Toronto Blues Society | » Loose Blues News – August 2016

Loose Blues News – August 2016

Published August 1, 2016 in Loose Blues News, News

Mo’ Remembered

A posthumous CD is being finished off with material from the beloved Guelph bluesman Mo Kauffey (aka Gary Wickizer). The ‘Kauffey/Temple’ CD has been mixed and they are now doing some overdubs. Mo’s long-time musical collaborator, Pete Temple writes, “we are deciding now who will master the CD. It has 6 studio cuts and 5 live cuts, which I really like because, we have Mo’ introducing and talking to us before some of the songs. People will love it, and it will remind of of Mo’s humanity every time we listen.” They are hoping for a release this summer

A New Home For The Saturday Afternoon Blues Matinee

When The Mighty Duck Blues Band (Dave Curry, Canada Dave Torosian, Jim Casson and Gary Kendall) closed their popular Saturday Blues Matinee at The Duck a.k.a. The Golden Pheasant for the summer hiatus on June 4th the return to their residency in the fall seemed guaranteed. They knew their long time home base was having financial problems, they`d recently organized a fundraiser to bump up the cash flow and do their part to help keep the live music venue open. All signs indicated full steam ahead. Unfortunately three days later the doors were locked followed by news that The Duck was up for sale. A band decision was made immediately, they’d worked too long and too hard to give up their series so they have found a new home for their Saturday Matinee: The Bar Upstairs at 16 Melbourne Ave. in St. Catharines is located inside The BallHockey.Com Athletic Centre and beginning September 24th the band will be playing from 2:30-6:30pm with special guests. Guest artists on the 24th are Downchild`s Chuck Jackson and Pat Carey. See their website for further updates: www.mightyduckbluesband.com

Blues on the Big Screen

Filmmaker Christopher Darton is shooting a documentary on Danny Brooks following up on the success of his film on the Kendall Wall Blues Band. Danny reports, “He came by the Moonshine Cafe to get some more ‘Canadian footage’ and will be coming to shoot us in Texas with my band and duo in November at Gruene Hall & The Acoustic Cafe and Threadgills. He shot a video of a new song ‘Jamaica Sun’ we are going to release on an upcoming CD Get Your Joy On.

Phillip Sayce at Music by the Bay

At 21, Philip Sayce caught the attention of Jeff Healey, and spent the next 4 years as second guitar alongside the guitar master. Following the lead of a number of talented Canadian artists, Sayce chose to move to the U.S. all the while staying true to his personal quest of following what moves him. Primary among his various L.A. ventures was joining multi Grammy Award winner Melissa Etheridge’s band in 2003. He would go on to tour and record with Etheridge over the course of the next five years while continuing to perform and record with his own band. Combine the head turning guitar skills with expressive vocals delivering on a variety musical style and you get the whole picture – an artist following his heart, making that emotional connection.

Be part of that connection with Philip Sayce and Music by the Bay Live at St. Francis Centre in Ajax on August 27th. Advance tickets www.musicbythebaylive.com

Leon Russell Update

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Grammy winning singer-songwriter, Leon Russell, 74, is in stable condition following a heart attack last week. A news release from the Oklahoma Historical Society stated that his representatives are optimistic for a full recovery. Russell is currently undergoing tests and is scheduled for surgery. A notice on his website states that he is “scheduled to have surgery this week in Nashville and will be recuperating for the next several weeks. Postponed tour dates will be rescheduled at a later date.”

Russell, who began his musical career at the age of 14, is one of the parties, along with JJ Cale and others, responsible for the “Tulsa Sound.” He worked for many years as a first call session musician in Los Angeles before launching a solo career in the late 1960s. He helped Freddie King revive his career in the early 1970s, and Russell’s own career was later rejuvenated through the help of Elton John in 2009. He has played and recorded with hundreds of award winning artists, and is responsible for penning such classics as “Tightrope,” “Superstar,” and “Delta Lady.”

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