June 2012 www.torontobluessociety.com Published by the TORON T O BLUES SOCIE T Y since 1985 [email protected] Vol 28, No 6 PHOTO: JIM ANDERSON JIM PHOTO: Cold Specks plays the Danforth Music Hall on June 2 , the Great Hall on August 8 and the Hillside Festival in Guelph on July 29. See JV's review on page 12 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40011871 Robin Bank$ Loose Blues News TBS Talent Search Event Listings John’s Blues Picks & more October 7 - 13, 2012 – Tunica, MS www.golfandblues.net Check our website for Spring 2013 Biloxi Dates! IInn tthhee bbiirrtthhppllaaccee ooff AAmmeerriiccaa’’ss mmuussiicc!! The birthplace of America’s Music is also known for its world-class golf, spas, casinos, southern cuisine and of course, southern hospitality! For more information visit www.visitmississippi.org or to order your FREE Mississippi Golf Guide call 1-888-669-7662 2 MapleBlues June 2012 www.torontobluessociety.com The Many Facets of Robin Bank$ Robin Banks is fascinated by musical evolution. She's an artist who describes her original music as "a by product of all my musical influences and life experiences, which is somewhat limitless under that umbrella of Jazz, Blues, Soul, R&B and Reggae". She doesn't merely flirt with musical genre. Robin Banks actually got right into the bed and got dirty under the covers with Blues and Jazz and Reggae. She became intimate with the music and the culture by physically bringing her career to the South, to Texas and to Jamaica for over a decade. She went to "the root of the tree" so as to learn first hand from those artists and musicians who made the music evolve to what it is today. "I just keep it honest. Keep it real. When we write music from the heart about the real things that affect us emotionally, the music defines who we are as artists. Not genre, or geography or certainly the opinions of others." Now living back in Canada, her current bands are extensions and reflections of the past 20 or 30 years of life and musical experience. "My original material is the common thread that runs through the fabric that clothes all of my bands." All of her bands? Hmm, what might that mean? Robin Banks will be joined by Ken Whiteley on Thursday June 7th as part of the TBS Gladstone Hotel Melody "I'm known as a band leader. First, I have my Bar Blues Series. She will also be performing at Monarchs Pub on Wednesday June 27 as part of the TD Toronto all star Canadian Blues band (of Gary Kendall, Jazz Festival and Friday June 15th (5:30pm) at The Beach BBQ & Brews Festival, Woodbine Park, Coxwell Mike Fitzpatrick, Teddy Leonard and Clayton Ave. & Lakeshore. Photo by Dawk McCarthy Doley) that would be considered a Chicago/ Texas/West Coast style Electric Blues band with corporate events. It's rather flexible in that it can be on a stage... that's when you have reached the some Memphis Soul mixed in. It's much like my Clayton Doley or Richard Whiteman on piano. (or ultimate level. When we all play for the sake and Blues band I had in TX which was comprised basically any really skilled piano player who can respect of the song." of members of the Thunderbirds, The Rockets manage the material which is a great deal of classic Not yet signed to a label or artist management, and so on. We are kind of a festival band that Jazz ballads from Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson, Robin Banks produces her music independently occasionally does club gigs. Very authentic and Ella, Etta, Aretha, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole) thus far. She's currently compiling new, original very entertaining." "I'm just starting to get to know the musicians and material for a CD that legendary Blues and Jazz "Then I have what I call my transitional band infiltrate the Jazz scene here in Toronto, which is guitarist Duke Robillard has agreed to produce. which is a mixture of all the music under my clearly rich and vibrant." This duo can also morph She is raising the funds for that project by beautiful umbrella of styles." (This band features into a trio if necessary as was the case at the Old following the advice of her peers and opening an Terry Wilkins, Mitch Lewis, Clayton Doley Mill in March where Robin was accompanied by online Kapipal account where fans and followers and Bucky Berger) The song list is a fusion of Richard Whiteman on piano and Eric St-Laurent can "pre pay" for their signed copy of the new styles including Soul, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Funk on guitar. release. http://www.kapipal.com/robinbankscd and Reggae. "I say fusion because, for instance, "I just love to work, be it in a studio or on a In the fall of 2012, Robin Banks will once I occasionally take a traditional Jazz or R&B stage. But the live show is the top of the mountain again join her Austrian born/Texas based writing cover song and do it in a Reggae or Latin style. for me. It's the peak of what I do as an artist and an partner and Blues pianist Christian Dozzler on their This is very much the same material and song entertainer. It's where I can take those feelings and third European tour behind their independently list and treatment of songs that I perform in emotions and life experiences that I've translated to released "Livin' Life" CD. Catch her live at the those Resort Hotels all around Jamaica. It has music on record, and move people with that music Mont-Tremblant International Blues Festival on big entertainment value and we occasionally do live. I never sing a song I don't love! I'm in the July 12, 13 and 14. And you can also catch her club gigs." Miss Banks also has a piano and vocal people moving business! And it's magical when live with Canadian Blues royalty Ken Whitely duo that she describes as "appropriate for quiet, you surround yourself with musicians that play accompanying her on Thursday June 7th as part upscale, elegant venues, events or occasions like that wonderful supporting role... when it becomes of the TBS Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar Blues cocktail parties, fine dining restaurants, weddings, an effortless musical conversation among friends Series. www.torontobluessociety.com MapleBlues June 2012 3 WEEKEND PASSES SINGLE TICKETS LY PRESENTS THE 11TH ANN & PROUD UAL VIP PASSES ON-SALE NOW! CBC Radio One (99.1) "Saturday Night Blues", w/ Holger Petersen (national) Saturday 9:05pm-11:00pm (on Radio 2 Saturday at 6:05pm), JAZZ-FM (91.1) "Bluz FM" w/ Danny Marks Saturday 8:00 pm-midnight CIUT-FM (89.5) "John Valenteyn's Blues" w/ John Valenteyn Thursday 4-5pm TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND CHRY-FM (105.5) "Everyday I Have the Blues", JULY 6-8 w/ Vince Vitacco Monday 9-11pm, The Haze FM www.thehazefm.ca "Sunday Morning Soul Johnny Max NY LAN 2012 8 SPEC "w/ JON G .3 IAL Sundays at 11AM-1PM THANK YOU"At The Crossroads" w/Brant Zwicker Sundays at 1PM MARINA PARK "Southern Crossroads" w/Patrick Le Blanc Sundays 2-4PM THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO, CANADATHANK YOU"Dawg Howlin’ Blues Show" Mon-Fri 10 pm – Midnight THUNDERRadio Regent,BAY! Toronto FOR TICKETS CALL 684-4444 or 1-800-463-8817 "Blue Remedy" Visit or THUNDERw/ Blues BAY! Doctor Julie Hill, www.tbayblues.ca www.tbca.com Wednesdays 8-10 pm ET, at www.radioregent.com, For Making FRIDAY JULY 6 SATURDAY JULY 7 SUNDAY JULY 8 CKWR (98.5 FM) Gates Open at 4PM Gates Open at 11 AM Gates Open at 11 AM For Making“Old Chicago Blues" w/ Willy A, JONNY LANG TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND 38 SPECIALThe10th AnnualFriday 10:30 pm-midnight (Waterloo) Joe Louis Walker Scrapomatic Sonny Landreth CIOI-FM (101.5 FM) Sass Jordan Royal Southern Brotherhood Tyler BluesThe10th Bryant Festival Annual & The Shakedown "Thursday Night Blues Revue", with Little Willie Trevor Potts Popa Chubby & Ten Miles of Bad Road Kelley Hunt Thursday 6-9pm (Hamilton) Monkey Junk Blues Festival Sugar A Blue Success... Honey Island Swamp Band CJLX (91.3 FM) Shannon Curfman Matt “Mojo” Tedder "Saturday Night Blues Review", with George Vaughan. T hank JP ASoars you Success... to the individualsSaturday and 6-7pm business (Belleville) Big Walter Smith Rodneywho gave Brown their time, expertise and support to The Chain Tmake &hank The Derailers this you Festivalto the individuals a Reality.CFRU Your and (93.3 FM)helpbusiness is very "The Thrill is Back" with Andy and Andrew muchwho gave appreciated! their time, expertiseMondays and 1 to 3pm support to make this Festival a Reality."The Your Wacky Worldhelp of Waldois very Fourtunes" with Mo' Kauffey Monday 8-9pm much appreciated! "The Blues Review", with Roopen Majithia Tuesday 9.00 pm (Guelph) CFBU (103.7 FM) "Eclectic Blues" with Deborah Cartmer Tuesday 7-9 pm (St. Catharines) CKCU(93.1 FM) www.ckcufm.com "Rockin The Blues from Canada" w/ Diane Wells (aka Misty Blue) Every Saturday 2-7 am (Ottawa) )RUPWHFK&RQFUHWH )UDQNOLQ7HPSOHWRQ,QYHVWPHQWV 7KXQGHU%D\,QVXUDQFH CKMS (100.3 FM) "Poor Folk Blues" w/ Bruce Hall (aka Brewski) )RUPWHFK&RQFUHWH SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE)UDQNOLQ7HPSOHWRQ,QYHVWPHQWV 2012 FESTIVAL 7KXQGHU%D\,QVXUDQFH Monday 7:30-9 pm (Waterloo) 4 MapleBlues SEEJune 2012 YOU NEXT YEARwww.torontobluessociety.com FOR THE 2012 FESTIVAL TORON T O BLUES SOCIE T Y 910 Queen St. W. Ste. B04 Toronto, Canada M6J 1G6 Tel.