicians lounge) and the stage.
What's something people might not know about you?
I love looking for big mountain rocks.
What is your favourite sports team or player?
Edmonton Oilers.
How many different cities have you lived in?
Three.
What is your favourite city (or a country) you’ve travelled and why?
Canada – so much variety.
What is your favourite orchestra other than the ESO?
Bavarian Radio Orchestra.
What do you do in your free time?
Gardening, seeing my grandchildren, rock hunting.
What food would be on your rider as a rock star?
Salad.
Rapid Fire section
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
Pancakes or waffles?
Pancakes.
Facebook or Instagram?
Facebook.
Coke or Pepsi?
Neither.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs.
Dine-in or take-out?
Dine-in.
Apple or Android?
Apple.
PC or Mac?
PC.
Morning or Night?
Morning.
Call or text?
Call.
Beethoven or Mozart?
Both, but more Mozart.
Schubert or Dvořák?
Dvořák.
Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff?
Rachmaninoff.
Book or movie?
Book.
Mountains or ocean?
Ocean.
Wine or beer?
Wine.
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars.
Musical or opera?
Opera.
On Pause edition
What is your go-to comfort food?
Hamburgers.
What is your go-to comfort drink?
Scotch.
What is your daily routine?
Walk the dog, pick a cleaning project, and gardening.
What is the best part about spending time at home?
Doing all the cleaning and organizing that I haven’t had time for.
What is the most difficult part about spending time at home?
Missing my colleagues.
What store do you miss the most?
Canadian Tire.
What is the first thing you will do when isolation restrictions are lifted?
Visit my grandchildren.
What is one thing that you've learned about yourself through this experience so far?
I’m happy keeping busy.
Do you have a favourite food or drink recipe that you've tried or created?
Curried Green Lentils.
What is your favourite outing/experience that you miss attending?
Going to the lake.
Rapid-Fire part 2
Sweet or salty snacks?
Salty.
Indoors or Outdoors?
Outdoors.
More news or less news than before?
Less news.
More connected or less connected than before?
More connected.
More cooking or more take-out?
More cooking.
More active or less active than before?
More active.
Netflix or Crave?
Crave
Favourite book to recommend?
The Shadow of the Wind. [by Carlos Ruiz Zafón]
