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.


June 2022 – Putumayo

Putumayo Presents Blues Café

I am naturally a collector. Hockey cards as a kid, stamps and coins as a young adult and for the last 20 years, music. Anyone who collects by nature is always looking for that hidden gem, the elusive rookie card, rare stamp / coin or that special song from days gone by.

Putumayo Presents Blues Café is just that, that fabulous collection of hidden gems and elusive tracks that fuel the desire, that sonic journey that is at the heart of the love of music.

Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and eleven-time Grammy winner, plus this year’s recipient of the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award — presents her first new album in more than six years. The title comes from Raitt’s awareness that perceptions can alter in a flash, as reflected in recent world events.

 

Ronnie Earl – Mercy Me 

Every Ronnie Earl release is met with near-religious fervour – and this is his 28th. The twelve tracks on the aptly-named Mercy Me begin with a robust, full-band workout on Muddy Waters’ “Blow Wind Blow”. Dave Limina’s rich wall of B3 is nicely ghosted by guest Anthony Geraci on piano while Diane Blue adds vocal support. Once referred to as ‘the Coltrane of the Guitar’, Earl and his band slip into John Coltrane’s “Alabama” like a pair of well-worn slippers

Bernard Allison Highs & Lows

Highs & Lows is Bernard Allison’s declaration of euphoria at getting back to work. His voice and guitar are standouts, his joy palpable. His longtime collaborator, the legendary Jim Gaines, produced the album, and Allison wrote or co-wrote eight of the songs.

 

Angelique Francis  Long River

Angelique Francis   Long River

When I sat down to write this review, it occurred to me: How do I describe someone that defies description?

Angelique Francis is a musical enigma. An old soul with a love and respect for the music, but an open mind with the power and passion to follow her own muse.

Debra Power  I’m Not From Chicago

Debra Power  I’m Not From Chicago

Anyone who has witnessed this red-headed fireball deliver her brand of the blues live can never forget her. And yes, with 2,618 kilometres between Calgary and Chicago, she’s not anywhere near the Windy City – yet her music can transport you instantly. A wicked piano-player, powerful vocalist and all-round nuclear explosion of a personality, Power is also a budding lyricist and capable songwriter – with only one non-original across ten songs.

Sam Moss – Blues Approved

You’d be entirely forgiven if you’ve never heard of Sam Moss. Few of us have. Yet this is an interesting curio for a man who seems an archetype for many of the more dedicated musical characters we grew up with in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. A tale both happy and sad, the story of Sam Moss might’ve been entirely lost without the discovery of tapes, originally recorded in ’77 and found – pure chance – by Chris Stamey in 2020, while searching for archived db’s’ recordings.

Tinsley Ellis – Devil May Care

If you’re intrigued by the potential of Southern Rock married to red-hot electric blues, meet your new favourite artist – and start digging into his impressive 20-release catalogue.

 

Steve Dawson – Gone Long Gone

This album has almost as many grooves as Steve Dawson has guitars. From the opening track, “Dimes”, reminiscent of Little Feat complete with a slippery horn arrangement and searing slide guitar to the solo, open-tuned acoustic guitar instrumental, Cicada Sanctuary, there is never a dull moment on this album.

HOROJO Trio – Set The Record

Every so often in the world of Canadian blues a project comes along that captures the imagination. Say for example three individual artists, each amazing on their own right, combine to create an entirely new entity, a power trio that generates incredible buzz. That is HOROJO Trio in a nutshell.

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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.

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