Toronto Blues Society | » Loose Blues News – August 2018

Loose Blues News – August 2018

Published August 1, 2018 in Loose Blues News, News

Cobalt Prize:

The Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award will be presented at the Maple Blues Awards gala on February 4 at Koerner Hall. To enter your song, you must send an mp3 to [email protected] between Monday, September 3 and Wednesday, October 31. The winning composition will be judged on its ability to creatively utilize blues traditions within the broad contemporary musical landscape. Particular attention will be paid to aspects of instrumentation, melodic invention, song structure, lyrics, and production possibilities. The successful song will explore and refresh blues as an art form. Priority will be given to songs that have been crafted specifically for the Cobalt Prize, however previously released material may be submitted. The Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award was created and originally funded by Toronto-based blues artist Paul Reddick. “Please celebrate the beauties and possibilities of blues music by writing and submitting your song”, says Reddick. “Blues remains a powerful source of truth in this crazy mixed up world. Blues, Creativity, Art, Cobalt.” Stay tuned for more details.

Harp Attack:

Aaron Kazmer is continuing his successful series at The Duke Live in Toronto’s East End showcasing Toronto’s finest blues harp players. Saturday, August 11 will present two Toronto harp heroes, Paul Reddick and Jerome Godboo along with Julian Fauth on piano and Aaron himself blowing as well. On September 21, the guests will be Steve Marriner of MonkeyJunk, Jerome Godboo and Al Lerman. On August 25th, Aaron will be celebrating his birthday with another blues bash at the Duke Live with guests Wayne Charles, Julian Fauth, Brian Blain, James Rasmussen, Davi Rocket and Michelle Josef. More info at www.aaronkazmer.com

Caddy still runnin’:

It has been an on-again-off-again saga for popular Toronto music venue The Cadillac Lounge in recent months. The club had been sold and owner Sam Grosso even took down the Cadillac embedded in the front wall. The deal fell through, however, and Grosso announced last week that it is business as usual at the Caddy, for now at least. (courtesy of Kerry Doole, FYImusic)

R.I.P. Big Sugar bassman Garry Lowe:

Garry, the man who brought a laid-back reggae groove to the heavy blues-rock sound of Big Sugar died of cancer on July 7 at the age of 64. He arrived in Toronto in 1974 from Jamaica and played with reggae stars Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott and Buju Banton and many other reggae stars until he was recruited by Gordie Johnson for Big Sugar. He and drummer Raffa Dean were known as “Toronto’s Sly and Robbie.” He was a Rastafarian, with the signature dreadlocks, who believed in kindness and social justice and “spreading the one love that he believed in.”

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