Jim and Lynda McLennan
McLennan Music
McLennan Music
Jim and Lynda McLennan have been musically active in southern Alberta for many years. Lynda was the founder of the Big Rock Singers in Okotoks and Jim has performed solo and in groups most of his adult life. Today they perform either as a duo or Jim solo. Jim is known as a fingerstyle guitarist who specializes in arranging compelling songs for solo instrumental guitar.
Jim also performs with his brother Hugh in the trio,"Western Spirit."
Along with performing, Jim teaches guitar and is active as a session guitarist,
playing on other artist's recordings.
Five (Count 'em) Gigs!
Nov. 18, 2022 Mikey's on 12th Avenue, Calgary
Jim plays for Happy Hour 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (mikeyson12th.com)
Nov. 19, 2022 Blue Door Concerts, Didsbury (info@bluedoorconcerts.ca)
House concert 7:00 p.m. Jim is opening for The Doggone Brothers
I’ve got two gigs at the Asylum for Art in Calgary. This is a wonderful music space that, thanks to Covid, a lot of people are just finding out about. It holds about 60 people and has great sound and ambience, and a great brunch.
Nov. 27, 2022 Asylum for Art (asylumforart.ca)
At 2:00 (after that day’s brunch) there’s a very special event at the asylum. Tim Williams and I are doing what we’re calling “A Fingerstyle Affair.” This is a combination of performance (individually and together), discussion, demonstration and Q & A with the audience. Tim has been a mainstay on the Western Canadian (and international) music scene for decades, and has played with and learned from many of the acoustic guitar world’s greats. We’ll explore the history, styles and techniques of fingerstyle guitar, and talk about writing and arranging. This will be enjoyable for both guitar players and guitar listeners.
Dec. 11, 2022 Eli Barsi Dinner and Concert
Josephburg, Alberta Sold Out
Jan. 8, 2023 Asylum for Art
"I'll be playing for brunch, which runs from 10:00 to 2:00. This will be just me and my guitar (probably two, actually). I’ll play a bunch of instrumental tunes - a wide variety of genres represented - blues, nearly jazz, a couple of new arrangements and a new composition. The music will run from about 11:00 to 1:00. Here’s a link to the full info:https://live.asylumforart.ca/events/220320-br-jim-maclennan/
To book a spot in either of these events, go to asylumforart.ca or give them a call.
Hope to see some friends there. Spread the word if you know another guitar geek or geek-in-training.
Five (Count 'em) Gigs!
Nov. 18, 2022 Mikey's on 12th Avenue, Calgary
Jim plays for Happy Hour 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (mikeyson12th.com)
Nov. 19, 2022 Blue Door Concerts, Didsbury (info@bluedoorconcerts.ca)
House concert 7:00 p.m. Jim is opening for The Doggone Brothers
I’ve got two gigs at the Asylum for Art in Calgary. This is a wonderful music space that, thanks to Covid, a lot of people are just finding out about. It holds about 60 people and has great sound and ambience, and a great brunch.
Nov. 27, 2022 Asylum for Art (asylumforart.ca)
At 2:00 (after that day’s brunch) there’s a very special event at the asylum. Tim Williams and I are doing what we’re calling “A Fingerstyle Affair.” This is a combination of performance (individually and together), discussion, demonstration and Q & A with the audience. Tim has been a mainstay on the Western Canadian (and international) music scene for decades, and has played with and learned from many of the acoustic guitar world’s greats. We’ll explore the history, styles and techniques of fingerstyle guitar, and talk about writing and arranging. This will be enjoyable for both guitar players and guitar listeners.
Dec. 11, 2022 Eli Barsi Dinner and Concert
Josephburg, Alberta Sold Out
Jan. 8, 2023 Asylum for Art
"I'll be playing for brunch, which runs from 10:00 to 2:00. This will be just me and my guitar (probably two, actually). I’ll play a bunch of instrumental tunes - a wide variety of genres represented - blues, nearly jazz, a couple of new arrangements and a new composition. The music will run from about 11:00 to 1:00. Here’s a link to the full info:https://live.asylumforart.ca/events/220320-br-jim-maclennan/
To book a spot in either of these events, go to asylumforart.ca or give them a call.
Hope to see some friends there. Spread the word if you know another guitar geek or geek-in-training.
Isolation Music
In these most unusual of times many musicians are presenting on-line concerts from their homes. These have two purposes: First they are a way that musicians can continue to do what they do, which is show their craft to an audience. Second, if they make their livings entirely from music, the well just went completely dry for an unknown period of time and receiving donations from viewers is one way of partially mitigating their losses.
We're fortunate because we don't depend on music for our entire income, and although Jim has joined the isolation-music age, we're making these videos available at no cost, simply as something people will enjoy. Jim has put a number of "One Tune Concerts" on Youtube. These are just that - performances of one song each, showcasing Jim's guitar playing. He also talks a bit about the tune, the technique used, or something relevant to his playing of that tune.
Have a listen and let us know what you think.
Secondly, Jim's friend and fellow musician, the great country singer/songwriter, Tom Cole, has started a series of "Home Bound Concerts." These feature Tom Cole on vocals and guitar,
Mike Dygert on bass, Beau Hughes on pedal steel, Clint Giesbrecht singing harmony vocals, and Jim McLennan on acoustic and electric guitar. We're playing together but all playing from our homes.
Each concert is three songs, often with a special guest.
Have a listen and enjoy. "Tom Cole Homebound Concerts."
Calling all guitarists!
Have a listen to Jim's One Tune Concerts.
Songs like Rouler Sa Bosse, Over the Rainbow, Foxglove,
Just the Way You Are, Beatle Medley, Windy and Warm
and so many more.
Calling all guitarists!
Have a listen to Jim's One Tune Concerts.
Songs like Rouler Sa Bosse, Over the Rainbow, Foxglove,
Just the Way You Are, Beatle Medley, Windy and Warm
and so many more.
Jim McLennan
One Tune Concerts - Listen Here
Tom Cole Homebound Concerts - Listen Here
Trevor Warke and Jim McLennan - Listen Here
Another series we would like to recommend is
Steve Bell: Live from the Vault
Lynda McLennan taught high-school music for many years, working with choirs, bands, jazz choirs and was music director for several Mainstage musicals. She has directed church choirs and retired after 15 years as the Founder / Director of the Big Rock Singers, a community choir in Okotoks, Alberta. Her first love, though, is singing, and in performance she puts her personal stamp on tunes from Gershwin, Foster, Berlin, and others, in a musical style that can best be described as "folk jazz."
Jim McLennan’s reputation as a fingerstyle guitarist, composer and arranger has produced an enduring legacy as one of Alberta’s finest guitarists. He recorded for Stefan Grossman’s iconic Kicking Mule record label in the 1970s, and has been featured in Guitar Player magazine.
Jim's first solo CD, Six-String Gumbo, was a Western Canadian Music Award finalist for Instrumental Recording of the Year.
Available for House Concerts
and other Performance Venues
Available for House Concerts
and other Performance Venues
A Jim and Lynda McLennan performance includes instrumental guitar pieces from
Jim and vocal tunes from Lynda. One moment it’s a “folkafied” version of a standard
like Ain’t Misbehavin’ or Fly Me to the Moon, next up might be an acoustic nod to the R&B world of Sam Cooke or Curtis Mayfield. The only criteria for a McLennan
interpretation of a tune is that it be a great song.
Much of their music is recognized and loved by their listeners. Seasoned performers, their genuine and engaging stage demeanor immediately puts audiences at ease.
They have performed at Festival Place in Sherwood Park, the mid-Winter Roots and Blues Festival in Edmonton, the On the Edge Concert Series, Carlson’s on Macleod in High River, the Room Full of Sound concert series in Okotoks, Mikey’s Juke Joint in Calgary, the Blue Chair in Edmonton, the Canmore Folk Festival, and at numerous house concerts and other acoustic music venues. For information on booking Jim and Lynda McLennan, or for information on how to host a house concert, please send an email.
Please have a listen to a few samples of our music over the years.
In the Kitchen with Jim and Lynda McLennan - Where Did it Go?
by Nathan Tinkham
Northern Lights Lodge July 2018
Check out the following YouTube link for a sample of Jim and Lynda's music at the
Room Full of Sound Concert Series in 2015, Okotoks, Alberta.
Enjoy a few more instrumental guitar selections by Jim McLennan
Jim performing Live at Blue Chair Cafe, Edmonton,
at the Edmonton Winter Roots and Blues Roundup,
sponsored by Folkway International.
Sweet Tooth - an original tune Amazing Grace on electric guitar
A Room Full of Sound Concert Series
Current CD's available
Dancing On Air Six-String Gumbo In Times Like These
Cost: $15.00 per CD
Six-String Gumbo
Six-String Gumbo
This is Jim's solo instrumental acoustic guitar CD, which was a Western Canadian Music Award finalist for Instrumental Recording of the Year. The songs include Jim's original compositions, and Jim's arrangements of tunes from the likes of Scott Joplin, Billy Joel, and Lennon and McCartney.
In Times Like These
In Times Like These
This is a recording of hymns and gospel tunes that features Jim's long time friend,
Trevor Warke.
Trev has an outstanding voice and has arranged these songs in a style reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot. Jim's guitar adds some colour to these timeless songs of faith, including "How Great Thou Art," "The Church's One Foundation," and "Love Lifted Me."
Current CDs Available
$15.00 per CD
Send an email to order.
Current CDs Available
$15.00 per CD
Send an email to order.
Other CD's that feature Jim's playing.
Jim has played guitar on a number of artists' CDs over the years.
Here are some of them:
Quarter Section, by Meaghan McKenzie
Chronicles, by Tom Cole
Other People's Cattle, by Cowboy Celtic
The Creak of the Leather, by Hugh McLennan
World Weary, by Joe Cunningham
Between Heartache and Hope, by Dianne Quinton
Wailback, by Sid Marty and Wailback
River, by Steve Fisher
Runaway Remuda, by Ryan Fritz
____________
If you're interested in having Jim play on your recording,
Other CD's that feature Jim's playing.
Jim has played guitar on a number of artists' CDs over the years.
Here are some of them:
Quarter Section, by Meaghan McKenzie
Chronicles, by Tom Cole
Other People's Cattle, by Cowboy Celtic
The Creak of the Leather, by Hugh McLennan
World Weary, by Joe Cunningham
Between Heartache and Hope, by Dianne Quinton
Wailback, by Sid Marty and Wailback
River, by Steve Fisher
Runaway Remuda, by Ryan Fritz
____________
If you're interested in having Jim play on your recording,