Loose Blues News
Jani Lauzon believes that music and creative expression are a form of prayer. Her rich and captivating live performances are as much a spiritual journey as they are
a musical one. Her song "Real Rez Blues" is included on the
Skin Tight Blues compilation (see John's Blues Picks) and she will be performing at the launch party,
Thursday, September 26th (8pm) at The Silver Dollar
Congratulations! Dan Kershaw, the TBS's part-time office and event coordinator and full time Cosmoline Brother has won the OCFF's Songs From The Heart contest which includes a $1000 cash Galaxie Rising Star Award, high rotation for 3 months on the Galaxie channel and performances at the OCFF conference and the Canadian Songwriter Festival in Guelph. The winning song is "Motel 6", described by judges as "absolutely poetic, original, humorous and vivid" and it is available on the Brothers Cosmoline CD, Songs of Work and Freedom available at their website www.deepbluefunk.ca/broscosmoline.htm
Royal Command Performances: Mega-musician composer and producer Prince has been around Toronto for some time now, and has been spotted in numerous music venues. He was recently listening to Raoul & the Big Time from his parked limo outside of Blues on Bellair. The following weekend, he ventured further in, entering the premises while Fathead was performing, and returned the following night, with a larger entourage. Although Fathead had just finished their night's performance only minutes before his late arrival, they played an after hours "bonus set" at Prince's request.
Sweet Baby James: Australian guitarist James Meston left Adelaide for six weeks of summer in Canada, and made an impressive canuck debut, and made an impression on the blues community. During his June & July visit, in addition to his formal gigs at the Silver Dollar and Grossman's in Toronto, and the Rainbow, Bayou, and Tucson's in Ottawa, as well as two performances in Arnprior and one in Dunnville, James also jammed with Jeff Healey, Tony D, JW Jones, and his main influence, Sue Foley.
Musicians Take Note: The Canadian Independent Music Awards (The Indies) are seeking nominations from up-and-coming blues artists for the blues category of the Canadian Independent Music Awards. Deadline is November 1, 2002. The awards will be presented in Toronto during Canadian Music Week, February 27 to March 1, 2003. Harry Manx won the blues award last year. Check their website www.cmw.net for more info on the awards and showcasing at Canadian Music Week.
The Big Schmooze! is a great networking opportunity though more pop than roots oriented but worth checking out. The next event takes place on Tuesday September 24th. See their website for details: www.thebigschmooze.ca For information contact Ellen Drake, edrake@thebigschmooze.ca, (416) 850-0733
Heart Attack: Kingston teacher and musician Austin Lowe suffered a heart attack while performing at Limestone Blues Festival in Kingston. Lowe was singing in his band, The Commissionaires, before a large audience as part of the Limestone City Blues Festival when he collapsed. Bruce Griffin, who plays keyboards in The Commissionaires, said he wasn't aware whether Lowe had a previous heart condition, but said he has diabetes. Lowe is a prominent figure in the music scene in Kingston, including as the driving force behind the local high school radio programme. In addition to training the next generation of radio programmers, Austin shares his love and knowledge of the blues with the kids in the programme. It's been suggested that the blues community show their support by sending CDs (or anything else that might advance the blues education of the kids) to the school radio station: KCVI, Attention: Austin Lowe, 235 Frontenac St., Kingston, Ont. K7L 3S7.
Michael Jerome Browne (left) makes his way back to Toronto to be part of the Toronto Blues Society's "Outlaw Blues" evening, Oct 5 at Hugh's Room with the Tarbox
Ramblers and local outlaws Mr. Rick and the Biscuits
Drumming up drummers: Although yet to rival Spinal Tap (and a safe bet that they'll never match the record of Big Sugar), the Downchild Blues Band is again replacing their drummer following the departure of Greg Cooper. And Maple Blues Drummer of the Year, Tom Bona (Sue Foley band, Raoul & the Big Time) is profiled in this month's issue of the international bible of drumming magazines, Modern Drummer.
In the studios: Anthony Gomes' first release on Tower Records' 33rd St. Records, is entitled UNITY, and was produced by Jim Gaines. "Mojo Mama" Tracy K recorded live at the Great Woods Music Festival in August, just east of Winnipeg, on the edge of Beausejour. This winter she'll be going into the studio to record new material which reportedly leans heavily to blues/roots and rock. Michael Pickett just recorded his first acoustic CD, which will have an official release at the Rockit (120 Church St.) in Toronto on Wednesday, October 2. This month, he's on a solo acoustic tour of Nova Scotia and New England, and, in October, he'll team up with fellow JUNO nominee, and winner of the Maple Blues `Acoustic Artist of the Year', Michael Jerome Browne. Danny Brooks has just finished up a Gospel/Blues album for the NorthernBlues label featuring vocalists Amoy Levy, Hiram Joseph and John Finley with bandleader/co-producer Michael Fonfara at the helm. The album was recorded at The Studio at Puck's Farm and co-produced by Frazier Mohawk. There will be a CD Release party at the Stone Church, Davenport and Bay, on October 20. More details in next month's MapleBlues. Tix available at www.dannybrooksmusic.com
Ellen McIlwaine
(left) plays the Silver Dollar in Toronto Sept. 28th with other Ontario dates including the Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa Sept. 20th, Readers Cafe in Dunnville
Sept. 21st and the Thunder Bay Auditorium on Oct. 3rd.
Stony Plain News: David Wilcox will release his second CD for Stony Plain in mid-September. Rockin' the Boogie is a compilation of blues-based material from his extensive back catalogue, plus three new tunes. The new release contains some of his biggest Canadian hits, as well as some of his lesser-known blues-based songs. The record is to be released in the U.S. market early next year, which will allow for an extensive programme to promote the artist south of the Canadian border. Said Stony Plain's Holger Petersen: "David has always been powerfully influenced by the blues, and this release demonstrates the width of his interests, from acoustic blues to jump r&b. In the United States he is an artist waiting to be discovered." The title track of "Rockin' the Boogie" earned Wilcox international attention when Canadian gold medal skaters Jamie Salé and David Pelletier used the song for their dramatic exhibition event at the end of the Winter Olympics - the song was heard by millions around the world.
Stony Plain has also signed Ronnie Earl to an international deal. Considered both a traditionalist and an innovator, Earl is influenced by masters like T-Bone Walker, Magic Sam and Robert Lockwood Jr. After an eight-year tenure with Roomful of Blues, he formed his own band, The Broadcasters, and has since recorded for Bullseye Blues and Telarc. The winner of the W.C. Handy Award for Best Blues Guitarist in both 1997 and 1999, B.B. King says of Earl: "I feel for him the warmth a father feels towards his son. He is one of the most serious blues guitarists you can find today; he makes me proud." Ronnie Earl will be making his first album for Stony Plain in September, mostly instrumental, with a number of special guests. The relationship with Stony Plain started when Earl met label head Holger Petersen at the King Biscuit Festival in 1998, and subsequent meetings at other festivals led to the newly-announced record deal. "He's a very special artist, and we're proud to have signed this agreement, which will see Stony Plain distribute his records in the United States and Canada, as well as throughout the rest of the world," said Petersen.
And Stony Plain is now down under. Only Blues Music has been chosen to distribute Stony Plain Records in Australia. E-Mail: Onlybluesmusic@aol.com. And Long John Baldry leaves for New Zealand at the end of this month for 11 dates with guitarist Robben Ford during his 16 days south of the Equator.
Iridescent Music: A new online music retailer for independent artists is at www.iridescentmusic.ca.
Argentinian Blues: Gustavo Rozenberg of the blues radio program "Good Time Blues" in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is soliciting promotional CDs for radio airplay. Forward to: Gustavo Rozenberg, "Good Time Blues radio program", Nahuel Huapi 4713 8º "D" (1431 ), Buenos Aires, Argentina, or contact goodtimeblues@turincon.com.
- Julie Hill, Jacquie Houston, Brian Blain
Blues au Québec
Maximum Blues
What's better than summer in the city? Maple Blues contributor Zoe Chilco brushed up on her French and travelled to the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec for this year's Maximum Blues festival, and found out -- it's blues by the sea. Hot, hot, hot. Oui, oui, oui.
The train rolls into Carleton at 6:30AM. It's a blues overnighter: upright seat in a coach filled with baggage, crying babies, fat guys snoring and old ladies nodding. I sleep and wake, rock and wake, stiffen and wake _ while the train clangs and jostles, bangs and whistles all night long. Then we're out. The cool salt air bites my skin and my burning eyes take in the mountains behind and the sea in front. I start walking towards the blue sea, the blues scene.
This is Maximum Blues, a five-day celebration of blues of every hue. Set on the open spaces and in bars that line this main-street-along-a-shore town, this festival is basically a five or six kilometre stretch of music and good times. Opening day saw rain and cold, but that was soon dispelled by the hot horns and great vocals of Big Mark and the Blues Express (Maple Blues' Best New Artists); the rootsy, melodic blues of Dan Livingstone _acoustic guitarist with a vibrato-rich voice; and the wild, drum-laden rhythms of Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo, Ottawa's Louisiana dance band supreme. Definitely good times.
"Ooooo yeh". Stéphan, from France, practises English phrases of approval, even though the bar- "Le Moustache à Papa" - the musicians, and the townspeople speak French. Somehow, the blues demand English. Le Moustache is host this second afternoon to bluesman John Ruskey, a Colorado native who floated down the Mississippi River, then took up residence in the state to study under guitar master Johnnie Billington. With the sea as backdrop, Ruskey plays originals and traditional tunes, stomping his bare feet while pounding, shaking and stroking his acoustic guitar.
Ruskey is backed up by Bottleneck - Eric Dion, guitar; André Lavergne, guitar; and Jean-Francois Poirier, bass - a talented trio competent in blues and jazz, who are one of three local bands who had their start at Maximum Blues, found busy careers, and are going next month to Clarksdale, Mississippi with Nanette Workman (TBS Women's Blues Revue vocalist and Maple Blues nominee for Best Female Artist). Workman will lead the junket of musical exchanges, trips to juke-joints and legendary blues spots, as well as a visit to the hospital where Bessie Smith died. The two other bands making the trip south are virtuoso electric guitarist and vocalist Pat the White and his four-piece combo, and Mojo, four rock-solid instrumentalists with vocalist Marie-Josée Cyr, a vivacious and expressive singer who is a definite contender for the Women's Blues Revue. All these bands played every night of the festival to crowds who were crazy mad for the blues.
Crazy mad was the main mood of the event. In Ontario, we think we like the blues. We're enthusiastic, spontaneous-with-cool, even wild sometimes. But in Quebec there's a major blues love affair happening, and Maximum Blues is the main party. Musicians don't just play the blues, they rock `em, flirt with them; shout, strut and rejoice _ loud and long. Kenny Duprée and the Sound Brigade _ raw, James-Brown funky blues; Roxanne Genest, powerful jazz through to Joplin-blues vocalist; people of theatre. They deliver, while creating a contagious and spirited sense of fun.
This sense of fun permeates the whole festival, despite phenomenal organization, or more likely because of it. The man behind the event and the feat of organization is Pierre Ménard, director since 1996. He's a silver-haired (with some blue streaks), cool-looking, very busy guy who was everywhere all the time, keeping an incredible number of people and events running smoothly, and at the same time somehow always dancing by the stage. Besides the three performance stages, there were artists' booths, food tents, huge camping grounds and a children's program.
"It's the best, most professionally organized festival we've played at", said Dave Comley, keyboard player for the Johnny V band, after their smashing, show of tight blues. Smooth running, performers' needs seen to, helpful staff, security who were efficient without being heavy. And amongst the townspeople, the same generous spirit of enjoyment and respect. The only heat was from the brilliant sunshine. For a draw of over 20,000 people each year (according to a local paper), it's impressive.
This was the tenth edition of Maximum Blues and the last night featured a special show with some of the "pioneers" of the fest. Nanette Workman and her band; guitarists Billy Workman, Norman Parent and Bob Walsh; Chicago harpman Billy Craig; and a young protégé of Workman's _ eighteen-year-old Thomas Chapland from France, who plays a blistering B.B. King style.
Bands too numerous to detail, but I must mention Mike Deway, guitarist /vocalist; Thierry Haroun, acoustic folk/blues songwriter; Folélévachmol, a gang of jazz/blues artists; Toronto's Little Bobby and the Jumpstarts, Cash McCall, James Armstrong, and the excellent Mel Brown, with his stinging, singing guitar. Blues to the max.
- Zoe Chilco
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2002