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The Vaudevillian is Jitterbug James (vocals/guitar/carzoobamaphone), Piedmont Johnson (vocals/bull fiddle) and Norah Spades (vocals/kazoo/ washboard) and they hail from Hamilton. As the name suggests, they recreate their own vaudeville or medicine show, right out of the twenties or even earlier. Brendan Stephens, as Jitterbug James, writes the original material and handles the lead vocals.

Following a difficult month with the loss of several favourite blues-friendly icons like Mose Alison and Leon Russell, the local blues community has been hit hard with the passing of two beloved bluesmen, John Mays and Brian Cober. Social media has been blowing up with loving tributes to two of the most humble and dedicated musicians and all-around great human beings that ever surfaced on the Toronto blues scene.

Jeff Healey would have been, should have been, celebrating his 50th birthday last March but it was not to be. But it was still a time for celebration: a very successful tribute concert was held at Massey Hall and his estate undertook to release some music Jeff recorded in the 90’s but did not release. What was released at the time was Get Me Some on his own Forte label, but it was a prolific period.

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

Michael Kaeshammer performs at the 20th Maple Blues Awards January 23 at Koerner Hall

Steve Marriner hosts the 20th Maple Blues Awards January 23 at Koerner Hall

Montreal bluesman Bob Walsh, a recipient of the TBS Blues With a Feeling Award in 2014, passed away in Montreal on November 15 following a heart attack. In a month filled with the loss of musical icons, Walsh’s death came as a great shock to the Quebec blues community. Even the Premier of Quebec tweeted that “Quebec blues has lost one of its mythic figures today.”

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.

Dione Taylor will be a featured vocalist at the TBS Women’s Blues Revue

Harry Manx is currently touring (and recording) in Australia but will be coming our way in the new year for a show at Koerner Hall on Friday, February 3 (tix now on sale). He will be bringing along his Australian touring mate, organ sensation Clayton Doley (who made a big impression in his short time as a Toronto resident). They will be joined by Kevin Breit and Mark Lalama to create another memorable journey into the “Harry zone”