Get Together - David Rotundo Band

Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo heard James Cotton perform at the El Mocambo in 1991. “He blew one note on the harmonica that hypnotized me...” The next day, Rotundo went out and bought a harmonica. “…and I’ve been playing the blues ever since.” Obsession with the blues led Rotundo on a diesel-fuelled roots tour of blues epicentres of the United States including - New Orleans, Clarksdale, Austin, Memphis and Chicago with little more than his wits and a bag full of harmonicas. "I wanted to hear and experience the real thing.” He returned to Canada with a visceral perception of the blues and a deep knowledge of blues history. After making the stories his own, he earned the right to tell them. Rotundo has developed his own language of the blues, honing the technique that gives the voice power and authenticity. In 1997, Rotundo led a band called The Blue Canadians (with Peter Schmidt, Shane Scott, Julian Fauth and Doc MacLean) who played the Toronto circuit. In 2000, he was asked to join the legendary Jack de Keyzer Band, while continuing to tour internationally with The Blue Canadians. He was thrilled by the opportunity to play with “one of the best Canadian guitarists”. Aside from de Keyzer, Rotundo has performed with Lee Oskar (from the legendary band War), Ronnie Hawkins, ex- Muddy Waters drummer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Madagascar Slim, Mel Brown, Jeff Healey, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Finis Tasby, James Cotton, Magic Slim and The Tear Drops, Elvis Costello, Shakura S’Aida, members of Downchild, among many others. Rotundo’s 2001 debut album “Blowin’ for Broke” featured twelve original songs written by David and produced by bassist and engineer Shane Scott of Stone Pillar Productions. The album was nominated "Blues Album of 2001" by the Canadian Independent Artist Association and was winner of the MapleBlues Award "Best New Artist of The Year 2002". In 2003, David returned to Stone Pillar Studios with his newly formed international "David Rotundo Band", resulting in the highly popular, critically acclaimed "Blues Ignited" album featuring international guitarist Enrico Crivellaro. Rotundo, as well as writing the material for this album, also co-produced it with bassist/engineer Scott. After much fan demand, in late 2007, David recorded and released his live album - "Live at Roc 'N Doc's" which captured the true essence of the band’s high energy live performance. In 2008 it was considered in the top twenty blues albums released that year by various community radio stations with blues format shows. As a songwriter who easily pulls inspiration from the world around him that fuels his continual writing, Rotundo choose twelve new original songs that graced his fourth album “No Looking Back”, which again featured Enrico Crivellaro on guitar as well as Jeff Healey’s keyboardist Dave Murphy on organ. Released in March of 2009 to overwhelming response from fans both new and old, as well as industry - bright prospects continue to lie on the path ahead, which goes to prove, that for The David Rotundo Band, there really is no looking back… When you see David Rotundo live, you’ll know instantly that he lives for what he does.

 If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

International Recording Artist MISS ROBIN BANK$ 2012 European Tour and Cew CD with Duke Robillard

International Recording Artist MISS ROBIN BANK$ 2012 European Tour and a new CD with Duke Robillard

Toronto based recording artist Miss Robin Banks is set to embark on her third Eurpoean tour with Texas based Viennese piano player Christian Dozzler to continue promotion for their duo CD "Livin' Life", which was recorded in Texas and released internationally in 2009. Popular on the European blues festival circuit, Banks and Dozzler will be performing in Austria, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Banks' first appearance in France at the Boogie Woogie Festival in Beaune in December.   Miss Banks is currently in preparations to for her next CD, with recording scheduled for February 2013 which will take place in Rhode Island. The CD will be produced by award winning artist, guitarist and producer Duke Robillard and will be recorded with Robillard's band in his studio. "I'm really excited to be working with Duke on this one." Banks explains "He's an artist and a man that I've admired and respected for so many years. I really love his work, and his band is as good as it gets. I have a feeling it's really going to be a lot of fun musically. And this will be the first all original full band studio recording I've done in 11 years, since "Honestly", so I'm definitely due! I'm putting everything I got into this one - the whole of my heart and spirit. I think I'm a different singer than I was on "Honestly". I think I've grown as a vocalist and a songwriter... Duke seems to like the batch of tunes I sent him and that's a great place to start! I'm feeling real good about the record." Stay tuned for more information   Miss Robin Banks has her roots deeply dug. Clearly comfortable with Jazz, Classic R&B and Soul, even Reggae, she's also known for her bold and brassy, classy but sassy, Texas and Chicago electric Blues style. In 1999, Miss Banks became a staple in the Texas music scene and continues to enjoy, and record in, the Lone Star state. She has 4 independently released CDs and one single to her credit and makes regular tours to Europe and the Caribbean, but recently made Toronto Canada her home. A master of tone and phrasing, Robin Banks has a vocal style, strength and clarity that has been compared to Etta James and Dinah Washington. She is a recipient of a Maple Blues Award for New Artist of the Year and was three times nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. In 2010, she performed at Massey Hall in Toronto as part of the celebrated annual Women's Blues Revue event. No matter the genre, she is known in the industry as the real deal.   Christian Dozzler is an accomplished Blues musician of 40 years. In Europe and Texas he's known as "Vienna Slim" or "Two Metres of Blues". He performs regularly with American Blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh. He sings and plays harmonica and accordion as well as Blues piano very much in the style of Otis Spann.   www.dozzler.com www.cdbaby.com/cd/dozzlerbank               "Robin's got soul, class and most of all good taste!" - Duke Robillard "Robin Banks is Canada's first lady of the Blues! She has an electrifying presence and one of the best Blues Bands in the country" "She's a pro's pro!" - Mike Fitzpatrick, Downchild Blues Band "Robin sings with a simple coolness that can break your heart and still make you beg for more. She is absolutely my favorite blues singer" - Teddy Leonard, Fathead "Robin Banks is the real deal, playing in her world class band is a joy" - Gary Kendall, Downchild Blues Band Robin Banks, she'll kick your ass and break your heart, all in about a minute! - Lee McBee Upcoming Performances   November 23 Davis, Vienna (Austria) November 24 Altes Kino, St.Florian (Austria) November 29 Schalander, Seligenstadt (Germany) November 30 Jazzkeller, Sargans (Switzerland)   December 1 Incontri, Rohrbach (Germany) December 3 The Maple, Ertvelde (Belgium) December 7 & 8 Boogie Woogie Festival, Beaune (France) December 10 Jazzland, Vienna (Austria)     Contact:   Miss Robin Banks robinbanksblues@hotmail.com

 

Terraplane Blues - Colin Linden

Colin Linden (born 16 April 1960) is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Colin James, Leon Redbone, Rita Chiarelli, Chris Thomas King and The Band. Linden is primarily a electric blues guitarist, although he frequently collaborates with country and folk performers. He is also a member, with Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson, of the group Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Linden was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When he was still an infant, his family moved to White Plains, New York. The ten-year old Linden heard rock performers in New York venues, such as Van Morrison, the Flying Burrito Brothers, James Taylor, John Mayall, Johnny Winter and Taj Mahal. When the family moved back to Toronto, Linden became interested in performers such as Taj Mahal, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Howlin’ Wolf. When Howlin’ Wolf played at Toronto’s Colonial Tavern, the then-11-year old Linden spent three hours talking with the elder bluesman. A young Linden began performing at a local coffee house, the Fiddler’s Green Coffee House, singing and strumming a guitar. By 1973, Linden began learning how to finger pick. When Linden met David Wilcox, Linden decided to learn how to play slide guitar. Wilcox gave 140 blues albums to young Linden, to help Linden to learn about blues styles. Paul Mills, the producer of Sylvia Tyson’s Touch the Earth show, at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and an outlet on CBC Radio for acoustic roots music, booked Linden in 1975 . At the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Colin met Mississippi bluesman Sam Chatmon, and later that year made a pilgrimage to US to meet South Detroit's Sippie Wallace. North Carolina's Peg Leg Sam, and Mississippi's Son House. In 1976 Wilcox had asked Linden to join his band, the Teddy Bears, which meant that Linden had to learn to play the electric guitar. In 1977, he played solo gigs and did his first western Canadian tour, which was booked by Holger Petersen. In Edmonton he met then 13-year old Colin James, also a budding blues performer. In the late 1970s, Linden formed his own group, the Group du Jour, which played a mix of covers and a few Linden originals. In 1979, Linden recorded the Sam Chatmon album. In 1981, Linden recorded his album Colin Linden Live!. As well, he played as a sideman for Joe Mendelson, Willie P. Bennett, Gwen Swick and Amos Garrett. Linden's second album, Colin Linden and the Immortals was released by the Stony Plain Records label in 1986. Linden has acknowledged the influence of The Band. In the early 1980s, Linden met three of the original members, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm. Members of The Band contributed to Linden's recordings, and songs like "When the Spirit Comes" got radio airplay and "Miles Away from You" made the rock charts. When the Spirit Comes was released by A & M in 1987. Linden signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell and did producing for Mendelson Joe, Morgan Davis, Jackson Delta and Hans Thessink. In 1991, Bruce Cockburn recruited Linden as a sideman, and for three-and-a-half years, Linden playing guitar. Subsequently, Linden became Cockburn's co-producer. Linden's blues album of 1993 titled South at Eight, North at Nine was distributed by Sony Music in Canada, and won a Juno Award in the Blues and Gospel category. Guests on the album included Bruce Cockburn as well as Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of the Band. As Linden got more interested in gospel records, he began taking vocal lessons from Bourbon Tabernacle Choir singer Dave Wall, such as breathing and warm-up exercises. In 1996, Linden won a Juno in the Blues/Gospel category for his producing Lennie Gallant's The Open Window. Linden co-wrote Colin James' hit song "Real Stuff". As well, and, Linden joined with Tom Wilson of Junkhouse and Stephen Fearing to form Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. This band was a tribute to Canadian singer songwriter Willie P. Bennett. After the album High or Hurtin’ on True North Records, the second album Kings of Love won a Juno. In February 1998 Linden shared the Maple Blues Producer of the Year award with Colin James. A Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf was released by Telarc Records in 1998. In 1999, A Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Traditional Blues Album. In 1999, Linden received the Toronto Arts Award. In 2000 Linden won three Juno awards, of which the "Blues" category award was as the producer of Ray Bonneville's Gust of Wind. In the Roots and Traditional: Solo Artist category, Linden won as the producer of Bruce Cockburn's Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu. Finally,in the Roots and Traditional: Group category, Linden won as a member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. In 2000, Linden produced Sue Foley's Love Comin' Down and Paul Reddick and the Sidemen's Rattle Bag. For the album Big Mouth, a more acoustic recording, Linden recruited Keb' Mo', Bruce Cockburn, and other musicians. In 2002 Big Mouth won a Juno for Best Blues Album. In 2002, an album Linden worked on, Timeless, won the Grammy for Country Album of the Year. In 2002, he co-produced Stephen Fearing's That's How I Walk and Bruce Cockburn's You've Never Seen Everything. In 2003, a third Blackie and the Rodeo Kings album, BARK, was released, and in 2006 they released Let's Frolic and Let's Frolic Again. “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!

Toronto Actor and Musician Raoul Bhaneja Set To Host The Maple Blues Awards

Toronto Actor and Musician Raoul Bhaneja Set To Host The Maple Blues Awards
Maple Blues Awards Will be Held on Blue Monday, January 21

For Immediate Release: September 13, 2012; (Toronto, Ontario) – Blue Monday, typically thought to be the most depressing day of the year will be anything but as Raoul Bhaneja, a Toronto actor and musician most noted for his work performing Shakespeare’s Hamlet solo and his blues band Raoul and the Big Time, is set to host the 16th annual Maple Blues Awards on January 21, 2013 at Koerner Hall in Toronto.

A yet to be announced cast of some of the best National blues musicians will be performing at the ceremony, all backed by The Maple Blues Band featuring Gary Kendall, Michael Fonfara, Teddy Leonard, Al Lerman, Tom Bona, Chris Whiteley, Pat Carey and Chris Murphy. Following the ceremony will be the popular after-party, featuring live music. Tickets for the Maple Blues Awards are on sale now for $35 - $65 and can be purchased at The Weston Family Box Office, located in The Royal Conservatory building at 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto or online at https://tickets.rcmusic.ca/public.

After many years of performing the duties of co-chairs of the Maple Blues Awards nominating panel, both Brent Staeben and John Valenteyn have stepped down to focus on their many other commitments in the blues community. The Toronto Blues Society is happy to introduce a new steering committee for the nominating panel that includes Deborah Cartmer, Program Director at CFBU FM radio in St. Catharines, Yves Trottier, Program Director at Dawg FM and Paul Norton, Programmer at CFRO FM and CITR FM radio in Vancouver.

The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. Each year, the Maple Blues Awards recognizes a leader in the blues community with the Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award).

The Maple Blues Awards will be wrapping up the biennial Blues Summit, a weekend of panels, discussions and workshops for blues artists, promoters, agents and festivals. On Sunday, January 20 the keynote speaker for Blues Summit Six is Holger Petersen, who in addition to being the president of Stony Plain Records, is also the host of CBC Radio’s popular program, Saturday Night Blues, host of CKUA’s Natch’l Blues and programmer of the Galaxie Blues channel.

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A Friend In The Blues - Danny Marks - New Release Review

I just received a copy of Danny Marks' newest release, A Friend In The Blues. Marks, a multi instrumentalist, is joines by Alec Fraiser (bass and vocal), Al Cross (drums), Jonathan Goldsmith (piano) and B3), Sherrie Marshall (vocal) and Wayne Mills (sax). Marks penned all 12 tracks on this release opening with Caretaker, a modern R&B based blues with a light jazzy bottom. Marks trades guitar riffs with Mills on Sax. Blues For Lonnie Johnson a shuffle style track has some cool Texas style riffs. Blues Party Tonight is a swing style track with a heavy horn bass and a Latin rhythm. Uncle John is an acoustic based finger picked blues ballad. Back To The Blues, is a ballad style track with the tale of the blues business and an interesting guitar hook. Two Brothers takes a more rural feel with a western flare. A Friend In The Blues has a very light, happy touch, almost a jingle. The Other Side stays in what I'd consider a more traditional western style in a rhythmic ballad. That Lonesome Valley takes an even further step into the country with a spiritual bent... think Porter Wagonner. Mixed Up Girl is another track that looks at the blues from a rural view adding slide and an uptempo beat. The recording concludes with Maybe Tomorrow, a quiet ballad accompanied with primarily acoustic guitar and slide.
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Make It Real Records artist: Cameo Blues - 10,000 Hours - New Release Review

I just received a copy of the new Cameo Blues recording, 10,000 Hours. The band, made up of Ray Harrison on piano, John Bride on guitar, John Dickie on Vocal, Mike Sloski on drums and Tommy Griffiths on bass lay down some blues rock here for your listening pleasure. Dickie original track, Penguin Walk opens the recording with a driving boogie that gets you moving. 21st Century Rockit 88 is a rockin' blues giving piano man Harrison some space to do just that. A pretty cool track with underlying slide throughout. Gasoline is a smooth style with a cool guitar hook that should receive good airplay. Hold Your Love is a radio oriented ballad that could easily be the song of the cd. It's strongly written with smooth vocals and an equally smooth guitar solo. Talk Radio is a pretty interesting track with a different style of blues attack that I actually like pretty well. This track has a particularly cool guitar part on it with some nice pinch harmonics. In contrast to the first 7 original tracks, the last 4 tracks are all covers. The band does an admiral interpretation of Howlin' For My Darlin' and a nice stripped down version of Sittin' On Top Of The World. Jimmy McGriff's All About My Girl is a great jam to wrap to recording. Want something on the light side of the blues with some foamy rock... this may be it!  
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Unshakeable - The 24th Street Wailers - New Release Review

I just got a copy of Unshakeable, the new 24th Street Wailers CD and they continue to grow as a band. Lindsay Beaver, lead singer and drummer for the band, Mike Archer on bass, Emily Burgess on guitar and Jon Wong on sax. The release opens with Home Cookin' and I have to say that Wong's horn work is impressive. I notice that the band has gone for a vintage sound with Beaver's vocals sounding like they are through a vintage ribbon mic throughout the recording. Love Triangle features guitarists Carter Chaplin and Marc Doucet along with the band adding an extended guitar exploration. Trouble shows solid writing and increasingly interesting instrumental contributions from the band. On What Can You Give Me Now, Burgess shows her chops with some super guitar riffs. I'm Not Free is actually a really interesting ballad and in my opinion the strongest track on the release. Another strong track is Jack, Jim Johnny and Me is a cool jump blues that is sure to get the listener moving. This CD shows significant growth over the Wailers first Cd and is certain to win them a larger audience.
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Reefer Smokin' Blues - Blackburn

BLACKBURN is a band of three brothers whose music is rich in the tradition of the blues, while inflected with an electric urban vibe. Blackburn brings it all together with conscious lyrics to create hard infectious groove. Blackburn's sound features lead singer, Duane Blackburn, playing a vintage Hammond B3 organ, Brooke Blackburn on guitar, Cory Blackburn on drums and childhood friend Mark Ayee on bass. Well-known in Toronto's African Canadian music scene, Blackburn follow a rich legacy that trails back to the Underground Railroad, passed down from their father Bobby Dean Blackburn, highly regarded keyboard player and seminal figure of Toronto’s Blues and R&B scene in the 60’s. It is with much energy and originality that they take to the stage devoting themselves to each song and every show. With true sorrow and then also great joy to clear the mind Blackburn comes to life on the set engaging it’s audiences with pure feeling. Whether playing classic blues renditions or the original material that built the band, the Blackburn brothers command love and respect all across their home town Toronto, Canada.