Loose Blues News
Veteran, blues drummer Mike Fitzpatrick is the newest member of the Downchild
Blues Band. He joined the band prior to the recent U.S. tour which covered
the mid-west and north east area. Mike has toured and recorded with Bob
Margolin, Snooky Pryor, Morgan Davis, Sonny Rhodes and Blue Willow to
name only a few. He is also the house band drummer at Branford`s, Poor Folk`s,
Saturday Matinee and the Goose and Firken`s Sunday jam in Toronto. Downchild
plays the Silver Dollar Room on Nov.9th in Toronto and Peterborough`s Legendary
Red Dog, Dec.20th.
Bravo Mako: You've seen him videotaping at numerous blues events for several years, and now the results of Canadian independent filmmaker Mako Funasaka's dedicated efforts will be aired on television. "TaLkin' bLuEs" premieres on Bravo on November 12 at 7:30 pm, and will continue for six episodes. The series "explores the world of blues music today. TaLkin' bLuEs aims to educate all music fans and to expose the blues to a new generation of listeners. The series examines the current condition of blues music as seen by the musicians most passionate about the genre. Each week the series features one or more blues artists and a topic of discussion, with a collection of answers from notable blues musicians, and a music video. The first episode features Texan Sonny Rhodes, and asks the question, "What is the blues?" Following episodes feature Rita Chiarelli and the women in blues, and Harry Manx and the misconceptions of blues music. Presented in collage segments, the series boasts over 120 interviews and countless performances by international musicians. Notable names include B.B. King, Byther Smith, Monster Mike Welch, Colin Linden, Sue Foley and many more. Producer and Montreal-born filmmaker Mako Funasaka notes that TaLkin' bLuEs is unlike the traditional documentary because it is a continual work in progress, stating, "I see documentaries as something with a beginning, middle and end. My series documents the blues, but not in terms of a specific time line, because I wanted to demonstrate the various aspects of the blues - the first six shows are just the beginning, there's so much more to tell, I have only skimmed the surface'." You can also visit TaLkin' bLuEs on the internet, at www.talkinblues.com (see piece below by Eric Thom)
Jammin' 60: Venerable blues musician Steven C celebrated entering his 7th decade with his 16th Annual Birthday Jam and 60th birthday, with a Grossman's Sunday Night Blues Jam last month. He invited all other Grossman's regulars of the past 20 years to attend, to join in the celebration, and to buy him a beer. If you missed it, we're sure he'll still take the beer on your next opportunity, or you can send your dry wishes to stevenc@interlinks.net.
Garth Hudson: Lance Anderson reports that he and other local musicians Denis Keldie, Eddie Baltimore, Scott Cushnie and Terry Blersh had the honour or spending 2 days at Cherry Beach Sound to record 4 tunes for an upcoming CD with Canadian legend Garth Hudson. Hudson then sat in with Jeff Healey on a Thursday night at Healey's club.
Santa's Got Mojo!: Electro-Fi Records releases a Christmas Blues collection, featuring original and classic material from Mel Brown, Snooky Pryor with Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Mark Hummel with Rusty Zinn, Fathead, Jack de Keyzer, Curley Bridges, Rick Fines, Morgan Davis and Chris Whiteley. A CD Release Party with Handy Award winner Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Juno award winners Fathead will take place Saturday November 2nd, 10pm, at the Silver Dollar Room, Toronto. For additional information, visit www.electrofi.com, or contact MUSICAN at 416-695-4739.
Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards: The Pappy Johns Band, who were also finalists in the TBS Talent Search this year, garnered 5 finalist nominations in the Fourth Annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, including Best Male Artist (Faron Johns), Best Group/Duo, Best Songwriter (Faron Johns - "Blame it on Monday"), Best Song / Single ("Blame it on Monday"), and Best Producer (Alec Fraser & Pappy Johns Band for "Blame it on Monday"). The winners will be honoured on Thursday November 28, 8pm, at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards gala at Skydome, which is the opening night event of The Canadian Aboriginal Festival, taking place at Skydome November 28 to December 1.
The Pappy Johns Band was featured in last month's Rez Bluez Showcase (now in their 9th year, and making their first venture into Healey's), with special guest Murray Porter, a special opening performance by Star Nayea, and a guest performance by the Fierce Guys from the Cattaragus Reservation and Buffalo, New York. The November Rez Showcase, on Friday the 29th, will be held at the Comfort Zone.
Original Blasters Reform: The original Blasters, who were one of the defining sounds of L.A.'s music scene in the early 1980s and helped keep American roots music alive during what was otherwise the genre's dark age, have reformed, after not having performed together since 1985. The original Blasters - guitarist/vocalist Dave Alvin, guitarist/vocalist Phil Alvin, bassist John Bazz, drummer Bill Bateman, and keyboardist Gene Taylor, who joined the group in 1981 two years after its formation - will reunite for a fall and winter tour in support of their latest Hightone Records live CD Trouble Bound, which has been released to favourable reviews.
Locally, the Checkmates reunited for a show at the Blue Goose last month, featuring original members John Finley, Michael Fonfara, Peter Hodgson and Larry Leishman.
Niagara Blues: Mojo Willie's Blues Concert series opened its 5th season last month, and continues every Saturday until the end of May. The back up band, Bluesafire, features Gary Kendall on bass, Darran Poole on guitar, Canada Dave on keyboards, and Jim Casson on drums. Shows are from 2:00pm - 6:00pm, and Arizona's is located at 2740 Merrittville Hwy. in Thorold. 905.685.4418 www.arizonastapsandgrill.com
Windsor Blues: Big Daddy's in Windsor, Ontario, at 911 Walker Road, is now presenting blues music.
The Tarragon Theatre presents Warren Leight's Side Man - a poignant story told by the son of a jazz sideman starting in 1985 and traveling back and forth through three decades to 1953. In the playwright's words, it is "about jazz musicians from their heyday, after the war, through the decline of the big bands and bop, through the rise of rock and roll, to the dark years of the seventies and eighties. A time when many great musicians cobbled together a mix of club dates, unemployment cheques and cash gigs in order to make a living. It is about the sacrifices the musicians and their families made in service to the sidemen's passion for the music. It is also a play about the music. Tarragon Theatre's production of Side Man stars Brandon McGibbon as Clifford, the only son of Gene, a jazz trumpet player, played by Oliver Becker and Terry, played by Jane Spidell. Oliver Dennis (Ziggy), Jim Jones (Jonesy) and Tony Nappo (Al) play Gene's fellow musicians and sidemen while Laura de Carteret plays Patsy, a club waitress and friend. The production is being directed by Andy McKim, Tarragon's long-time associate artistic director. Side Man opens November 12 and runs until December 15. For tix call 416-531-1827
Marilyn Brewer, Harbourfront Centre's long-standing Manager of Community and Educational Programmes has retired. Friends, staff colleagues, board members past and present gathered on Thursday evening, October 3, 2002 to pay tribute to the amazing history of programmes introduced over the 23 years she has spent with the non-profit corporation. In honour of her contributions, Harbourfront Centre's Chief Executive Officer, William J.S. Boyle, made the surprise announcement that the Community Gallery in York Quay Centre would hereafter be known as the Marilyn Brewer Community Space and a plaque mounted in her honour.She also received a Lifetime Ticket to all future events at Harbourfront Centre. Melanie Fernandez has been hired as Harbourfront Centre's new Manager of Community and Education programming. She is the former Head of Education at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Community Arts Officer at the Ontario Arts Council.
Musicians Take Note: The deadline for submission to the JUNO awards is November 13. Submission forms are available for download at the CARAS Web site at http://www.juno-awards.ca or by calling 416-485-3135 or 1-888-440-JUNO - open to Canadian artists, songwriters, recording engineers, and video producers (citizen or landed immigrant) who have released product during the period of September 1, 2001 to November 13, 2002.
A newer profile-boosting awards program is the Canadian Independent Music Awards (The Indies) which are part of Canadian Music Week (CMW). Their official deadline is November 1st, but we have reason to believe there is a bit of elasticity. Entry forms along with submission rules and regulations can be obtained from the CMW Web site at http://www.cmw.net - click on "awards" then "The Canadian Independent Music Awards" to download a pdf application...or contact Moe McTague at (905) 858-4747 or via email at communications@cmw.net.
- Julie Hill, Brian Blain
Talkin' Blues - the Series:
making the blues talk
Take one 42-year old Japanese Canadian male, recently unemployed from his job of
19 years and you could easily forecast he'd discover the blues. But to create an
entire series devoted to them?
Although Mako Funasaka could hardly credit unemployment for his interest in the blues, the fact that he suddenly had some time on his hands did. A timely exposure to the music of Louis Jordan - via B.B. King's colourful tribute release - added some spark to the fire, while an intimate first interview with the late Piedmont blues artist, John Jackson, demonstrated a passion that begged further exploration as it left an indelible image on his heart. Mako's journey with the blues had only begun.
A seasoned video producer, director and cameraman, Mako found himself absorbed by the mystery of the blues. Here is a time-honoured, musical genre that has been largely ignored by the public, by radio and by those who promote music. Yet, here is a genre which has helped give birth to today's popular roots movement, and whose essence has been borrowed, if not stolen, by a host of rock's royalty. Here is a musical category populated by artists who feel compelled to carry on with tradition for tradition's sake, driven by an inner fire that supercedes the realities of commercial suicide. It's a game played for love, not money.
How could any self-respecting director resist taLkIN'bluEs? It can barely speak for itself, except to those of us who are fortunate enough to have become hopelessly dedicated fans. Yet taLkIN'bluEs: the series is not your typical exposé. It is not a slick documentary, nor is it the definitive definition of the category. It is an intimate conversation with the blues and with the people who play them. It is an introduction for many to a category that is either misunderstood or downright intimidating. Mako's goal is a simple one: to expose this great music for what it is and to provide an insider's glimpse of the passion that rules the blues as it drives and inspires its many spokespeople. Consider it Blues 101 yet, at the same time, its entertaining content offers insights and intrigue for the true blues aficionado.
The first of these shows airs on BRAVO TV CANADA beginning November 12th at 7:30 pm and will begin by profiling a diverse collection of blues artists including Sonny Rhodes (Nov 12), Morgan Davis (Nov 24), Ann Rabson and Rita Chiarelli (Dec 3), Harry Manx (Dec 10) and Pinetop Perkins (Dec 17). Music videos will also be featured by artists including Jack de Keyzer, Michael Pickett, Colin Linden, Darrell Nulisch and David Rotundo.
Mako Funasaka is, by no means, a blues expert. He is a fan who has been captivated by the power of the blues and the charm of those dedicated to keeping it alive. He has approached over 150 blues artists and interviewed everyone from B.B. King to Pinetop Perkins and back again. Embrace the spirit of the blues and witness, first-hand, that the blues and those who perform them are very much alive. More than ever.
- Eric Thom
The purpose of this column is to give musicians some basic technical skills to solve some very common technical problems related to performing music.
Tech Tips
In the last column we learned how to use a multimeter to test batteries, now we'll use the meter to test cables. We are going to use the continuity or beeper mode. This mode will tell us if a connection is being made between two points. It will not tell us the complete story, such as the measured resistance between those points, but the continuity mode is great for quickly testing cables as the meter emits a "beep" when a connection is present. The continuity mode on your meter is sometimes indicated by a speaker symbol with sound waves coming out of it, or some other symbol, consult the manual that came with your meter. Take a 1/4" guitar cable and put one meter lead on the "tip" or rounded end of one connector, and the other meter lead on the same place on the connector at the other end of the cable. If the connection is good then the meter should beep. Now leave one end connected as before, but put the other lead on the body or "sleeve" of the connector on the other end of the cable, there should be no beep, because the "sleeve" on one connector should not be making contact with the "tip" on the other. Now reverse this connection, move the lead on one end from the "tip" to the "sleeve", and on the other end move the lead from the "sleeve" to the "tip". Again there should be no beep. Last, put both meter leads on the "sleeve" of each connector, now they should beep indicating a connection. What you have just done is verify that the "tip" at each end is connected, that neither "tip" is shorted to the other `sleeve", and that the "sleeve" at one end is connected to the "sleeve" at the other end. Your cable is correctly wired and working properly.
Microphone cables that are XLR to XLR, can be checked much the same way. An XLR has three pins that are labeled 1,2, & 3. They should be connected pin for pin, 1 to 1, 2 to 2, & 3 to 3. When looking at the end of an XLR, the male (pins) is the mirror opposite of the female (holes) when holding the connectors so the three pins or holes are an upside down pyramid. Now we can check the two most common cables. Other cables combinations can be more complex to check because of differences in the way some can be connected. An added bonus is that we can use the continuity mode to check the fuses in our amplifiers to confirm that they are good. Visual checks of fuses do not always show that they're blown, but a continuity test should confirm with a beep that they are good, or no beep, that they need to be replaced.
Next: Tube amps do's and don'ts
Norman Robinson works as a Technical Engineer at Manta Digital Sound & Picture, as well he is the band leader and guitarist for The VooDoo Kings, and Howlin' Mercy.
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2002