Behind The Curtain: Lance Anderson
- Erin McCallum
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
Since the premiere edition of Behind The Curtain, each instalment strives to provide readers with something enterprising about the featured artist. Readers from around the world will benefit from knowing that the formula for this investigative column usually remains the same; each artist featured here is thoroughly researched prior to having a direct conversation, which allows the investigation to look ‘within the bio’ to provide readers with exclusive insight. Often, years of study precede the conversation with the featured artist; the remaining curiosities after the study is complete become the focus of the direct interview. Each artist featured here is recognizable within the Canadian Blues Music Collective, has a strong professional biography, and information about them is available and accessible via other means. It is strongly recommended that readers seek more information about the artist on their own – it is impossible to offer a full biography within the confines of this column. The information offered here is intended to provide context and justification for this particular investigation.
This edition should start with full disclosure; for a couple of years, musician, composer, pianist, organist, record label owner, musical director, bandleader, and producer, Lance Anderson, remained “on the docket” as an artist who could certainly pull back the curtain for interested readers. After gaining comprehensive knowledge of his professional record for years previous to the interview, there was a fair amount of time spent contemplating what questions, answers, and subsequent insights would best serve Behind The Curtain readers. This contemplation was certainly not due to a lack of information or curiosity, but rather, quite the opposite – Anderson’s professional record is so diverse that any one of the descriptors beside his name could very fairly warrant individual investigation.
As previously stated, readers are always encouraged to independently investigate; Anderson’s professional record has led him to acknowledgements, awards and accolades in multiple facets of the music industry (For context - Anderson has received a JUNO Award for his work as a record producer, a Maple Blues Award for Keyboardist of the Year, an Honorary Doctorate in music from Lakehead University, and more). He is trained as a classical composer, and has film and television credits as a writer. His label, Make It Real Records has received critical acclaim (also of note, Anderson won a JUNO for his work as Producer for the band Leahy), and he has produced recognizable acts within the Canadian Blues Collective (such as Fathead, Garth Hudson, Blackburn, and The Cameo Blues Band).
In addition to touring with acts (such as Shakura S’Aida), Anderson is identifiable by his own projects (For example – Anderson Sloski, Matchedash Parish). To punctuate the multiplicity and versatility of Anderson’s professional record, it also makes sense to mention that his contributions as a Music Director have led him to imagine, assemble, organize, produce, perform, and lead live shows that honour noteworthy artists such as Ray Charles (Genius + Soul), The Band (The Last Waltz), Joe Cocker and Leon Russel (Mad Dogs and Englishmen), and more. The aforementioned is just a snapshot of Anderson’s professional biography, however, it does provide adequate context for this investigation. In examining the versatile sum and substance of Anderson’s record, it makes sense that that versatility is what will bring readers exclusive insight.
The conversation started with acknowledging the obvious: there aren’t a lot of people in the Canadian Blues Collective who have been immersed in such a versatile way. In knowing that Anderson has not just cast the net widely, but done it with acclaim, it makes sense to find out if there are any areas of interest he has yet to explore, and to learn his thoughts about his wide-ranging professional experience:
“I’ve definitely been eclectic in my career, because I’m eclectic in my tastes. One thing that people recognize me most for is my playing, but my real talent is not in playing. My gift is in composing and producing, and hearing ways to augment music that is already written – and organizing. Organizing has been my strength since the 70s. Many of the projects I have been, and am, involved with today, require a lot of organization; it helps you be prepared for the things you can’t really be prepared for. The idea that you’re ever going to be fully prepared is a fallacy. Saying “yes” to an opportunity is the way to develop your career. That being said, you don’t say “yes” to a gig you can’t do. Always know what your skillset will allow you to do, but being uncomfortable? Get used to it. It’s normal. There will always be unexpected things to encounter, and the more you do it, the better prepared you are. As far as areas of interest go, I think the only thing left to do is some orchestral or classical music. As a producer, some of your projects get put on the back burner when you’re working with other artists on other projects, so I’ve been looking at working on a project that got put on the back burner about ten years ago, and I’m looking forward to being able to focus on that.”
As Anderson provides insight on the qualities that pave the way for his versatile career, it’s fair to find out if he has advice for people aspiring to take a professional path similar to his own. His response:
“I wouldn’t give advice to follow my particular path – it’s a very personal thing. I would say this: find that “thing” that you’re most interested in. Remain open to the world of music, and focus on where you best fit in – find the place where your gifts will shine. I know I would be further along in my career if I had stayed in one focus, however, it’s just in my nature to have an eclectic array of shows, projects, and interests. That might not be the thing that works for someone else, and why it’s a very personal thing. Being open-minded, and saying “yes” to opportunities that are in your field of interest – even if they are uncomfortable – is the advice I would give.”
In searching for something exclusive about Lance Anderson, it’s fair to say this investigation reveals a truth that applies to both his professional record, and his approach to the profession itself: it’s all about finding one’s individual path. In Anderson’s case, his core skillset has allowed his path to branch in many directions. With this objective truth in mind, Anderson’s final words “on the record” for this investigation resonate differently from ‘behind the curtain’:
“At this point in my career, I’m out doing what I’m doing because I’m completely in love with it. I only do things that I really want to do, musically, whether it’s playing, producing, being a musical director and putting shows together, or any other projects I’m involved in.”
As this edition of “Behind the Curtain” draws to a close, I trust that readers of all varieties have gained something more about the artist of mention, and it inspires further investigation. Every artist featured in this column has a biographical foundation that cannot be covered here, so it is always encouraged to find out about the music and career that substantiates these conversations. In Lance Anderson’s case, there is a direct connection between his versatile career and embarking on the facets of the music industry that shine a spotlight on his skillset. This article is a regular monthly contribution, published exclusively in the Sound Café magazine with the intention of providing a deeper insight into the Canadian Blues artists who are at the core of the Blues music Collective.
Touring blues musician, Erin McCallum's formal post-secondary education was in media studies (news, radio), graduating from Humber College in Ontario, she went on to be mentored by Canadian News Hall of Fame inductee, Robert Holiday, and she is a regularly published writer in music and investigative journalism, having focused on music for the last six years. Erin has an exclusive monthly column in The Sound Cafe featuring musicians and industry professionals from across Canada who work predominantly in the Blues & Roots genres.
Erin McCallum. Big Voice. Big Sound.
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