Loose Blues News

Speedy Recovery: Our good wishes are sent to Dutch Mason, who was hospitalized in early December with kidney failure.

`Twas the Season: Jeff Healey's Very Special Christmas benefit show was a sold-out success in early December, raising over $10,000, including the proceeds of a raffle for two Gibson guitars donated by Long and McQuade, and signed in silver by every musician playing the benefit. The benefit was used to buy toys for every child in Toronto's and Hamilton's Sick Children's Hospitals. The Christmas toys were delivered in person by Healey's club owners Jeff Healey, Phil Morrison and Stuart McKendrick.

The benefit show featured a house band with Jeff Healey, playing sets with Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar), Rita Chiarelli, Damnhait Doyle, and Larry Gowan, whose performance included a rendition of George Harrison's "Something". Jeff's popular version of Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was also made more poignant by the Beatle's recent passing. Newcomers Trouser were a big favourite, while Tom Wilson (Junkhouse), Alan Frew (Glass Tiger) and Bryan Potvin (Northern Pikes), played pared-down acoustic sets.

Jazz & Blues Awards: The first annual National Jazz Awards gala, recognizing contributions to jazz excellence in Canada, is being presented by Galaxie, CBC's Continuous Music Network, on Sunday, February 24th, 7 pm, at the Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts, 736 Bathurst Street in Toronto. The Awards will honour artists and groups in 25 different categories. Dutch Mason, Jackie Washington, Oscar Peterson, and Moe Koffman will be honoured as the first inductees into the Canadian Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame, whose future home will be in Barrie, Ontario. The event will be broadcast on CBC Radio's "After Hours" hosted by Ross Porter, 8 to 10 pm, February 24th. For further information: nationaljazzawards.com or 416-533-2813.

In the studio: Early in the new year Ian Tyson will release his first live recording for Stony Plain, produced by Rick Fenton, with band Gordie Matthews on guitar and Gord Maxwell on bass, and special guests Myran Szott on fiddle, Al Muirhead on trumpet, and Thom Moon on drums. Live at Longview was recorded through four sold-out nights at the Longview Community Hall, just up the road from the Tyson ranch, and includes seven new songs in addition to many of his classics.

Also to be released in January is Duke Robillard's Living With The Blues, a pure blues recording featuring some originals as well as tunes associated with Little Milton, both B.B. and Freddie King, Bobby "Blue" Bland and others, including the Brownie McGhee title song. Duke feels that the new release features the strongest vocals he's ever recorded, most recorded in his home studio - sometimes, he admits, wearing his bathrobe - when he felt his voice was in perfect shape.

And the TBS's own Blues Doctor Julie Hill is once again in the television studios in January and well into the new year, in her daytime gig as a Psychologist, this time leading workshops on "U8Soul" for U8TV, appearing in primetime on the ONE network.

Long John Baldry: After marking his 61st birthday at a great big public party with special guests at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom on January 12, Long John Baldry will headline the January 25-27 Tunturi Blues Festival in Saariselka in Lapland, a winter vacation spot in the very north of Finland. For Christmas 2002, John is also supplying his voice to two major films currently in production: He plays the part of Pontius Pilate, as well as some minor roles, in an animated version of Ben Hur which will also feature the voice of Charlton Heston, and he's also the voice of Rutger the Reindeer in "Snow Queen".

Sci Fi Blues: Spider Robinson, Canada's very best science fiction writer, is a blues fan, who has, for example, mentioned Amos Garrett in his novels, and has frequently thanked the Stony Plain label for its music in the forwards of his books. In addition to his thoughtful, witty books, Spider Robinson writes trenchant pieces for the Globe and Mail, and plays a pretty mean guitar. http://www.spiderrobinson.com

Blind Pig Birthday: A happy 25th birthday to Blind Pig and it's founders, Jerry De Giudice and Edward Chmelewski. Stony Plain distributes Blind Pig's growing catalogue of fine blues releases in Canada, including their 25th Anniversary 2 CD set, with 35 tracks by the label's roster, and an added CD-ROM with performance clips, videos and interviews with Muddy Waters, Tommy Castro, Snooky Pryor, and Deborah Coleman, among others. Blind Pig is also offering a special - five CDs for US$50.00. http://www.blindpigrecords.com/5for50

Valley Distribution RIP: Stony Plain's American record distributor, Valley Distribution/Distribution North America (DNA), has declared bankruptcy, leaving many independent record companies like Stony Plain without distribution in the largest single market in the world for roots music.

Jay McShann: The Keyboardist has been awarded the 2001 ASCAP Foundation Award at a reception at New York's Lincoln Center. Unable to travel to the event, his award was accepted by Duke Robillard, who performed one of Jay's most successful songs, Confessin' the Blues.

New OrleansJazzFest Spring Tuneup: Early notice on a new packaged opportunity to travel to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this April 25-30. Hospitality Tours has invited TBS pres to host a tour into the first weekend of the 10 day event. This music adventure package is being finalized and includes 5 nights accommodation at a French Quarter hotel (Best Western Landmark), return air and numerous other delights to enhance your Crescent City experience. Contact Ann Molnar or Rade Sekulic at Hospitality Tours. Info: 416-968-3481, mail@hospitalitytours.com www.hospitalitytours.com. Reserve your space now.

Rufus Thomas, 1917 - 2001: Memphis, Tennessee musician Rufus Thomas, whose "Bear Cat" helped Sun Records get its start, and whose "Funky Chicken" gave a boost to the Stax Label, died on December 16, at age 84. Thomas' son, Marvell Thomas, said his father died in St. Francis Hospital, where he had been hospitalized since Thanksgiving for a short illness. Rufus Thomas was best known for novelty dance recordings like "Walking the Dog", "Do the Funky Chicken", and "Push and Pull".

Thomas was born in Cayce, Mississippi in 1917, and grew up in Memphis. He began tap dancing on the streets of Memphis for tips and performed in amateur shows in high school. In the 1940s, Thomas ran his own Beale Street amateur show that attracted B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland and many other performers who would later become famous.

In 1953, Thomas recorded "Bear Cat", an answer to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog", and it became Sun Record's first hit, before Elvis Presley arrived on the scene. In the 1960s, Thomas became one of the founding performers for Stax Records, which created what came to be known as "the Memphis sound", with performers like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, and Sam and Dave. In his declining years, Thomas took on the title of "Beale Street ambassador'' and liked to refer to himself as the world's oldest teenager. In 1998, he underwent open-heart surgery at a Memphis hospital.

Toronto blues musician Gary Kendall remembers Rufus Thomas dropping by a Black Swan Blues Matinee a number of years ago. He didn't perform, just shook hands with a few people and spread around some good vibes. Kendall got the feeling that he just liked to get out into the music community wherever he was. Toronto Blues radio programmer Ian Angus recalls seeing Thomas live at the Chicago Blues Festival when he was 80, "still very active and as outrageous as always, wearing a salmon-coloured short-pants leisure suit and carrying on with all the young girls".

Phyllis Barney of the Folk Alliance has fond memories of Rufus Thomas from their Memphis conference in which Thomas gave an oral history session, sponsored in part by the Toronto Blues Society.

Big Daddy G

"Blue Sound - Live At The Harvest"

Big Daddy G's well-rehearsed powerhouse of blues styles runs the gambit of jump and swing to authentic Chicago blues, steeped in the influence of their beloved jazz heroes. Everything on top of that is the result of an obvious and well-travelled chemistry that often promises as many stellar musical moments as it does unexpected surprises. The symbiotic interplay between Dave Glover's smooth-yet-stinging guitar lines and Tortoise Blue's soulful vocals, thick slabs of blues harp and funky Hammond B3 work is becoming legendary. It's why Real Blues Magazine awarded them "Best Live Blues Act - Eastern Canada". The reliable precision of their seasoned rhythm section, including drummer Ted Peacock and bassist Wayne Deadder, add depth to an already powerful sound. Throw in the deft genius of guest keyboardist Richard Bell ( Colin James, The Band, Colin Linden) and the band, armed to the teeth with talent, proved ready to stretch into new territory that - as it turned out - surprised even themselves. Seeing the over-the-top fun that these guys have playing together in front of a receptive audience is the secret ingredient behind Blues Sound's successful recipe. The crowd feels it, encourages it and you can hear it on the album. That, and some stand-out soloing such as Glover's scorching leads on "Tramp" over Blue's B3 and Richard Bell's always-tasteful piano flourishes, or the strips Glover's guitar tears off Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me". Witness the sets' showcase, featuring a duel-to-remember between Blue and Southside Steve Marriner (JW-Jones Band) as they add a chapter to the song James Cotton rode to the top, "Rockett 88". Harvest Festival Director of Music Programming, Brent Staeben, declared the live event "one of the all-time best shows at the Harvest" and he's seen quite a few. But come see for yourself as Big Daddy G bring their Blue Sound to your town with CD release parties in Ottawa, Fredericton, London, Windsor and - on Friday, January 25th - Toronto at The Silver Dollar Room. For more info, log onto www.bigdaddyg.com

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.