January 2016 – Bonnie Raitt
Published January 1, 2016 in Maple Blues Newsletter, News
Bonnie Raitt plays Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on March 15th and more…
Maple Blues Archive
John’s Blues Picks Dec 2015 – Reno Jack The Bear
Published December 5, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
A veteran of Toronto’s cow punk scene, Reno Jack has lately teamed up with Aitikokan’s blues woman Sunday Wilde. Her blues influence is apparent on this recent disc, with various styles from his lengthy performing history coming out as a very pleasing blend. Reno Jack plays bass and has a great, low voice, sometimes described as ‘barbed wire wrapped in velvet’.
John’s Blues Picks Dec 2015 – Les Copeland
Published December 5, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
Vernon, BC blues guitarist Les Copeland came to my attention with his earlier disc on Chicago’s Earwig label. Owner Michael Frank is a hands-on kind of guy, he plays harp very well and takes a major interest in the careers of the blues men he signs. His most important artist for some years was the legendary Delta veteran David “Honeyboy” Edwards.
John’s Blues Picks Dec 2015 – Jordan Officer
Published December 5, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
Montreal’s Jordan Officer found the inspiration for I’m Free, his last album in New York. This time he moved his young family to Los Angeles for a month. The album grew into a journey through the music styles that got him to this point.
John’s Blues Picks Dec 2015 – Dione Taylor
Published December 5, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
It’s been too long between albums for this Regina-born, Toronto-based singer. Her first disc Open Your Eyes was nominated for a Juno in 2004. Since then she’s been nominated for a Gemini Award for her performance of Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn To Freedom” with Oliver Jones at the Canadian Songwriter’s Gala (it’s on YouTube) and toured with David Clayton Thomas, and of course her appearance with the Women’s Blues Revue.
John’s Blues Picks Dec 2015 – Neil Young
Published December 5, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
In 1988, during a period of experimentation with different genres of music, Neil Young released an album called This Note’s For You, featuring Crazy Horse and a large horn section and some surprisingly bluesy songs. The album sold poorly and received poor reviews but he took the band on the road anyway and the latest release in his archive series is this two-disc set of recordings from that tour – playing the songs live has clearly made a world of difference.
December 2015 – Colin Linden
Published December 1, 2015 in Maple Blues Newsletter, News
Colin Linden will perform at the Maple Blues Awards on January 18 at Koerner Hall
John’s Blues Picks Nov 2015 – Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin
Published November 30, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
Ottawa’s Wicked Grin took home last year’s MBA for New Artist, and the album Shame On Me has garnered several other awards as well. Murray Kinsley is the bandleader, vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter, hence the new special billing, I guess. Rod Williams plays harp, Leigh-Anne Stanton, bass & Liam Melville, drums and all the attention has been a major confidence builder.
John’s Blues Picks Nov 2015 – Mark Crissinger
Published November 30, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
Mark Crissinger hails from Nanaimo now but he was a longtime Toronto resident, playing in the band Caution Jam, and before that in the rock band Sweet Jones. These days he performs solo and with a band on occasion, and you should be able to catch him in both formats on his current tour, which lands him at Monarch’s Pub on November 12 for the official CD Release Party.
John’s Blues Picks Nov 2015 – Miss Angel with Shawn Kellerman
Published November 30, 2015 in John's Blues Picks, News
Miss Angel Brown continues to honour the legacy of her late husband Mel Brown, supervising the Mel Brown Award and organizing the festival in his honour in Mississippi scheduled for next spring. Her own career continues too, with this new disc featuring Shawn Kellerman on guitar and as producer. Kellerman was an early protégé of Mel’s and was the first recipient of the Award.
