Rick Keene Music Scene – Jeff Coffin Of The Dave Mathews Band Talks ‘On the Corner’

On The Corner was not received well upon it’s release in 1972. Times change …

The (now) landmark album by Miles Davis was ahead of it’s time. A precursor to 1970’s Funk, Rock and eventually Hip Hop. Miles – as usual, ahead of his time and ahead of the times.

Dave Liebman was on that album with Miles and it gave Jeff Coffin (Dave Mathews Band, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones) an idea. Coffin assembled an All Star band to do a live performance of On The Corner. A ‘gig’ that thankfully was recorded and a ‘gig’ that one day may be considered historic in itself.

Please listen below to my chat with Jeff about the album, Miles and The Dave Mathews Band.

Jeff? What’s Up?

Visit Jeff Here !

Rick Keene Music Scene – Colin James Talks Blues and A Juno Nomination

In 1989, Colin James had ‘Miles to Go’ in his career.

Colin was given the Juno Award for Most Promising Male Artist. It was the same year that Back to the Future Two was released and Game Boy was one of the most popular toys on the market. Colin, the film and the (then) technologically advanced toy were all signs that life was changing.

The beginning of the 90’s saw more and more money going into the pockets of the businessmen. Artists, filmmakers and inventors had their souls sucked into commercial abysses. Blues artists – men like Buddy Guy and B.B. King (the forefathers of the music that laid the frame for all popular music) were pushed aside.

Thankfully – Canada came to the rescue with two guys who kept the Blues alive on a commercially successful stage. Jeff Healey and Colin James.

Since Jeff left for that grand stage in the sky, Colin remains as one of the last Canadian Blues men. A man who has seen the best and the worst of a music world within a long and storied career. Colin James knows The Blues and with his 2019 Juno nominated album Miles To Go – he has come full circle. Finally gaining the recognition he deserves as a profound Blues artist.

Please listen below to my chat with Colin about the upcoming Junos, his thoughts on The Blues and hear some tracks from his Juno nominated album Miles To Go.

Visit Colin Here

Rick Keene Music Scene – Juno Nominee Sue Foley is ‘The Ice Queen’

Canadian women going to Texas to play the Blues was not an everyday event …

The year was 1989 and Foley was planted deeply within the Austin Blues scene. It was a time for learning and because the (then) twenty – one year old Sue took her craft seriously, a quick assent took place.

Foley cut her ‘chops’ in the subsequent years and it all came into Canadian fruition in 2001 as Foley won a Juno Award for Best Blues Album. Love Comin’ Down cemented Foley’s place in Canadian music history.

Please listen below to my chat with Sue about her ‘time off’ from solo albums and her Juno nomination for Best Blues album in 2019 with her latest release – The Ice Queen

Visit Sue Here !

Rick keene Music Scene – Harry Manx and Steve Marriner Combine Blues and Gospel on New Album

A music bond goes a long way …

Harry Manx is a traveler who met Steve Marriner along his musical path. Marriner – in the words of Harry, is a musical prodigy. The pair are a perfect match to match musical wits.

Hellbound for Heaven is the message and the name of the album.

Please listen below to my chat with Harry and hear tunes from the new album due out on April 5th.

Harry? What’s up?

Visit Harry Here !

Rick Keene Music Scene – A Candid Chat with Dawn Tyler Watson; The Queen of The Montreal Blues

Dawn Tyler Watson could have left us for the big gig in the sky a couple of years ago. Thankfully – the Grim Reaper did not get the email …

Not only did Dawn recover from four blocked arteries, she went on to become the first Canadian and the second woman to win the IBC Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. Not too shabby eh?

Please listen below to my chat with Dawn and find out about her health scare, her experiences since Memphis and news on her upcoming new album. Hear a track here !

Dawn? What’s up?

Visit Dawn Here !

Rick Keene Music Scene – Molly Johnson Talks Juno Nomination and A Much Needed Black History Website

History comes in many forms. Molly Johnson herself – is Canadian music history.

Molly is a pioneer. Musical theater, Theater, Disco, Funk, Rock / Pop and Jazz. Molly has not only done it all, she has excelled in all.

In 2019, Johnson has been nominated for a Juno Award in the Best Adult Contemporary Category. She has already won a Juno for Jazz Recording and this recent album places her in the company of some of her favorite artists.

This year is also fertile ground for a website she is starting up. A Black History informational tool which she hopes will be a go to place for teachers in all Canadian institutions.