Ground control to Maj … Oops! Wrong space journey … Styx has returned to Earth momentarily with their first new album in 14 years ! One can say they are on a ‘mission’. A trip to insert a seamless album into the vast and historic Styx catalog. A recording that will not ‘skip’ the pure […]
‘East is east and west is west – and an elephant never forgets. Boulder’s rules … The elephant in this case happens to be Dr. Jarrett Lobley. A musician and a doctor practicing out west yet originally from Montreal. Lobley, has not forgot how fortunate he was to grow up in Canada and he utilizes […]
Festival International Nuits D’Afrique. Be there ! In the 31st year – the Festival International Nuits D’Afrique is necessary. The ingredients; the pre -cursor to all popular music today. No African rhythms? No Jazz Festival. It is – that easy … Please listen below to some tunes from some of the artists performing as well […]
Canada’s up and coming band are here ! In a few short years the band has gone from playing acoustic folk inspired melodies to playing acoustic folk inspired melodies. The crowds just got bigger ! Please listen below to my chat with Darryl James about the new album, the fans and what to expect in […]
On paper – Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge look great as a double bill. In reality – they are greater than the sum of two parts … When Joss Stone was in her Mother’s tummy, she attended one of her Mom’s favorite artists in concert. When Joss was seventeen – she sang as part of […]
Out of nothing comes something ! Every band goes through it. Sweating and grooving to empty chairs and a barmaid who just wants to go home … The learning curve and the classroom for many a band as they climb their way to The Montreal Jazz Festival and Tremblant Blues Festival. Not only did The […]
You can decipher the title if you want to but if your friends can’t decipher the title – they are no friends of mine … Men without Hats energized Club Soda on July 2nd as part of Le Festival International de Jazz even though the beginning was short circuited. As the familiar sounds and moves […]
Steve Hill and Matt Andersen are ‘Brothers from other Mothers.’ Friends offstage, the pair have appeared together a few times guesting on each other’s shows. Friday at the Jazz Festival, the duo were an opening act for Charlie Musslewhite and Buddy Guy. Opened they did ! Andersen Commencing with Hill’s ‘Tough Luck’ from the album Solo […]
Legendary is an understatement. Buddy Guy is the last Blues guy. Last meaning one of very few who learned from the masters firsthand. Crafting his skills from the likes of B.B. King, T Bone Walker, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. Live and in person. Live in studio. Buddy will be […]
What is there to be said about Melissa Etheridge that has not been said before? Melissa is a poster woman for so many causes and inspirational platforms; to list them here would be unfair to the ones we don’t know about. A woman of song and a woman with song. A marriage profound in […]
It ain’t easy being green. It ain’t easy being a Whitehorse in what can sometimes be – a muddy puddle. Melissa and Luke have conquered the beginnings of a music career. Their outfit – Whitehorse, have gained critical success in a few short years. Stagnation can be anyone’s enemy, especially artists. The need to […]
One day you are just a ‘guitar player’ trying to get work and the next day – your entire life changes. Playing with Bryan Ferry will do that sorta thing … ‘Quist’ is living the dream as he is learning something everyday that he is on tour with Ferry – the master of creating spaces. […]
Every once in a while, a band comes along that makes you smile … Montreal – based Fuel Junkie are one of those bands. Combining high octane Blues with R&B in the mold of The Powder Blues Band; Fuel Junkie are on the fast track to stardom. Please – listen below to my chat […]
Cecile Doo Kingue is ready … Ready for what? Her first appearance at The Jazz Festival under her own name with her own trio. Pretty cool as this ‘road traveler’ has enhanced her level of performance to an entire different level. Songwriting is one thing she accomplished a while ago. Playing non stop since the […]
Corey Diabo is not your average guitar player. Traditionally – a Rock n Roll fan and soon later; a Blues guru of sorts. Corey hooked up with his pal Jonas Tomalty and in almost 20 years – all Hell broke loose. That fire – burning intensely to this day. Please listen below as Corey […]
Joss Stone has been around for a while. Considering she is only thirty years old – it seems as if ‘thirty’ is the new ‘sixty’ in terms of what she has accomplished thus far in her career. Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger, just two of the names who have aided Joss on her musical education. […]
Once in a lifetime … That is how often a band like Styx comes along. From the mid seventies until a decade later, no band from America wrote so many hits and gained so many fans. High energy Rock n Roll, theatrical know how and heart wrenching balladry. Styx was and remains – the […]
Folk music is the cornerstone of all music. Everyone knows the names which helped folk and Bluegrass music hit the mainstream. Guthrie, Seeger and Dylan to name but three. Beyond that – there are thousands of musicians who started the guitar strumming. Please listen below to Matt Large; co-founder of the Le Festival Folk de […]
You can dance if you want to … How many songs in Canadian music are recognizable by a few words? How many Canadian tunes are responsible for creating a non – dance dance craze? Say what? Please listen below to my chat with Ivan Doroschuk – the writer and composer of ‘The Safety Dance’ and […]
As usual – a lot going on … From 80’s Pop to R&B and Soul – Montreal and The Montreal Jazz Festival has a lot to offer. Please listen below for some upcoming shows and some great tunes. Thank You ! Listen to my interview with Cliff Stevens Here ! […]
