Blainletter #91 - June 2017

Still Giggin' June 10 will be the final "Second Saturday" Campfire Jam at the Old Mill but it looks like we'll be back in September. Mark "Bird" Stafford has been a mainstay on the Toronto blues scene since I got to town in the early 90s. A great harp player of the "fat tone" school and now doing double duty on drums and percussion.  He's bringing along one of his favourite piano players, Geoff Daye and I took this opportunity to invite a guitarist who has made a big impression on me every time I heard him (blues and otherwise) and his name is Mike Daley.  He's also a respected academic, teaching ethno-musicology at York University. He's teaching a credit course on Bob Dylan - now that's something that would have kept me in college. As usual, we'll be swapping songs and stories and I'm sure a good time will be had by all. I'm happy to report that the Southside Shuffle has given me a date and the Toronto Jazz Festival invited me to play this year. I'll be seizing the moment to gather up some friends and have a little celebration of my 25 years on staff at the jazz festival as (barely)managing editor and intermittent IT guy. They even consulted with me occasionally on Blues acts...until I got them to bring in one of my favourite artists, Mighty Sam McClain and then had to watch as he played to a half-empty tent.  Oh well, there's a reason I'm not a promoter. And the first lesson you learn as a promoter is don't book someone just because you like them. I didn't get to play the Orangeville bluesfest for the first time but I saw a lot on Facebook Live and looks like they had a great festival. I remember last year - I must have had 4 plays and if it hadn't been for Joel coming with me to drive and shlepp the gear, it would have near killed me. I remember I was pretty wiped when I got back home. I guess I'm just feeling my age...Last week for the first time in my career I went to a venue, took down the posters and told the bartender I wouldn't be back. It wasn't because last time we were greeted by the club owner complaining that our jam would interfere with the Raptors game on TV, or even that they shortchanged me on my fee. It was just way too exhausting to bring in a PA, two amps and three guitars and play all night long (we don't take many breaks at the Campfire Jam). I was totally wiped out the next day. If we're going to be doing any more touring, it'll have to be a "Blues Elders" package with roadies to carry the gear and pass out the Metamucil. And if there's any groupies coming around they better bring the Viagra :-) I still think there's room for me in the Blues landscape. How often do you get to hear the slow-cooked grooves of a guitar player who's been perfecting the same riffs (on the same guitar) for fifty years without ever having the benefit of a guitar lesson or the burden of a rehearsal. My Roots Revealed I was told very early in life that I was adopted and never gave it much thought.  I remember at some point when I was still very young I said to my mother that I would like to search for my "real" mother and I saw from the expression on her face that I had crossed some kind of line and I never brought it up again - and put that thought out of my head.  A couple of years before she died she pulled me to her beside and told me the story of how the adoption happened and that she thought my name had been Robert.  I wrote that story into my song, Enfant Choisi, but still never gave it a lot of thought. Then along came AncestryDNA and when they had a sale on St Patrick's Day I sent in my spit and $109. and the results are in... Some of you Blainreaders might have noticed last month I tried to have an "office pool" of sorts to guess what is my ancestry but I guess I didn't offer an attractive enough prize because nobody took me up on it.  Anyway, I made my guess just before I opened the results: "Irish,"  I said, and wouldn't you know I'm 61% Irish and 14% Iberian Peninsula...and for John Robshaw and anyone else who wanted to know the rest, its 11% Great Britain, 8% Europe West and 4% Italy/Greece.  Not very exotic, eh?  I'm about as WASP as you can get.  But now the real fun begins.  I've had three relatives come out of the woodwork and we think I'm a McGoldrick.  More to come on all this... Out and About I was thrilled to be invited to do an opening set for Terry Gillespie's CD launch - and doubly excited to play the legendary Dakota Tavern for the first time.  I don't know if you can call a venue "legendary" when they haven't been around forever but the Dakota has made quite a rep for itself in the roots music scene and I can see why people like to play there.  The sound was great and the sound person was downright helpful and friendly - even brought me a guitar stand. Richard Flohil, who called me to do the gig, had suggested I bring a bass player but I rarely do that for this sort of gig so I was going to do it alone but just a couple of days before the gig I saw Terry Wilkins' name pop up on my Facebook and I thought "I haven't played with him in a long time".  I was sure he'd be booked on a Saturday night, and in fact he had two gigs on that Saturday, but the last one finished about the same time we had to start and it was right across the street so he came right over and played with me and it was a delight.  He actually did some homework (a concept which is alien to me) and had every tune nailed right from the start. A consummate pro. I had a great visit with Sherman Lee Dillon last month as he came through our town for a bunch of dates.  He's a genuine Mississippi bluesman though he's white and Catholic.  He came up in Jackson Mississippi and his son now operates an after-hours juke joint on Farish Street in a building which once housed the offices and studio of Trumpet Records where "Dust My Broom" and many blues classics were recorded.  I spent a little time at his place in Jackson and was glad to return the favour and put him up in Toronto and show him around a bit. As I was heading down to the Blue Goose to see him play I got a call from "The Prof", Scott Cushnie and I offered to pick him up and take him along.  He had a great reunion with Michael Fonfara and some other players and it would have been great to get Sherman and Prof together to share stories (they've both got a whack of them) but it was not to be.  Just driving to the Goose I was hearing these amazing stories of his early days with Ronnie Hawkins pre-Band.  In fact, it was Prof who brought Robbie Robertson to the Hawk because they were playing together in a band called The Suedes.  Scott hasn't been playing much lately but I'm intent on getting him out for a gig one of these days. I tagged along with Sherman Lee to the Moonshine Cafe where he was doing a double bill with New Brunswick bluesman Keith Hallett.  Keith is a local hero in Fredericton and I remember hearing just a couple of tunes from him when I was down there playing the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival.  What I heard at the Moonshine was not what I remembered from Fredericton but he has cultivated a sound all his own - accentuated by a vocal mic that he plugs into a guitar amp.  For a guy playing without any accompaniment he did not hesitate to take long guitar solos - as opposed to Sherman Lee who kept his tunes slim and trim. Here's an Instagram clip I posted. I had a little session with SLD in my studio and learned a few of the essential bass lines of classic blues tunes - Sherman insisting that any bass player that took to the stage in his town would know these bass lines inside out - although you never play them inside out. I'm a pretty loose bass player myself, but it was great to get a bass "primer" on what SLD calls the "language" - You either speak the language or you don't. I went to Carrie Chesnutt's Birthday Party with Michelle Josef and met a bunch of musicians and got to hear Carrie with her all-time favourite band, Fat Lucy.  She  had assembled these guys who she played with 9 years ago and who are all pretty busy musicians these days.  She did a little walk-about into the crowd and mugged for the camera which I captured in this little video clip: Coming Up I'll be heading over to Hugh's Room Live on June 8th for Kim Doolittle's CD launch.  She's put together a great band headed by Ken Whiteley and the show will have most of the guys who played on the album.  It's called "Into The Blue" and the tracks I've heard have been very sweet. Lots more great blues coming up in the next few weeks.  Sean Pinchin will be playing the Toronto Blues Society Birthday Party on Friday June 16 (6pm) at the Island Cafe on Ward's Island.  You may have heard that the island is swamped but the ferrys are running and you just have to say when you get your ticket that you've got a reservation at the Island Cafe. The same night, Gary Kendall has organized a big bash to celebrate that venerable blues shrine of the 90s, The Silver Dollar Room.  The gang from his band, Downchild, will all be there and many more. And don't forget the Toronto Jazz Festival starting June 23...so much great music.  Get out and hear someone you've never heard of - it's all good!  On the 24th (at noon) you can hear 6 up-and-coming blues bands at the TBS Talent Search on the OLG Stage (Cumberland St.) 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)  I've got a few new tunes in the works so stand by, stay well and see you out there, BrianB, aka Butch, Nappy, Shaker Blain, Colorblind Brian, Stringbuster, Buddha of the Blues

Into the blue @kim_doolittle rockin CD launch w/ friends & fans

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Double bill w two different takes on the blues. @ShermanLeeDillon (old Mississippi) and @keith_hallett (New Brunswick)

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Where did I come from anyway?

I was told very early in life that I was adopted and never gave it much thought.  I think at some point when I was still very young I said to my mother that I would like to search for my "real" mother and I saw from the expression on her face that I had crossed some kind of line and I never brought it up again - and put that thought out of my head.  A couple of years before she died she pulled me to her beside and told me the story of how the adoption happened and that she thought my name had been Robert.  I wrote that story into my song, Enfant Choisi, but still never gave it a lot of thought.  Here's a link:



Then along came AncestryDNA and when they had a sale on St Patrick's Day I sent in my spit and $109. and the results are in...

Some of you Blainreaders might have noticed last month I tried to have an "office pool" of sorts to guess what is my ancestry but I guess I didn't offer an attractive enough prize because nobody took me up on it.  Anyway, I made my guess just before I opened the results: "Irish,"  I said, and wouldn't you know I'm 61% Irish and 14% Iberian Peninsula...and for John Robshaw and anyone else who wanted to know the rest, its 11% Great Britain, 8% Europe West and 4% Italy/Greece.  Not very exotic, eh?  I'm about as WASP as you can get.  But now the real fun begins.  I've had three relatives come out of the woodwork and we think I'm a McGoldrick.  More to come on all this...

I'm not complaining, but...

I've been enjoying some Facebook Live moments from the Orangeville Blues & Jazz festival - that's a festival I've played for the last few years but not this time - and it would be wrong to start thinking one was "entitled" to play a festival just because you've played it the last few years.

I remember last year - I must have had 4 plays and if it hadn't been for Joel coming with me to drive and shlepp the gear, it would have near killed me.  I remember I was pretty wiped when I got back home.

I guess I'm just getting old...Last week for the first time in my career I went to a venue, took down the posters and told the bartender I wouldn't be back.  It wasn't because I was greeted by complaints that our jam would interfere with the Raptors game on TV, or that they shortchanged me on my fee.  It was just way too exhausting to bring in a PA, two amps and three guitars and play all night long (we don't take many breaks at the Campfire Jam).  I was totally wiped out the next day.  If we're going to be doing any more touring, it'll have to be a "Blues Elders" package with roadies to carry the gear and pass out the Metamucil.  And if there's any groupies coming around they better bring the Viagra :-)

I still think there's room for me in the Blues Diaspora.  How often do you get to hear slow-cooked grooves of a guitar player who's been perfecting the same riffs (on the same guitar) for fifty years without ever having the benefit of a lesson or the burden of a rehearsal.

If this is a new chapter in my music career, I figured I needed a new bio so this is what I scratched out the other night:

Brian Blain jokes that he had his "15 minutes of fame" back in the 70s and it wouldn't be fair to take up too much limelight with so many hopefuls trying to get their music heard. Instead he's been more focused on encouraging and introducing new and not-so-new talent through his behind-the-scenes efforts as an editor, publisher, blogger and hosting his popular Blues Campfires.

(I guess I'm going to have to flesh that out a little)

Mark Stafford at Alleycatz-he'll be sitting in with me at the Old Mill Campfire Jam on June 10

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Kicking myself that I skipped the Mad Dogs tribute but got my big band fix down the street last night with Backtrack

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Great hearing old friends and meeting new @terrygillespie CD Launch. More at http://ift.tt/1TbKcmZ

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First Time playing the Dakota

I've seen many a show at the Dakota Tavern but I finally got to play on that stage today - Very capable and friendly sound guy Evan was on the ball - even thought to get me a guitar stand.  I was doing a "warm-up" for Terry Gillespie's CD launch celebration.  Richard Flohil had offered me the gig and suggested he would top up the fee if I brought a bass player.  I said maybe I'd bring a harp player but in the end I didn't call anyone.  Then a couple of days before the gig, I thought of Terry Wilkins and thought it was not likely he'd be available but if he was that would settle that.

As it turns out, Terry was playing across the street and finishing at the same time I was starting. So he quit a few minutes early and was at the Dakota in plenty of time.  He had gone over the chart/setlist and listened to some short audio clips I sent and he was solid - even a couple of spots where I didn't know what I was doing, he did.  I hadn't played with Terry in a long, long time and it was a delight.  I used to tell people there wasn't a gig (or rehearsal) that I ever did with Terry Wilkins where I didn't take away a valuable lesson.  Not sure what the lesson was this time, but I'm sure there will be one that I'll realize down the line.

Great hearing Terry Gillespie going full-tilt with a big band that included a Montreal guitar legend, Andrew Cowan, and a genuine RastaBassMan, Owen, who was a delight to meet.  Drummer Wayne Stoute had dropped by my place the night before and we had Indian food. Top notch band and Terry's been getting good crowds at all these Toronto dates - quite ambitious to expect a good crowd at different places in the same week in the same town but so far so good.  It was mostly reggae at the Dakota and people were loving it. Michael Fonfara walked in halfway and jumped up on the old upright piano.  Sounded great!  Reminds me I must lasso that guy into a gig again.

As Terry G were commiserating about becoming septuagenarians this year, I was thinking just when I've been telling people my touring days are over, there's Terry embarking on as many tours as he can gather. We were reminiscing about how we met (at one of my Campfire Jams) I was also remembering when Terry W. and his Australian band, The Flying Circus, had just arrived in Toronto and were taken under the wing of my producer Frazier Mohawk who provided this huge rehearsal space on Richmond St.  I was his "assistant" of sorts and helped out with some pre-production chores.  I don't think we got much past the pre-production and I think some of those guys went back to Australia,  and I went back to Quebec.  But Terry stayed and it was a great gain for the Toronto Music Scene.

...and rushed back for @paulnelsonband @hughsroom where the music - and food - is always first rate

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Kitchen closed @hughsroom Had to skip out on McKenna/Rush slide showdown to get a slice across the street.

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Big "A" w @raoulbhaneja last night and about to hear Tim Williams show for first time. Big blues discovery weekend

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#CMW2017 @pierrekwenders my kinda hybrid. Just when you thought you'd heard every guitar sound

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Not going to see a lot of #CMW2017 this year but @groenlandMTL is happy start

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Alleycatz w mark stafford ken yoshioka malcolm gould michael theodore & mystery guitarist

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singing bout the seventies at Alleycatz wed jam w Bird Stafford & Ken Yoshioka

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Diggin @ryan_mcnally_music. Never heard anything out of the #Yukon that I didn't like

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@harpaxe murderin it @leespalace

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Blainletter #90 | Campfire Jam at the Old Mill Sat | Sitting in at the Goose on Sun | *NEW* Campfire Jam at Originals on first Mon | JUNO scuttlebutt

Happy April to my beloved Blainreaders and a big welcome hug to a new batch who signed up at some recent shows. The Campfire Jam got off to a roaring start with Sugar Brown, Ken Whiteley and Paul Reddick, who, if you hadn't heard already, took home the JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year on the week-end. Paul has carved out a nice niche for himself in the beautiful blues landscape and is working his way to legend status.  I'm doing my part in building the legend because he figures prominently in one of my tunes, "The Day Coke Saved The Blues" which I got to play for/with him for the first time.

The next Campfire Jam is this Saturday at the Old Mill Home Smith Bar (7:30-10:30) and will feature an equally illustrious and eclectic All-Star line-up: Raoul Bhaneja, Manitoba Hal and Bill King. I can hardly wait.  And for some of my muso friends who were asking about sitting in, we're kicking off a new "open" Campfire Jam on the "First Mondays" starting May 1 at Originals on Bayview just a few doors up from the old Hwy 61.  Great venue with a long history of live music – I remember playing there with Blue Willow in the 90s. And everybody's welcome to get up and play (as long as it's blues)

And I've just booked the May 13 Campfire at the Old Mill – all women jammers for my annual Motherless Day Campfire/Concert and for this occasion I've brought in barrelhouse piano mama Roberta Hunt and two of the most soulful sax players in the city, Alison Young and Carrie Chesnutt (I was going to say "hottest" but after Russell Peters got spanked for his comments on the JUNOs, I wouldn't want to be misinterpreted :-)  Some will remember that I always try to do a special show on the day before Mother's Day and since I was an orphan (and because we're playing the blues anyway), I call it my Motherless Day show. Seventy years after being left on the steps of a nunnery, this orphan is about to find out a little bit about myself – I sent away for the AncestryDNA. This will be interesting!

And speaking of soulful women, The Queen of Soul herself is coming back to town.  If you were in the crowd down on King Street when Aretha played the Jazz Festival a few years ago you will agree it was one of the most powerful performances you've seen in your life.  And even though she's really backed off on personal appearances, she must have had a good time too because she agreed to come back for a show at the Sony Centre on July 1. www.torontojazz.com  Here's a clip I came across lately - I think she was on the Steve Allen show, circa 1964.

I had quite a flurry of activity lately, last week I went out to Orangeville to play with Larry Kurtz at the Edge and the next night I was at a little bar in the beaches playing bass for Rockin Johnny Burgin from Chicago and Sugar Brown. Johnny has a West Side/West Coast thang goin - he is my kind of guitar player – lots of energy and very musical.  And original! He's got his own thing. Check him out. His new album is "Neoprene Fedora."  If you like JW-Jones, you'll love Johnny Burgin. And speaking of JW, check out his new video "Who I Am":

JW-Jones - vocals and guitar Colin Linden - guitar Kevin McKendree - keyboards Dominic John Davis - bass Bryan Owings - drums Liam Russell - harmony vocals

The bar I played with Rockin Johnny was a hip little joint in the Beaches called Castro's.  I had been a few times but had never played there but the owner Anthony must have liked what I was doing on the bass because he invited me to bring my own band in July. Johnny was in Ontario doing some recording and a bunch of gigs with Sugar Brown. Sugar and Michelle Josef and I just played together a couple of weeks earlier at the Cold Weather Bluesfest a club-crawl kinda festival with a great vibe.  I'm sure it will grow and prosper (as long as everybody sticks to the 11 o'clock noise curfew – it is The Beaches, after all). Here's a clip of that old favourite, "My Babe":

Brian Blain,  Michelle Josef, Sugar Brown

So what else is going on? I was watching the Saturday night webcast of the non-televised Juno Awards on YouTube.  Pretty smooth streaming. The speeches would not have been so long if it were on network TV. Tom Power hosting. Not in his comfort zone. Then they had to black out the film tribute to Randy Lennox because they didn't have the clearances. Wtf? You really feel like a dinosaur when everybody in the house knows all these artists and you're hearing them for the first time – like I just discovered Daniel Caesar. I guess he's going to be the NBT (Next Big Thing?).  Of course I was familiar with all the rootsy artists like Paul Reddick, who took home the JUNO for Blues Album of the Year. In other Roots categories, William Prince won but gave a big shout out to Corin Raymond and if you haven't discovered The East Pointers yet, maybe you will now. Renee Rosnes fans in Toronto will be happy for her win and a little bird told me she will be coming to our town this summer. The show ran quite smoothly – there was a glitch when Tom Power had to "re-present" an award for a classical recording because none of the performers were there to accept it but it turns out the composer was in the house and he had something to say…and I bet he was insistent about it.  The only award that was accepted "on behalf" of anyone was Leonard Cohen's and it was given to his son Adam Cohen who took a bit of a swipe at the "superstars" who didn't make it to the awards (ie, Drake and Weeknd) but saying they probably had good reason to not be there but surely his dad had the best reason of all. Buffy Sainte-Marie is inspiring. She has just received the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award and she was talking directly to the musicians in the house "we humans were designed to create – that's what we're here for!" She speaks from the heart …and she had a few words for the airlines who are making life so difficult for musicians travelling with their instruments (she just had a surcharge of over a thousand dollars for her guitar).  Oh, and she also said musicians should try to use more than the three chords they learned from their brother when they started out. "…there are hundreds more!" she said. I guess I'm kinda guilty of that... I was happy to see Quantum Tangle win the Indigenous Album of the Year.  I saw their ground breaking showcase at a music conference last fall and had a nice elevator chat, too. In their acceptance speech, as in a few others, they acknowledged that we were on the traditional territory of several Indigenous Nations and they had a big shout out to the "two-spirit" people, the trans community. I watched a bit of the backstage media room where I saw Minister Melanie Jolie being cornered about what the government could do support "music cities" by making less red-tape for venue owners.  She cited some initiatives in London, England regarding this and said they were watching the developments in hopes of developing similar solutions in cities like Toronto and Montreal. I'm not seeing a lot of action from Toronto's Music Office – like Mendelson Joe says, "The name of the game ain't schmaltz – it's results!" The big TV broadcast on Sunday kicked off on a very Indigenous note with Buffy and Tribe Called Red and Pow-Wow dancers too. But that host, Russell Peters, like Tom Power,  never found his stride, and also ruffled a few feathers with his off-colour comments.  I've never seen him do his stand-up but I'll never forget the first time I saw him was, ironically, at the media event where they rolled him out as the new host for the Calgary JUNOs and just from what he was saying off the cuff at that presser was enough to have me shaking my head…"they're gonna put that guy on TV???"  Anyway, he's done pretty well for himself.  In his defense, the writing was pretty awful but some of his ad-libs made it worse.  A lot of people skipped the TV show and I'm thinking I should have just watched Madame Secretary.  The Bryan Adams finale with toute-le-gang singing "Summer of 69" was pretty great. Ooops, that's someone at the door.  Oh it's Gary Kendall come to pick up a bass amp. That's my cue to wind it down and say goodnight. Thanks for reading this far (this was a long one...) If you know anyone who might also enjoy my updates and ramblings, direct them to www.brianblain.com where they can subscribe See you out there, BrianB (aka Butch, Bucky, Nappy, Stringbuster, Colorblind, Buddha of the Blues)

PS: if anybody out there has one of these almost antique Tascam Portastudios, I have a tape that I need to transfer.  I got a call from an old buddy who worked with me on a song called "Only The Shredder Knows".  It was written about the Iran Contra days at the White House.  I guess he's thinking that song might have a second life but the only tape I've got is the 4-track master from a Portastudio 244.  I still had mine but couldn't get it going (at least not a consistent speed).

Upcoming Shows Saturday April 8, 7:30-10:30pm Brian's All-Star Blues Campfire Jam with Manitoba Hall, Bill King and Raoul Bhaneja.  The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Road.  No Cover ($20 min food & beverage) Sunday April 9 4pm  Brian Blain guesting with Julian Fauth and the Big Groove rhythm section  (Gary Kendall and Mike Fitzpatrick) at the Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose St, Etobicoke   416-255-2442 Monday May 1, 7:30  Brian's Acoustic Blues Campfire Jam  at Originals, 1660 Bayview Ave. All Musicians Welcome.  No Cover Saturday May 6, 1:00pm guesting at Linda Stitt's Words & Music Salon at The Smiling Buddha  961 College Street.  No Cover Saturday May 13, 7:30-10:30pm Brian's All-Star Blues Campfire Jam and Motherless Day Celebration with Roberta Hunt, Carrie Chesnutt and Alison Young.  The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Road.  No Cover ($20 min food & beverage)

Rockin Johnny @sugarbrownblues sittin in at the Blue Goose. I'll be playing bass with them Sat @CastrosLounge

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Blainletter #89

** An old tradition gets a new lease on life at the Old Mill Toronto
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We're kicking off the "Second Saturday" Campfire Jams at the Old Mill this Saturday (7:30 start) with 3 generations of blues masters.  Ken Whiteley was already blues royalty in Toronto when I arrived in 1990.  Then shortly after I arrived I was hearing about a young blues band called the Sidemen who were making a big buzz.  Paul Reddick has since established himself as the unofficial "poet laureate" of the blues - and still plays a helluva harp.  Then there's Sugar Brown, who crashed onto the local blues scene a few years back with an intense sound which was a little "raw" for me in the beginning but which really grows on you with repeated listening - and downright addictive as I've had the opportunity to play with him on a few occasions.  I've also played with Paul and Ken at different times so this will be a great get-together.

Unlike the previous campfire jams in clubs, this "all-star" jam brings together the top blues players on the scene today in a great venue with a beautiful grand piano. With musicians of this caliber, it will be a jam to remember.  The Blues Campfire took a bit of a hiatus for the last couple of years but I've been lured back to present an "invitational" jam, with people getting paid!  Wow, is that radical these days.  I went from paying my guest $50 bucks when I did my Thursdays at the Tranzac, then it was complimentary beverage for the jammers at Hwy 61, until we took it to the Gladstone where jammers got nothing.

You can see why I ran out of steam. A lot of people, even some musicians, don't like the  jamming thang. It does not really fit into a career-development strategy (It's never done much for my career development but I just love to jam - especially when I get to play bass),  I remember asking a busy guitar player to jam when I first got to Toronto and he hummed and hawwed a bit and I realized that when musicians got together in this town, it was usually a "project."  But we're going to raise the ante with this series at the Old Mill - I hope we get an audience and I hope they get us.

Thanks to Winterfolk for bringing me in to do a Blues Campfire at their festival (I also got to do a solo concert which was packed and appreciative). The Winterfolk Campffire jam featured Mr. Rick, Kim Doolittle, Julian Taylor, Danny Marks and I got to meet larger-than-life bassman Jerome Tucker plus I got to jam for the first time with a bona fide Canadian Blues treasure, David Essig. David, Rick and I also did a blues fingerpicking workshop (pictured) and passed along a few tips and tricks to the many guitarists in attendance.

This was all happening the same week-end as The Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City. I've been to Folk Alliance a few times and I caught myself wishing I was there until I realized all those folks were showcasing so they could get to play at festivals - and here I was playing a festival.  Now of course there are festivals and there are FESTIVALS but for me it's always about discovery and even at a modest local festival like Winterfolk I discovered plenty of great music and I dare say I got discovered by a few new fans myself.  Of course, most people still don't know me, which was demonstrated by the review in Cashbox which praised the Campfire Jam I hosted and said nice things about a couple of songs I sang but thought I was Mr. Rick.(one of those "good news/bad news" reviews :-)  Below is a little video montage I made of some of the acts I was able to catch. The absolute highlight for me was the hilarious Wendell Ferguson. He was cracking us up and started to single me
out with his one liners but I got him at his own game when he was declining to do a special request because he thought he'd mess up some of the chords and I shouted out "that's alright, you messed up the chords in the last tune and it was fine!."  I got a big laugh from his crowd!  Of course, he couldn't mess up any chords even if he tried (tho he does have one tune where he plays some god-awful chords - on purpose!)
https://youtu.be/mZegK-m0B_Y
I keep hearing about all the great acts I missed at Winterfolk but here 's 4 minutes of the ones I caught starting with me kicking off the Blues Campfire


** Upcoming
Shows
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Saturday March 11, 7:30-10:30pm Brian's All-Star Blues Campfire Jam with Ken Whiteley, Paul Reddick and Sugar Brown  The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Road.  No Cover ($20 min food & beverage)

Friday March 24, 7:30  Brian Blain & Larry Kurtz    The Edge Wine Bar 205467 Dufferin County Road 109, Orangeville   519-940-1111.  No Cover

Saturday April 8, 7:30-10:30pm Brian's All-Star Blues Campfire Jam with Manitoba Hall, Bill King and more  The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Road.  No Cover ($20 min food & beverage)

Sunday April 9 4pm  Brian Blain guesting with Julian Fauth and the Big Groove rhythm section  (Gary Kendall and Mike Fitzpatrick) at the Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose St, Etobicoke   416-255-2442

Blainletter #88

** 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"

Jim Galloway's Wee Big Band lives on thanks to Martin Loomer, Brigham Phillips and 92-year old pianist Ralph Fraser. Inspiring.

via Instagram @brianblain

Dawn Tyler Watson at the Blues Summit

Congratulations are in order

Now watching the JUNO Nominee announcement webcast.  That's very convenient since outside is miserable freezing rain but I'm still feeling a little left out that I didn't get invited this year. I would have liked to check out the Rebel nightclub (formerly Sound Academy).  I think it's the biggest club in town (45.000 square feet!).  I heard in the speeches that they have a new publicist so I guess I'm not on "the list."  But I rise above these petty things and am glad to promote the blues nominees, the two Colin's, Sean Pinchin, Paul Reddick and, the dark horse nominees, Whitehorse - not regular players on the blues scene but deserve it for bringing the blues vibe to a mainstream audience. It was a bit of a "fun side-project" for these two and I don't expect their next album to be anything near blues but it was nice to have them visiting in our world for a while. 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.

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.  I had a nice chat with her at the Blues Summit and she did an accapella tune at a private showcase by the Montreal & Ottawa Blues societies.  You can watch it here

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

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, sometimes trash-talking each other.  Now that would never happen here ;-)

And the Maple Blues Awards also happened 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/

A few memorable moments from the Maple Blues Awards and after-party

Decompressing from 4 solid days of blues w venison and jazz contrafacts @jazzbistroTO

via Instagram @brianblain

Saturday @tobluessociety #bluessummit8

via Instagram @brianblain

@Harpdogbrown Fabulous band. Nailed it @tobluessociety #bluessummit8 Bound to win the IBC

via Instagram @brianblain

Down home blues with Tim Williams @tobluessociety #bluessummit8 @ Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel

via Instagram @brianblain