** Hello friends
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Well it looks like we will be gigging next week! And lo and behold I'm not waiting till the day before to get the word out. Next Thursday, it's a house concert in a great room that Ann Kerr-Linden has built in her house near Spadina & Bloor - perfect for storytelling and music. She has asked for RSVPs so she can prepare - there will be tea and cookies on the break. And when you reply, feel free to make a request - I'm still putting together the set list and could use a little guidance. I have some great memories doing a bunch of house concerts on the Home Routes circuit in Manitoba and Sask with Allan Fraser. I hope they can keep that great initiative going (thinking of you, Mitch).
And I'm happy to announce the return of the Blues Campfire (literally). Bev & Howard had borrowed it for the late night jam on Harlan's Porch at FMO and handed it back at an event at a record label office just down the street. It was a private showcase for Ann Vriend who just won the Cobalt Prize for songwriting but even if she never wrote a mumbling word she has a voice that's one-in-a-million. Now I'll be firing up the Campfire for a jam at the Winterfolk festival (Sunday, Feb 19 3pm) and then for a residency at the Home Smith Bar in the Old Mill - better known as a classy jazz venue with a beautiful grand piano (which we will be making good use of). See the sidebar for all the great performers who will be joining me.
I'm noticing way less activity on the list serves (maple blue, maple post) and wondering if it's getting a little redundant to post gigs there. It was great when it was the only game in town but now there are so many ways to spread the word. I remember people would end their posts with "MOATM:" (Music On At The Moment). I loved that.
** Congratulations are in Order
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MOATM is CIUT-FM, listening to John Valenteyn's radio show. He's playing all the JUNO blues nominees who were just announced on Tuesday (this is the spot where I should insert a short whine wondering why I wasn't invited this year - I would have liked to see what that new Rebel nightclub looks like). It's a great slate and congrats to all the nominees - especially Sean Pinchin who I've been following carefully over the last couple of years. I love the way he plays. Glad to see Paul Reddick, who I haven't played with in years but who will be joining me at the Blues Campfire on March 11. Both Colins are nominated this year (Linden & James). Colin James played a killer set at a private showcase at the Horseshoe last month (Steve Marriner was sitting in and will be joining him for the tour). And then there's Whitehorse who stepped out of their usual comfort zone to make a quick-and-dirty blues album and it mostly works. It's called "Vol 1" but I wonder if there will be a Vol
2... Luke says it was a bit of a "fun" side-project for these two but I doubt they'll be trying to get gigs on the blues circuit (where, as they say, there's "hundreds of dollars to be made"). Other (non-blues) friends who were nominated include Brenna MacCrimmon (Turkwaz), Chris McKhool (Sultans of String) and Jesse King, aka Dubmatix. You can see the complete list at www.junoawards.ca (http://www.junoawards.ca/) .
The Canadian contingent at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis made us proud this year. Dawn Tyler Watson (backed up by the Ben Racine Band) won first prize and it must be extra sweet for DTW who just came out of a triple-bypass heart operation. Amazing.
https://youtu.be/LXEFnsDGEoc
Dawn Tyler wasn't sure she'd be doing any singing at the Summit as she was still recovering from triple bypass but she did get up and do a little a cappella number. Obviously she had fully recovered by the time she got to Memphis
Congrats also to JW-Jones and Ben Racine for their awards and also to my buddy Ken Kawashima, aka Sugar Brown, who made it into the finals and I bet would've won if harmonica maestro Bharath Rajakumar had been able to join him as planned. Great that he got to hang with his mentor, Taildragger, who taught him the ropes when he was coming up in Chicago. All the info is at www.blues.org (http://www.blues.org/)
A lot of my friends and colleagues feel a little uncomfortable about the "competitive" aspect of these awards programmes. It doesn't fit our Canadian ethos. I got to hang out with Harry Manx while he was touring out this way and he talked about how different it was in India where the musicians are really competitive, often trash-talking each other. Now that would never happen here ;-)
** Summit Stuff
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January was chock full of great blues - imagine the 30 top blues bands in the country all under one roof - that was the Blues Summit. Of the 250 delegates there were probably 50 or so "talent buyers" and for two days they had to sit at tables in the hotel ballroom while artists and managers skipped from one table to the next to make their "elevator pitch." After 5 minutes, Alice would announce that we had to move to the next table. Kind of speed-dating for gigs. I ran into a few people who liked what I do and maybe I'll get a gig or two. From my experience, everybody at these things already knows who they want to book and if there's any spots left after that they will go with the artists who their colleagues are keen about. I had more success as a "buyer" and was able to line up some great guests for the Blues Campfire at the Home Smith Bar.
There were a few panel discussions about career development and all that, but I didn't get to much and the ones I attended...well, I've heard it all before. This is usually the spot in my blog where I would pass along some of the "tips" I picked up but alas, I don't have anything. Wait a minute, let me look through my notebook again. OK, here's something: The Ontario Arts Council now has an easy online grant application process. That would be worth checking out: www.arts.on.ca (http://www.arts.on.ca )
I skipped out of the Sunday panels to hear Harpdog Brown and Steve Kozak sitting in with Dr Nick at the Rex and Harpdog remains a big favourite of all the showcasing artists. I saw him play several times while he was in this area and he's got that "larger than life" thing going for him. He plays great harp and his guitar player, Jordy, is my kind of guitar player.
Guitar players ruled at the Summit - one night it was just one guitarslinger after another, and even though it was the best players in the country, your eyes started to glaze over after awhile. One standout solo was former child prodigy Ricky Paquette playing with Angel Forrest (and now sporting a mustache!) On another night I heard some grumbling that some of these bands would be more at home in a Holiday Inn lounge. It's ironic that everybody strives to be unique and yet the more generic you sound, the better chance of getting the gigs.
One artist I was impressed with, though I still haven't heard her play, was Chuckee Zehr. What a neat lady and when I asked around about her piano playing I heard nothing but high praise. I'm going to hear her play even if I have to go to Stratford!
My favourite moment in the whole summit week-end (probably because it's the only chance I got to play) was a late night jam/guitar-pull in Brian Mortimer's hotel room. Great to watch the "new kid on the block," Mark Crissinger swapping licks with one of his heroes, Jack de Keyzer. Then there was Steve Strongman and Paul Deslauriers pulling out unlikely tunes that were definitely not in their "wheelhouse." Lots of laughs.
The culmination of the Blues Summit was the Maple Blues Awards gala and it was a great show - fabulous, moving performances and a sweep for Quebec artists. How nice it was to hang with the legendary Stephen Barry who I knew way back when in (lower) Westmount. He received a lifetime achievement award and well-deserved it was. I couldn't get over MC Steve Marriner's impressions of Paul Reddick and Richard Flohil. As if he isn't busy enough with music projects, I wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood doesn't come calling pretty soon. All the winners at http://torontobluessociety.com/about-maple-blues-awards/
**
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** Fraser & DeBolt EP
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The Minneapolis-based label Roaratorio Records has released a three-song vinyl EP by the legendary Canadian duo of Allan Fraser and Daisy DeBolt. The disk showcases the majestic David Owen tune “Zero ± 22 and Holding (Flight Of The Light Air Force)”.
Side two includes two songs recorded live at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York in 1970. Allan Fraser’s signature tune “Dance Hall Girls” is followed by a rollicking version of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
The record is a follow-up to the 2016, 2-LP release “This Song Was Borne.” The albums together are a retrospective of Allan and Daisy’s musical partnership which dated from 1969 to 1975. Both are available online from www.roaratorio.com and on iTunes. The disks include a bonus download code with purchase.
** On the Road Again
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Well it wasn't exactly like the last time I toured with Harry Manx, but I hitched a ride with Harry and Clayton Doley for part of their Ontario tour last week and even though I was starting to think my touring days were over, I managed quite well. And I had as much fun as you could have without actually playing (when I toured with Harry back in 05/06 I was his support act). I made a little movie of our adventure and Harry also has been playing around with the iMovie. Check them out on our respective Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/HarryManx and www.facebook.com/brianblain.musician
Tomorrow night I'm going to a gallery opening of paintings by troubadour Tom Russell (he's playing at the Dakota on Saturday - 7pm show). I got to hang out with him a few years back in Massachusetts but I don't expect he'll remember me. Saturday I'm looking forward to hearing kora master Diely (pronounced "jelly") Mori Tounkara at the Alliance Francaise. But wait a minute, I'm going to miss the best part of the Grammys, the Saturday webcast of all the "lesser" awards that don't get on the Sunday prime time TV show. I hear Gary Clark Jr with William Bell will perform on the Sunday night show. Nice that the blues gets some mainstream attention, but it always seems to include Gary Clark Jr. He's great. It's all good...
Lots on my "to-do" list. I started to make a proper video of "Ramene Moi Demain" with more beautiful (hi-res) pics by lyricist Daniel Racine. We also worked together on an English translation and I'm now learning how to make subtitles. Stringbuster (and the Robot Johnson Project) are inching forward but it's always pushing the capabilities of my little Macbook Pro, especially when you're trying to use state-of-the-art machine learning and artificial intelligence. It's one step forward and two steps back. We'll get there and it will be...HHHHHUGE!
That's it for now. There's more commentary and some great video clips from the Summit on my blog (http://torontobluesdiary.blogspot.com/) . Check out my Facebook musician page (http://facebook.com/brianblain.musician) and give me a "like".
See you out there, BrianB
Thanks for subscribing to the (mostly)monthly Blainletter. If this is one-too-many emails for you, you can unsubscibe at the bottom of the message. Anyway, most of this content is culled from my blog, torontobluesdiary.com so you can always read it there.
**
UPCOMING SHOWS
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Thursday, Feb 16 -
House Concert (solo) at Ann Kerr-Linden, 48 Dalton Road (at Lowther) Toronto Doors at 6:30 (turn right and go down the stairs) Music starts at 7:00 pm $20 or PWYC - RSVP brianblain@brianblain.ca (or surprise me)
Saturday February 18 7PM The Black Swan Tavern (https://www.reverbnation.com/venue/143472?) (main floor) 154 Danforth Ave Toronto
Concert: Brian Blain (solo)
Sunday February 19 3PM Terri O's 185 Danforth Ave
The Blues Campfire with host Brian Blain
Hour 1 – Danny Marks, David Essig, Jerome Tucker
Hour 2 – Mr. Rick, Kim Doolittle, Julian Taylor
Sunday February 19 7PM The Black Swan Tavern (https://www.reverbnation.com/venue/143472?) (main floor) 154 Danforth Ave Toronto
Workshop: Finger Picking the Blues host David Essig with Brian Blain & Mr. Rick
The Blues Campfire goes Uptown
** Saturday, March 11
Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto
Brian's Blues Campfire with special guests Paul Reddick and Ken Whiteley
Saturday, April 8
Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto
Brian's Blues Campfire with special guests Bill King and Manitoba Hal
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I call it my "living" album because it started life as a solo "live" recording with bassist George Koller and has now been "sweetened, stacked, mixed and mastered" with new instrumentation on all the songs. It starts with New Orleans marching horns from Alison Young and Colleen Allen on "Forgotten", “Alice“ gets violin and banjo from Drew Jurecka and Tim Posgate. There's a reggae percussion workout with Trinidadian Wayne Stoute and the wonderful Michelle Josef, some sweet slide from Harry Manx on the French tune, barrelhouse piano from Toronto expat Patrick Godfrey and organ grooves galore from Australian B3 sensation Clayton Doley. "The Ghost of Clinton's Tavern" is a full-tilt electronic ambient remix by my son the DJ. You won’t believe that these are the same basic tracks that I released on the original "New Folk Blues"
