Tag: Montreal music

Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Jazz, Review

Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – Beth Hart’s Dynamite Show Steals the Jazz Festival

There are so many female vocalists on the planet. Great ones, good ones, average ones and yes – bad ones. Beth Hart is in a class all by herself. Think of the soul of Joss Stone. The power and rawness of Janis Joplin. The sweetness and velour of Adele. The danger of Amy Winehouse. Add the above together and Beth Hart is the sum of … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – Beth Hart’s Dynamite Show Steals the Jazz Festival

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Jazz, Review

Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – Ranee Lee Delivers A Performance For The Ages Despite Sadness

Ranee Lee has endured some tough gigs in her time yet nothing like the one last night at L’Astral.   Earlier in the day – Lee’s husband Richard Ring ( Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Ed Thigpen, Ray Brown, Michel LeGrand, Oliver Jones ) passed away following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Ring was not only her husband but her longtime guitar player and mentor. … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – Ranee Lee Delivers A Performance For The Ages Despite Sadness

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – Boz Scaggs Redefines His ‘Public’ Image

Admit it. Lido Shuffle is all you know … Boz Scaggs is that type of artist. The masses think that if an artist is outta sight – outta mind, they must be dead or their career is. True fans know – artists such as Scaggs do not care about hits. William Royce “Boz” Scaggs – is known for vocals with The Steve Miller Band. he … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – Boz Scaggs Redefines His ‘Public’ Image

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Interview – Jordan Officer Blows the Roof Off Place des Arts !

Jordan Officer is a groundbreaking artist. Kinda … Groundbreaking in a way that combines his talent with old school tools and old school sounds. You see – Jordan is a scholar. A student of where music comes from. Blending Dick Dale with Joe Bonamassa. Bob Wills with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Guitar with the fiddle. All elements of music that make music what it is today … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Interview – Jordan Officer Blows the Roof Off Place des Arts !

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Blues, Concert Review, Interview, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – George Thorogood ‘Destroys’ The Jazz Festival ( for a few hours).

What is there to say about George Thorogood that hasn’t been said before ? Electrifying ! Exciting ! Raw energy ! Just some of the adjectives used to describe Lonesome George and his music ensemble The Destroyers. Okay – so those words were utilized by George himself. So what ? One of the reasons George (et al) were here as part of The Montreal International … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene; Jazz Festival Review – George Thorogood ‘Destroys’ The Jazz Festival ( for a few hours).

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Review; Jann Arden Keeps Them Laughing

Variety shows once ruled television …   Music, comedy and drama – all inclusive in an hour long Sunday night program. A Jann Arden concert is a one woman variation on the above formula as all the aforementioned elements shine within. From the get – go, Arden is a joker in a self depreciating kinda way. Whether it is her ‘poor choice of pants’, her … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Review; Jann Arden Keeps Them Laughing

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Review; Cecile McLorin Salvant – The Voice of An Angel

A voice is an instrument. Aside from Lisa Fischer ( Twenty Feet to Stardom, Rolling Stones back-up singer) – vocalists like Cecile MClorin Salvant come around as often as Haley’s comet. With the same ease as most walk, Salvant traverses the scales, intonations and vocal range as elegantly as a debutante at a coming of age party. Salvant does so with as much effort as … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Review; Cecile McLorin Salvant – The Voice of An Angel

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Review; Charlotte Gainsbourg / Aliocha

An acoustic guitar and a great voice – sometimes is not enough. Aliocha Schneider was BORN TO BE AN ARTIST … All of his siblings are actors and so is he. Like most artisans – the craft can cast shadows on many different walls. Writing and performing songs – an extension of creative output for the twenty – four year old Montrealer. Vocally – Aliocha, … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Review; Charlotte Gainsbourg / Aliocha

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Preview; The Best of The Blues

Having the blues is a good thing …   The only type of music that collects down-to-earth people. The only real genre within music that connects all walks of life to it’s fan base. Arguably – the cornerstone of all music.   Beginning June 28th on the Hyundai / CBC/Radio-Canada Stage (Parterre symphonique, corner Clark and De Montigny) – The Blues will be alive everynight. Check … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal Jazz Festival Preview; The Best of The Blues

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal’s Next Super-Group; East of Sunday

In sports, music and all forms of art and business – every ten years or so,  a new superstar emerges. The band, East of Sunday, just happen to be from Montreal and they will ensure another Montreal group (The Damn Truth) won’t get lazy. If so – Montreal will have a new crowned champion in the Rock n Roll scene sooner rather than later . East … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal’s Next Super-Group; East of Sunday

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal International Jazz Festival; Free Outdoor Shows!

TD Stage (Place des Festivals) In addition to its 2 major events, the Place des Festivals hosts larger-than-life parties in thePerformances TD series at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. June 28 / !!! (Chk Chk Chk) — This dance-punk-indie-rock combo is already 20 years into a fab career. They’re the logical follow-on from Talking Heads, PIL and New Order. June 29 / Boulevards — Incarnating the … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Montreal International Jazz Festival; Free Outdoor Shows!

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Blues, Cd Review, Concert Review, Interview, Jazz, Review, Rock

Rick Keene Music Scene – Carvin Jones; Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself Montreal !

It is easy to live in a cocoon and be oblivious to the outside world. An almost incestuous mindset takes place as the ‘homies’ live and breathe with blinders on as they traverse the musical path they know. Guess what? Outside of the pond – there are bigger fish. Barracudas and sharks. Out of fear, the leaders of the blind – lash out to not … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Carvin Jones; Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself Montreal !

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