Toronto Blues Society | » John’s Blues Picks

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.

John’s Blues Picks August 2015 – Terra Lightfoot “Every Time My Mind Runs Wild”

Published August 31, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

With Crystal Shawanda already announced for the Women’s Blues Review, Terra Lightfoot’s second solo disc will give you a taste of the next featured artist to be announced. Just as Shawanda came over from country, Terra’s first one was an acoustic folk disc, although she’s also a member of the alt-country group The Dinner Belles. Rocking Blues seems to suit both of them.

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John’s Blues Picks July 2015 – Ronnie Earl “Father’s Day”

Published July 20, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

With its long, fluid lines and searing intensity, Ronnie Earl’s guitar mastery has maintained a devoted following over some forty years now. He won a Blues Music Award last year as Guitar Player of the Year, proof that his reputation only continues to grow. His ninth album for Stony Plain will definitely keep the trend going.

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John’s Blues Picks July 2015 – Jeff Healey “Best of…”

Published July 20, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

Sub-titled ‘Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues’, it’s the music that Jeff Healey was always most interested in and was able to record with Stony Plain Records. This compilation collects highlights from those three discs released on that label and is at a most affordable price.

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John’s Blues Picks July 2015 – The Bentley Collective “Songs”

Published July 20, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

Brooke Blackburn is the guitar-playing brother in Blackburn. His middle name is Bentley and this is his way of differentiating his solo work from that the band. The Collective refers to the combined efforts of his friends and brothers who appear occasionally. This is one lovely disc: Brooke says he very much enjoys playing acoustic guitar and he certainly proves that here.

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John’s Blues Picks July 2015 – Cheryl Lescom “1953”

Published July 20, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

Cheryl Lescom is a veteran, 1953 being the year of her birth.  It shows in her I’ve-seen-it-all voice and in these songs. A winner of the prestigious Mel Brown Award, she’s currently based in Kitchener with her band the Tucson Choir Boys. This is her fifth recording and while that may not seem like a lot for 40 years in the business, they’re all very good. Ray Walsh (Sameday Ray, in the notes) co-wrote most of the songs with Lescom and they’re a blend of blues & country, thoughtfully constructed and very well arranged.

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John’s Blues Picks July 2015 – “Muddy Waters 100”

Published July 20, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

John Primer was in Muddy Waters’ last band. He was already then and is to this day the foremost practitioner of Muddy’s style of Chicago Blues. He brings to this role a unique ability to keep the music sounding fresh. It is fitting then that this tribute to Muddy on his Centenary is built around him. He gets an enormous amount of help from a Who’s Who in blues today. The rhythm section is the same as on Raisin’ Music’s Chicago History discs: Billy Flynn on guitar, Felton Crews on bass, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums and Johnny Iguana on keys. They can play anything and the new settings of Muddy’s most famous songs get most impressive performances here.

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John’s Blues Picks June 2015 – Clayton Doley “Bayou Billabong”

Published June 12, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

The long time keyboard accompanist for Harry Manx is this young man from Australia. He’s also filled in for Booker T, when the MGs needed him and he played on Texas bluesman Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges’ last album, Roots & Vines. After his all-too-brief residency here he’s back Down Under but journeyed to New Orleans to record portions of his new disc. He used players from Jon Cleary’s Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Trombone Shorty’s Orleans Avenue and Galactic. The rest of the disc was recorded in Sydney with among others didgeridoo player Ganga Gil who also played on Manx’s last couple of discs. Calling the album Bayou Billabong was thus an inspired choice.

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John’s Blues Picks June 2015 – Alec McElcheran Trio “The Blue in Everything”

Published June 12, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

Alec McElcheran is a veteran bassist and singer/songwriter in Quebec. He has played with most everyone in that province and written songs for Bob Walsh, Steve Rowe and many others. For his first album as a leader, he proves himself to be a fine singer as well. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, electric guitar & bass and backed by Alan Springer on electric guitar and Dan Legault on drums, he delivers a lovely set of acoustic & electric songs that cover a range of styles while staying true to the title.

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John’s Blues Picks June 2015 – Romi Mayes “Devil on Both Shoulders”

Published June 12, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

Romi Mayes is a Winnipeg-based singer/songwriter/guitarist whose work is usually filed in country, although her roots style could easily place her anywhere. This album, her sixth, is particularly bluesy. She has won many awards for her song writing and has been nominated for a JUNO and I think you’ll agree that this new batch will be equally successful. The leadoff song is the title song and it’s a rocker about refusing to conform or to grow up as one grows older. Producer Grant Siemens doubles on all the guitars along with Marc Arnold on keyboards and the rhythm section of Bernie Thiessen on bass and Damon Mitchell on drums and they smoke on this one.

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John’s Blues Picks June 2015 – Bob Walsh “After The Storm”

Published June 12, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News

Maple Blues Award winner Bob Walsh follows up There’s A Story Here with another album of wide-ranging song choices. After The Storm also showcases Walsh’s fabulous voice with arrangements that make the song selection seem logical.

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