Nanaimo musician Paul Abgrall has spent his whole life on Vancouver Island and that's evident with the style and title of his first CD Smooth Sailing.
"It's just like a clear day, no problems" said the owner of Tina's Diner of the title.
"It's not really about sailing."
The CD, his first, was recorded over about the last three years at Nanaimo's Raincoast Studio with Jerry Paquette producing. Local musicians Paul Nixon, Jordan Stringer and Brent Beeler contributed. It was finished in May and is available at Tina's.
"It's all original songs I've written some in the past and some during the recording of the CD," Abgrall said, adding the experience was a lot of fun. "It's was great, a little expensive . . . but great. I started out just so I could have it and pass it on to my kids and grandkids. It will always be around even grandpa's gone, it's a little part of you hanging behind."
The CD is roots with a bluesy feel. he added.
"I was born on the Island, it's kind of an original Island West Coast style," he said.
Abgrall has been playing guitar since he was a kid and used to play around Nanaimo about 30 years ago. He also plays the fiddle and a number of other instruments.
After he had six kids, he settled down and worked at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for 17 years as a cook. After he was laid off about two years ago he and his wife decided to buy Tina's. The restaurant is a family business with one of Abgrall's daughters working as a waitress and his wife cooking.
"She (his wife) always wanted a '50s diner and it came up for sale and it was kind of convenient because we'd been looking for years," he said.
"It's a lot of work and it's a bit of a learning curve too as far as running it properly."
Abgrall also uses the restaurant to support local entertainers.
There are a number of CDs available for sale from the diner and he made his own jukebox which features nothing but local musicians. There's also entertainment on a small stage in a corner and Abgrall himself plays Saturday and Sunday afternoons depending on how busy the restaurant is.
He's on the board of the Nanaimo Blues Society which is running the free concerts downtown at the Harbourfront Plaza during the summer and is also involved with the Nanaimo Songwriter's Circle. He's been doing a number of gigs including the Silly Boat Regatta, private parties and Ladysmith Days.
Abgrall has about 40 songs written now and hopes to do another CD soon.