IBC Winners: Congratulations to Shakura S'Aida for taking second place in the International Blues Challenge. Danny Brooks and Fathead also made a big impression on the US blues movers and shakers and we can expect more American appearances from these fine players. In the band category the winners were, in 1st Place, Trampled Under Foot (Kansas City Blues Society), 2nd Place, Shakura S'Aida (Toronto Blues Society) and 3rd Place, Lil' Ray Neal Band (Baton Rouge Blues Society.) In the Solo/Duo category the winners were, 1st Place, Lionel Young (Colorado Blues Society) and 2nd Place, Ben Prestage (Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast) Congratulations to all the IBC winners.

Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne (left) tears through Ontario playing the afternoon matinee Bluesaganza at Fat Tony's in St. Catharines on Saturday March 22 and later that evening at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto. He will be the special guest at an Easter Sunday Show March 23 (3-6pm) at The Liquid Lounge and as part of the Blues On The Rideau series at the Cove Country Inn in Westport (Mar 21).

Waterfront Blues: The Distillery Blues Festival is moving to the waterfront with a name change, you guessed it, Waterfront Blues. The dates are June 6-7-8 and the new location is Woodbine Park. This free festival showcases mostly local bands but some notable highlights will be Sharrie Williams and perennial favourite Duke Robillard on the Saturday main stage. Watermelon Slim and the Workers will be performing as part of the NorthernBlues Showcase on Sunday June 8. Their name may have changed but the website is still www.distilleryblues.com.

The National Jazz Awards, celebrating their seventh year, will be hosted by two very blues friendly local artists, Kellylee Evans and Michael Kaeshammer. There will be a stellar line-up of jazz performers and the event takes place in the venerable Palais Royale on Tuesday, April 8. The theme this year is "A Tribute to the Next Generation". Tickets are $65 and available through Ticketmaster 416.870.8000 or www.ticketmaster.ca.

Molly Johnson honoured: Congratulations to Mollly Johnson who was recognized for her contributions to the music industry in Canada on Friday, Feb. 22, when Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada presided over the 101st investiture ceremony at Ottawa’s Rideau Hall. Singer, songwriter and philanthropist Molly Johnson was one of the recipients of the prestigious honour, being named an Officer of the Order of Canada. With her artistic vision, generosity of spirit and committed humanitarianism, Molly Johnson engages her fans and her peers. She has one of Canada’s most unmistakable voices and has moved audiences across Canada and Europe with her performances of jazz standards and original pieces. As the co-founder and driving force of the Kumbaya Foundation, she has raised funds and awareness for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Fathead on the charts: Fatheads recent Juno nominated disc "Building Full Of Blues" has been charted at #22 on the current Living Blues top radio chart. The disc is receiving major US airplay and is in rotation on XM satellite.

Lance Anderson, (left) producer behind 2B3 The Toronto Sessions has gathered some of the country's finest keyboard players for an afternoon of exploring the 88's, the B3, and assorted black and whites. The TBS Keyboard Workshop takes place at the Orbit Room on March 29 (2-6pm) and will feature Dennis Keldie, Michael Fonfara, Jesse O'Brien and Jesse Whiteley with Lance hosting.

Cobourg gets the blues: Zap productions of Cobourg is pleased to announce a great double blues billing, two shows in one. The legendary James Cotton and his Chicago blues band opening for the Johnny Winter blues band. Two show’s one night Thursday April 17th at the Park Playhouse in Cobourg. More info at 1-905-377-9595 or www.myspace.com/zappproductions

Tracy K keeping busy: On January 28th, one of Canada's rising blues stars, Tracy K, was declared a semi-finalist in two categories of the 2007 International Songwriting Competition. Her song "Broken & Blue" was chosen in the BLUES category, and "Rollin’ with the Changes" was chosen in the coveted performance category. She has also been chosen to write a song based on one of the five titles from CBC Radio One's "Canada Reads" 2008.

ECMAs: Congrats to Fredericton native, and Maple Blues Award winner for best new artist, Thom Swift on winning his first solo ECMA award for Blues Album of the year last night for "Into the Dirt" at ECMA 2008 in Fredericton. The ECMA closed of with some East Coast Blues, an incredible opening set by Newfoundlander Chris Kirby (who was at the MB Summit last year), then Thom Swift, Hot Toddy, young phenom Keith Hallet, Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin Bastards, and again another Late Night party with former MBA winner Shirley Jackson and her good Rockin' Daddy's.

Lou Pride (right- aka George Louis Pride) grew up on the north side of the Windy City. Like countless other soul and blues singers he had gospel roots. But after watching a B.B. King performance with his mom, blues singing became a career goal. The rest is history. Come check out Lou Pride at the Silver Dollar on Saturday, April 5.

Grammy winners Well it was quite the show this year at the Grammy’s. Lots of solid competition, but only one can walk away with that little gold gramophone. In the category of Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) Last Of The Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas was the winner. The album features Henry James Townsend, Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins, Robert Lockwood, Jr. & David "Honeyboy" Edwards. The other nominees were Pinetop Perkins On The 88's - Live In Chicago, 10 Days Out: Blues From The Backroads Kenny Wayne Shepherd Featuring various artists and Old School from Koko Taylor. In the category of Best Contemporary Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) The Road To Escondido from JJ Cale & Eric Clapton took home the prize. Other nominees were Into The Blues from Joan Armatrading, Is It News from Doyle Bramhall, Truth from Robben Ford and The Scene Of The Crime from Bettye LaVette. Congratulations to all the winners.

Delmark is having a party: This venerable blues (and jazz) label celebrates with the 55th Anniversary All-Star Chicago Blues Tribute Concert at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Celebrating Delmark and Bob Koester’s 55th year in the music business, they’re throwing a special all-star tribute concert with a who’s who of Chicago Blues on Friday, March 7th at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Delmark artists and friends Dave Specter, Byther Smith, Jimmy Dawkins, Tail Dragger, Jimmy and Syl Johnson, Little Arthur Duncan, Shirley Johnson, The Big DooWopper, Zora Young, Aaron Moore, Lurrie Bell, Michael Coleman, Eddie Shaw, and many more special guests scheduled to perform so far! They have also announced a commemorative Delmark CD compilation for their 55th Birthday.

Back To The Bayou: This year's NBA All-Star game, was the first major event to commit to New Orleans post-Katrina and featured some great blues talent including Dr. John, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, Allen Toussaint. Performances on all three nights (Feb. 15-17) were aired live on TNT.

Remembering Calvin Owens: Legendary bandleader and trumpeter Calvin Owens succumbed to kidney failure on February 21. He was 78. Owens is best known for being an early bandleader for B.B. King in the early fifties while King recorded his famous sides at the Kent Label in Texas. Owens would go on to record not just blues but country, Spanish music, and hip hop. His numerous abilities to fluidly cross between genres can be heard in any number of his subsequent releases since his return. Two recordings in the blues genre notched him critical acclaim for his solo album Ain't Gonna Be Yo' Dog No Mo' in which Owens is coupled with several different young blues artists and his bandleading work on his own label Sawdust Alley Records Trudy Lynn with the Calvin Owens Orchestra. In lieu of flowers, Calvin requested that donations be made to his foundation, Sawdust Alley Music Preservation Foundation, which serves children in the Houston community & provides for music education around town. The Maestro, as he was called, has a long recorded history and influence that will shine on for years to come.

- Joel Blain, Brian Blain

LEE OSKAR, MICHAEL PICKETT AND DAVID ROTUNDO ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Harpmeister Lee Oskar is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Lee Oskar harmonicas with a Canadian tour that winds down at the TBS Harmonica Workshop at the Silver Dollar on Saturday afternoon April 12.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Lee Oskar will be touring and leading a band of national and international players in Ontario and Quebec March 28th to April 13th. The tour will be an eclectic collaboration with touring artists Michael Pickett, David Rotundo, and European based guitarist Enrico Crivellaro.

Lee Oskar arrives in Haight-Ashbury in 1966 with a harmonica and 15 cents in his pocket! 42 years later Lee Oskar Harmonicas are world renowned.

Lee Oskar took the once simple and understated harmonica to uncharted and limitless heights and is regarded as one of the most innovative and prolific players of our time. 'Instrumental Artist of the Year' for 1976 in not one but three major industry mags: Billboard, Cashbox and Record World. Driven by his unique style and demand for quality, Lee set out to make a better instrument and decided to partner with Tombo of Japan, one of the oldest and most respected harmonica manufacturers in the world. With Lee's pioneering ideas and Tombo's uncompromising manufacturing process, the Lee Oskar Harmonica was born in 1983.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1948, Lee Oskar landed in the States in the mid 60s and is most popularly known as one of the founding members of the seminal Soul/Rock/Funk band WAR which, in addition to multiple major hits of its own, supported and recorded with The Animals' front man, Eric Burdon. Today, the musical legacy of WAR continues as Lee and original members of the band collaborate as "The Lowrider Band" which performs internationally, jamming the classic hits they composed and promoting the new name.

Michael Pickett began his musical career as a harmonica player in the late 60s. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s he established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/ harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band. Musically profound, they pushed the envelope for Blues and funky Roots music. He provided the direction for all three projects and surrounded himself with some of the top musicians in the country garnering multiple awards and nominations for his harmonica playing, (three Maple Blues Harmonica Player of the Year awards), songwriting, singing, and CDs (two JUNO nominations). His own approach to the harmonica was more subtle than most, layering his 'voice' into the background, resulting in unique arrangements which highlighted the genius in his songwriting. Today, Michael tours internationally as a solo acoustic singer/songwriter whose work on rack harmonica is universally acknowledged as world-class.

David Rotundo, 2007 Maple Blues Harmonica Player of the Year, is the youngest of the group and has made his life as a full time musician since the 2001 release of his first of four CDs. David has six consecutive nominations for the Maple Blues Awards 'Harmonica Player of the Year'. He received the 'New Artist of the Year Award in 2002 and the CBC 'Galaxy for Rising Stars Award' in 2003. David is regarded as one of the most exciting and dynamic players on the scene. While touring with the legendary Ronnie Hawkins Band in 2001, Ronnie once said, "David Rotundo plays the Blues the way the Blues are supposed to be played... keep Rocking."

Supporting this cast of harmonica slingers is one of the greatest and most exciting guitar players on the scene today... Enrico Crivellaro. A star in his own right, Enrico is already on dozens of recordings and has released three of his own. The recipient of countless awards and nominations including 2003 Swing Guitarist of the Year which he won over Brian Setzer in the USA, Enrico has already been compared with greats like Eric Clapton, Ronnie Earl, and Duke Robillard. He has toured with and supported many of the great Blues and Swing outfits such as The Royal Crown Revue, Lester Butler and 13, The James Harmon Band, and Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson from the late, great Muddy Waters Band.

The Lee Oskar Harmonicas 25th Anniversary Tour will make a stop at the TBS Harmonica Workshop being held at the Silver Dollar Room on Saturday afternoon, April 12. They will be touring across Ontario with dates in Peterborough (April 11), Port Credit (April 13) and a date at Hugh's Room in Toronto on April 1. Complete tour details at www.michaelpickett.com. A must-see for all fans and players of the blues harp.

Members, please send us your current email address to ensure that you receive all the latest blues news including information about very special deals for TBS members. Email to: info@torontobluessociety.com

LEE OSKAR, MICHAEL PICKETT AND DAVID ROTUNDO ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

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