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.
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.
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.
Toronto City Budget includes Increases For The Arts: Toronto City Council has approved an enhancement of $1.83 million to Economic Development and Culture, of which Toronto Arts Council will receive a much-needed $500,000, or 2% increase. This increase, which comes at a time of ongoing pandemic disruption, affirms City Council’s understanding of the benefits of arts funding to the city. According to Stats Canada, Toronto’s arts sector has been amongst the very hardest hit by COVID-19. For the last couple of years, every musician in town has been singing the blues.
The past two years of Covid restrictions have just been a total drag for musicians, music lovers, club owners, sound techs and anyone else with ears. That’s stating the obvious, but this live album by the Harpoonist and the Axe Murder just might be the closest thing to being at a killer live show in a crowded bar.
When Angel Forrest released her landmark album, Angel’s 11, I thought she had finally reached the pinnacle or her creative abilities. By teaming up with the 11 guitarists who have helped her to solidify her standing as one of Canada’s finest blues acts, I thought maybe she had defined her 3 decades in music with one CD.
Boy was I wrong!i
This month’s recommended listening by Greg Torrington, programmer of Stingray’s blues channels.
It’s a Sue Foley homecoming with appearances at The Paradise April 13 and the Maple Blues Awards June 20
This is one of those albums that pushes the boundary of Blues in ways most people could never imagine. I am sure some blues purists would say that it is not blues, but if you listen closely you can hear blues undertones throughout every cut on this CD.
Like in all forms of music, there will always be the debate between modern and old school, just as there will always be those who strive to connect the two, and in doing so create new and compelling music that appeals to the educated ear. That is Rocket Ride in a nutshell.
©2024 Toronto Blues Society. Design by Janine Stoll Media.
TBS logo and WBR artwork by Barbara Klunder
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.
