Canadian blues
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Canadian blues" refers to the blues and blues-related music performed by blues bands and performers in Canada. In Canada, there are hundreds of local and regionally-based Canadian blues bands and performers. As well, there is a smaller number of bands or performers that have achieved national or international prominence. These bands and performers are part of a broader Canadian "blues scene" that also includes city or regional blues societies, blues radio shows, and blues festivals.
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[edit] Nationally or Internationally-Prominent Artists
A small number of Canadian blues bands and artists have achieved national or international prominence by touring across Canada, the US, or Europe, and releasing recordings that have received critical or audience acclaim in Canada and abroad. The performers below are listed according to the decade during which they first achieved national or international prominence:
[edit] 1960s
- Ronnie Hawkins, who was born in Arkansas, was signed to Roulette Records from 1959 to 1964. Hawkins' version of 'Mary Lou' that brought him fame when the single reached #26 on the charts in 1959. He played on 'Philadelphia Bandstand', 'The Beechnut Show' and 'American Bandstand'. His 1984 LP, 'Making It Again', earned him the Canadian Juno award (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy) for Country Male Vocalist. In 1992, Ronnie performed at Bill Clinton's inaugural party.
[edit] 1970s
- The Downchild Blues Band is a Toronto-based blues band led by Donnie Walsh that has released fourteen albums and performed in thousands of venues over three decades of continual cross-Canada touring. The Downchild Blues Band still performs regularly.
- Norman Dutch Mason (born February 19, 1938 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, died December 23, 2006 in Truro, Noval Scotia) is a Canadian singer, guitarist, and pianist. While his mid-1950s bands performed in a rock and roll or 'rockabilly' style, by the 1970s, he was leading various blues bands in Nova Scotia. In the 1970s, Mason's albums included Dutch Mason Trio at the Candlelight from 1971 (Paragon ALS-263) and Putting It All Together (Marathon MS-2107), The Blues Ain't Bad from 1976 (Owl Blues Productions OBP-2008), Janitor of the Blues from 1977 (Solar SAR-2020), and 1979's Wish Me Luck (Lon PS-733/Attic MLAT-1142). In the 1980s, Mason put out Special Brew (Attic LAT-1093) and Gimmee A Break (Attic LAT-1114), and in 1991 he released I'm Back (Stony Plain SPCD-1169).
[edit] 1980s
- David Wilcox is a song writer, singer, and guitar player whose twenty years of performing have given him five gold albums and numerous awards. Wilcox played the college circuit in the early 1980s, then signed a recording contract with EMI Music Canada. Five of his albums with EMI achieved Gold status. His albums include Out Of The Woods (1980); My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble (1983); Bad Reputation (1984); Breakfast At The Circus (1987); The Natural Edge (1989); and in 1996, a recording entitled Thirteen Songs. David Wilcox still performs regularly.
- The Powder Blues’, led by Tom Lavin, had double platinum sales for their 1980 debut album ‘Uncut’ had four top ten songs. The band won a Juno for ‘Best New Group’. The second album, ‘Thirsty Ears’, released on Capital Records had platinum sales, and a top 5 single. In 1983, Powder Blues played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland. In 1986, the band won the W.C. Handy Award for blues in Memphis, Tennessee for ‘Best Foreign Blues Band’. Studio albums and touring continued from the 1990s until the present day (2006).
- Jeff Healey is a singer and blues guitarist who plays guitar with an unconventional lap-top style. Healey, who lost his sight to a form of cancer called retinoblastoma, was praised by B.B. King for “his virtuoso technique” and by Stevie Ray Vaughan, who said that Healey would “revolutionize guitar playing.” The Jeff Healey Band was formed in 1985, and released a debut album that achieved platinum sales in the US, in part due to the hit single Angel Eyes. The Jeff Healey Band a Juno Award for Canadian Entertainer of the Year and two Grammy nominations. Currently, Jeff Healey is a jazz radio host for CBC, a blues club owner, and performer (acoustic guitar and trumpet) in traditional jazz groups.
[edit] 1990s
- Colin James, whose full name is Colin James Munn is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter born August 17, 1964 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He has released nine studio albums that blend the blues, rock, and swing genres. As well, he has won six Juno Awards: 1989 - Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year; 1991 - Single of the Year ("Just Came Back"); 1991 and 1996 - Male Vocalist of the Year; 1998 - "Best Blues Album" for National Steel; and 1999 - Best Producer. He was also a guest on the JW-Jones Blues Band album "My Kind of Evil" produced by Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
[edit] 2000s
- JW-Jones is a blues guitarist, singer, and band leader born in 1980 who is signed to the NorthernBlues Music label. His band, the JW-Jones Blues Band [1] has recorded four albums. He has played at blues festivals and clubs in Canada, the US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. As well, a number of well-known blues bands and artists have invited him to perform with them, such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Junior Watson, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Rusty Zinn, Rick Holmstrom, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, The Mannish Boys, and Hubert Sumlin. His band's third album, My Kind Of Evil (2004), was produced by multi-Grammy nominee Kim Wilson (singer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and features Colin James on two tracks. In 2005, the band won the Electric Act of the Year award at Toronto's Maple Blues Awards. In 2006, the band had their fourth release with NorthernBlues Music, Kissing in 29 Days. The album features tenor sax player David "Fathead" Newman, who was the main sax player with Ray Charles for 12 years.
- Jack de Keyzer is a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who has performed at many major blues festivals and is a winner of Canada’s Juno award in 2003 for his album "6 String Lover". The Jack de Keyzer band has toured throughout Canada, the USA, Mexico and Europe including events like the BB King Blues Festival. Other awards include 2001 -Jazz Report Magazine; Real Blues Magazine - Live Act of the Year 2001; and Guitarist of the Year 1999 & 2002.
- Sue Foley is a blues/roots guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. She has ten studio CDs, five from Austin-based blues label Antone’s, three from the New York independent Shanachie and a live CD on Ruf Records from Germany and Justin Time in Canada. In 2000 she won a Juno Award, the Canadian equivalent to the Grammy for Best Blues Album for her CD “Love Comin’ Down”, and in 2002 she was the SOCAN songwriter of the year. In addition, she was awarded the Trophée de blues de France in 2000 (Best female Guitarist), 2001 (Best Female Guitarist), and 2003(Best Female Guitarist).
[edit] Canadian Blues Labels
Canadian blues recording labels include:
- NorthernBlues Music: a blues label that was launched in 2001. President Fred Litwin founded the company to "add substantially to the blues repertoire" with interesting, original music. For more information, see: http://www.northernblues.com/about.html
- Stony Plain Records is a record company based in Edmonton, Alberta, that specializes in what founder Holger Petersen calls “roots” music. Established in 1976, the label has released over 300 albums of blues, classic R&B, folk, country, bluegrass, rock and roll. Jerry Wexler, one of the founders of Atlantic Records, states that “Stony Plain, as an independent company, is an endangered species in a dangerous world – and a source of wonderful music.” For more information, see: http://stonyplainrecords.com/Web/about_us.asp
- Electro-Fi Records was launched in 1997 by founder and president Andrew Galloway. The label has both international blues performers and Canadian musicians. International performers include Mel Brown, Mark Hummel, Harmonica Shah, Fruteland Jackson, and Snooky Pryor. Canadian performers include Julian Fauth,Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, Harrison Kennedy and Juno Award-winner Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne." Juke Blues Magazine from the UK called Electro-Fi "Canada's Top Blues Outlet" in 2005. More information is available at www.electrofi.com
[edit] Canadian Blues Societies
Canadian blues societies help to promote the appreciation and performance of blues music. Blues societies are often involved in the organization or promotion of local blues festivals and educational activities. Blues society educational activities include presentations on blues history, elementary school "outreach" activities, and workshops.
Some blues societies organize awards for blues musicians. For example, the Toronto Blues Society has organized the Maple Blues Awards, an awards show for all Canadian blues musicians that has an annual gala.
Canadian blues societies include:
- Barrie Blues & Jazz Festival
- Blues at the Bow Live, Alberta
- Blues Underground Network, Prince George Chapter
- Canada South Blues Society
- Coastal (B.C.) Jazz & Blues Society
- East Coast Blues Society
- Hornby Island B.C. Blues Society
- Kingston Blues Society
- Kingston Jazz Society
- Manitoba Blues Society
- Mississippi Blues Society, Ottawa Valley
- Montreal Blues Society
- Niagara Blues and Jazz Society
- Ottawa Blues Society
- Saskatoon Blues Society
- Tantramarsh Blues Society, New Brunswick
- Toronto Blues Society
- Vancouver Delta Blues Society
[edit] Canadian Blues Venues
[edit] Blues Festivals
Canada has a number of blues festivals, ranging from small, community-based festivals that feature mostly local performers to major corporate-sponsored festivals that draw nationally- and internationally-prominent blues bands and huge crowds.
Canadian blues festivals include:
[edit] Ontario
- Atomic Blues Fest - Lindsay, Ontario
- Kitchener Blues Festival - Kitchener, Ontario
- Burlington Jazz & Blues Festival - www.burlingtonjazzbluesfestival.com
- Canal Bank Shuffle - October, Thorold, Ontario
- Coal Flats Blues Festival - Port Burwell, Ontario
- House Full Of Blues Festival - North Bay, Ontario
- Limestone City Blues Festival - Kingston, Ontario
- Mudcat Blues Fest - August, Dunnville, Ontario
- Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival
- Orillia Spring Blues Festival
- Ottawa Bluesfest - held every July in Ottawa, Ontario
- Oshawa Jazz and Blues Festival - August in Oshawa, Ontario
- Porquis Blues Festival - Porquis, Ontario
- Port Credit Blues and Jazz Festival(also called the "Southside Shuffle"), Port Credit, Ontario
- Stratford Jazz and Blues Festival - April
- Thunder Bay Blues Festival - July
- Twisted Pines Blues Festival - Midland/Penetanguishene area
- Windsor/London Blues Festival International
[edit] British Columbia
- Hornby Island Blues Workshop - May in British Columbia
- Nanaimo Blues Festival
- Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival - August in British Columbia's interior
[edit] East Coast
- Fredericton Harvest Jazz and Blues, New Brunswick.
[edit] Other Regions
- FestiBlues International du Montreal
- Great Woods Music Festival - August in Beausejour, Manitoba
- Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival
[edit] Other Blues Venues
In addition to blues festivals, Canadian blues bands also appear at a range of other venues, including bars, taverns, lounges, and community centre concert series'. Only a small number of these venues specialize in blues music; in most cases, venues will have a "blues night" or an occasional blues series.
[edit] Eastern Canada
Bearly's - Halifax, Nova Scotia; Fat Tuesday’s Pub - Moncton, NB; Your Father’s Mustache - Halifax, NS; On Thursday nights, there is a blues jam at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax, NS.
[edit] Ontario
Readers Cafe - Dunnville; The Musicians' Ball (held in January)- Hamilton; Live at City Hall - Stratford; Healey's - (Jeff Healey's club) in Toronto; The Silver Dollar Room - Toronto's blues club; Whistler's - Toronto club offering live blues on Tuesdays; Lil' House of Blues - Whitby; The Rainbow Bistro - Ottawa; Tango Coffee Bistro - Stratford; Tulky's Sports Bar and Grill - St. Catharines/Welland; Tucson's - Ottawa; Harwood Blues Cafe - Ajax; Fitzy's Crab Shack - Barrie; Blues on the East Side, Cambridge; Boomers 96, Hamilton; Peter's Place - Innisfil; Brandee’s Restaurant, Kingston; Bourbon St. Lounge, Kitchener; 100 Georges, North Bay; Attic Lounge, Oshawa; The Dukes Hotel - Port Colborne; Harp (The)- Port Credit; Capitol Theatre, Port Hope; Alleycatz, Toronto; Appleby's, Toronto; Big Bop (The Reverb Room), Toronto; Big Daddy’s, Toronto; Blues on Bellair, Toronto; Cadillac Lounge, Toronto; C'est What - Toronto; Chicago’s (contact is Mark Stafford) Toronto; Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto; Happy Hog Roadhouse - Tottenham; Aardvark Blues Cafe, Windsor
[edit] Quebec
Church Street Cafe, Cookshire; Cafe Campus, Montreal; Yellow Door - Montreal; Club d’Autiel, Quebec City
[edit] Western and Northern Canada
Blues at the Bow Live - Alberta; Blues On Whyte, Edmonton, AB; The Yardbird Suite, Edmonton, AB; The Shamrock Hotel, Calgary, AB; Kaos Jazz and Blues, Calgary, AB; The Red Onion, Calgary, AB; The Drake Hotel, Canmore, AB; Blue Grotto, Kamloops, BC; Buds On Broadway, Saskatoon, SK; The Yale - Vancouver, BC; The Fairview - Blues On Broadway - Vancouver, BC; Northern Arts and Cultural Centre - Yellowknife, NT Greatwoods Music Festival, Beausejour, MB
[edit] Blues Radio Shows
A number of Canadian radio stations, including public, commercial, and community/campus stations, have blues radio shows. Some Canadian blues radio shows include:
- CBC Radio One's Saturday Night Blues, with Holger Petersen
- Toronto's JAZZ.FM (91.1) has a blues show entitled Bluz FM
- CKUA radio network (throughout Alberta on AM and FM and is available in the internet at www.ckua.org/) has two blues programs: The Friday Night Blues Party hosted by Cam Hayden on Friday nights from 9:00 to midnight and Natch'l Blues has been hosted by Holger Petersen for over 30 years and plays Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30.
- CJAI Amherst Island Public Radio (93.7FM and with streaming audio on the internet at http://amherstisland.on.ca/air ) hosts "Uncle Barry's Blues Hour", which runs 2 hours monday thru Thursday at 8 to 10PM local time (EST/EDT).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
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