Ottawa BLUES Society Winter 2008 MonkeyJunk In this issue: OBS AGM & Christmas Party 3 Save DAWG FM 4 Kat Danser’s Blues Pilgrimage 6 On the Road to Cisco Bluesfest News 8 Blues on the Rideau 10 International Blues Challenge 12 Memphis CD Reviews 13 Postcards From The Road 18 Corporate Directory 22 New and Renewing OBS Members – July-December 2008 We welcome two new Corporate Members to the Ottawa Blues Society Gerald Baillie, David Bedard, Pierre Brisson, Ross Brown & Lori Kerfoot, Colin Chesterman, Brian Clark, Bob Crane (family), Louise Dontigny, James Doran & Diane Leduc-Doran, Jean-Louis Dubé, Alison Edgar, Cleo Evans, Bernard Fournier, Robewrt Gowan, Mike Graham, Sandy Kusugak, Jeff Lockhart, Jack Logan, Annette Longchamps, Hugh MacEachern, Fraser Manson, Tom Morelli, Tom Morris, Gary and Vickie Paradis, Roxanne Pilon, Terry Perkins, Chris Pudney, Jeff Roberts, Mark Roberts, Tom Rowe, Jim Roy (benefactor), Bill Saunders, Ursula Scherfer, Ken Stasiak, John Swayze, Liz Sykes (benefactor), Ian Tomlinson, Chris & Linda Waite, Gord White, Larry Williams, Ross Wilson, Linda and Pat Yarema www.worksburger.com www.lorenzos.ca 2 OBScene Deadlines 3 OBS CONTACTS OBS Annual General Meeting Issue Copy Deadline Distribution Date Website: www.OttawaBluesSociety.com OBS Mission Spring March 15 Online in April & Christmas Party E-mail: Please use feedback form on website Summer June 15 Mailed in early July Saturday, December 6, 2008 CORRESPONDENCE AND ADDRESS CHANGES To foster appreciation, Ottawa Blues Society promotion, preservation P.O. Box 708, Station “B” The OBS AGM got underway at 8:15 pm with Cover charges for this event, along with money From the Editor … and enjoyment of the Ottawa, ON K1P 5P8 reports from the President and Board Members. raised by raffles of items donated by Tucson’s and blues in all of its forms OBS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND DIRECTORS In December, we debuted the first Todd Bernard from DAWG FM was on hand to Founder’s Box tickets to a Senators game, were President:: Liz Sykes OBScenE-news. The current issue of the update the members with the latest information on earmarked for a fund to help defray the band’s Secretary: vacant OBScene, whether electronic or print, is the CRTC ruling (see pages 4-5 ). travel and accommodation costs. We thank available to OBS members only; to Tucson’s for their donations, and SkyWords/DAWG Directors : Brent Diab, Ken Fraser, Mike Graham, Several volunteer positions are available and Denis Paquin, Gary Paradis, Debra Thornington. access the current newsletter, please log OBS Mandate for the hockey tickets. The lucky winner of the Sens interested members are encouraged to contact the Treasurer: Mike Graham in using the email address you provided tickets was Ian Boyd (OBS Corporate Member, To bring together the blues Board (see back cover for a partial list). Legal Advisor: Alan Hirsch when you joined the OBS. Back issues community in Ottawa through Compact Music). are archived on the website and Elections were held for President and to fill four OBS COMMITTEES AND CHAIRS participation in blues events and We’re happy to announce that our fundraising available for download to anyone. We’re Director positions; Liz Sykes returns for another 2- Corporate Liaison: Ken Fraser activities. efforts (from cover charges and raffles at the Semi- interested in your thoughts on our first e- year term as President, Brent Diab and Ken Fraser Membership: Rob Dufresne Finals and Final ‘On the Road to Memphis’ shows, newsletter; contact us using the form on To work with the blues community were returned to the Board and new Directors Merchandise: vacant along with funds raised at the Christmas Party) the website, directed to ‘newsletter’. in expanding awareness and Denis Paquin and Gary Paradis will join current Special Events: Debra Thornington totalled $4149.00. appreciation of the blues. Board members Mike Graham and Debra All of us in the OBS share the OBScene STAFF Thornington. Mike Graham, who doubles as OBS disappointment of the SkyWords/DAWG To publish a newsletter to inform Editor: Liz Sykes Treasurer, will be mentoring Gary Paradis, who will team, in the outcome of the recent the blues community of all aspects Layout & Design: Commeleon Inc. become OBS Treasurer over the next two years. appeal of the FM radio license awarded of the local blues scene and events Writers: Kat Danser, James Doran, Ken Fraser, Mike Graham, JW-Jones, Patrick Langston, Jim Roy, Andre by the CRTC in August. We’re backing as well as some highlights of the Music for the Christmas Party was provided by (A.J.) Sauve, Liz Sykes. DAWG all the way and the Board will Canadian and international blues MonkeyJunk, the OBS representative in the Photographers: Roland Bouten, Kat Danser, Diane continue to offer support in the scenes of interest to OBS upcoming International Blues Challenge in Leduc Doran, James Doran, Sean Sisk, Liz Sykes, members. Memphis TN in February 2009. www.jw-jones.com Commission hearing; we encourage all OBS members to submit letters of To provide timely blues information COVER PHOTO: support to the CRTC. to OBS members by a website & e- MonkeyJunk by Scott Doubt, sd3design.com mail. Upcoming in the next few months: The OBScene is published quarterly by the Ottawa Blues Blues Summit IV & Maple Blues Awards To develop, maintain and increase Society, and is available via OBS membership. in Toronto in mid-January; our IBC band Spring & Fall issues are electronic only; Summer & its membership as a means of Winter issues are printed and mailed. The opinions entry, MonkeyJunk, will be showcasing at fostering and supporting blues. expressed in the articles, reviews and critiques this event on Sunday, January 18. We’ll contained in this newsletter are those of the report on the Summit in the Spring To stage or assist in staging events individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the OBScenE-news (available on line in mid- that will foster appreciation and opinion of the Ottawa Blues Society. If you have a April); The International Blues Challenge awareness of the blues. different opinion, please share it with us. in February in Memphis TN. We’re very To present a "Blues Heart" award ADVERTISING RATES proud of the OBS representative, to an individual who has made an Business card size $ 25.00 MonkeyJunk, and wish Steve, Tony & outstanding contribution to the Quarter page $ 50.00 Crowded dance floor at the OBS Christmas Party At the OBS Christmas Party, the Blues Heart Award Third page $ 75.00 Matt the best of luck. blues. Half page $ 100.00 for 2007 was presented to Tony D. Liz Sykes Full page $ 200.00 [email protected] 30% discount for institutional members. 10% discount for four issues paid in advance. Here’s what you can do to help! Please send a letter of support. It’s really easy. Go to www.bluesincanada.com scroll down and click on the “CLICK HERE to SAVE DAWG FM”, fill in the email fields and click send. Please encourage your friends to send letters of support. Join the facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=6523208335 4 5 DAWG FM: The Quest for 24/7 Blues Radio in Ottawa-Gatineau On August 26, 2008, the Canadian Radio- 3. The means by which the applicant will introducing a new voice and a music The Commission’s reasons for a date proscribed in a CRTC public television and Telecommunications contribute to Canadian Content format not commonly found in the denying the license to RCFO are notice. Commission (CRTC) approved the Development, with initiatives that will market. Torres also committed to stated in the decision and are On November 21, the Minister of application by Frank Torres (on behalf of a support, promote, train and develop devote 40% of its musical selections unequivocal: “In reaching its Canadian Heritage and Official corporation to be incorporated) for a Canadian musical and spoken word from category 2 weekly and between decision, the Commission has taken Languages announced the broadcasting licence to operate a new FM talent, including journalists. 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, into account the contribution that government’s decision to refer back radio station at 101.9 MHz or 101.7 MHz 4. An analysis of the markets involved as well as 20% of its weekly a community Type B French-language for reconsideration and hearing, the to serve Ottawa and Gatineau. and potential advertising revenues, selections from subcategory 34 (Jazz station such as that proposed by August 26 CTRC decisions. "We are taking into account the results of any and blues), to Canadian selections, Radio de la communauté The Commission’s decision stated that asking the Commission to fully BLUES RADIO survey undertaken supporting the which exceeds the current regulatory francophone d'Ottawa (RCFO) would “the primary issues to be considered are consider and explain its approach to estimates. minimums. Further, in order to make towards meeting the objectives as follows: evaluating the needs of official- in OTTAWA 5. Evidence as to the availability of ensure musical diversity in its of the Broadcasting Act, which states • Can the Ottawa-Gatineau radio language minority communities and financial resources consistent with programming, Torres committed to that the Canadian broadcasting market sustain additional radio services? how it applies in this case," said the requirements established in the broadcast in each broadcast week a system, operating primarily in the • If so, which of the applications should Minister James Moore. CKCU-FM 93.1 financial projections of the applicant's minimum of 20% category 3 English and French languages be approved, in light of the factors www.ckcufm.com business plan.” (Special Interest Music) musical and comprising public, private and On December 23, Ed Torres received identified in Broadcasting Public Notice Sundays: 9-11 pm selections broadcast in their entirety.