Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Local Musicians on Saturday Night Blues Top 10 of 2012 List

CBC's Saturday Night Blues recently published their Top 10 Canadian Blues albums of 2012.  A few talented area performers were featured.

Brantford singer Chuck Jackson's Cup of Joe (which also features Hamilton's Jesse O'Brien on keys) came in at number 7.  At number 9, there's local bluesman Steve Strongman's A Natural Fact (Jesse on keys for a few tracks here as well).  Hamilton's Harrison Kennedy also had a role (some vocals and harmonica work) in Shakura S'Aida's Time..., which reached number 4.

Here's their complete list

1. Julian Fauth: Treating A Stranger Right
2. The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer: Checked Past
3. Peter Karp and Sue Foley: Beyond the Crossroads
4. Shakura S'Aida: Time...
5. David Vest: East Meets Vest
6. Jack Semple: In the Blue Light
7. Chuck Jackson's Big Bad Blues Band: A Cup of Joe
8. The 24th Street Wailers: Unshakeable
9. Steve Strongman: A Natural Fact
10. Danny Marks: A Friend in the Blues

Links: Chuck Jackson, More Downchild Stories, Jesse O'Brien, More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Shakura S'Aida, More Shakura S'Aida Stories, Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories



Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories, Video courtesy of LyttleGoGo

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Harrison Kennedy Nominated for Blues Music Award

This year, veteran Hamilton bluesman, Harrison Kennedy,  has received nominations locally (Hamilton Music Awards) and nationally (Maple Blues Awards & the Junos).  Now, the international blues community has bestowed a nomination for the talented singer/songwriter.  He's in the running for Best Acoustic Artist at the Blues Music Awards (put on by the Blues Foundation).  Harrison will have some stuff competition against the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Doug MacLeod, Eric Bibb, and Paul Rishell in this category. The awards will be handed out on May 8th in Memphis, TN.  We wish him lots of luck!  Hamilton already knows that he's a world-class artist.

Below is a video of Harrison Kennedy, courtesy of Electro-Fi Records




Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories

Complete list of nominations.
Acoustic Album
  • Billy Boy Arnold Sings Big Bill Broonzy - Billy Boy Arnold
  • Blues on Solid Ground - John Primer
  • Deeper In The Well - Eric Bibb
  • Not Alone - Ann Rabson w/ Bob Margolin
  • Talking Guitar - Paul Rishell
Acoustic Artist
  • Carolina Chocolate Drops
  • Doug MacLeod
  • Eric Bibb
  • Harrison Kennedy
  • Paul Rishell
Album
  • And Still I Rise - Heritage Blues Orchestra
  • Double Dynamite - The Mannish Boys
  • Show of Strength - Michael Burks
  • Son of the Seventh Son - Mud Morganfield
  • Stronger For It - Janiva Magness
Entertainer
  • Curtis Salgado
  • Janiva Magness
  • Joe Louis Walker
  • John Nemeth
  • Rick Estrin
Band
  • Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials
  • Phantom Blues Band
  • Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band
  • The Mannish Boys

Best New Artist Debut
  • 24 Hour Blues - Charles "CD" Davis
  • They Call Me Big Llou - Big LLou Johnson
  • Turning On the Naughty - Paula Harris
  • Uphill From Anywhere - Brad Hatfield
  • Wanna Feel Somethin' - Mary Bridget Davies
Contemporary Blues Album
  • Blak & Blu - Gary Clark, Jr.
  • Blues Live - John Nemeth
  • Candy Store Kid - Ian Siegal & The Mississippi Mudbloods
  • Hellfire - Joe Louis Walker
  • Show of Strength - Michael Burks
  • Stronger For It - Janiva Magness
Contemporary Blues Female Artist
  • Bettye LaVette
  • Janiva Magness
  • Shakura S'Aida
  • Shemekia Copeland
  • Susan Tedeschi
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
  • Gary Clark, Jr.
  • Joe Louis Walker
  • Michael Burks
  • Robert Cray
  • Tab Benoit
DVD
  • Blackbird Music/55 Arts Club - The Lucky Peterson Band feat.Tamara Peterson Live at the 55 Arts Club Berlin
  • Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art/Broke & Hungrey Records - We Juke Up in Here: Mississippi's Juke Joint Culture at the Crossroads
  • Delta Groove Records - That's My Thing: Elvin Bishop Live In Concert
  • Eagle Rock Entertainment - Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones, Live at Checkerboard Lounge
  • J & R Adventures - Beacon Theatre - Joe Bonamassa Live From New York
Guitar
  • Derek Trucks
  • Joe Bonamassa
  • Joe Louis Walker
  • Kid Andersen
  • Michael Burks
Bass
  • Bill Stuve
  • Bob Stroger
  • Patrick Rynn
  • Richard Cousins
  • Scot Sutherland
  • Willie J. Campbell
Drums
  • Cedric Burnside
  • Cody Dickinson
  • Jimi Bott
  • Kenny Smith
  • Tony Braunagel
Harmonica
  • Billy Boy Arnold
  • Bob Corritore
  • John Nemeth
  • Kim Wilson
  • Mark Hummel
  • Rick Estrin
Horn
  • Al Basile
  • Big James Montgomery
  • Eddie Shaw
  • Sax Gordon
  • Terry Hanck
Traditional Blues Female
  • Diunna Greenleaf
  • Jewel Brown
  • Maria Muldaur
  • Ruthie Foster
  • Tracy Nelson
Piano Player
  • Barrelhouse Chuck
  • Chuck Leavell
  • David Maxwell
  • Deanna Bogart
  • Mike Finnigan
  • Victor Wainwright
Rock Blues Album
  • Blues For The Modern Daze - Walter Trout
  • Driving Towards The Daylight - Joe Bonamassa
  • Everybody's Talkin' - Tedeschi Trucks Band
  • Here I Am - Nick Moss
  • Royal Southern Brotherhood - Royal Southern Brotherhood
Song
  • "I Wont Cry" written by Janiva Magness & Dave Darling - Stronger For It (Janiva Magness)
  • "Lemon Pie" written by John Hahn & Oliver Wood - 33 1/3 (Shemekia Copeland)
  • "She Didn't Cut Me Loose" written by Curtis Salgado, Marlon McClain & Dave Duncan - Soul Shot (Curtis Salgado)
  • "The Devil Ain't Got No Music" written by Matthew Skoller - The Devil Ain't Got No Music (Lurrie Bell)
  • "Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey" written by Sam McClain & Pat Herlehy - Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey) (Mighty Sam McClain)
Soul Blues Album
  • Blues Heart - Dorothy Moore
  • Soul Live - John Nemeth
  • Soul Shot - Curtis Salgado
  • Soul Survivor - Johnny Rawls
  • Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey) - Mighty Sam McClain
Soul Blues Female Artist
  • Barbara Carr
  • Denise LaSalle
  • Dorothy Moore
  • Irma Thomas
  • Sista' Monica
Soul Blues Male Artist
  • Bobby Rush
  • Curtis Salgado
  • John Nemeth
  • Johnny Rawls
  • Mighty Sam McClain
Traditional Blues Album
  • And Still I Rise - Heritage Blues Orchestra
  • Double Dynamite - The Mannish Boys
  • Milton Hopkins with Jewel Brown - Milton Hopkins with Jewel Brown
  • Son of the Seventh Son - Mud Morganfield
  • Spider Eating Preacher - Eddie C. Campbell
Traditional Blues Male Artist
  • Bob Margolin
  • John Primer
  • Lil' Ed
  • Magic Slim
  • Mud Morganfield
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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

New Mike Allen CD: Big Money Meltdown

Acoustic blues doesn't get any better than local bluesman "Guitar Case" Mike Allen's recent CD,  Big Money Meltown

The disc boasts a fabulous, crisp, clear guitar sound, top notch harmonica work and Mike's great, laid-back vocals. 

There's a marvelous mix of 7 original tunes and 8 traditional numbers (including Take This Hammer, In My Time of Dying, Midnight Special, more).

Whether new or old, each song has a warm, organic, homey feel.

The CD can be purchased through his live shows and cdBaby.  You can also download it at cdBaby, iTunes, and eMusic.

Below is the title track from the disc.


Blast From the Past: Mike Allen@Winking Judge

Links: Mike AllenMore Mike Allen Stories

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Episodes of Ensemble Music TV Show on YouTube

Ensemble is a music-based TV show on Cable 14 Hamilton that features four singer/songwriters per episode.

The show runs on Saturdays at 10pm and Sundays at 9pm.  There is a new episode each month or so.  You can also watch the program online with their live feed if you are a Cogeco, Shaw, or Source Cable subscriber.

Recently, many of the episodes were placed on Cable 14's YouTube page.

Here's what they have so far . . .



Episode 1: Duane Rutter, Cindy Dell, Brennagh Burns, Les Smith (Trickbag)



 Episode 2: Dan Medakovic, Tiny Bill Cody, Kim Koren, Paul Langille



Episode 3: J.P. Riemens, Sue Sweetman (Barn Katz), Joe Clark, Steve Strongman



Episode 4: Steve Sinnicks, Melissa Bel, Mike Todd, Mo' Kauffey

We will be posting more episodes as they become available. . .

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Monday, December 10, 2012

Harrison Kennedy on Santa's Got Mojo 2 CD

Electro-Fi's latest Christmas compilation, Santa's Got Mojo 2 has many of the top blues acts in Canada layin' out some fantastic festive funkiness.

Hamilton's own blues legend, Harrison Kennedy, offers up Hot Cider Cinnamon, a soulful, haunting, beautiful Christmas song about holiday memories.

Harrison's joined by Fathead (they have 2 tracks on the disc), Chris Whiteley, Shakura S'aida, Julian Fauth, Fruteland Jackson, Morgan Davis and many more with their own wonderful, original songs.  No sappy, dull carols in the lot.  This CD is filled with soul, swing and funk.

To cap things off is an amazing bonus track with the late, great Mel Brown and the Homewreckers playing the classic Merry Christmas Baby.

You can purchase the CD at the Electro-Fi site or download it through iTunes or eMusic.

Below are a few videos of tracks from the CD



Links: Shakura S'Aida, More Shakura S'Aida Stories,  Video courtesy of the Electro-Fi



Links: Morgan Davis, Video courtesy of Calm Tom 6

Blast from the Past: Harrison Kennedy and Others@Hometown Christmas

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories

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