Women's Blues Revue Talent Search Winner Lonnie Johnson in to John's Blues Picks Event Listings & More
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
September 2011 www.torontobluessociety.com Published by the TORON T O BLUES SOCIE T Y since 1985 [email protected] Vol 27, No 9 Treasa Levasseur will be a featured performer at this year's TBS Women's Blues Revue, November 26 at Massey Hall CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40011871 Women's Blues Revue John’s Blues Picks Talent Search Winner Event Listings Lonnie Johnson in TO & more TORON T O BLUES SOCIE T Y Upcoming TBS Events 910 Queen St. W. Ste. B04 Toronto, Canada M6J 1G6 Tel. (416) 538-3885 Robin Banks and Teddy Leonard play Toll-free 1-866-871-9457 the Gladstone Melody Bar on September Email: [email protected] 22 (note that this is not a first Thurs). Website: www.torontobluessociety.com There will be no cover charge and the performance will begin at 8pm. TBS MapleBlues is published monthly by the Toronto First Thursdays resume Blues Society ISSN 0827-0597 with Jimmy Bowskill 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS solo (Oct 6), Michael Derek Andrews (President), Jon Arnold (Executive), Jerome Browne CD Gord Brown, Lucie Dufault (Secretary), Sharon Release (Nov 3), Evans, Sarah French, Sharon Grace, Michael and Doc MacLean Malone (Treasurer), Ed Parsons (Executive), (Dec 1) Norman Robinson, Paul Sanderson, Mike Smith (Executive), John Valenteyn (Executive) Musicians Advisory Council: Lance Anderson, Brian Blain, Gary Kendall, Al Lerman, Lily Sazz, Mark Stafford, Suzie Vinnick Executive Committee:Derek Andrews, Jon Arnold, Michael Malone, Ed Parsons, Mike Smith, John Valenteyn, Lucie Dufault Membership Committee: Mike Malone, Lucie Blues in the Garden Default, Gord Brown, Sarah French, Mike Smith, Debbie Brown, Ed Parsons, Norm Robinson, Rick Battision, Sharon Grace This annual event will take Volunteer Committee: Ed Parsons, Sharon Evans, Lucie Dufault place on Sun Sept 18, 3pm- Membership Services Coordinator: Rick Battiston 6pm in the Artscape garden Office and Event Coordinator: Jordan Safer beside the TBS office at the Grants Officer: Barbara Isherwood north west corner of Crawford Sponsorship Coordinator: Dougal Bichan and Queen. Part of the Queen Webmistress: Janine Stoll West Art Crawl, the event will feature a live performance Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Derek Andrews by Richard Henderson Managing Editor: Brian Blain (pictured), and a display Contributing Editors: John Valenteyn of Women’s Blues Revue Distribution: Ed Parsons, Rick Battiston artwork. Food and beverages Advertising: Dougal & Co. will be sold For rates & specs call 416-645-0295 Email: [email protected] or visit www.torontobluesociety.com/newsletters/rate-card Printing: UCC Press (416) 545-0277 The Toronto Blues Society gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the following agencies The Toronto Blues Society is a member of Ministry of Culture The Toronto Blues Society is committed to the principles of the Personal Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in safeguarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40011871 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Cultural Careers Council Ontario and Human Toronto Blues Society, 910 Queen St. W. Ste. B04, Toronto, Canada M6J 1G6 Resources Development Canada Email: [email protected] 2 MapleBlues September 2011 www.torontobluessociety.com CKLN on the move: Although no longer on the fm dial, nor housed at Ryerson University, the blues lives on at CKLN.FM. “We’ve always been on the internet as well, so now we carry on that long history and following as an internet radio station” states Blues Doctor Julie Hill, producer & host of Blue Remedy on Wednesday nights, 8 to 10 pm. “CKLN is also available on all mobile devices via the Tune In Radio app, tunein.com, so you can listen on your smart phone, or tablet computer, as well. Additionally, all shows will soon be available as podcasts, so you can either listen live to the streaming, or download to listen to a show any time at your convenience. Later this year, CKLN will also be part of the Rogers station broadcasting to 10,000 homes in Regent Park in downtown Toronto. The station has just moved to the broadcast studios in the new Regent Park Youth Media Arts Centre, where youth learn Congrats to Bradley Boy MacArthur, winner of this year's TBS Talent Search. He will be receiving a professional radio, video, photography, writing, and other development package that includes showcase opportunities at the Blues Summit Six, the South Side Shuffle Festival media - you’ll see more CKLN radio shows and the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, a photo shoot with Bill King, a performance at The Delta Chelsea video’d & you-tubed, which I look forward to for Hotel Monarchs Pub, and mentor sessions with industry professionals. The finals were held August 18th at Nathan special guest interviewees and live performers.” Phillips Square, and featured performances by six acts including Richard Henderson(second place), The Fraser Melvin Blues Band (third place), Nicole Christian, The Distillery, and Ken Yoshioka. Bradleyboy Mac Arthur has cont’d on page 8 recently signed with Awesome Music/EMI and his latest recording “Salt Gun” is available now. www.torontobluessociety.com MapleBlues September 2011 3 had a knack for finding obscure songs and were changing, the new ways of recording, Remembering reworking them to suit his style. He was new ideas on how to promote music and who unselfish in sharing his good taste and the new players were. In recent years, Fraser knowledge of the R&B and Blues repertoire kept a low profile in the music business, Fraser Finlayson and steered me in directions I would not enjoying a private life with Diane Roblin, otherwise have gone. His big sound on harp his wife of 36 happy years, but in my eyes he On Friday, Aug.12/11, the Canadian and vocals reflected both his physical stature was still very much on the inside. Knowing blues community lost one of it`s early and his irreverent sense of humor and sense that Fraser is gone is a tremendous loss for pioneers with the death of me to deal with but there are harmonica player/vocalist many great memories and lots Fraser Finlayson. Fraser to smile about when I think of hit his stride in the 70`s with him.Gary Kendall bands like The Knights of The Fraser, aka Big Daddy, Mystic Sea and Cueball. A few King Quaser , Flip etc. An of his many musical friends inspiration to me musically have expressed in words what because of his Harmonica his passing meant to them and talents and incredible the blues world at large…….. knowledge of R&B, blues, funk Sad news to hear of an old , etc. He always seemed ahead band mate passing - Fraser and of his time artistically and was I shared the front man duties in looking to constantly forge into the Knights of the Mystic Sea - new territories. Our mutual and because of the disparity in passion for music and the our heights, I jokingly called visual arts led to hours of us as the "Mutt and Jeff Blues discussion and appreciation. Band". Fraser had a very dry They broke the mould when sense of humour and a sharp they created " The Tall Cool wit - we shared a lot of laughs One ". His sense of humor was on the road. When I think legendary. You will always of Fraser a bunch of images keep me laughing. I will miss come to mind.....going to 505 you. Bob”Omar”Tunnoch Queen St. after Toronto gigs I met Fraser when I was and watching Fraser teach 17 and took a few harmonica Dan Ackroyd some harmonica lessons from him at the time. He licks.....trying to crack each had a totally unique sound and other up on stage through our way of playing – I remember attempts to do impressions of learning from a 45rpm disc our blues heroes, with Fraser by Knights of The Mystic imitating Bobby Bland....and a Sea (Morgan Davis’ band) late night at the Ottawa House a song called “Harpoon”, a in Hull with a bottle of "Alcool" rocking classic harmonica (white lightning that the LCBO instrumental and I remember used to sell) and no mixer, learning the song note for note. observing Fraser pulverizing He was always so generous with his time. Danny Haugh's oranges into a glass to make of mischief. Fraser was there for all of his We kept in touch over the years and would juice for a cocktail. Fraser loved the blues friends' important life events and expected talk ‘shop’: about our fave harp amps, mics and was a passionate player...he will be the same in return. He would not let you or new recordings. I had the honour of missed. Morgan Davis lose touch and would call you on it if you neglected the friendship. You never left a getting to know him a bit better in the last "Fraser was a founding father of blues conversation with Fraser without having had year as we started keeping more regular harmonica in Canada and we were all a few good laughs. His passing has left a big contact. I will miss him dearly. Carlos del grateful when he came out of "retirement" hole in our lives emotionally and musically. Junco a few years ago to sit in at our Little Walter Rocky Verweel At the time of his passing Fraser Finlayson Tribute at The Silver Dollar. He knew a lot was working in the studio producing new about the music and blew some killer harp Fraser Finlayson and I started our journey music, hopefully those sessions will be at the show. I could tell that he really had into the blues world together as young men released. He`d also written a paper on Little the soul of an artist and he took pride in in the early 70`s.