John’s Blues Picks is the monthly album review column originally launched by the late Toronto-based blues historian and broadcaster, John Valenteyn. Submission can be sent to the TBS office for consideration and will be circulated to a pool of journalists and others for review in the monthly Maple Blues newsletter and placed at the Spotify playlist.
After Roomful of Blues, of which he was a founding member in 1967, after his stay in the Fabulous Thunderbirds from 1990 to 1992 as Jimmie Vaughan’s successor, Michael John “Duke” Robillard, then under contract with the Virgin label for his rock n’ blues side à la Thunderbirds, was welcomed to the Canadian label Stony Plain.
Guitarists JD Simo and Luther Dickinson may not have fallen from exactly the same tree but the two contemporary bluesmen, who are firmly rooted in tradition, sure come out of the same orchard.
Al Lerman has been a long-time mainstay on the Canadian Blues scene. Included in his noteworthy resume is a 24 year stretch as founder / leader of the always soulful, two-time Juno Award winning band, Fathead, (!992-2016). Over time Lerman has shown himself to be a fine songwriter while laying his claim as one of the best harp players in the country.
With a 35-year recording career, Colin James offers us his 21st studio album, Chasing The Sun. Already winner of 8 Juno Awards and 31 Maple Blues Awards, he was nominated in 2023 by the Blues Foundation of Memphis for his previous album Open Road, in the Best Blues Rock Album category.
With the release of his seventh solo album, Sugarray Rayford continues to remind us that he is a force when it comes to delivering songs that roll over a wide variety of grooves and tempos in the world of blues infused soul and R&B.
No less than BB King was a fan, despite Chris Cain’s late start in 1985, at age 30. He released Late Night City Blues two years later, earning himself four W.C. Handy Awards.
One of my earliest memories of seeing the Stephen Barry Band live was, “once upon a time”, as Jimmy Rogers would say, at Café Campus in Sainte-Foy, QC, on October 16th, 1978.
After an eight-year recording hiatus, The Fabulous Thunderbirds are back in action with the album Struck Down comprised of 9 original tracks by Kim Wilson, the band’s leader since 1974, i.e. 50 years already, and by Canadian bluesman and guitarist Steve Strongman of Hamilton.
The Haligonian hippie couple Christine Campbell and Blake Johnston have crafted a throwback salute to a big band sound with sprinklings of tender ballads that expose some true blues heart in their song craft.
One Guitar Woman, A Tribute To The Female Pioneers Of Guitar, the first acoustic album by guitarist Sue Foley among sixteen personal opuses, let’s say it bluntly, is a tour de force!
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The Toronto Blues Society acknowledges the annual support of the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage, and project support from FACTOR< and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Broadcasters, The Canada Council for the Arts, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
