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and the trumpet, and it just gives you a nice, fulsome sound. You get more harmonic reach, I
guess you would say that way and yes, so we try and keep it real.

BiTS: Are the arrangements that you work to very tight? I mean, is there any opportunity for
musicians, I guess you do as a guitar player, but are there any opportunities for improvisation?

TM: Yes, we try and when I arrange the songs, I try and create space. Some don't necessarily
lend themselves to a lot, but generally, everybody's going to get their solo slots and for live
performances we try and create space just to go somewhere, you know, to have something
happen and be creative. Maybe we break it down and start with something off of the rhythms
and then instruments will build on that. And yes, it's important to create the space for everybody's
contributions to show up in.

BiTS: Tell me something about the way in which you were affected by COVID. I mean, obviously,
the band must have had gigs that were cancelled and that sort of thing.

TM: Yes, we had to cancel a whole bunch of gigs that were coming up and it was unfortunate
because it was right on the back of I’d had some problems with my arm and wrist. I was playing
a little bit too much and overdid it. I couldn't play for a couple of months while I rehabbed my
arm. We just finished that and then we walked into COVID, so that was really disappointing to

have to do that. But the good thing about having a studio is that you carry right on recording and
creating music. So that at least allowed us to carry on doing music.
BiTS: I think it's creeping back now.

TM: Oh yes, so everything's in full swing. It's as though COVID never happened, and you know,
there's this exciting thing that happened after a couple of years of no dancing and such. I was
playing with the group here in Victoria when the dancing ban was lifted, and it was such a thing
to experience. I was noticing all the people were so happy to be back on the floor dancing. It was
just so, so joyous and [chuckling] it was really a neat kind of phenomenon because it was as
though people had been held back, which they were for a couple of years, and people were excited
to be out there dancing again, and that was great fun. Two weeks ago, when we played with the
Horn Band and in Calgary, it was the same kind of thing. We had a full house right till the very
last encore, and it was just, you know, the dance floor was packed, and people were just fun and
excited. There's not that many horn bands around, you know, for good reasons. It's hard to keep
a horn band going, and so the people who like that kind of music generally will come out and
support the group and such. So it's really a great connection between audience and musicians.

TM: Well, lovely and thank you for contacting me. And,also, it's really a privilege listening to
your shows and seeing what you're up to, really a privilege to be just a part of that. And thank
you so much for your support of our music.

BiTS: Anyway, Terry, I won't take any more of your time. Thank you very much indeed for talking
to me, and sorry it's so early for you, but never mind. That's the only way we can deal with the
distance between us.

TM: You bet. Super. Thanks, Ian. Have a great one.
BiTS: Thank you very much, indeed. Bye then.