Loose Blues News
Studebaker John and the Hawks are appearing at the Silver Dollar in Toronto on Saturday May 12. Studebaker John, from Chicago, has a full-bodied harp sound and
a sophisticated slide guitar style. He is also a talented singer, songwriter, and arranger. He formed his band the Hawks in 1971. His influences were
Big Walter Horton, Hound Dog Taylor and Johnny
Littlejohn. His tracks have been heard on Atom
Egoyan's film Exotica. His most recent release
Time Will Tell (Blind Pig Records) successfully captures
his spirited roadhouse energy.
Michael Pickett's recording Conversation With The Blues won Blues Album of the Year at the 2001 Canadian Independent Music Awards held at The Church on Berkeley in Toronto at the conclusion of Canadian Music Week. Co-nominees Fathead performed, and the other nominees in the Blues category, Hot Toddy, Kristi Johnston, and the Carson Downey Band, were "sampled" on screen prior to the announcement. Michael and band are currently on their first European tour.
Final Notice: Thursday May 3rd, 2001 is the Babes with Babes event to benefit Toronto's Evergreen Nursery, which provides numerous services for homeless children and their babies. The benefit will feature dozens of Toronto's top blues musicians in an 8 pm show (doors 7) at the Silver Dollar, all generously donating their time and talent in support of this worthwhile cause. There will also be a silent and a live auction, and door prizes.
TBS member and Maple Blues contributor Zoe Chilco is singing this month at Toronto's Black Swan Tavern, with her five-piece band Funky Knees. Besides a night of great blues - traditional and original,- the event is non-smoking for those who otherwise can't frequent bars, and offers freebies and prizes for "SWODIO" guests (Smokers Who Only Do It Outside). 9PM, May 19; 154 Danforth Ave.; $5. (416) 469-0537
New blues clubs: Two new clubs featuring blues programming are opening this month in Toronto. Revival, on College Street east of Ossington, is located in a former church, more recently a Polish legion hall. The original church stage and balcony are still intact, and capacity is over 400. A pan-asian cuisine is planned for dining. TBS board member Shane Gerard has been retained to programme the live music for the club, and promises a mix of music that grooves, including blues. Shane describes the venue as "a beautiful space with an excellent sound system and lighting".
Jeff Healey is opening a club on Queen Street West at Bathurst, at which Sue Foley is scheduled for the grand opening on May 26. The club will be called...."Healey's", of course.
Already opened is "a new folk venue in Toronto called Hugh's Room, a warm, spacious and inviting 200 seat venue located in the heart of the Bloor West Village, featuring local, national and international musicians. Hugh's Room was founded by Richard Carson in memory of his brother Hugh, a man with an incredible passion for life, people, and folk music. Involved in song circles, folk clubs and festivals (Eaglewood/Northwinds) for years, it was Hugh's dream to have his own place to present a day-in day-out, year-long festival of folk sounds, from the traditional to the contemporary". The room has already featured blues-friendly artists such as Chris & Ken Whiteley. At 2261 Dundas St. West in Toronto, one-half block south of the Dundas West subway station, at Bloor, there is reportedly ample free parking across the street, and full dining, including "tantalizing appetizers, salads & entrees". For more information: www.hughsroom.com.
Meanwhile, the Tranzac Club, another folk mecca, located at 292 Brunswick Avenue in Toronto, (3 blocks west of Spadina and Bloor) has been getting into the blues with a recent concert by Guy Davis and a new regular Thursday Acoustic Blues Night hosted by the TBS's own Brian Blain with a different feature guest each week. Papa John King, long time sideman for Long John Baldry, is Brian's guest on April 26 and "Professor Piano" Scott Cushnie joins him on May 3. Brian is taking this opportunity to invite many of his favourite blues players including Suzie Vinnick on May 24. Brian's indie CD Who Paid You to Give Me the Blues? will be re-issued this summer on NorthernBlues with a bonus acoustic track, a nod to his folk roots - and his real roots - it's the story of his adoption told from the point of view of two French nuns.
The Prima Donnas have been presenting Great Jumpin' Jive! at The Blue Moon, 725 Queen Street East, just east of Broadview, on Sunday early evenings, PWYC with a no smoking area. "Just a few doors down from the Opera House on Queen East lies the revitalized Blue Moon. Up front, a spacious neighbourhood bar with a couple of full size pool tables. In the back, a great big throwback of a room with a stage and dance floor that evokes an earlier time - just perfect for the retro boogie that the Prima Donnas have been serving up to enthusiastic Toronto audiences for years. The Prima Donnas are John Dickie on vocals, Michael Sloski on drums, Norm Brown on piano, Russ Boswell on bass, and a great horn section of Gord Myers on trombone and Chris Mitchell on sax. Journeymen all, they came together ten years ago to play the Jump Swing music of 50's great Louis Prima, hence the name. Soon they branched out to put the Prima jive on classic R&B and Rock hits of the 50's, 60's and 70's: irreverent takes on classics like the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Satisfaction", or Led Zep's "Rock And Roll" or a jump/ska version of "Whiter Shade of Pale", as heard on their latest CD My Regeneration.
And, finally, Toronto's venerable blues venue the Silver Dollar Room will be designating Thursday nights until the end of August to "showcase up & coming blues bands, solo acts, and duos". Interested musicians are invited to forward a demo and bio to the Booking Office, c/o the Silver Dollar Room, 486 Spadina Avenue, Toronto M5S 2H1.
Shemekia Copeland
(pictured at right) shares a double bill with
Susan Tedeschi on July 6, as part of the Harbourfront Blues & BBQ. The daughter of Texan blues guitarist
Johnny Clyde Copeland (who died in 1997), Shemekia released her début CD,
Turn the Heat Up, in 1998 and is now touring in support of her current release,
Wicked.
Festival Round-Up: The summer music festivals are beginning to announce their performers. Here's a sample of blues-friendly artists confirmed to date:
Harbourfront Centre: The Great Canadian Blues & BBQ Festival will return July 6 - 8 in Toronto. The first "Pier Party" will feature Shemekia Copeland & Susan Tedeschi on July 6, "in a true blues double bill featuring two young female vocalists. Shemekia Copeland is a 21-year-old `diva in the making' (CNN) whose `raw vocal power and real emotion' (Washington Post) began to shine when she started singing as a girl. She will perform songs from her current release, Wicked' (Alligator Records), with her powerhouse band. Susan Tedeschi was Billboard Magazine's `1999 Hottest New Act', while the 2000 Grammy Awards acknowledged her in the `Best New Artist' category. After the 30-year-old singer, songwriter and guitarist released Just Won't Burn in 1998, Tedeschi hit the road with the Allman Brothers Band, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan and the collective roadshow Lilith Fair. With its Pier Parties, Harbourfront Centre creates a unique live concert experience. The concerts take place on the beautiful outdoor Norigen Stage, right on the waterfront at 235 Queens Quay West. With fully licensed areas and a variety of food vendors, Pier Parties are more than the usual concerts — the shows are the place to be on a summer evening." For information: 416-973-3000 or www.harbourfront.on.ca.
Toronto Jazz festivals are announcing their lineups, Downtown Jazz (June 22 -July 1) is not bringing in any big blues names this year, though there will be plenty of New Orleans style party music at the Street Party on University avenue and some great blues at blues clubs like the Silver Dollar and Blues on Bellair among others. For update information: www.tojazz.com JVC Jazz Toronto (June15 to 24) will feature Coco Montoya at the Dollar and blues-friendly artists, such as Laura Hubert, Lee Aaron, Marc Jordan, and Supergenerous (Kevin Breit & Cyro Baptista) at Harbourfront Centre. For additional information: 416-973-3000 or www.harbourfront.on.ca.
The 13th Beaches International Jazz Festival will be held July 26-29, 2001 in Toronto on Queen Street East and Kew Gardens. Bands already confirmed to play the main stage include Tab Benoit, Michael Kaeshammer, Big Joe & the Dynaflows, Bill King's Saturday Nite Fish Fry, and the Susie Arioli Swing Band. The Streetfest line-up will include "a great mix of fan favourites as well as some new faces for 2001... over 40 bands performing calypso, new age, latin, fusion, cajun, blues and jazz". For update information: www.beachesjazz.com
Blues in the Park in Niagara Falls is scheduled for Friday and Saturday 14 & 15 September 2001, in Firemen's Park. The Saturday evening show will be headlined by heavy-duty blues great Sandra Hall, `the Empress of the Blues', from Atlanta Georgia, with Atlantic Canada's Carson Downey Band headlining on Friday. All proceeds from the event, coordinated by the volunteer firemen's association, support charitable community causes. For more information: www.bluesinthepark.com.
Dunnville Blues Society: "Hey blues lovers - just a quick reminder that the Mudcat Blues Festival box office is open, and offers discounts to all blues society members". For information, and a full outdoor stage and indoor venue schedule of the June 8 to 10 festival: www.2ndage.com/mudcat.
Further off, the 22nd edition of Festival International de Jazz de Montreal will occur June 28 to July 8 and will include over 2000 musicians on 25 stages, most performances free. An extensive blues programme is included. For programme details as they become available: www.montrealjazzfest.com.
The Vancouver Island Musicfest, July 13th to 15th, in Courtenay, BC (Vancouver Island) will feature The Great Canadian Blues Revue with Tim Williams and the Electro-Fires, and Carlos Del Junco, among others. For more information: www.islandmusicfest.com.
Short Notes: The Whiteley Brothers are in the studio recording a new album on which they will be playing all the instruments. Spread the blues gospel: Danny Brooks has received distribution for his CD with Word in Canada. Sue Foley's UK tour has been postponed due to foot and mouth disease. The Bishopstock Festival has been postponed from May until August. Canadian bluesman Johnny V is currently in the Ukraine, and his trio played at Buddy Guy's Blues Club in Kiev in April.
A quarter-century of Stony Plain: Stony Plain records celebrated its 25th anniversary with a series of concerts by the label's artists at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto in April. Label boss Holger Petersen introduced the talent presented on each of 4 nights, including Maria Muldaur (Richland Woman Blues was also just released in the US), rockin' gospellers The Holmes Brothers, Juno-winning songwriter Ray Bonneville, electric blues-based rocker David Wilcox, as well as Tom Landa & The Paperboys, and The Rockin' Highliners.
Orillia: The Kewadin Inn in Orillia presented a Blues Festival in April, featuring The Ronnie Douglas Blues Band (1999 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Winners, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winners for best album, and 1999 Maple Blues Award nominees for New Group or Artist of the Year), George Leach & his band (2000 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards winner for Best Male Artist, Best Rock Album, and nominee for best songwriter), and pianist & vocalist Curley Bridges. The festival also included a Native "Blues" Art show, including Larry Douglas and Tim Stintson, winning artists for designs of the Blues Festival posters. For further information, contact Cindy Miske, Food & Beverage Manager, www.kewadininn.ca
Ottawa: Trevor Finlay has finished his second CD, Bumpy Roads, featuring nine new original tunes and 3 covers: Little Walter's It Ain't Right, Hey Bo Didley, and the Hank Williams classic Jambalaya. The CD was produced by Peter Gilroy (who produced their debut CD Morning Man), and includes Mark Rehder on drums, and Barry Buse on bass, with Ken Fahie (keys) and Derek Debeer (percussion) sitting in on a few tunes. The band toured western Canada in April, and will be releasing the CD in Ottawa on Saturday, May 12th at Barrymore's Music Hall. For more information: www.tfband.com
And Ottawa's Shakey Mike Elliott of The Jukes bids farewell to the blues community, and writes that he's "moving away from the capital and heading back to my hometown stomping grounds. I've had a blast while living here in Ottawa for the past 4 years. From my first blues jam at the Rainbow, to playing with a few cool bands shortly afterwards, the blues community in Ottawa has been very warm and welcoming. Everyone from the players, the staff at the local bars, and the regular patrons at Ottawa's finer blues establishments have made my time here a great experience. Playing with the Ottawa area blues musicians has influenced my playing, and inspired me to achieve new heights in my own playing (mostly just to keep up with everybody else). Nowhere else in Canada (dare I say it) can you find a more talented bunch of local musicians that can tear it up like they can in Ottawa. The variety and quality of the blues here talent in and around Ottawa is second to none that I've ever seen or heard about in Canada (just my humble opinion). I'll miss the Ottawa blues scene in a painful way when I'm gone. There is no doubt that I'll have to make a couple of marathon trips to Ottawa for a blues fix once in awhile. I wanted to thank the blues community for a great time, all their help and guidance, and friendship."
Kingston: This summer, Kingston's historic Newlands Pavilion will be home to a live two-hour concert each Sunday and holiday weekend Monday from July 1 through Labour Day inclusive. Each of these thirteen concerts will feature two live bands, and will be free to the public. "The Newlands Pavilion is a beautiful 19th Century (circa 1895) pavilion once home to regular band concerts. The pavilion sits within feet of the water in a beautiful small park, walking distance from Kingston's downtown. The intent of the summer concert series is to restore this beautiful historical building to the use for which it was intended and to raise its profile as an important piece of Kingston architecture, to provide free live music in Kingston's downtown parks area for the enjoyment of the general public, many of whom cannot afford today's concert prices and many of whom will enjoy live music in an environment where they can bring the family, and to give local Kingston artists (and this town is a hotbed of great talent) the opportunity to expose their work to a broader audience while performing in the bright light of day. For further information, contact Bob MacKenzie of Poem de Terre at 613-546-5114, or www.besonic.com/assumenothing.
Fredericton: The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival celebrated the release of the CD Rick Fines And Friends - Live At The Harvest with a free public performance by the Rick Fines Trio at the Playhouse in April. Live at the Harvest was recorded last September during an intimate show in the festival's Hoodoo House featuring guest performances by a host of Canada's finest blues performers. The CD currently sits in the top five on a number of blues radio play lists across the country. `Given Rick's status as a long-time festival favourite, it just seemed appropriate to show the fans our appreciation for their support over the years with a free show,' said Don Fitzgerald, chairperson of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. The CD features Rob Phillips on piano and Richard Simpkins on upright bass, and long-time friends Alec Fraser, Georgette Fry, Al Lerman, Suzie Vinnick, Chris Whiteley, Fredericton's Dave Bedford and Jackson Delta's Alan Black and Gary Peeples are all part of this celebration of live blues at one of North America's premier jazz and blues festivals. `Live recordings are a new venture for the festival. They're a fantastic way to spread the word about Harvest Jazz and Blues across Canada and beyond,' says Brent Staeben, chair of the music programming committee. Live at the Harvest is the first of what we expect to be many more live recordings made at the festival, and Rick is the perfect performer for our first foray into this area. Our fans voted Rick their favourite blues performer out of 150 blues acts over our first ten years (the Cream Of The Crop Award), and it's easy to see why on this truly beautiful album. The quality of this recording has set a standard for all others to follow, added Staeben. Live at the Harvest was one of three albums recorded at the 2000 Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. Moncton's Glamour Puss released Electric and Alive! at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton last January, and New Brunswick's blues trio Isaac, Blewett and Cooper will release their new live CD during the 2001 Festival."
B.C. Blues: The Sid Williams Theatre Society, The Vancouver Island Musicfest, Magic 98.9 FM, and The Hornby Island Blues Camp Proudly Present Saturday Night Blues at The Sid Williams Theatre, Courtenay, BC, Saturday May 19th, 8 PM, featuring a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of some of Canada's finest Blues musicians, including Rick Fines (Ontario), David Gogo (B.C.), Gary Comeau (B.C.), Keith Bennett (B.C.), Doug Cox (B.C.), Michael Jerome Browne (Quebec), and Ron Casat (Alberta), presented in a festival-style in-the-round performance. For more information: www.islandnet.com/~dobro or www.dougcox.org, or radio show Roots Review' every Sunday night from 9 to11 pm Pacific time on www.coastradio.com."
We remember: James Drayton, the son of Ms. Alberta Adams, "Detroit's Queen of the Blues", passed away on Tuesday April 17. Like his mother, James was a prominent figure in the Detroit music scene, having been a member of the successful vocal group The 5 Dollars. James had been living with cancer and, just before he succumbed to the disease, made his mother promise not to cancel any engagements, but to be strong and continue doing what she loves to do .....keep singing. Alberta Adams was a recent participant in the Toronto Blues Society's Women's Blues Revue, and asks to have her family included your thoughts and prayers.
- Julie Hill, Brian Blain
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2001