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ATTENTION ALL HARMONICA PLAYERS:
CHUCK JACKSON HOSTS TORONTO BLUES SOCIETY’S
HARMONICA WORKSHOP APRIL 29
Who: Chuck Jackson hosts Jerome Godboo, Howard Willett, and Mark “Bird”
Stafford, with house band Gary Kendall, Tyler Burgess, and Pete Schmidt
What: An all-ages practical workshop for all Harmonica players and blues
enthusiasts
Where: The Silver Dollar Room, 486 Spadina Ave., Toronto
When: Saturday, April 29 2PM – 6PM
How much: $10.00 TBS members, students / $12.00 non-members
Website: www.torontobluessociety.com
The Toronto Blues Society will hold a special workshop for harmonica players
and blues fans on Saturday afternoon, April 29 at the Silver Dollar Room
(486 Spadina Ave., Toronto).
The event will be hosted by Downchild Blues Band frontman Chuck Jackson and
is designed to include both novice and seasoned players in an informative
dialogue that addresses harmonica tone, sound and style. Jackson is a
multiple Maple Blues Award winner, including the 2002 Blues With a Feeling
award for lifetime achievement. Armed with a hot blues harmonica, Jackson
has also been featured on many television and movie projects as well as
working with Bo Diddley, James Cotton and Georgie Fame. Jackson is also the
driving force behind the South Side Shuffle, one of Canada’s most successful
blues festivals
Jackson will be joined by some of the most adventurous and inventive blues
harp players in the country including Jerome Godboo, Howard Willett of the
Bebop Cowboys, and Mark “Bird” Stafford.
He’s played his high-energy and funky blues harp on stage with an eclectic
mix of North America’s best musicians. Those who have seen Jerome Godboo in
past workshops know that the flamboyant bluesman has a professorial streak
and often brings specially-designed charts to the workshops.
Howard Willett has spent most of his musical career playing in the country
and blues genres. His work with Toronto music staples Bebop Cowboys has
allowed him to create a unique Country-inspired style of harmonica with
suggestions of clarinet and accordion tones in addition to the blues harp
sound. Willett understands the close linkage between Blues, Country, Jazz,
and Western Swing and can effortlessly adapt his harmonica playing to any
genre, making it seem a natural part of the overall flow.
A serious student of "fat tone" harmonica, Mark “Bird” Stafford subscribes
to the teachings of the masters: Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter Jacobs,
Big Walter Horton, Junior Wells and James Cotton, imbuing what he's learned
with a healthy dose off his own creativity. Stafford is also an expert on
harmonica equipment.
The Harmonica Workshop is one of the most popular events in the Toronto
Blues Society's ongoing programme. It is made possible by the generous
support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council,
the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, Wilson Music Services,
and Lee Oscar Harmonicas.
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For more information, photos, interviews, please contact: Toronto Blues Society, (416) 538-3885, info@torontobluesociety.com