24 Artscene • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009 A novel idea

BOOK ART: A woman enjoys History of Art, 2007, a multimedia installation by Adam David Brown, dur- ing the Novel Ideas exhibition opening at Centennial Square, 120 Navy St. The exhibit runs until May 31. A second show, Michelle Gay’s Interfaces and Operating Systems, runs until June 5 at Gairloch Gardens, 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E.

MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Pianist takes home award for work with late great Jeff Healey ■ By Tina Depko Murphy said Healey often let him take lead to be played. Murphy started tinkling the OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF vocals during the weekly gigs at Jeff Healey’s ivories around age six, and was soon enrolled Roadhouse. in lessons. He started playing in bands when Awards aren’t the most important aspect of Healey also gave Murphy the opportunity he was in high school. the music industry, according to Dave to shine with his own track called It’s Only “No one played it, but because it was there, Murphy. Money on Mess of Blues. I ended up learning to play piano,” he said. “I Although the Oakville pianist and singer “On his final record, he actually had myself started with classical music, but as soon as I recently took home a 2009 Maple Blues and another fellow in the band record a song started playing in bands, I sort of dropped clas- Award, it was the circumstances around the ourselves, which is almost unprecedented and sical music.” recognition that mattered most to him. it shows his generosity towards the band Murphy pursued a degree in philosophy The honour of Keyboard Player of The Year leader,” he said. “It is an orig- with a minor in music at was bestowed on Murphy for his work on Jeff inal composition by me.” “The whole point of winning the University of Toronto, Healey’s final album, Mess of Blues. The Maple Blues Award was that I could say some but he soon came to real- Having the chance to record with Healey was Murphy’s first award. ize that music was his on the project is what Murphy will remember. The winners of the awards words about Jeff (at the calling. The award is icing on the cake. are determined by blues fans awards ceremony).” “At times, I had plans “The whole point of winning was that I casting their votes online. to get a ‘real job’, but at could say some words about Jeff (at the awards Murphy said the album ■ Dave Murphy the end of the day, noth- ceremony),” he said. “I talked about what an and subsequent award would Maple Blues Awards ing seemed to be as fun,” honour it was to play with him, about the not have been possible with- Keyboard Player of the Year he said. record he made when he was terminally ill Dave Murphy out the unconditional love Murphy has recently and how amazing it was the record got made and support of his wife, Jennifer Paziuk, and returned to his musical roots. He has been at all, and how courageous he was to get it boardist, who had contacted Healey several their three children, Madison, 14, Natalie, 6, studying classical piano with local teacher done. I also talked about his commitment to years before requesting to play with the music and Mark, 4. Susan Mander for the past four years. music and his generosity to his fellow musi- legend. “She (Jennifer) had all of our friends and Although the Healey House Band disband- cians.” “Many years previous, like in the early ’90s, colleagues in Oakville vote for me, and I was ed shortly after Healey’s death in March 2008, Murphy started working with the late I actually sent Jeff a letter in braille saying, incredibly appreciative of her and them for Murphy stays busy with the Dave Murphy Healey in 2003. After a gig with the legendary ‘You should get me to play in your band,’” he doing that,” he said. “It’s never an easy thing Band, which has been around since 1993. Toronto blues guitarist, he was hired as the said. “But this was long forgotten by the time being in a family with a musician. The hours Murphy serves as the group’s lead vocalist and leader of Healey’s house band. Murphy I actually joined his band much later on. I and the travel are unorthodox, so I couldn’t do keyboardist. enjoyed weekly performances with Healey and asked him about the letter and he had a vague it without their support.” “We do play all sorts of music, but we par- the gang in Toronto, as well as additional memory, but it was in the midst of his great- Murphy is your above-average musician ticularly love funk, rock, blues, R&B and shows across North America and Europe. est stardom and I don’t think he remembered from average beginnings. His Toronto child- soul,” he said. It was a dream come true for the key- it.” hood home had a lonely piano that was aching ■ See Murphy page 26