Loose Blues News
Adam
Solomon (aka "The Professor") demonstrates the African
roots of the blues and performs material from his new CD African Renaissance
Blues at the Toronto Blues Society's Guitar Workshop on Sunday afternoon,
February 29th at Healeys. Other guitarists sharing songs & stories, tips
& tricks, will be Teddy Leonard, Michael Jerome Browne, Norm Robinson
and host Brian Blain. Adam can also be heard every Saturday night at
Legends, 517 St. Clair W. Photo Denise Grant
2004 W.C. Handy Blues Awards Nominees: There is excellent representation by Canadian recording labels, including the nomination for Acoustic Album for Fruteland Jackson's Blues 2.0 on Electro-Fi, and for Traditional Album for Shout, Sister, Shout! A Tribute To Sister Rosetta Tharpe on Stony Plain / MC Records. As well, NorthernBlues artist Toni Lynn Washington was nominated for Soul Female Artist. Stony Plain artists were nominated in several categories, including Duke Robillard for Instrumentalist-Guitar, Maria Muldaur for Traditional Female Artist, Jay McShann for Instrumentalist-Keyboards, and Sonny Rhodes for Lap Steel, Instrumentalist-Other. Electro-Fi artist nominations included Willie "Big Eyes" Smith for Instrumentalist-Drums, and Snooky Pryor for Instrumentalist-Harmonica. Winners will be announced at the 25th Anniversary show in Memphis this April.
Sam Myers: Perhaps best known for his work with Anson Funderburg and the Rockets, Sam Myers was in town last month to record his first solo disc for Electro-Fi Records, at Alec Fraser's Liquid, with a host of great talent including Jack de Keyzer, Michael Fonfara, Pat Carey, Jim Boudreau and old friend Mel Brown. "Sam really went all out and recorded a superb disc that truly showcases his great vocal and harmonica work on many excellent original tunes" reports Electro-Fi's Andrew Galloway, who co-produced the disc along with Sam and Mel Brown. Look for a summer release for this CD entitled Coming From The Old School.
MBA Feedback: Before he left to spend the balance on the winter in Mississippi, Mel Brown wanted to thank the Toronto Blues Society and convey how honoured he was to receive the "Blues With A Feeling" award. Both Mel and Miss Angel are working on CDs for a fall release.
Jimmy
Burns (right) returns to the
Silver Dollar Saturday, February 7 for an 8:00 show .
More at Liquid: From Montreal, Kevin Mark and his musicians will be recording this month at Toronto's Liquid Studios for their sophomore CD, entitled Rolling The Dice. Kevin Mark was formerly known as Big Mark and The Blues Express (2001 TBS Talent Search Winners and 2001 Maple Blues New Artist of the Year). Produced by Jack de Keyzer and engineered by Alec Fraser, this album will feature his long-standing rhythm section, as well as Michael Fonfara on piano and B3 organ, a three-piece saxophone section, and guest appearances by Montreal's Laurier Gagnon (who books Montreal's Cafe Campus Blues Series) on guitar, and Linda Fraraccio on vocals. The Montreal launch date is confirmed for May 12th, while the Toronto launching is still in the works. Details at www.kevinmark.com.
Soul Food and Blues: Diana Braithwaite's Soul Food and Blues, February 20th at the Silver Dollar Room: Diana Braithwaite & the Big City Blues Band, with Madagascar Slim - guitar, Terry Wilkins - bass, Walter Maclean - drums, and Kingsley Etienne - keyboards, perform a Soul Food & Blues Buffet Fundraiser with proceeds going to the re-entry needs of child victims of war in Northern Uganda. Doors open at 8 pm, Buffet is 8 pm to 10 pm and Show time is 10 pm. Admission price is $25.00 (with buffet) or $15.00 without. Tickets available at door or in advance. For more info or to order tickets in advance email: dianabraithwaite@yahoo.ca.
Lift Lock City Music: Peterborough artists rallied to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Peterborough Lift Lock with a compilation CD assembled and produced by Paul Northcott of Riverside Studios. Some names familiar to our readers would be Ronnie Hawkins, the Weber Brothers, Kevin Carley & The Handsome Liars and Kim Doolittle. Watch for a complete review in an upcoming "John's Blues Picks" www.liftlockcitymusic.com.
Fresh
from his W.C. Handy nomination for "Best Acoustic Album" Electro-Fi
Recording Artist Fruteland Jackson will be in town to continue his work
with the Blues In The Schools program and to perform at a CD Release Party,
Thursday February 26th at the Black Swan Tavern (8 pm start). Fruteland will
also be back in Toronto for Year Two of the Blues in the Schools program.
Assisted by some major funding from the Trillium Foundation, TBS is taking
Fruteland to 9 schools in the Toronto area - Monarch Park Collegiate, The
Student School, Roden Public, Faywood Arts-based Curriculum School, Frankland
Community School, Clinton Street School, Jackman Public, Lisgar Sr. Middle
(Mississauga), and Fairbank Middle. Each school will also get a week of
intensive workshops on the Blues with Ken Whiteley, Eddie Baltimore, Tabby
Johnson, Mark Stafford, Diana Braithwaite, Michael Jerome Browne, Rick Fines,
Suzie Vinnick, and Madagascar Slim.
Blueheart Archive: Eddy B's new blues website of blues photographs is now available at www.blueheartarchive.com. Frank Garcia at Amigo Web Services, (www.amigowebservices.com) continues to add hundreds of blues photographs, so check regularly for updates, and sign the guest book, add the site to your links page (he'll do the same for you), listen to tracks from the Midnite Blues Party series, read reviews and stories, and check out features such as "What You Say!" and Eddy's commercial "Portfolio". www.blueheartarchive.com.
Real Blues Returns: Eddy B also advises that Real Blues magazine is back, with Issue number 27 now out. He's proud to note that his Electro-Fi Records release, Midnite Blues Party Volume Two was chosen in the Annual Real Blues Awards as Top Blues CD of 2003 (Vintage Recording). There is a full review of the CD in the issue, in which it's granted a rating of "six bottles".
Doc MacLean: ...is very pleased to announce the arrival of delta blues at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto. While Molly Johnson and BB King were preparing to play the big stage, Doc established the blues vibe for early arrivals via short sets at strategic locations throughout the building. Doc was accompanied by bassist Terry Wilkins, and performed selections from his forthcoming CD, Narrow House.
The Ladies got the Blues: Last month, at the Bourbon St. Lounge in Kitchener, an audience of about 250 enjoyed a show of talented women including Maureen Brown on drums & vocals, Nonie Crete on guitar, harmonica & vocals, Sandy Horne on bass & vocals, Marg Stowe on lead guitar, and Silvia Wright on accordian, keyboards & vocals, and featured local singers Miss Angel Brown and Cheryl Lescom. Also on the bill were Beverlie Robertson on vocals, storytelling & guitar, Charlene 'Chuckee' Zehr on vocals & piano, and Lisa Conroy on harmonica. The proceeds from the event were donated to the Food Bank and to CKMS FM.
Music Africa at the Royal Ontario Museum: In celebration of Black History Month, Music Africa, presenters of Afrofest, Toronto's annual festival of African music and culture, brings "African Music Routes" to the Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park (at Bloor St.) on Friday February 6th, from 4:30 - 9:30 p.m. This is a free event and open to all ages. As part of an African Arts/Education evening, live music performances will be featured from 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m. There will also be a display of traditional musical instruments and art from Africa. Performing artists will be Boubacar Diabate (Senegal), Madagascar Slim and Donne Robert (Madagascar), along with the Isaac Akrong Traditional Drum & Dance Ensemble (Ghana) and Sibongile Nene (South Africa). Alpha Barry of Alpha Rhythm Roots with Saikou Saho of African Drums & Art Crafts will be hosting an interactive African drumming session. Artists MacCaulay Eteli, Moudu Ekhar and Shungu will have their artworks on display, along with other African cultural displays. The Tourist Board from the High Commission of the Republic of Kenya will display information on tourism and culture. For information visit Music Africa's web-site www.afrofest.org.
Harvest Mid-winter Blues Bash: On Saturday, February 7, at Boyce Farmers' Market, Fredericton, NB, Featuring Paul Reddick and The Sidemen and Dawn Tyler Watson. The annual event, presented by the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, is a fundraiser for Fredericton-area school band programs. In what organizers promise will be the Capital's hottest winter night, Toronto's Sidemen, featuring showstopper Paul Reddick, and Montreal blues diva Dawn Tyler Watson, will perform in a top notch triple bill with local act The Chillin' Room. Not only is the event expected be the season's best blues show, profits from the show will be donated to ensure students in school band programs continue to get opportunities to develop their talents. "The Festival sees support for these programs as critical to the future development of local musicians", says festival programming director Brent Staeben. "Our community benefits by developing artists who will perform for us and create a population of young people who appreciate music. This is another way we can contribute to our community". Advance tickets for the Blues Bash are $20 (tax included), $12 for students (19 and over), and are available at Mazzuca's, the Festival office (506-454-2583), and the Boyce Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings. This year's Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival is slated for September 15-19, 2004. For updates and details, visit www.harvestjazzandblues.com.
From Robin.Olmos@AlconLabs.com: "I have put together a site to sell books and music. I am looking for musicians who are small bands and not with a huge record label. If interested, go to www.therobinsnestbooks.com, scroll to the bottom, and click for authors. And, for the Stevie Ray Vaughan fans, The Stevie Ray Vaughan Remembrance Ride and Concert has a lot of t-shirts, hats and patches left. The t-shirts are going on sale for $10, at www.srvirideandconcert.org"
Detroit Blues Harmonica Blowout IV: The Detroit Blue Heritage Series, in association with the Detroit Blues Society, is proud to announce "Detroit Blues Harmonica Blowout IV featuring Doug Demming and The Jeweltones with special guests Eddie Burns and Greg "Fingers" Taylor. This event will take place on Saturday February 14, 2004 from 2 pm to 4:30 pm at the Historic Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth, in Detroit's Cultural Center. There is no admission charge, and children, as well as adults, are encouraged to attend. Doug Demming and the Jeweltones are one the finest Blues Bands in Detroit today. In addition to their own performances, the Jeweltones have backed such artist as Kim Wilson, Lazy Lester, Wild Child Butler and Johnny" Yard Dog" Jones. Eddie Burns was born on 8 February 1928 in Belzoni Mississippi. Inspired by John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, the self-taught Burns was a stalwart of the immediate post-war Detroit blues scene. He was first recorded in 1948 by Bernie Bessman. This recording session was responsible for giving John Lee Hooker his break, and began the career of Eddie Burns. This session produced four tracks, including the fast shuffle "Burnin' Hell", which was notable for Burn's powerful harmonica playing. Throughout the 50s and 60s he periodically recorded for Joe Van Battle, who released the material on his own JVB and Von labels. Rarely straying from his home state of Michigan, Burns briefly visited Europe in 1972, and recorded an album in London for Action. He returned three years later for a more intensive tour under the "American Blues Legends '75" banner. Eddie Burns continues to be a resident of the City of Detroit and appears at Blues Festivals across the country. Greg Taylor began his musical training in his hometown of Wichita Kansas and was, by the age of thirteen, beginning to demonstrate considerable skill on the piano. After relocating to Jackson Mississippi Fingers decided to try his hands at the harp. In Mississippi, Fingers began to follow in the footsteps of his musical heroes such as Walter Horton, Jerry McCain and Papa George Lightfoot. Today Fingers Taylor is recognized as one of the world's best blues harp players. For more information on this event, contact the Scarab Club at 313-831-1250 or Email Ed Schenk at woodsmanq@msn.com.
Merging: Larry Leblanc of Billboard magazine informs us that Music Manufacturing Services Group (MMSG) has purchased a 50% share in Outside Music, one of Canada's leading independent music distributors. Both companies are headquartered in Toronto. Outside has 18 full-time staffers based in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. It has exclusive Canadian distribution rights for several international labels, including Rykodisc, Six Degrees, Ninja Tune, Sub Pop, Ubiquity and Warp. Canadian labels represented include Teenage USA Recordings, Three Gut, Brobdingnagian and Mint. MMSG operates Music Manufacturing Services (MMS), a leading Canadian supplier to independents of optical discs, cassettes and vinyl. It has a staff of 18 as well, with offices in Toronto and St. John's, Newfoundland.
- Julie Hill, Brian Blain
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2004