Loose Blues News

Morgan's Loss: As most folks on the blues scene are aware, Toronto is saying goodbye to one of our pre-eminent bluesmen, Morgan Davis, a Blues With a Feeling award-winner, and a long-time leading figure in the blues community. This follows a great year for Morgan, a spring tour in Germany, the Maritimes in May, three weeks out west in the summer, back to the Maritimes in August, when he bought a house in Chester, and then October and November back in Europe.

Morgan was packed to leave for his new home in Nova Scotia, but a snowstorm kept him, his wife Vicki, and their daughter Rosalee, for an extra night. Tragically, that night someone broke into his van and stole all his musical instruments: Two Fender Duosonic guitars (a beige 1957, very worn, and a red 1958, near mint - a Duosonic looks like a Fender Mustang due to its short scale neck, but has two pickups), a 1930s Regal Dobro, a Kay guitar (black with gold sparkle, similar to Jimmy Reed's guitar of choice), a chopped Traynor guitar mate amp, and a 1930s dark sunburst Kalamzoo acoustic (same as Robert Johnson's). These instruments were an integral part of Morgan's trademark sound. Any information assisting in their recovery should be forwarded to Al Lerman, 416-253-4825, Email: fathead@pathcom.com.

The TBS, along with Fathead webmaster Louise Peacock, Danny Marks and Jon Long of Long & McQuade, are co-ordinating a benefit concert scheduled for the Silver Dollar sometime in mid-January.

Guitar Pilgrims take note: The Twelfth Fret, the mecca for guitarists in Toronto and North America, has moved to 2132 Danforth Avenue, just a couple of blocks west of their previous location. Owners Grant MacNeill and David Wren are celebrating their 23rd anniversary in guitar retail and restoration, and now have five full-time guitar builders on site. Telephone 416-623-2132 (sales) and 416-423-1554. Website: www.12fret.com

Northern Blues Music: Canada's newest blues label (www.northernblues.com), has announced their first signings, Ottawa's JW-Jones Blues Band (www.jw-jones.com), and Otis Taylor (www.otis-taylor.com). Other negotiations are underway and the label has acquired some unreleased tracks recorded in Toronto years ago which will surprise and amaze. Both Otis Taylor and the JW-Jones Blues Band will be performing at the official launch, February 22 at Blues on Bellair.

More Jammin': Chuck Jackson has commenced an extended engagement hosting a weekly Sunday night jam session at Toronto's Goose and Firkin, 1875 Leslie St. (north of York Mills, telephone: 416-383-1200), 9:00pm - 1:00am, no cover. Vocalist and harmonica player Jackson, best known as lead vocalist with the Downchild Blues Band and Artistic Director of the Port Credit Southside Shuffle, will be joined by Downchild bandmate and Maple Blues Award winner Gary Kendall on bass, veteran blues drummer Mike Fitzpatrick, and Midnite Walk leader Steve Grisbrook on guitar. Blues musicians, fans and bands are invited to participate.

Big Time Blues: Raoul & the Big Time follow up release of their debut recording with plans for a special tour with Canadian blues legend, Winnipeger Big Dave McLean, in February 2001. As well, their Sunday night house gig at Blues on Bellair continues through 2001, 8:30 pm to midnight, no cover. Additionally, a new website, www.raoulbhaneja.com, includes not only sound samples and clips of the band, but also info on Raoul's double life as an actor, which most recently included a featured role in the movie Violet, opposite Mary Walsh (with whom Raoul has previously starred) and Peter McNeil.

Whiteley on a Roll: Since his return from a month-long retreat in India, Ken Whiteley has received an "Award for Excellence" from the Children's Music Web Awards (www.childrensmusic.org), a nomination for the "Blues With A Feeling Award" at the upcoming Maple Blues Awards in February and will be featured on CBC Radio's "Bandwidth" Saturday, Dec. 23 at 5:05 p.m. The radio show will feature music recorded at the release concert in late September, for his brand new CD Listening (Borealis Records). Like the recording, it is a vocal-rich show with Whiteley's own energetic vocals superbly supported by Rebecca Campbell, David Wall and basso profundo Pat Patrick. Ken's own guitar and mandolin are complemented by the CD's co-producer, bassist George Koller and brother Chris Whiteley on trumpet, harmonica and pedal steel. As a performer he has a variety of incarnations - with brother Chris as the Whiteley Brothers, as one third of the trio Mose Scarlett, Jackie Washington & Ken Whiteley and as a solo artist. In the blues producer's chair he has recorded with John Hammond, Fathead, Blind John Davis, Sunny Fournier and many others.

Capital Blues: In Ottawa, well-known bass player Barry `Stirling' Buse is recovering from a heart attack. Ottawa blues fans know Barry from his work with the Blues Brokers, and often with the Trevor Finlay Band. Barry also hosts a regular Wednesday night jam at McCann's in Arnprior. A benefit for Barry, the Stirling Blues Jam, was held in December at Ottawa's T-Rex Smokehouse.

East Coast Music Awards: The Carson Downey Band and Matt Minglewood have both been nominated for two ECMAs: the former for Blues Artist / Group of the Year, and New Artist / Group of the Year, and the latter for Male Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. The other nominees for Blues Artist / Group of the Year are Hot Toddy, Isaac, Blewett & Cooper, Lisa MacDougall, and The Blues Merchants. The awards will be presented on Sunday February 11th, 2001, in Charlottetown PEI.

The R&B Indies: Bob McGrath of Vancouver has just published a two-volume discography of almost 4500 Rhythm and blues labels from Sepia to Soul (WW II to the 70s). Covering a full spectrum of Blues, R&B, Doo-wop and Soul, The R&B Indies includes comprehensive listings of all 45 and 78 releases, with matrix numbers, logos, firm details, and other information. Website: www.therandbindies.com.

Stony Plain News: Stony Plain is now spreading their music news via an E-Mail Newsletter, available biweekly through www.stonyplainrecords.com. Their first issue, December 2000, included news of the busiest fall season in Stony Plain's 24-year history, with several new releases, including David Wilcox's Rhythm of Love, which Wilcox supported with a successful national Canadian tour from Victoria, BC to St. John's, Newfoundland.

Rosco: The first major CD release in 30 years for Rosco Gordon, an R&B legend who's hailed as one of the founding fathers of the ska movement, Memphis Tennessee debuted at chart position #7 in Living Blues, the most prestigious blues publication in the U.S. And Billboard magazine's feature on the recording stated that "The album is a sprightly slice of old-school R&B from one of the...grand masters of that school. During the glory years of his nearly 50-year career, Gordon worked for virtually every important indie R&B and rock `n' roll label." Gordon had solo success with hits for Chess, Sun, and Vee-Jay. The Stony Plain release is his first widely distributed album in three decades, produced by guitar great Duke Robillard, and is receiving substantial radio play.

Long John Baldry celebrates his 60th birthday by releasing his fourth album on Stony Plain, Long John Baldry Trio Live!, and by performing a special concert at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom on January 13, with special guests (although his actual birthday is the day before). John's long history, and his special place in the early history of blues in Britain, includes hiring Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts for his early bands, naming Reg Dwight "Elton John", and discovering Rod Stewart playing harmonica in a railway station. Recorded live in Hamburg last September, the new CD features long-time harmonica player Butch Coulter and budding British guitarist Matt Taylor.

Christmas Blues features 14 tracks from Stony Plain artists, who were asked to put together a Christmas song at one of their regular recording sessions. This year the label released the seasonal compilation, with contributions from Duke Robillard, Maria Muldaur, Sonny Rhodes, Jay McShann, Asleep at the Wheel, Rosco Gordon, Billy Boy Arnold, the late Jimmy Witherspoon, David Wilcox, The Rockin' Highliners, Big Dave McLean, Long John Baldry, Kristi Johnson, and Paul James.

Glamour Puss, another east-coast MBA nominee who've made a lasting impression in Toronto, return to the Silver Dollar Room on Thursday, February 2. They were nominated for "Blues Artist/Group of the Year" and "Group of the Year" at the ECMA 2000 awards, and are nominated for "Electric Act of the Year" MBA for the second year in a row. Their CD, Blues du Jour is rock-infused, simple, direct and straight out of '50s Chicago blues and rock `n' roll.

Musicians Take Note:

Ontario Arts Council's Touring and Collaborations Program: This program assists touring and distribution of the arts to communities throughout Ontario. Eligible activities include collaborations between artists and communities through workshops, master classes, in-school performances, residencies, etc.; subsidy of touring costs (under-served and remote communities are a priority); new opportunities for Aboriginal, Francophone and culturally diverse artists; alliances that build the public profile of the arts at the local level. Amount of funding varies according to requests. The next deadline is February 1, 2001. For more information, contact the OAC at (416) 961-1660, toll-free 1-800-387-0058, e-mail info@arts.on.ca.

Showcasing: The deadline for showcase applications has past for Canadian Music Week (taking place March 29 to April 1) but it's not too late for the North by Northeast Music Festival and Industry Conference on June 7,8 and 9. Submissions will be accepted until January 19, 2001. All up and coming, on-the-cusp-of-fame bands and artists are invited to send their demo tapes and CDs for showcase consideration. With a dramatic increase in festival attendance last year, this year could be your chance to play in front of huge crowds of national and international music industry and media folks as well as the thousands of music fans that attend the festival.

You can download the application form from www.nxne.com or contact NXNE Headquarters, 189 Church St. Lower Level, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5B 1Y7 Phone (416) 863-NXNE (6963) fax: (416) 863-0828 tbird@nxne.com

The Folk Alliance Conference in Vancouver
(February 15-18) has selected their showcase participants as well, but it's not too late to register as a conference attendee and do a little "guerilla" showcasing and schmoozing. Visit the Folk Alliance website (www.folk.org) for more info and a list of the showcasing artists, delegates and events.

Farm Fund: The Studio at Puck's Farm has established a new bursary programme with the support of an anonymous donor. Puck's owner Frazier Mohawk (known in a previous life as Barry Friedman and fondly remembered in the Mike Bloomfield biography reviewed on page 9 as the "creative record producer who taught Bloomfield to breathe fire"). The fund pays half the studio costs for approved projects (complete projects only). Contact frazier@pucksfarm.com (905) 939-7036 or get your application at www.pucksfarm.com

Wanted: Able-bodied blues lover to help move TBS merchandise and supplies at occasional TBS events. Please contact Barbara Isherwood, Executive Director, 416-538-3885 or toll free 1-866-871-9457