Maple Blues Archive

December 2021 – Top Blues

This month’s recommended listening by Brad Wheeler, music writer for the Globe and Mail Twitter: @bwheelerglobe

December 2021 – Crystal Shawanda

Crystal Shawanda will perform at the Maple Blues Awards, January 31 at Koerner Hall

Terry Whalen and Friends – There Ain’t Nothing in this World

Terry Whalen and Friends  There Ain’t Nothing in this World

Probably the only good thing to come out of the pandemic is the growing list of albums where artists team up remotely. It is an indication of just how strong the Canadian blues village is. 

Eddie 9v – Little Black Flies

Eddie 9v   Little Black Flie

The opening of the liner notes for this album reads; “The best blues records feel like a party going off in your speakers.” This is a completely accurate summation of this album

November 2021 – Top Blues

This month’s recommended listening by Greg Torrington, programmer of Stingray’s blues channels.  

November 2021 – Loose Blues News

Raoul and the Show Time:  The multi-talented harpmeister Raoul Bhaneja is part of one of the hottest new shows on TV, Lost Symbol, one of the biggest releases of the year. It is an American TV series that comes under the adventure and mystery genre. Its story has been adapted from the novel named The Lost Symbol, which Dan Brown wrote. Brown is the author of the acclaimed Da Vinci Code franchise. Raoul plays a janitor/hit-man and puts on a rather sinister persona. As they say in showbiz, he killed it.  Showing now Monday nights on Showcase.

November 2021 – Quisha Wint

Quisha Wint will be a guest vocalist at the Women’s Blues Revue Friday November 26 @ Roy Thomson Hall

Colin James Open Road

Colin James  Open Road  True North Records

It’s reassuring, if not beyond pride-swelling, to watch a true Canadian talent getting better and better at their craft with each successive release. And, as popular as his Little Big Band was to so many, this writer never felt that James has ever truly maximized his definitive guitar talents, as readily identified by once-mentor, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Yet, here’s another strong release that moves him ever closer to doing so. 

Denis Parker – Country Blue

Denis Parker  Country Blue

Blues fans in St. John’s, Newfoundland are well aware of Denis Parker. He has been a cornerstone of the local blues scene ever since he arrived in the city of legends back in the early 70’s, bringing blues to the rock. With a pedigree that includes his work with Panama Limited, and their recording done at the legendary Abbey Road Studios,  

David Vest – Live In Calgary

David Vest   Live In Calgary Cordova Bay Records

Picking up where Gary Kendall’s review of Vest’s Live at Hermann’s left off, Live In Calgary continues to celebrate the venerable blues pianist’s joy of playing live. Armed with his long-time band (Tom Bowler, guitar; Ryan Tandy, bass; Damian Graham, drums) , with longtime Portland, Oregon blues guitarist, Peter Dammann, sitting in, Vest & Co. lay down their love for piano-based blues on fans at the 2019 Calgary International Blues Festival.