Tonight at Hugh's Room Live - Jason Buie Fundraiser - It's a benefit concert for a young blues guy that most of us just met at the Maple Blues Awards in January where he won "Best New Artist." Jason Buie made a big impression on everybody who met him that week-end and we were shocked when he died suddenly last month leaving behind 3 kids (with 10-year old twins he was single-parenting). The Toronto Blues Society jumped right in and organized a fundraiser for his kids and several of us who made a short but sweet connection to him offered to put on a show. Gary Kendall has been hard at work organizing it and has put together a great lineup featuring Suzie Vinnick, Lance Anderson, Mark"Bird"Stafford, moi and three of the fastest-rising stars on the local blues scene, Raha Javanfar, Dan McKinnon and Jenie Thai with the solid rhythm section of Bucky Berger on drums and Terry Wilkins or Gary Kendall on bass. Admission is $30 at the door but rest assured it is going to a good cause
Saturday, April 14 is the Campfire Jam at the Old Mill with my very special guests Harpdog Brown from BC, Jordie Edmonds his touring partner and the brilliant Jesse O'Brien on the big Yamaha grand. We will be playing some down home, old-school blues and I'm really looking forward to it (details on the sidebar or at the bottom of this Blainletter if you're reading on a phone).
On Saturday, April 21, I'll be playing another solo house concert at the home of Ann Kerr-Linden in the Spadina/Bloor neighborhood. It's a beautiful space and I remember it was a great arrentive audience last year. It's not a big space and Ann likes to know how many people are coming so if you're interested in seeing yours truly, intimate and interactive (no amps, no PA), send her an email at annkerrlinden@gmail.com.
So, spring has sprung, apparently, but today there was snow in the air
and huge winds that took down this tree at the top of my street.
There's lots new around here, in particular a new car, because the old Volvo had ceased to be "Old Reliable" and I was using it sparingly and then, out of the blue, I was offered a car for (virtually) free. This is not unusual for me. Every car I've had since I came to Toronto has been either free or damn near. It started when my future ex-wife uttered her parting words, "you can have the Tercel. I'm getting an Accord!" And ever since then, whenever one dies another appears. It's my car-karma. And I try to be true to my Car-ma by giving lifts to folks who don't have wheels. This one is a Honda CRV called "Winona." I'm just feeling pretty good about making it through a long and bitter winter (see Quote of the Day).
Ancestry Update (Careful What You Wish For Department)
If you've been following my adventures in DNA-land, you'll recall that I was getting close to finding one of my birth parents (in case you didn't know, I was adopted). We were confident that we knew my great-grandparents on one side and it was just a matter of elimination to narrow it down to possible parents. I was actually in touch with a couple of cousins, making more inquiries, when all of a sudden the line kinda went dead. No response and I expect that was because somebody was getting uncomfortable with all this poking around the past. And I respect that, so I've put on the brakes. But at the same time, someone new just sent in their DNA and I get a notification that I've got a new connection. And my intrepid investigator Margaret Stowe used that connection to verify some previous DNA connections and now we're well on the way to discovering my "other" birth parent. It seems I had two great grandfathers who were cooks at the mining camps in the turn of the century. Another great uncle was a miner in north Africa during the first world war, and travelling in uboat infested waters. More to follow...
New Recording
I know I told everybody that I didn't think I had another CD in me, but now I've got a few new tunes and I'm anxious to try some new ideas, mixing up afrobeat and electronica with my bluesy grooves so I think we'll be doing some recording next month. I would not be so confident that this would be happening if I hadn't just received confirmation that a certain very busy and super-talented player has put aside some time to record with me while he's in the area. Stay tuned.
Out and About
I was not getting out very much last month. Under the weather and no wheels. But I did make it out to Hugh's Room Live for Sugar Brown's CD launch which kicked off with an old favourite of mine, Ray Bonneville. I knew him back in Quebec and saw him whenever I could after he moved to the states. He's an impeccable guitarist and the best rack-harmonica player this side of John Hammond. I told him that and I hope I wasn't being out of line comparing him to John Hammond. Ray has a most identifiable sound, the harmonica, the guitar, the vocal, even the foot stomping. Right away – you know it's Ray. It's what every musician strives for – an instantly identifiable sound.
Ken (aka Sugar Brown) rocked the house with his raw delivery and a tight band with Michelle Josef and Russ Boswell. Nichol Robertson was playing second guitar, a position I've held on a few occasions, and he was pulling out some licks that were way beyond anything I could do (or imagine). And I had to ask Russ what he was doing to make that string bass sound better than any string bass I've heard on that stage (he brought his own tube pre-amp/DI).
As I was trying to line up a keyboard player for the next campfire jam with Harpdog Brown I went up the road to Sauce on Danforth to see if Julian Fauth might be available (he plays at Sauce every Tuesday-6-9). I thought his regular Saturday at Gate 403 was over now that they're closing but as it turns out the big closing concert is the date I wanted him. Oh well, next time Julian!
"Po Cholly" Robertson was sitting in with Julian on Tuesday (along with a couple of other harp players). Julian is the most generous of blues musicians on the scene, always inviting people to sit in with him and he wanted me to sing a tune but I was just out of the dentist and not feeling up for it. He is one of those artists whose name I've heard many times since I got to Toronto in 1990. Jack Schechtman (Gabriel) is another (though I may have met him back then). He was a fixture on the Yorkville scene in the 60s and we both ended up at an impromptu kitchen jam at our friend Sarilyn, International midwife. Below is a little video clip that captures a few of my outings last month –and Here's a little video montage of some moments from last month. The video ends with a little clip of jazz flautist Anh Phung who was doing an event for the Markham Jazz Festival.
Just as Julian's residency at Gate 403 comes to an end, another appears. He has just kicked off a regular Friday at a new venue called the Senator Wine Bar, a tiny upscale room above the Senator Restaurant (adjacent to the Jazz Bistro…which was previously Top 'O The Senator.) The new venue is owned by Bob Sniderman, son of Sam the Record Man.
…and speaking of Sam, I finally looked up, up, up at Dundas Square and saw the re-incarnated Sam the Record Man spinning discs – a real piece of Toronto music history.
…and speaking of Toronto Music History, I just checked out the display of photos and memorabilia at the small museum above the St Lawrence Market – Jazz Clubs from 1946. Just as I am eliminating a basement full of archives including the newsletters I edited for Toronto Jazz, The LeadSheet and Downtown Jazz.
I guess that's enough for now. Oh but let's not forget the …
Quote of the Day: "Winter never fails to turn into Spring" (from the Buddhist scriptures)
Thanks for reading this far. Feel free to forward this to any friend you think might enjoy my occasional ramblings (and maybe my music, too). If it's been forwarded to you or if you're reading this on Facebook, you can sign up to the Blainletter at www.brianblain.com
BrianB, aka Butch, Nappy, Shaker, Two-Lane Blain, Colorblind Brian, Stringbuster, Buddha of the Blues
Upcoming Shows
Friday April 6, 8:30 at Hugh's Room Live for the Jason Buie Fundraiser w/Suzie Vinnick, Lance Anderson, Mark"Bird" Stafford, Brian Blain, Raha Javanfar, Dan McKinnon and Jenie Thai with the solid rhythm section of Bucky Berger on drums and Terry Wilkins or Gary Kendall on bass. $30 at the door.
Saturday April 14, 7:30-10:30pm Brian's Blues Campfire Jam with Harpdog Brown, Jordie Edmonds, Jesse O'Brien The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Road. No Cover ($20 min food & beverage)
Saturday April 21, 7:00 Brian Blain (solo) House Concert at the home of Ann Kerr-Linden in the Spadina/Bloor neighborhood. $20 or PWYC Contact annkerrlinden@gmail.com for details
