Loose Blues News
Michael Jerome Browne has gained international renown for his blues guitar expertise and knowledge. He will be a featured guest at the Toronto Blues Society's next
Guitar Workshop on Sunday afternoon, February 29
at Healeys. More guests will be announced shortly. Hosting the event will be
Brian "Colorblind" Blain, best know in
these pages as the (barely) managing editor but also a unique folk-blues guitarist in his own right.
Mojo Willies's Wild Adventures: Contrary to rumours of its alleged demise, the Saturday afternoon Blues and Soul series with Mojo Willie and Bluesafire at the Moose & Goose in Thorold continues with guests Lance Anderson (Jan. 10th), Shawn Kellerman (Jan. 17th), Morgan Davis (Jan. 24th) and Colorblind Blain (Jan. 31st). At the same time, Bill "Mojo Willie" Rymer has organized an additional later Saturday afternoon jam twice monthly at a new blues venue - Bumpin Uglies at 249 St Paul in St. Catharines (905-988-3900). They plan an early start time of 8:30 and the show will be co-hosted by Mark "Bird" Stafford.
Harrison Kennedy will be performing at a special pre-MBA event at Healey's, Sunday, January 18th, the night before the Maple Blues Awards. The evening will also
include performances (8:00 pm - 11:30 pm) by Boobie Browne, Julian Fauth, David Rotundo, Morgan
Davis and Al Lerman. That will be followed by a jam session with
some of this year's MBA nominees. There will be snacks, raffles for books & CDs and specially priced books from Readers Cafe, who are organizing the evening. Tickets are just
$10.00 for invited guests and $15.00 at the door. To become an invited guest, you just have to send an r.s.v.p via e-mail to Mark Neveu at
mudcatblues@hotmail.com or call
905-701-4205 and indicate how many will be attending. An industry round-table session is being planned for the Monday afternoon. Contact the TBS office if you're interested in attending.
WinterBlues: The Winterfolk Festival, January 30, 31 and February 1, 2004, is back for a second year and includes a healthy representation of local blues artists performing in selected Spadina & College area clubs including the Free Times Cafe, Rancho Relaxo, Swallow Deli & Lounge, Silver Dollar and more TBA. (see their ad on Page 2). Enjoy 70 musicians in five clubs for three days of Roots - Blues - Folk & more. Concerts, workshops, sessions and industry seminars will be featured. All will be smoke-free and within comfortable walking distance, offering a variety of listening environments similar to the diversity of stages you'd find at a summer music festival. See the website for complete details, www.winterfolk.com.
International Songwriter Finalists: Congratulations to three Canadian songwriters for placing in the final top seven. In the Blues category, "Absolution" by Sue Foley, and "Riley Wants His Life Back" by Rick Fines and Alec Fraser, and, in the Gospel category, "Nobody Knows You Like The Lord" by Danny Brooks. As reported in past months, B.B King was one of the judges. www.songwritingcompetition.com/voting/pva-vote.html.
Blues Grammy Nominations 2004: For Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental): the nominees are Rock `N' Roll City by Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater featuring Los Straitjackets (Bullseye Blues and Jazz); Blues Singer by Buddy Guy (Silvertone Records); Goin' To Kansas City by Jay McShann (Stony Plain Records); That's Right! by Roomful Of Blues (Alligator Records); and Lookin' For Trouble! By Kim Wilson (M.C. Records). For Best Contemporary Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental) the nominees are So Many Rivers by Marcia Ball (Alligator Records); Let's Roll by Etta James (Private Music); The Road We're On by Sonny Landreth (Sugar Hill Records); Rediscovered by Howard Tate (Private Music); and Wait For Me by Susan Tedeschi (Tone-Cool/Artemis Records).
The Grammy nomination for Jay McShann's Stony Plain release Goin' to Kansas City is the second for the label. This record, produced by Stony Plain president Holger Petersen, features Jay's regular accompanists when he plays in his home town, and guest appearances from Maria Muldaur (the first Stony Pain artist to garner a grammy nod), one-time Chuck Berry piano star Johnny Johnson, and Duke Robillard. This is the second Grammy nomination for Jay, who will celebrate his 88th birthday on January 12. He was nominated some years ago in the jazz category, but he says "It's great to be nominated for blues, because I am a blues player, and I always have been. I'm so thrilled to be nominated, " he added. "It's a real honour for a blues piano man like me." In the Martin Scorsese PBS Television series "The Blues", Jay McShann was featured prominently in the series' last installment, "Piano Blues", directed by Clint Eastwood.
More Stony Plain News: For the 8th consecutive year, Stony Plain was once again winner of the Independent Record Company of the Year award at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Stony Plain was also named "Independent Record Label-Distributor of the Year" at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
And: Holger Petersen, Order of Canada. The Stony Plain boss and CBC radio bluesman received his honour in Ottawa on December 12. That evening, the Ottawa Blues Society hosted a party at The Rainbow to help him celebrate, featuring Roxanne Potvin and Southside Steve. It was also a benefit for the Society.
East Coast Music Award Blues nominations: Glamour Puss for Wire & Wood, Hot Toddy for Salty Sessions Vol. 1, J.P. LeBlanc for his debut album Take Me Back, Matt Minglewood for Live At Last, and Morgan Davis for Pain Killer. Glamour Puss, a three-time ECMA winner for Blues, also received its second nomination for Group of the Year. The annual awards show and conference will take place in St. John's, February 12 to 15.
2003 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards Winners: Six Nations family The Wolfpack received the "Best Blues Album" award for every lil thing, and The Music Industry Award was presented to concert promoter, radio producer, radio host, documentary creator, and activist, Elaine Bomberry.
CD Release Parties: Friday January 16, Raoul & the Big Time release their new CD, Cold Outside, at the Silver Dollar in Toronto. The Big Time bring their energetic mix of "Toronto / Chicago / Hollywood Blues" to their second live-off-the-floor recording, which will be distributed in Europe by Crosscut Records in Germany. Cold Outside has 10 originals and 2 rare covers, and features guest performances by Junior Watson, Big Joe Maher, and Mark Hummel. There are also guest performances by Graham Guest and Kevin Quain on piano, John Showman on violin, and Terry Wilkins (who also co-produced the record with Raoul) on bass. The band has filmed a video to coincide with the CD release, directed by Train 48 star Andrew Kenneth Martin. www.raoulandthebigtime.com.
Sunday January 18, Danny Brooks & The Rockin' Revelators release their new CD, Soulsville Souled Out `n Sanctified (produced by Richard Bell), at The Stone Church (45 Davenport Rd, just east of Bay, south side). This is the first installment of the Soulsville Trilogy on the HIS House Records label, distributed in Canada by Festival Distribution. The CD was premiered on New Year's Eve. Danny has also been performing club gigs as Danny Brooks & The Memphis Brothers, the core of The Rockin' Revelators, performing Memphis blues, soul and americana". www.dannybrooksmusic.com.
Homes First: Danny Marks and the BLUZ.FM All-Star Band with special guest appearances by Diana Braithwaite, Jimmy Bowskill and Chris Whiteley perform at a benefit for Homes First on Thursday, January 29, 2004, 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight."Coldest Night" supports the 15 Homes First locations providing shelter for more than 500 men, women and children. It takes place at The Fermentation Room in The Distillery Historic District, There will also be an exhibit by photographers Robert Burley & Debra Friedman and various Homes First tenants as well as a Live Auction with volunteer auctioneer Jack Layton. Tix at www.coldestnight.ca.
Harp School: Multiple award winner Al Lerman teaches a night course on blues harp at the Etobicoke School Of The Arts. Designed for beginners, the six-week course is on Monday nights as part of the Toronto District School Board's Continuing Education program. Call (416) 338-4000 to register for the winter course.
Dylan Discontinued: Dylan Wickens advises that, "After playing together for 3 years and having performed over 500 dates at clubs, festivals, television and radio performances, and special engagements, and also winning the 2003 TBS Talent Search, the Dylan Wickens Band is packing it in. The decision was mine, I'm looking forward to moving on and working as a guitar sideman with other artists. This decision did not come easily, it is something I've been considering since the spring but I feel the time is right for me to take on a new role as guitarist with others instead of fronting a band". The Dylan Wickens Band's final performance was at Chicago's Diner in Toronto last month, on the weekend of Dylan's birthday, with Tom Bona on drums, Harpo Peterson on bass, and Flip Townson on tenor sax, as well as Dylan on guitar and vocals. We're sure to see lots of Dylan in his chosen new role.
Miracle On Spadina Avenue: The Christmas Blues and R&B fund-raiser held last month raised $1,200 for the Daily Bread Food Bank and The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund. It was also a success in bringing together Blues and R&B artists performing Christmas standards and originals, including Jack de Keyzer, George Oliver, John Mays, Danny B, Tyler Yarema & Janice Hagen, Chuck Jackson, Kenny Brown, and a special appearance by the Lincolns. The event was organized by musical director/keyboard player Martin Aucoin who led the Santa's Helpers Band featuring Terry Blersch on guitar, Mike Sloski on drums, Gary Kendall on bass and the Meteors' horn section, Jim Lawless on tenor sax and Joe Reynolds on trumpet, with special performances by Doug Riley on keys and Willliam Sparande on trumpet. With this encouraging first year there are plans to make Miracle On Spadina Avenue an annual Christmas event.
Jeff Healey's 3rd Annual Very Healey Christmas: Sponsored by Jack FM and eye weekly, this event last month was sold out weeks in advance, and raised over $10,000. All proceeds went to the retinoblastoma ward of Sick Children's Hospital, to be used towards eye cancer research and medical supplies for kids stricken with the same disease that took Jeff's sight when he was a baby. Performers included Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, The Dave Murphy Band, Healey's House Band, Larry Gowan, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ronnie Hawkins, Greg Godovitz, Robert Priest, Chris Tait, Alan Frew, and Alannah Myles. Raffle prizes included two guitars donated by Long & McQuade, autographed by every artist who performed that night, and a Gord Downie autographed prize package.
Fat Albert's: The longstanding weekly open stage in Toronto has relocated to the Steelworkers Hall at 25 Cecil Street (one block southeast of College & Spadina). Tuesdays at 8pm.
Wanted: The Blues Festival Guide has a call for submissions with a deadline of February 28, 2004. Writers and photographers interested in contributing should contact the Blues Festival Guide editor, Michele Lundeen by email at editor@bluesfestivalguide.com.
. There's no budget for editorial (we know the feeling) but there is an honorarium of $100 if your photo is chosen for the cover (preferably a recognizable blues artist performing in an outdoor setting).
Blues Radio Award: Toronto Blues Society member Ron Dickenson, host of Buff Blues in Kingston Ontario, has received the CFRC Queen's University Radio Award for best Blues/Folk programming for 2002/2003. His blues show airs Thursdays 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Fridays 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. locally, and world-wide on the internet in real time at www.cfrc.ca.
2003 Blues Harp Blow-Off Winner: Congratulations to Marc Seguin, the grand prize winner in Ottawa's Blues Harp Blow-Off, which included competitors from Ottawa to Montreal and Minnesota, who performed with the house band of Trevor Finlay on guitar, Matt Sobb on drums and Joe Hawkins on bass. Sponsors included Long & McQuade, Listening Eye Studio, Quick Disk, sd3design, The Rainbow Bistro, and Steam Whistle. The 9th Annual Blues Guitar Riff-Off will be held in June 2004.
Trevor Finlay Band News: Ottawa's Trevor Finlay Band has signed with Comstock Records of Arizona, USA, known for their radio promotion and European representation.
The Twisters Live at Harvest Fest: With the help of Glenn Meisner of the CBC and Brent Staeben of the Fredericton Harvest Jazz and Blues Fest, the Twisters have recorded a live CD, featuring guests Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne on piano and Steve Hilliam on sax. Says Dave "Hurricane" Hoerl, "We've got a snapshot of a great set of live music inspired by the wonderful folks of Fredericton. Recorded at the 2002 Fest, we're quite proud of how it turned out. We'll have some CD release parties in the new year, and it'll be distributed by Festival."
We remember Rick Jeffrey: Family, friends and music industry colleagues gathered at the North Street Church in Halifax on December 5th to celebrate the life and remember bluesman Rick Jeffrey. He played for years with Dutch Mason and was a major force on the east coast scene. The Yarmouth-born musician died on November 27 after complications related to a double-lung transplant he received last November. Fellow musician Dutch Mason described Jeffrey as his best friend, saying, "he was the best harp player I ever played with in my life and we were like brothers." Rick's unique style has influenced many players including Garrett Mason, Dutch's son. Jeffrey requested Garrett perform at his memorial.
- Julie Hill, Brian Blain
SOCKMAN KNITS TOGETHER ALL STAR BAND
Jack de Keyzer (l.) will be providing guitar and vocals as part of the "Sock It To You" All Star Band assembled by Mory "The Sockman" (r.) for a Superbowl blues bash on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at The Woodbine Banquet & Convention Hall Jack headlines Winterfolk the same week-end.
Wander into any one of a dozen or so blues dens around Greater Toronto on any given night of the week and there's a fair-to-middling chance that Mory "The Sockman" will be digging the scene. And chances are that he'll be one of the few brave souls willing to strut his stuff on the dance floor, while actively urging the stand-around crowd to catch the fever. The guy loves the music; he loves the partying; and he loves being around people. And people are charmed by him!
If the blues had more fans like this, nobody would ever question the future of the music. But Sockman, a traveling salesman by vocation, is more than just another highly dedicated blues junkie who has sated his craze for the music in countless towns and cities across North America. Soon he'll be making the transition from blues bar patron to patron of the blues.
Salesmen love to dream, and Sockman, a highly successful purveyor of hosiery and men's socks, has always nurtured a fond desire to own his own club. He's certainly met enough owners and musicians to understand the "ins-and-outs" of the industry. Now, he's about to walk the walk-and not just talk the talk!
Mory will be making his directorial debut by organizing a rockin' blues gala at one of Toronto's largest banquet halls on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at The Woodbine Banquet & Convention Hall, 30 Vice Regent Boulevard, Rexdale, Ontario (Hwy 27, one block south of Rexdale Blvd, on the east side near the Woodbine racetrack). It'll be a smashing kickoff to the Superbowl weekend. This promises to be a big-time do, and every lover of music (blues in particular) will be treating it as the highlight of the winter season.
The dream band that Sockman has put together ensures it will be a strictly first class affair. He's dubbed it the "Sock It To You" All Star Band, and it's a knockout assembly: On dueling keyboards, he's paired up legendary Mike Fonfara of Downchild with another major player in Pie Guys' veteran leader, Rod Phillips; drummer Mike Fitzpatrick, bassist Garth Vogan with Jack De Keyzer and David Rotundo fronting the band. Musical director is Pat Carey, the hard-working saxophonist who's got 15 years under his belt with Downchild.
It's no surprise who'll be performing MC duties. The Sockman himself will be up there on the dais telling tales, making mirthful, and working the crowd like a pro. Between the kibitzing, the double entendres, and the general wackiness, the extroverted Mory should keep the assembled in a state of constant amusement. In fact, there can't possibly be a dull moment during the entire evening.
Blues, booze, comedy, football...lovely ladies! A team of wild horses couldn't keep me away that weekend!
For information on tickets, e-mail Sockman at: sockman@gertex.com or telephone: 416-244-6984 or 416-727-7012. Tickets are also available at Hartnett's Pub, 68 Six Points Rd., 416-236-5159 and Dior Lounge, 385 The West Mall, 416-621-9010
- Gary Tate
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2004