July 2011 www.torontobluessociety.com Published by the TORON T O BLUES SOCIE T Y since 1985 [email protected] Vol 27, No 7 Monkey Junk (Tony D, Steve Marriner and Matt Sobb) have just launched a new CD, a new website and a busy tour of summer festivals CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40011871 Monkey Junk John’s Blues Picks Vince Maccarone Event Listings Jerome Godboo & more 2 MapleBlues July 2011 www.torontobluessociety.com TORON T O BLUES SOCIE T Y 910 Queen St. W. Ste. B04 Toronto, Canada M6J 1G6 Tel. (416) 538-3885 Toll-free 1-866-871-9457 Email: [email protected] Website: www.torontobluessociety.com MapleBlues is published monthly by the Toronto Blues Society ISSN 0827-0597 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Derek Andrews (President), Jon Arnold (Executive), Gord Brown, Lucie Dufault (Secretary), Sharon Evans, Sarah French, Shar Grace, Michael Malone (Treasurer), Ed Parsons (Executive), Norman Robinson, Paul Sanderson, Mike Smith Maple Blues Award winner Carlos del Junco will be accompanied (Executive), John Valenteyn (Executive) Musicians Advisory Council: Lance Anderson, by veteran multi-instrumentalist Ken Whiteley at the TBS "First Brian Blain, Gary Kendall, Al Lerman, Lily Sazz, Thursday" blues night at the Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar on July Mark Stafford, Suzie Vinnick 7. There will be no cover charge and each performance will begin Executive Committee:Derek Andrews, at 8pm. Jon Arnold, Michael Malone, Ed Parsons, Mike Smith, John Valenteyn, Lucie Dufault Membership Committee: Mike Malone, Lucie More Upcoming TBS Events Default, Gord Brown, Sarah French, Mike Smith, Debbie Brown, Ed Parsons, Norm Robinson, Rick Battision, Sharon Grace WHAT: Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Finals Volunteer Committee: Ed Parsons, Sharon WHO: Nicole Christian, The Distillery, Richard Henderson, Bradleyboy Evans, Lucie Dufault Mac Arthur, Fraser Melvin Blues Band, Ken Yoshioka Membership Services Coordinator: Rick Battiston WHERE: Nathan Phillips Square – Toronto City Hall Office and Event Coordinator: Jordan Safer WHEN: Thurs Aug 18, 2011 @ Noon-2pm Grants Officer: Barbara Isherwood The TBS Talent Search is part of the Toronto Blues Sponsorship Coordinator: Dougal Bichan Society's ongoing programme. It is made possible by Webmistress: Janine Stoll the generous support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council. Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Derek Andrews Managing Editor: Brian Blain Contributing Editors: John Valenteyn Distribution: Ed Parsons, Rick Battiston RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW Advertising: Dougal & Co. For rates & specs call 416-645-0295 Email: [email protected] or visit The TBS membership rates have not changed for many years despite increases to the www.torontobluesociety.com/newsletters/rate-card cost of printing and mailing. In addition, we have been absorbing the GST and now HST Printing: UCC Press (416) 545-0277 within the membership fee. With the increase to the federal sales tax, we will be moving our rates up in the Charter, The Toronto Blues Society gratefully acknowledges the General and Family categories ($5) as of September. Take advantage of this early notification financial support of the following agencies and renew now. 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] www.torontobluessociety.com MapleBlues July 2011 3 More Than Music with ALEC FRASER BY PHOTO Jerome Godboo Anyone who has seen Jerome Godboo’s live performance surely has an indelible image of the experience in their mind. The signature low- slung leather belt of harmonica’s, mischievous grin and high energy performances. Yet, there is a tenderness and vulnerability as well. Since fronting the 1980’s blues rock band, The Phantoms, Jerome continues his personal journey of musical and spiritual growth. Here, in the new millennium, with his newest recording “Rooting Out My Devils” he remains true to that path. “Anything you want to get good at involves hard work. For me, that work is meditation. To become more compassionate you have to notice how uncompassionate you are at times. Meditating helps me to get to know myself so I can trust my motives.” Jerome said. “When I’m pretty rock’n roll and while with my band One previously unconscious attitudes and beliefs come doing business it’s healthy to be aware of the Monkey, I came across a pamphlet on Vipassana to the surface daily. subtext of why I do things.” Meditation and felt this was it! It's been a dozen “It’s helped me to get over myself. The blues years that I attend annual 10 day silent retreats. Jerome’s interest in meditation began when he travel through me. I appreciate my bands and the There is no communication or eye contact with was 12 years of age while watching the TV series, possibilities the music provides. I’m grateful to other students while you’re on a course. This Kung Fu. He noticed, through the characters, have been shown a good path, that with effort, makes it easier to observe your physical sensations how the practice of meditation was able to bring will bring understanding into my life and more while maintaining equanimity of mind and calm and kindness into meeting the challenges of harmony with those around me. Metta.” * utilizing those tools to transform negativity.” everyday life. * With loving kindness. Through his daily meditation practice Jerome’s “After I had my first child I was still acting music has been enhanced as he claims that -- Sharon Grace 4 MapleBlues July 2011 www.torontobluessociety.com Monkey Congratulations to the 2011 TBS Talent Search Finalists The Distillery • Nicole Christian • Bradleyboy Mac Arthur • Junk Richard Henderson • Fraser Melvin Blues Band • Ken Yoshioka On June 21, Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk released their sophomore CD, To Behold, the first in a three-record deal with their new label, Stony Plain Records and a follow-up to their successful debut Tiger in Your Tank (released independently, then on Vizztone). Not your usual blues ‘power trio’, MonkeyJunk has accomplished much in three years. But like all blues ‘overnight sensations’, there’s lots of history and slogging it out in the trenches behind their success. Their combined experience (almost 60 years) and their long-term friendship contributes to the chemistry that merges Tony D’s guitar virtuosity, Matt Sobb’s solid drumbeat (and assorted other percussion) with Steve Marriner’s passionate vocals, his award-winning harmonica The six finalists, (clockwise, The Distillery, Nicole Christian, Bradleyboy Mac Arthur, Richard Henderson, and his skill on a host of other instruments, Fraser Melvin Blues Band and Ken Yoshioka) will perform before a panel of judges at Nathan Phillips Square including baritone guitar, guitar and keyboards. on Thursday August 18, noon-2pm during City of Toronto’s “Tasty Thursdays” series. And there’s no bass! They’re always asked where the name came The Distillery is a hot young blues trio that Richard has developed a characteristic edgy style from. Their response: “A chance remark Son can appear to be deceptively mellow at times. based on the uncompromising essence of the blues House made. ‘I’m talkin’ ‘bout the blues. I ain’t Please don’t relax too much as Neil, Myrrhine and and other elemental roots music. talkin’ about monkey junk,’ he said. We love Mr. Jordan bring out the sabre tooth tiger when you The Fraser Melvin Blues Band was formed House, and we get his point, but the word stuck least expect it. Check out their intoxicating brand in 2003 by friends Fraser Melvin (Guitar & with us. And we use it as one word: MonkeyJunk, of original blues based on real life experiences Vocals) and Alex Furlott (Bass). With a revolving with a capital J in the middle.” that we all share. “What You Told Me” is the first door of other musicians, the current lineup consists Less than a year after their Sunday evening in an exciting series of blues recordings by The of Jon Hyde (Drums), Josh Cavan (Keys), and gigs at Ottawa’s Irene’s Pub evolved into a band, Distillery and is being released at The Gladstone Andrew Moljgun (Saxes). All enrolled in Humber they were on the “Road to Memphis” as the Hotel on Thurs July 28. College's music program, this quintet plays a Ottawa Blues Society’s representative at the 2009 For the past several years Nicole Christian has mixture of music, fusing blues, jazz, and soul. International Blues Challenge, where they placed performed and produced music events in Toronto The Fraser Melvin Blues Band is an exciting and third out of nearly 100 bands! In the fall of 2009, at venues such as Hugh’s Room, The Silver Dollar entertaining band - definitely one to keep your they became one of a handful of Canadians to be and The Supermarket, Grafitti's and The Black ears open for. nominated for a Blues Music Award. In January Swan. Nicole has recently been featured in The Originally from Kamakura,Japan. Ken 2010, they were nominated for six MapleBlues Toronto Star, as well as on Newstalk 1010 and Yoshioka came to Toronto in 1994. He started Awards and won five, and they followed up CBC Radio, where she has played her song “Barn to go to blues jams at bars such as Chicago's, with a Best Blues Artist award at the Canadian Dance” (co-written with Stephen King) live on air.