Loose Blues News
Levon Helm & The Barn burners will be playing at the Silver Dollar on Friday July 13th. They are an all-star ensemble with a traditional blues repertoire. Levon grew up on a cotton farm in rural Arkansas, and then moved to Memphis, lured by a love of rock 'n' roll. He played with Conway Twitty, Ronnie Hawkins' band The Hawks, and The Band. Helm was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. The musical focus for this pure blues band is the delta blues of Levon's youth. His band includes his daughter Amy who does vocals.
New
Office Manager: Following a lengthy search for the right candidate, the
hard-working Selection Committee is now happy to announce that
Emily Weedon is the new Office Manager/ Event Coordinator. Emily will be
handling the office and event coordination and
Barbara Isherwood will continue as Grants Officer.
TBS Birthday Party: The party took place at the Steamwhistle Brewery as part of Toronto's Doors Open event of Heritage Buildings. It was a great success, with many blues converts from the strolling tourists. Many thanks to the fine folks at Steamwhistle who were great to work with and made it all go smoothly, PA Plus who donated the PA and made the lovely Beer Hall at the heritage roundhouse Brewery sound good for multiple award winners Raoul & the Big Time. And thanks also to the TBS volunteer crew: Paul Lefort, Len McIntosh, Sherrill Middleton, Shirley Gibson, Sharon Evans, Larry McCarthy, Lee Trian, Barry Collis, Valerie Chamberlin, Ed Parsons, Ken Wilson. Universal/Rounder, NorthernBlues, Tone-Cool/True North, Stony Plain, Electro-Fi and Juke Joint donated CD's for our raffle.
The Celebrate Toronto Street Festival features two days of non-stop concerts with more than 30 diverse musical styles presented on 10 stages along the City's famous Yonge Street. Stop by the St. Clair site and catch Laura Hubert, Jerome Godboo with vocalists Suzie McNeil and Kim Doolittle (Sat. July 7) and Carson Downey and Fathead (Sun. July 8). Admission to the festival is free. For more information call the Special Events Hotline at 416-338-0338 or check out the City of Toronto website at www.city.toronto.on.ca/special_events.
NorthernBlues signs Paul Reddick and the Sidemen: The new Paul Reddick & the Sidemen CD Rattlebag will be released on NorthernBlues. The deal was signed with NorthernBlues president Fred Litwin before a packed house at their CD launch last month at Revival. The band, one of the hardest-working units ever to come out of this town, is playing select engagements around the province and preparing for some festival dates as far away as Whitehorse, Yukon.
Shuffle This: On Saturday July 14, Dylan Wickens Project will be releasing their new CD at The Black Swan (154 Danforth Ave. Toronto) at 10 p.m. Opening is "Hurricane" Mike Thompson, performing a 30 minute set of traditional blues. Shuffle This... features 6 originals and 2 covers by Dylan Wickens on guitar & vocals, Flip Townson on tenor sax, bassist Brent Kehoe, and drummer John Bouvette. Visit www.dwproject.tv for additional information.
Jeff Lang Aussie Blues: Jeff Lang, a master of slide guitar, has just released his latest CD Everything Is Still. He will be performing in Ottawa, Toronto (Silver Dollar) July 14, and the Mermaid Lounge in Hamilton July 15.
Midnite Walk: Not only do Rod Phillips & Steve Grisbrook now perform with Midnite Walk every Friday night from 8 pm to 12 am at Ben Wicks Restaurant in Toronto, but Steve Grisbrook also shaved his head last month to raise $1,000 for The Hospital for Sick Children. "The Port Credit Legion Shave Off" was conducted in conjunction with the Season Finale of the weekly Chris Murphy Band Sunday Jam at the Legion. To support this cause and Grisbrook's baldness, donations payable to The Hospital for Sick Children continue to be accepted at the Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St. N., Port Credit, Ont., or by mail to Steve Grisbrook, 2375 Gerrard St. East, Toronto Ont., M4E-2E7. Donations over $10 are tax deductible.
ellenmcilwaine.com: The website is in the works, but this month Ellen McIlwaine is touring Germany, Austria & Switzerland, opening solo for Taj Mahal & his Hula Blues Band. Ellen's release most recent release, SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION, is on the German label Tradition and Moderne, who are sponsoring the tour (the first album they released for Ellen was part of the women in (e)motion live festival series), with Bill Rich (bass) and Kester Smith (drums) from Taj's band, and Taj himself singing on two of the cuts.
Tab Benoit is performing at the 13th Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival on Saturday July 28. He will be at the Alex Christie Bandshell in
Kew Gardens in the late afternoon. Other performers on the mainstage (12-6 pm) are Michael
Kaeshammer. Sunday features Bill King's Saturday Nite
Fish Fry, the Susie Arioli Swing Band, Big Joe & The Dynaflows and organist extraordinaire Joey De Francesco ( even a jazz guy puts out some very
bluesy licks when he's playing a B3). The Streetfest starts July 26 and provides a lot of blues content up and down Queen Street. Check
www.beachesjazz.com for details.
Robin Banks: A former TBS Talent Search winner is currently located & performing in Dallas Texas. If you're in the neighbourhood, you can catch her every Monday at the Hurricane Grille beside the Greenville Bar & Grill on Greenville Avenue.
Festival International de Jazz de Montreal: Free blues concerts include a 6:30 acoustic series featuring: June 29 - Otis Taylor (USA), June 30 - Tri-Continental (Ontario/Madagascar), July 8 - Adrian Legg (England); and Les soirees Labatt Blues at 7:00 & 11:00 pm, featuring: June 29 - The Leroys, June 30 - Jim Zeller, July 1 - Stephen Barry Band, July 2 - Red Roosters, July 3 Nico Payne Band, July 4 - Preachin Blues, July 6 - Dawn Tyler Blues Project, July 7 - Jonas & The Blues Blooded, July 8 - Bob Harrisson; and Les spectacles Labatt Bleue, 9:00 pm (and 12:30 am @ Club Soda), featuring: June 29 - Jimmy James (Montreal), June 30 - Kristi Johnston (MB), July 1 - Frankie Lee (USA), July 2 - Ronnie Baker Brooks (USA), July 3 - Carson Downey Band (NS), July 4 - Larry Garner (USA), July 7 - Walter Trout (USA), July 8 Joe Bonamassa (USA). Also featured are Catfish, Hot Toddy, and Sonny Landreth. For the complete program, visit the website at www.montrealjazzfest.com.
Congratulations to Mel Brown and Toronto-based Electro-Fi Records: Neck Bones and Caviar won the WC Handy Award for "Comeback Album of the Year".
Other winners include: Acoustic Album of the Year - Robert Lockwood, Jr, Acoustic Artist of the Year - Keb' Mo', Band of the Year - Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Best New Artist of the Year - North Mississippi Allstars, Blues Album of the Year - Shemekia Copeland, Comeback Album of the Year - Mel Brown, Contemporary Album of the Year - B.B. King/Eric Clapton, Contemporary Female Artist of the Year - Shemekia Copeland, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year - Eddy Clearwater
Entertainer of the Year - B.B. King, Historical Blues Album of the Year - Otis Spann, Instrumentalist of the Year-Bass - Willie Kent, Instrumentalist of the Year-Drums - Chris Layton, Instrumentalist of the Year-Guitar - Duke Robillard, Instrumentalist of the Year-Harmonica - Charlie Musselwhite, Instrumentalist of the Year-Horns - Roomful of Blues, Instrumentalist of the Year-Keyboards - Pinetop Perkins, Instrumentalist of the Year-Other - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Song of the Year - It's 2 A.M. Vito (Shemekia Copeland, Wicked), Soul Blues Album of the Year - Irma Thomas, Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year - Etta James, Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year - Little Milton, Traditional Album of the Year - Son Seals, Traditional Female Artist of the Year - Koko Taylor, Traditional Male Artist of the Year - James Cotton.
Henry Gray
(right) performed at the New Orleans Blues & Heritage Festival this year and makes his way to Toronto's Labatt Blues & BBQ festival to perform and partake in a
workshop where he will discuss his lifetime of the blues including blues styles, his history and his philosophy of this emotive music. Lakeside Terrace, Saturday, July 7, at 3
p.m. This
discussion is hosted by Steve Gash from CKLN's Blues du Jour. (photo by Don Hargrove)
Harbourfront Centre July 7-8-9
Films & Workshops at LABATT BLUES & BBQ
'Reely the Blues' Film Series: In early 1970 a Swedish film crew journeyed to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to shoot Fame Recording Studio (Studio Theatre, Saturday, July 7, at 5 p.m.), about one of the most important recording venues for Southern soul music.
Directed by Steve Hopkins and Anders Ribbsjo, the film is paired with Muddy Waters in Concert, the only complete Waters show available on film. John Lee Hooker and Friends: Rare Performances (Studio Theatre, Saturday, July 7, at 7 p.m.) is a collection of performances by the legendary bluesman with a number of blues and rock compadres.
In a second double bill, Look Up and Sing Out, Parts 1 and 2 (Studio Theatre, Sunday, July 8, at 1 p.m.) is a documentary of Southern gospel choirs, quartets and solo singers with rare footage shot in colour in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This film is followed by Pops Staples: Live in Concert, capturing a late-1980s outdoor show featuring the recently deceased patriarch of the Staple Singers.
Workshops this year feature Bass-ic Blues with Russell Jackson. This Vancouver musician discusses how the bass moves and how the instrument fits into blues music. (Lakeside Terrace, Sunday, July 8, at 1 p.m.).
Henry Gray: Keys to the Blues: Henry Gray discusses his lifetime of the blues including blues styles, his history and his philosophy of this emotive music (Lakeside Terrace, Saturday, July 7, at 3 p.m.). This discussion is hosted by Steve Gash from CKLN's Blues du Jour. 'Blues Goes East, Blues Goes West' For those who are wondering what a Mohan Veena is, Harry Manx explains the 20-string Indian slide guitar at this workshop while Boubacar Traore discusses Malian blues guitar sounds (Lakeside Terrace, Saturday, July 7, at 5 p.m.).
Slides & Dobros: Michael Pickett, Paul James and Big Dave McLean demonstrate the nuances of these particular guitar techniques (Lakeside Terrace, Saturday, July 7, at 7 p.m.).
BBQ Cooking Styles: Music workshops make way for tastier demonstrations and discussions when the chef from Dipamos barbecue restaurant shows audiences how they create their slow-smoked sweet meat (Sunday, July 8).
Learn about the exotic use of pimento wood smoke in Jamaican BBQ from Black Pearl Restaurant. Other local chefs will also share their secrets and specialties, including a jerk demonstration (Saturday, July 7).
- Julie Hill, Jacquie Houston, Brian Blain
Musicians Take Note
Grant for Music Creators: The Toronto Arts Council offers assistance to music creators in all genres, for songwriting projects - funds cover subsistence and some project costs (equipment, instruments and recording expenses are not eligible). Up to $5000 is available. Applicants must be residents of the City of Toronto. Deadline is July 10, 2001. For further information, contact Brenda House, tel: (416) 392-6802, ext. 207, e-mail brenda@torontoartscouncil.org
Looking for Prairie Musicians: The Prairie Music Alliance (a co-operative partnership between the Alberta Recording Industry Association, the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association and the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association) is accepting applications from artists and groups to showcase at this year's Prairie Music Week, in Edmonton, Alberta, September 27 to 30, 2001. Application forms are available at Long & McQuade stores within the Prairies, at www.prairiemusicweek.com , or the Prairie Music Alliance office, 1654 11th Ave., #200, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0H4, Phone (306) 780-9830, Fax (306) 780-983, or Email info@prairiemusicweek.com.
The Toronto Blues Society contingent at the Chicago Blues Festival.
Photo By Paul Turcotte
Chicago Blues Festival 2001
As a first time to the Chicago Blues Festival I found myself totally unprepared for the experience. I consider myself not only a huge fan of the blues but a student of the entire genre of music. I like it all, from the roots blues of the National Steel, to piano boogie woogie, to rock-based blues and everything in between. I had expected the usual multiple stage venue, the electric guitars and the acoustic acts, the food courts and the exhibits, although I expected a few more exhibits. And I expected the music to go pretty much go nonstop. I had come prepared with my internet printouts and artist bios, my CD covers to be autographed and with my own personal agenda for each day. I was organized. I didn't care what the others wanted to do. I was going to see the people that I wanted to see and hear the people that I wanted to hear.
What I hadn't expected was the presence of an immense electrical feeling in the air. Perhaps it was just the quality of the musicians or the professional manner in which the festival was run, but I don't think so. What I think left the lasting impression was a combination of two things; the universal energy of thousands of people with a single purpose, a passion for the blues, and the immense history that exudes not only from blues music and its artists, many of whom were present at the festival, but from being in the City of Chicago, one of the homes of the blues. There is such a rich sense of history in Chicago Blues and I think it contributes in a big way to this Festival being the Grandaddy of them all.
As expected, the club life was awesome, in the true sense of the word. Each club, and there are so many to choose from, not only entertains every night but there are top name acts that any blues aficionado would recognize in an instant. Many of the clubs have two stages that ran non-stop music throughout the night. You got two different artists for the price of one. And with so many renowned artists in town, it wasn't uncommon for the main artist to call up a guest from the crowd. What a treat. More than once I found myself sitting in awe of my surroundings.
What was the highlight of my weekend? There were so many great acts; Otis Rush, Alberta Adams, Billy Branch, Eddie Clearwater, Honey Boy Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Studebaker John, Carl Weathersby, Coco Montoya, Koko Taylor, Irma Thomas, Son Seals, Sugar Pie Desanto (one of Ian's favourites), Lucky Peterson, and the list goes on. Other than the total experience itself, I'd have to say that that the best was seeing, hearing and meeting, Robert Jr. Lockwood in a close club setting. Robert Lockwood is the stepson of Robert Johnson. Sitting in the second row listening to the only living connection to Johnson was amazing. Later, meeting him and having my picture taken with him was a thrill.
If you are a blues fan and you've never been to Chicago, at least one trip to the Blues Festival is a must. Unfortunately, it's like those pesky potato chip commercials. "I bet you can't eat just one!"
As an aside, a number of TBS volunteers have been getting together periodically at different clubs for some blues. The idea for the Chicago trip started at one of our outings last winter when someone suggested a road trip might be fun. Valerie took this to heart and the next thing we knew she had a Chicago hotel booked and the bus arranged. We had hoped to start small and build to the big stuff later. Val figured we'd skip the small crap and go right to the top. That's what you get for thinking BIG. Thanks Valerie for organizing this trip. Great Job!
If you are interested in our semi-monthly outings, I think we call ourselves the "Blues Buddies", please talk to Valerie or myself at the next TBS event. It's a good excuse to get out and see some blues.
- Larry McCarthy
JOHNNY WRIGHT
Johnny Wright plays at Quigley's, 2232 Queen Street East, Toronto, most Saturdays 4 to 7 p.m. and at the Wolf and Firkin, 43 Elm Street, Toronto, most Saturdays 8 p.m.
When you walk into Quigley's in Toronto's Beaches on most late-Saturday afternoons, you can hear the sound of Johnny Wright's velvet voice filling the cavernous pub. His smooth, silky vocals smoulder with intensity, his delivery seems almost effortless and, looking around, you can see that he is gifted with the magical ability to communicate directly with his audience.
Everyone is turned toward Wright - from the sociable patrons at the bar to those seated at the tables. People cluster tightly around the club's front window, too - some standing holding drinks, others dancing in what tiny, open space remains - where Wright and his hot band, pianist Michael Fonfara, bassist Peter Hodgson and conga player Robbie Rox, entertain with some of the best soul music of the 1960s.
Wright has been doing his popular Saturday matinees at Quigley's for more than 10 years now. A phenomenal soul singer, he's been performing in Toronto clubs for more than 30 years.
Wright began singing at parties and family gatherings as a child. Of Scottish-Irish descent, he was exposed to the music of his heritage early in life, and counts singers such as the great Irish tenor John McCormack among his musical influences. Growing up in east Toronto, he sang in school and church choirs, and joined his first band, The Mystics, when he was 13.
As a teenager during the 1960s, Wright fell in love with the R&B and soul music he heard on Buffalo radio stations, and became enamoured of black culture in general. "Everyone danced like the black kids, everyone wanted to dance like James Brown," he recalls. "There were kids that dug soul music and R&B and Motown. We were at a great advantage here because we had it pumped into us from across the border." His musical influences include Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson, but, for Wright, Otis Redding's vocal pyrotechnics are the ultimate. "The first time I heard Otis Redding I just went `wow.'"
Highlights of Wright's early career include television guest spots, club work, radio and TV commercials and musical theatre, as well as three years singing with Toronto's Orpheus Choir, an 80-voice ensemble that performs choral music. "I did a concert with them where they let me do one of the things in my idiom, and I did "I Wish It Would Rain" with the bass and tenor soloists and a conductor. That was a great concert," Wright recalls with a chuckle.
He joined the Uncle Fatback Band, which included Michael Fonfara and guitarist John Tilden, in the mid-1980s. Uncle Fatback eventually evolved into the amazing, six-member Hotline, a band that, in part, broke up because of the recession of the early 1990s, when much of the club work dried up. The 1990s saw Wright working as a back-up singer, recording the tune "God's Country" - written for him by Joe Mavety - for Mavety's 1994 CD, Sunburst, and performing in Toronto clubs, often as a duo with Fonfara. And, last summer, he wowed Fathead fans when he filled in for Fathead vocalist John Mays for a few weeks.
Wright's new live recording - with Michael Fonfara on piano, Peter Hodgson on bass and Robbie Rox on congas and, added in the studio, Fonfara on Hammond organ and Pat Carey on saxophone - will be released this summer. Everything's All Wright includes such gems as "I Need You," "Blue Monday," "Dreams To Remember," "Lonely Teardrops (Say You Will)" and "I Wish It Would Rain."
The CD, to be sold at Wright's shows, is pretty good for a live day, according to producer Fonfara, and the best recording of Wright's voice so far. "It was a great afternoon. The crowd went bananas."
Wright says he is attracted by a particular song if he thinks he can interpret it well and get across what the songwriter is trying to say. "I really enjoy singing a ballad that people listen to and you can hear a pin drop, but by the same token, it's nice to get them rocking. But I'm a balladeer. That's what I think of myself as."
Keyboard wizard Fonfara, who's been Wright's musical collaborator for almost 20 years, says Wright shows no fear when it comes to singing soul ballads. "A lot of people feel they have to do 95 per cent uptempo or people will walk out. That's where Johnny shines. And no one has walked out yet."
Recently, Wright and three other vocalists, Jay Douglas, Elaine Kilpatrick and Penny Skolski, along with several veteran Toronto musicians, recorded a CD that focuses on reggae and soul music. Out of the exhilarating Let's Return To Love, produced by Pat Carey and Michael Fonfara, The Unity Band was born. On the CD, Wright does a lovely rendition of Bob Marley's "Stir It Up."
Maturity and time have had a positive effect on his singing, Wright says, and so has quitting smoking, which has improved his voice tremendously. "Within the last little while, with what this kind of singing and emoting requires, I notice I'm better equipped to sing now than I ever was before, because of life experience and the change in the timbre of my voice."
- Ruth Schweitzer
The BluesBook is Going On-Line!We are planning an updated web-based version of the BluesBook Directory. Performing artists (solo or bands), managers, agents, venues, festivals, producers, publications, radio stations, specialty retailers, teachers, schools, audio technicians, photographers, should send their contact info to info@torontobluessociety.com. Please include name, full mailing address, telephone, fax, web site and e-mail. Performers can include a brief description of their music, and if CDS or videos are available (titles are not necessary) Type "BLUESBOOK LISTING" in the subject line. Wanted :
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Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2001