Throwback Thursday - Hamilton's Jack de Keyzer on Harmonica Shah Album

Original post: July 15, 2009

Updated Post: April 23, 2026

Talented bluesman Harmonica Shah may be from Detroit but he knows exactly where to find great blues players.

Hamilton's own Jack deKeyzer plays guitar on his latest album, If All You Have is a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail through Electro-Fi Records

Joining Shah and DeKeyzer are Canadians Alec Fraser (bass) and Al Cross (drums). Juno award winner, Julian Fauth also lends occasional piano to the disc.

If All You Have . . . is good old fashioned Blues in the style of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters with a bit of soul. DeKeyzer's guitar prowess is evident on all tracks. There's booty shaking boogie and some amazing slower numbers too.

Available through: Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music

Stream the album below

Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories,  Jack de Keyzer, More Jack De Keyzer Stories, More Releases, Album above courtesy of Harmonica Shah - Topic

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GOOD LUCK! The Late, Legendary Mel Brown's DVD Up for Living Blues Award! You Can Vote!

It's very rare for local musicians to be nominated for the Living Blues Awards but this year, the late, legendary Kitchener Bluesman, Mel Brown is up for Best Blues DVD of 2015 for the documentary Love Lost and Found.



Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, Video above courtesy of Peter Beacock

Also, Harmonica Shah, whose last few albums featured Hamilton guitar slinger Jack de Keyzer recieved a nod for Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica).



Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories, Video above courtesy of Dimitris Koutsiaftis

You can help them win this prestigious award from the popular Blues magazine by voting online.  Click here to vote. Deadline is July 15, 2016!

GOOD LUCK!

Click here for the results.

DVD

• Mel Brown: Love Lost and Found: The Story of Mel Brown
• Otis Grand: Blues From The Heart
• Muddy Waters and Friends: Soundstage: Blues Summit in Chicago, 1974
• Lonnie Shields: The Blues Soul of Lonnie Shields

Harmonica

• Harmonica Shah 
• Bob Corritore 
• Billy Branch 
• Charlie Musselwhite 
• Phil Wiggins 
• Grady Champion 
• Charlie Sayles 
• Sugar Blue
• Omar Coleman 
• James Harman 

Artist (Male) Lurrie Bell  Buddy Guy  John Primer  Keb' Mo'  Taj Mahal  Mr. Sipp  Little Freddie King  Tommy Castro  Vasti Jackson  Leo Bud Welch  Artist (Female) Trudy Lynn  Janiva Magness  Ruthie Foster  Shemekia Copeland  Diunna Greenleaf  Jewel Brown  Rhiannon Giddens  Irma Thomas Ms. Jody  Dorothy Moore  Singer Buddy Guy  Diunna Greenleaf Otis Clay John Németh Irma Thomas Joseph "Smokey" Holman Wee Willie Walker Mighty Sam McClain Trudy Lynn Johnny Rawls Guitar Lurrie Bell  Duke Robillard Joe Louis Walker Walter "Wolfman" Washington Buddy Guy  Lucky Peterson Classie Ballou Lil' Buck Sinegal Jimmy Johnson Jimmy Burns Keyboard Eden Brent  Marcia Ball  Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne  Allen Toussaint Henry Gray Ironing Board Sam David Maxwell Barrelhouse Chuck Victor Wainwright Mitch Woods Live Performer Super Chikan Shemekia Copeland Bobby Rush Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials Buddy Guy Ruthie Foster Tab Benoit Victor Wainwright The Cedric Burnside Project Mr. Sipp Album (New) Shemekia Copeland: Outskirts of Love Buddy Guy: Born To Play Guitar Mr. Sipp: The Mississippi Blues Child Wee Willie Walker: If Nothing Ever Changes Omar Coleman: Born and Raised Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King: Fat Man's Shine Parlor James Harman: Bonetime Various Artists - Muddy Waters 100 Henry Gray and Bob Corritore: Sessions Vol. 1: Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest The Cedric Burnside Project: Descendants of Hill Country Album (Reissue) Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection Various Artists: Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947-1959 J. B. Hutto: Hawk Squat Tampa Red: Dynamite! The Unsung King of the Blues Various Artists: Acoustic Blues: The Roots of It All The Definitive Collection Vols. 1-4 Bobby Rush: Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush Book Grady Gaines with Rod Evans: I've Been Out There: On the Road with Legends of Rock 'n' Roll Jas Obrecht: Early Blues: The First Stars of Blues Guitar Preston Lauterbach: Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews From the Original Blues Magazine  Peter Guralnick: Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll Barry Mazor: Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music Blast From the Past: Our Review of the Mel Brown DVD Links: Living Blues, More Living Blues Awards Stories

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News Roundup (Hello Harvard. Stringray Chart, Bucket List, Trickbag)

John R Bellone of Bellone's Music in London, ON passes

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News

Local

• Barber Shop Podcast w Hello Harvard
  
  
  
  Links: Hello Harvard, Video above courtesy of Barber Shop Podcast
  
  
• Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Award Nominations
• Rockin' Rich of Rich and the Poor Boys Passes
• Burlington Post Readers' Choice Award Winners
• Jack de Keyzer on New Harmonica Shah CD

Top February 2016 Albums from Stingray Music - Blues

1. Andre Bisson: Left With The Blues
2. Jordan Officer: Blue Skies
3. Lee Palmer: Like Elway
4. The 24th Street Wailers: Where Evil Grows
5. The Bros. Landreth: Let It Lie
6. David Owen: Livin' Life (Produced by Gary Kendall)
7. Dione Taylor: Born Free
8. Ben Racine Band: A Grand New Brew
9. Blackburn: Brothers In This World
10. Harmonica Shah: If You Live To Get Old, You Will Understand (ft Jack de Keyzer) 

25. MonkeyJunk: Moon Turn Red (produced by Colin Cripps)
72. Crissinger: Blues Expression (recorded in Hamilton)

World

• Americana Show podcast w Nigel Hall

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The Adventures of Trebleclef, the Hamilton Blues Lovers Monkey

Trebleclef enjoyed the Bucket List Blues Band at Saturday Nite Blues in Hamilton.

Hamilton's Bucket List Band rock it out at Saturday Nite Blues @ The Jet Hall #HamOnt #HamOntMusic John Staley, David Dalgleish, Russell McAllister, Glen Brown, Dave Baldry, John Godek, Carl Korody
Posted by Hamilton B. Lous on Sunday, February 28, 2016

Links: Bucket List, More Bucket List Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton B. Lous

Click here for more pictures from this event

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He also popped in to see his friends Trickbag rocking Buddy's Roadhouse.

Trickbag cover Respect Yourself at Buddy's Roadhouse #HamOntMusic #HamOnt
Posted by Hamilton B. Lous on Monday, February 29, 2016

Links: Trickbag, More Trickbag Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton B. Lous

Click here for more pictures from this event

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Our little monkey got the chance to meet the great Canadian comedian Sean Cullen at the Burlington Comedy Festival!

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Sat Mar 5

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Mon Mar 7

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Wed Mar 9

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Thu Mar 10

• Tiffany Thompson

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Hamilton's Jack de Keyzer Rocks on Newest Harmonica Shah CD

Hamilton guitar master Jack de Keyzer has one again added  his substantial axe skills to another explosive album from Detroit Bluesman Harmonica Shah.  If You Live to Get Old, You Will Understand (from Electro-Fi) is a punchy, old-fashioned, red-blooded recording that'll get your juices flowing.

Shah and Jack are joined by Canadian veterans Julian Fauth, Alec Fraser (who also co-produced) and Bucky Berger (Fathead).  Their work flavors the songs with soulful grooves, infectious riffs and energetic guitar.

The recording is replete with gritty vocals, amazing harmonica work and an every-man's spirit.  Its sound is as authentic and timeless as it gets.  Shah's voice and delivery just exudes the Blues.

You can purchase this incredible CD through the Electro-Fi's online shop.  It can also be downloaded through iTunes and eMusic.







Blast from the Past: Jack on Shah's Havin' Nothin' Don't Bother Me

Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories, Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, More CD Releases, Videos above courtesy of #HarmonicaShah

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Previous (Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Award Nominations) - - - Next (News Roundup: Hello Harvard. Stringray Chart, Bucket List, Trickbag)

News Roundup (Stingray Music Chart, Prism Prize, Big Johnny Blue, Maggie Ciere)

Prism Prize Top 20 (including Daniel Romano)

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News

Local

• Barber Shop Podcast : The Drummer Show
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Barber Shop Podcast
  
  
• New Lori Yates CD
• Stan Rogers Honoured with Greatest Hamiltonian Award

Top January 2016 songs from Stingray Music - Blues

1. The 24th Street Wailers: Where Evil Grows
2. Andre Bisson: Left With The Blues
3. Jordan Officer: Blue Skies
4. Lee Palmer: Like Elway
5. The Bros. Landreth: Let It Lie
6. Dione Taylor: Born Free
7. David Owen: Livin' Life (Produced by Gary Kendall)
8. Ben Racine Band: A Grand New Brew
9. Harmonica Shah: If You Live To Get Old, You Will Understand (ft Jack de Keyzer) 
10. Blackburn: Brothers In This World

69. Crissinger: Blues Expression (recorded in Hamilton)

World

• 2016 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees
• Americana Music Show w Malcolm Holcombre
• Passings: Sonny James, Allan Rouse (Beatles engineer)

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The Adventures of Trebleclef, the Hamilton Blues Lovers Monkey

Trebleclef was at the first session of the brand new Hamilton Regional Songwriters Group at the Artword Artbar.

Click here for more pictures from this event

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He also visited Mississippi Queen Foods and experience the amazing, bluesy atmosphere and great food

Click here for more photos from his visit

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The little guy also popped in to Urban Hamilton Artists (co-owned by musician Maggie Ciere) to check out their great printing services and wonderful music merch!

Links: Maggie Ciere, More Maggie Ciere Videos, Video above courtesy of Maggie Ciere

Click here for more photos from his visit

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• Andrea Cassis (YouTube)
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Sat Feb 27

• Matt King

Sun Feb 28

• Rick Fines

Mon Feb 29

• Big Johnny Blue
  
  
  
  Links: More Big Johnny Blue Stories, Video above courtesy of John Crawford
  

Tue Mar 1

• Big Rude Jake
• Wendy Lynn Snider

Wed Mar 2

• Brenda Lewis

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CONGRATS! Stingray Music's Best Blues Albums of 2015 Packed with Local Artists

Canadian digital audio service, Stingray Music (formerly Galaxie) included quite a number of area acts in their Best Blues Album list for 2015.

Albums by Hamiltonians Andre Bisson and Steve Strongman reached numbers 53 and 112 respectively.

Links: Andre Bisson, More Andre Bisson stories, Video above courtesy of Sheila Donovan



Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories, Video above courtesy of Stingray Music

That's not all from Hammertown though: a number of recordings featuring work by Steve Strongman (w Roly Platt), Harrison Kennedy (w Eric Bibb), Tom Wilson (writing w Matt Anderson) and Jack de Keyzer (w Harmonica Shah) made the cut as well.  Mark Crissinger's Blues Expression, which was recorded in Hamilton, won the 88th spot.

Niagara's Suzie Vinnick co-wrote with Matt Anderson for his Weightless album (#115) and Oakville boy Jordan John teamed up with Roly Platt for the Inside Out CD 

Here is the top ten list with the local performers shown below.

1. Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar: Send The Nightingale
2. Michael Jerome Browne: Sliding Delta
3. Rick Fines: Driving Home
4. Blackburn: Brothers In This World
5. Roly Platt: Inside Out (ft Hamilton's Steve Strongman and Oakville's Jordan John)
6. Bernard Allison: In The Mix
7. Brad Hatfield: For A Change
8. Lee Palmer: Like Elway
9. Steve Earle: Terraplane
10. Rob Paparozzi and The Ed Palermo Big Band: Electric Butter

27. Eric Bibb: Blues People (ft Hamilton's Harrison Kennedy)

53. Andre Bisson: Left with the Blues (Hamilton)

88, Mark Crissinger: Blues Expression (Recorded in Hamilton)

112. Steve Strongman: Let Me Prove it to You (Hamilton)

115. Matt Andersen: Weightless (Songs co-written by Hamilton's Tom Wilson and Niagara's Suzie Vinnick)

129. Harmonica Shah: If You Live To Get Old, You Will Understand (ft Hamilton's Jack de Keyzer)

Blast from the Past: Bisson, Strongman and de Keyzer Win Hammer Blues Awards

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Jack de Keyzer on New Harmonica Shah CD: Havin' Nothin' Don't Bother Me

Detroit's Harmonica Shah has turned to a lot of amazing Canadian talent to back him up on his stunning CDs. Havin' Nothin' Don't Bother Me, the bluesman's current disc from Electro-Fi Records, is no exception.

Like before, Hamilton's own Jack de Keyzer unleashes his mighty axe in Shah's service.  They've teamed up before to create some top notch rockin' and the tradition continues here.

Along with that very successful pairing, Toronto musicians
Bucky Berger and  Alec Fraser add their mighty skills to the band.  Julian Fauth also offers up his piano know-how and vocals on two tracks.

Together, the gang make some good, old fashioned, soulful, rockin' boogie Blues.  This is as classic and timeless sounding as Blues can get.  You can't go wrong here!


This tremendous CD can be purchased through the Electro-Fi website or downloaded through eMusic and iTunes.



Video above courtesy of Electro-Fi



Video above courtesy of Pointblank Zero

Blast from the Past: De Keyzer on Shah's Live at the Cove

Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories,  Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, More CD Releases 

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James Anthony Inducted as Master Blues Artist in Blues Hall of Fame

Our congratulations to Burlington Bluesman James Anthony for his recent induction as a Master Blues Artist in the Blues Hall of Fame.

He was awarded the honour on September 22, 2013 along with frequent Jack de Keyzer collaborator Harmonica Shah, Alberta Adams, Blues photographer Don McGhee, and many others.

The event took place in Clinton Township, Michigan, where James performed along with the other talented recipients.

On his Facebook page he stated "Huge Honour thanks to all my supporters and friends!"

Other amazing Canadian Blues talent who've been recognized by the Hall include Derek Miller, Donnie & Hock Walsh (Downchild), Danny Marks, Colin Linden, Ken Whiteley, Morgan Davis, Danny Brooks, and more.

Video below courtesy of 241156can



Blast from the Past: James Anthony CD - On The Edge

Links: James Anthony, More James Anthony Stories

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Jack De Keyzer Plays on Harmonica Shah CD: Live at the Cove

Once again, Detroit Bluesman Harmonica Shah has enlisted the help of local guitar master Jack de Keyzer. This time, the two talent musicians join forces on the CD, Live at the Cove.

You can definitely hear why Shah has teamed up with Jack quite a few times. He does an amazing job playing the axe for the CD's raw, down and dirty blues sound. There's a lot of boogie, funk, and some old-fashioned soul. The band handles it all with panache.

The duo are backed by Canadians Alec Fraser (bass) and Al Cross (drums)

The disc is available in stores and as an iTunes download.

Below is a video from the show.



Links - Harmonica Shah - More Harmonica Shah Stories - Jack de Keyzer - More Jack de Keyzer Stories

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