August 2017 – Shakura S’Aida
Published August 1, 2017 in Maple Blues Newsletter, News
Shakura S’Aida will host and perform at the TBS Women’s Blues Revue
Maple Blues Archive
John’s Blues Picks July 2017 – Watermelon Slim
Published July 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
Watermelon Slim (William Homans) has been a frequent visitor here, especially as he was signed to Fred Litwin’s Ottawa-based NorthernBlues label. In fact, he was the label’s last remaining artist as the company wound down (all his CDs remain available, however). We clearly had an impact on him as this new disc was recorded in Winnipeg, with local players and produced by poet/singer/songwriter Scott Nolan.
John’s Blues Picks July 2017 – Harris, Hunter & Fenn
Published July 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
Dave Harris, John R. Hunter and George Fenn are three veteran Victoriaarea performers, so veteran that they have 50 years of playing experience between them. Harris may be best known as a busker on the streets of Victoria and has recently been performing as a one-man band when not in this group. He has in fact written a book on oneman bands called “Head, Hands & Feet”. John R. Hunter is a drummer/vocalist/ songwriter, most recently working with Bill Johnson (he was here with Bill for the Summit) and Harpdog Brown.
John’s Blues Picks July 2017 – The Bluesland Horn Band
Published July 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
This eight-piece band is based in Calgary, it was active from 1998 to 2004 and then was re-formed in 2013. This is their third CD since. Marty Cochrane is the vocalist, with Gavin Sorochan, drums; Pan Sciore, bass; piano, Guy Plecash; guitars, Terry Medd (who is also the producer and pr imary songwriter); tenor sax, John Reid; trumpet, Doug Zacharias; baritone sax, Paul Evans; the horn arrangements are by Miles Jackson, who also plays piano on some songs. They describe their style as a mix of blues, funk, soul/jazz & roots and have eight new originals and a couple of covers here.
John’s Blues Picks July 2017 – Betty Bonifassi
Published July 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
You may not know Béatrice “Betty” Bonifassi’s name but if you saw Les Triplettes de Belleville, you certainly heard her as she dominates the soundtrack. She was also the vocalist for DJ Champion on “No Heaven”, which made a splash a few years ago and even made it to the JUNO Awards show.
July 2017 – Jenie Thai
Published July 1, 2017 in Maple Blues Newsletter, News
Jenie Thai plays the Women’s Blues Revue Nov 18 at Massey Hall
Top Blues – June 2017
This month’s recommended listening by John Valenteyn, host of John Valenteyn’s Blues on ciut.fm, 89.5 and CD reviewer for Maple Blues.
John’s Blues Picks June 2017 – American Epic
Published June 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
This ambitious project, ten years in the making, has suddenly appeared, with shows broadcast on PBS this past month. It is a new exploration of the fledgling recording industry’s series of field trips that documented the amazing breadth of working peoples’ music in the United States in the late 20’s.
John’s Blues Picks June 2017 – CURL
Published June 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
CURL is Helen Davies, Susan Johnson & Dee Cooper. They are based on Vancouver Island and Davies is the lead vocalist and plays guitar, with Johnson on bass and Cooper on keyboards. They are joined on this recording by Andy Okell, drums and Jazz Fouladianpour, guitar.
John’s Blues Picks June 2017 – Gary Cain
Published June 1, 2017 in John's Blues Picks, News
Gary Cain is a Kitchener-based guitarist who, as it says in his press release, has done very little else in his life. But it has led to a guitar style recognized by none other than Lee Ritenour, Cain placing as fourth unsigned blues guitarist in his Six String Theory guitar competition last year, judged by Joe Bonamassa, Ry Cooder and Joe Satriani, among others.
