Maple Blues Online - Loose Blues News

Mr. Rick and the Biscuits release their new CD Cocktails and Cornbread on Wednesday, June 15th at Hugh's Room. They will be cooking up their own brand of "skillet-fried folk-roots music," a blend of honky-tonk, old-time bluegrass with sounds of early jazz and country. Mr Rick advises that cornbread will be served. Photo by Erika Olbey

Raoul & the Little Time: Congratulations to Raoul Bhaneja and Birgitte Solem on the birth of their first child, Alexander Martin Bhaneja, 3.7 Kg, on May 14, 2005. www.raoulandthebigtime.com

And congratulations also to: Amy Louie (alouie@trebnet.com), who is celebrating 30 years of ownership of Grossman's Tavern.

Awarded: Kevin Breit, known locally for his blues work with John & the Sisters and Carlos del Junco, among others, and internationally for his work with Norah Jones and Cassandra Wilson, also among others, was awarded the Toronto Musicians' Association's "Musician of The Year" for 2004, in part "in recognition of outstanding artistic excellence during 2004, and in honour of extraordinary dedication, success on the national and international stage, and support for his fellow musicians". Former Musicians of the Year include Oscar Peterson, Jeff Healey, Rob McConnell, Rush, and Barenaked Ladies.

And: Ken Whitelely was awarded the 5th annual Estelle Klein Award, 2005, as presented by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. Ken Whiteley will receive his award at a special ceremony at the 2005 OCFF conference in Kingston this October. It was considered that Ken Whiteley has been in the music community for more than 3 decades, and has contributed to the community as a musician, producer, teacher, and festival artistic director. He has received 6 Juno nominations as a musician, and 20 Juno nominations for his work as a producer. As a former artistic director of the Mariposa festival, Ken Whiteley was mentored by the late Estelle Klein. Ken stated, "I'm honoured to be selected for this award, it reflects the respect of my peers, which means a lot to me".

As well, TIMA - The Toronto Independent Music Awards: To be held Wednesday, October 5, 2005 at The Phoenix Concert Hall, the inaugural Toronto Independent Music Awards (TIMA) is taking a city-centric attitude - primarily a celebration of this city's music scene. The promoter, Martin Brown, is seasoned in treading new ground. Brown originally hails from the south-west of England, and has made his home on the west coast of America. He founded the Inland Empire Music Awards and also the Orange County Music Awards (which just celebrated its 4th year) and now, having seen and heard so many great Canadian acts, he has set his sights on Toronto. The TIMAs will present over 20 awards and 10 performances in a large variety of music genres. Although the focus is on this city, this country and the amazing talent pool we have, the award process is open to anyone from anywhere else, but with this important stipulation: At least one band member MUST be Canadian, with the exception of Best International Music category applicants. Now is the time to submit - check out www.torontoima.com for details. A one-time submission fee of $25.00 allows you to submit in as many categories as you choose. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit MusicCan, an organization that supports school music programs.

Women's Blues Revue: Don't forget that, as a result of its move to Massey Hall last fall, reserved seating tickets for the 18th Annual edition on Saturday, November 26, 2005 are already on sale through the Massey Hall Box Office 416.872.4255, www.masseyhall.com, or, the least expensive way, in person at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street).

The Checkmates: Following their successful performance at the Iridescent Music Spring Fest last month, the Checkmates will again reunite in the aptly titled Checkmates Reunion 2005, on Friday, June 3, 9 pm, at the Fox & Fiddle, 3473 Lakeshore Blvd. West (between Brown's Line and Kipling), Toronto, (416-255-4126, www.foxandfiddle.com/location_bridgeport.html), featuring John Finley (lead vocals), Michael Fonfara (keyboards), Larry Leishman (guitar), Peter Hodgson (bass), and Michael Sloski (drums).

Northern Blues Double Bill: On Friday, June 17, Paul Reddick & friends (Vince Maccarone, Greg Marshak, & Julian Fauth) will perform a selection of tunes from the critically acclaimed "Villanelle", followed by Grier Coppins & Taxi Chain and their unique blend of celtic funk n' blues n' roots. Cover is $10.00, music starts at 9.30 pm. Healey's, 178 Bathurst Street, Toronto.

Speaking of Healey's: Mark Neveu has assumed talent booking for the club, bringing his programming experience from the Southcoast (formerly Mudcat) Blues Festival, and Readers Café in Dunnville.

Rez Bluez - To Ottawa and Beyond: Rez Bluez returns to the Nation's capital on Monday, June 20, to pre-celebrate National Aboriginal Solidarity Day, June 21. Ottawa Rez Bluez will celebrate at The Rainbow, Ottawa's legendary home of the blues, with the best in Native blues with Li'L Wolf opening for 2005 JUNO Nominees The Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter. Rez Bluez is now in its 12th year as a showcase which features some of the most talented Native blues singers and musicians. This fall watch for Rez Bluez TV coming to the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, with 13 shows featuring The Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter, Derek Miller, George Leach, Star Nayea, and The Wolf Pack, to name a few talented blues artists, plus the finest in Aboriginal comedy, along with a posse of hosts who live and breathe the blues. As well, The Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter have been invited to European festivals this year, including the International Music Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, July 7-17, 2005, and Blues sur Seine, a blues festival in Mantes la Jolie, France, in November 2005. www.sonicbids.com/pappyjohnsband

Talkin' Blues Repeats, and WC Handy Photos: "Talkin' Blues" is being repeated on BRAVO! TV Canada on Tuesdays at 10 am ET. It's creator, Mako Funasaka, has also posted some images he shot last month at the W.C. Handy Awards presentation in Memphis on his web site, under "Images", at www.talkinblues.com.

W.C. Handy Awards: And the winners last month were, for Blues Entertainer of the Year - B.B. King; Blues Band of the Year - the Holmes Brothers; Blues Album of the Year - Have a Little Faith, Mavis Staples; Blues Song of the Year - "Have a Little Faith," Jim Tullio and Jim Weider, writers; Best New Artist Debut - Blues With a Vengeance, John Lee Hooker Jr.; Comeback Blues Album - Back in 20, Gary 'U.S.' Bonds; Contemporary Blues Album - Sanctuary, Charlie Musselwhite; Soul Blues Album - Have a Little Faith, Mavis Staples; Traditional Blues Album - Ladies Man, Pinetop Perkins; Acoustic Blues Album - Double Take, Kenny Neal & Billy Branch; Historical Blues Album - Release the Hound, Hound Dog Taylor; Contemporary Blues Artist, Female - Shemekia Copeland; Contemporary Blues Artist, Male - Charlie Musselwhite; Soul Blues Artist, Female - Mavis Staples; Soul Blues Artist, Male - Bobby Rush; Traditional Blues Artist, Female - Koko Taylor; Traditional Blues Artist, Male - Pinetop Perkins; Acoustic Blues Artist - David 'Honeyboy' Edwards; Guitar - Bob Margolin; Keyboards - Marcia Ball; Bass - Willie Kent; Drums - Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith; Harmonica - Charlie Musselwhite; Horns - Roomful of Blues Horns; and Instrumentalist, Other - Robert Randolph.

Jeff Healey Joins JAZZ.FM91: Jeff Healey now hosts "My Kinda Jazz", every Monday, 9 to 11 pm, on JAZZ.FM91, as repeated on Sunday mornings from 7 to 9 am, which showcases the traditional jazz of the 1920s and 30s, a genre in which Healey is a leading aficionado. JAZZ.FM91 President and Chief Executive Officer Ross Porter said, "Jeff Healey's genius as an internationally revered musician has been celebrated since he first took to the stage as a youngster, but what is perhaps less known is his status as both an historian on classic jazz and a collector of vintage 78 rpm recordings that is now 25,000 strong". It is that remarkable mine of early vinyl treasures, assembled over the years since Jeff became the principal music specialist at the CBC at the age of 14, coupled with his superior knowledge of the music and the music makers of the 20s and 30s, that will comprise the content for "My Kinda Jazz " on JAZZ.FM91 each week. Jeff Healey said, "I am very excited to have this opportunity to share my long-time passion for early jazz and popular music with radio listeners. I have wanted to do something like this for a very long time, and am especially honoured to now have the chance to team with Ross Porter and JAZZ.FM91 in making it happen". Healey adds that in addition to his own choices, he intends to answer to listener requests for tunes his audience would like to hear, inviting emailed requests, comments, and/or questions to info@jeffhealey.com.

Festival International De Jazz De Montréal: The 26th edition will be held June 30th - July 10, 2005. Information is available at www.montrealjazzfest.com/fijm2005.

New Blues Programme: CHMR 93.5 FM in St. John's Newfoundland (www.mun.ca/chmr) is launching another blues music programme, "Patchwork Blues", on Fridays, 9-10 pm, in addition to the existing "Blind Lemon Blues" show on Mondays, 9-10 pm. Any CDs for airplay can be forwarded to Diane Wells, 14 Gilbert Street, St. John's, NL A1C 1X4 (709-754-8063), dianewells@canada.com.

Blues Beat magazine & the Blues Society of Western New York: They now have an active website at www.wnyblues.org, including band schedules, listings for events and festivals, and society news.

Our Condolences: To Maple Blues Entertainer of the Year Matt Minglewood, whose brother and former road manager Steve Batherson was one of the five oil-patch workers killed in a tragic bus accident between Edmonton and Fort McMurray Alberta last month. www.mattminglewood.com/Guestbook/index.php.

We remember Dianne Brooks: The great R&B and jazz singer Dianne Brooks passed away in Toronto last month. Dianne Brooks was one of the city's most impressive singers. Musicologist Bill Munson wrote "She first achieved professional success as one of a trio of New Jersey teenagers, the Three Playmates, in the late 1950s. Even then she possessed both a distinctive sultry voice and an exceptional songwriting talent, having written four of the six sides released by the group. The backing musicians at those sessions, for the important Savoy label, included Kenny Burrell, Budd Johnson, Jerome Richardson and Bobby Donaldson. Following the demise of the Three Playmates, Dianne signed on with a long-forgotten R&B act booked into southern Ontario in the early '60s. In Toronto she impressed bandleader and agent Billy O'Connor so much that he immediately offered to find her work. Through the mid '60s, Dianne fronted two of the mainstays of Toronto's bustling R&B scene -- first the Silhouettes, then the Soul Searchers. Forays to New York in 1966 and '67 resulted in a couple of singles with bassist-producer Harvey Brooks (no relation). Although the records were unjustly overlooked, someone must have been paying attention, as she was soon touring as featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra - playing San Francisco, upstate New York and the Esquire Show Bar in Montreal. Then it was back to Toronto, where Dianne found herself working again with Doug Riley, formerly of the Silhouettes and by then a well-respected producer and session musician. With Riley, Dianne recorded the stunning "Need To Belong"/"Walking On My Mind", and a strong album, "Another Kind Of Soul". Most of the songs on the album were given a full, rich treatment, Doug Riley having called in his colleagues from the Boss Brass. Considering how well they all worked together on record, it is not surprising that Dianne Brooks joined the Brass as a featured vocalist, singing with them at George's Spaghetti House for the next three years. The 1970s and '80s were busy years. Dianne was very much in demand as a backup vocalist on the increasingly hectic Toronto recording scene, working with just about everyone imaginable. She also recorded a classy, pop-oriented, second solo album, "Back Stairs of My Life" with producer Brian Ahern. Years later, Dianne looked back with the most satisfaction on is a rather low-key, five-song set recorded back in 1974 for airplay by CBC radio. The songs- four originals from the pen of arranger John Capek, plus the Cahn-Van Heusen chestnut, "I'll Only Miss Him" - are probably the closest thing to where she was musically most recently."

Dr. Feelgood's Book Review

On the Road with Dutch Mason: Prime Minister of the Blues
David Bedford and Harvey Sawlor
Nimbus Publishing, 2005
$19.95, 6 x 9, 202 pp., paper
B/w illustrations
ISBN 1-55109-510-6

"You know what's really f'n interesting though, Dave. I'm an introvert doing an extrovert's f'n job, you know what I mean. When I'm alone, I want to be f'n alone _ alone _ and when I'm playing, I'm playing, you know. I got like two different personalities like that. I'm an introvert doing an extrovert's job."

So said Dutch Mason to author and musician David Bedford. This statement basically sums up the deceptively simple but in fact deeply complex personality of Canada's "First Minister of the Blues". It's also the most serious and candid revelation Dutch Mason offers about his private life in this official biography.

What On the Road with Dutch Mason delivers are rollicking, often hilarious, tales laced with insight from lives lived on the fringes of regular society, where blues musicians like Dutch exist. Bedford and his co-author Harvey Sawlor (band members in Fredericton's The George Street Blues Project) have decided to present the unrecorded history of the blues in Canada, as told through the stories by and about Maritime legend Dutch Mason.

Written from Bedford's point of view as Dutchie's harp player, the book chronicles a fictitious ten-day road tour. Besides the "tour", everything else in the book is real _ so real in fact that some of the stories verge on the unreal or even surreal. They're told by Dutch, his band members past and present, as well as his fans, friends and family. And it's these stories that are the highlight of On the Road with Dutch Mason.

There are vivid accounts of Dutchie's beginnings playing the tough taverns of Sydney, Glace Bay and Digby in Nova Scotia, or getting stranded in Montreal on his first trip there in the early 60s. Not all the stories are about Dutch _ in fact the most shocking yet funny ones are about Rick Jeffrey, a long-time friend and band member whose sad passing is chronicled in the final chapter of the book.

These tales are told in an open, warts-and-all manner that gives the speakers credibility, and offers insights into the achievements of these remarkable characters. The stories ensure that the book doesn't become a romanticized history told by an academic who happens to play blues harp on the weekends (Bedford teaches at the University of New Brunswick). He's quite upfront about his `visitor' status to this scene and writes with a hint of self-deprecating humour throughout.

This bio is an engaging and readable way to get a view of the Canadian blues scene from the perspective of one very remarkable performer. Dutchie was awarded the Order of Canada this past February; On the Road with Dutch Mason reveals why he deserved this distinction.

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