Loose Blues News
Jordan John breaking out: Jordan John has a busy summer schedule whether it be a regular gig on Monday’s at Toronto’s Wilson 96 or opening for country legends Roy Clark and Charlie McCoy at the Burlington Country and Blues Festival … playing solo or with his band The Blues Angels which includes drummer Al Cross (Big Sugar, Great Big Sea) and his father Prakash on bass. Prakash is a rock and roll hall-of-famer (George Clinton, Parliament Funkadelic, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper) … Jordan is paving his own path on the Canadian music scene becoming well known as a multi-instrumentalist … as well as for his silky-smooth voice.
At the tender age of 25 Jordan has had the honour of opening for a plethora of music royalty from the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to Ray Charles, Johnny Winter to Prince as well as sharing the stage with the likes of Canadian legends Jeff Healey and Burton Cummings.
Jordan can be found playing all over the Toronto area through the month of August as well as on the festival circuit. Information on Jordan can be found at www.jordanjohn.com.
The Elmo Redux: Toronto’s legendary El Mocambo has been purchased by Cadillac Lounge owner Sam Grosso. The downtown landmark, built in 1850 will be renovated by Grosso and partner Marco Petrucci who vowed to restored the Elmo to what they described as “…its glorious past as one of Toronto’s best live music venues.” Artists who have performed at the El Mocambo include legendary acts such as: Jimi Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughn, Charles Mingus and The Rolling Stones.
150th Anniversary Emancipation Festival: Owen Sound will be celebrating black history in Canada with a three day event commemorating cultural history, music, art, multiculturalism, heritage and integration. The 150th annual Emancipation Festival is the longest running emancipation picnic celebration in North America. This year’s theme, The Ties That Bind takes place from August 3 – 5, 2012 at Harrison Park and Kelso Beach in Owen Sound, Ontario.
The three day event features a speaker’s forum, picnic, blues music, a gospel celebration, art exhibit as well as fun and games for children. Individuals interested in history, family, culture and community have been gathering every August 1st weekend in Owen Sound since 1862. The area represents the Northern most retreat of the Underground railroad journey in Canada.
This year’s blues celebration takes place on August 4th with artists such as Blackburn featuring Brooke, Duane and Cory Blackburn, Liberty Silver & Eddy Bullen, Bobby Dean Blackburn and Michael Dunston & Soul Stew scheduled to perform. The following day August 5th … a non-denominational Gospel Fest takes place featuring performances by Madeleine Courtney and the Renee Rowe Group “Soul in Praise.” Information on the event can be found at www.emancipation.ca.
Underground Railroad Festival: On Saturday August 18, 2012 Centennial Park in Drayton, Ontario will be hosting a day of world class music and food celebrating a region of Ontario that was a main terminus for the Underground Railroad.
Musical genres ranging from gospel to blues; folk to jazz and bluegrass will be represented … performed by a talented group of musicians. This year’s line-up includes: Blackburn, Harrison Kennedy, Curley Bridges, Miss Angel, Jenny Whitely, Donovan Locke and Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley.
Information on the event and ticket pricing can be found at www.braithwaiteandwhiteley.com or email info@braithwaiteandwhiteley.com or call (416) 857-4951.
Jazz in Motion: The Beaches International Jazz Festival included a Photo Pavilion for a juried photographic exhibition at two different locations during the ten day celebration. The theme of the competition is images that best defined the essence of jazz music, jazz musicians and the audience that supports the music.
Jurors for this year’s competition are Peter Sramek (Chair of Photography OCAD University, Bill King, Kris King (Award winning Jazz Photographer), Igor Vidyashev (award winning concert photographer), Robert Saxe (first place winner of the Jazz in Motion Exhibition 2011) and Simon Glass (Associate Dean Faculty of Art at OCAD University.
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss: July 12, 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of the Rolling Stones who performed at London’s Marquee Club on July 12, 1962. The Stones whose early music consisted of covers of many of the day’s most talented black artists like Chuck Berry, Bobby Womack, Bo Diddley and Little Richard chose their name from an early Muddy Waters tune “Rollin’ Stone”.
The Stones went onto to cover and help popularize many classic blues artists such Howling Wolf, Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon and of course Muddy Waters with young British and American audiences.
The Rolling Stones have gone on to record 29 Studio albums and14 live albums as well as releasing 30 compilation albums, 3 EP’s and 107 singles in their 50 year career.
As part of the Anniversary celebration a commemorative hard covered book titled 50 has been released. Rumours of a new tour to help celebrate the anniversary are being spoken about but aren’t slated to start until late 2012 or possibly not until 2013. The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Taj Mahal in Canada: The legendary Taj Mahal graces Canadian soil with his presence with appearances at western festivals and a play at the Kitchener Blues Festival August 12 and the next night, August 13, performs at Peter’s Players in Gravehurst, Ontario.
Taj Mahal is a multi-instrumentalist who fuses many different styles and genres from around the world including West African, Hawaiian, Caribbean, European and Latin American. He’s recorded everything from country to movie soundtracks, the blues to children’s albums.
– Christopher Darton