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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Kitchener's Sean Pinchin on New Tim Bastmeyer CD

Kitchener's Sean Pinchin plays wonderful slide guitar as part of Tim Bastmeyer's All Star Blues Band on the latest incredible album.  This recording has an amazing, earthy vibe from start to finish.

Tim's enlisted quite an impressive group for this cool recording. Along with Sean, there's Julian Fauth (keys), Paul Reddick (harmonica), James Thomson (bass) and Cam de Laat (drums). 

Together, they've managed to mix in boogie and funk in to their marvelous Country Blues sound. Not surprising, considering the top-notch talent involved.

If you catch any of the groups live shows, be sure to pick up a CD.  You can also download it via iTunes.







Blast from the Past: Sean's CD - Rustbucket

Links: Tim Bastmeyer, More Tim Bastmeyer Stories, Sean Pinchin, More Sean Pinchin Stories, More CD Releases, Videos above courtesy of randallstaffordcook

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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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Love Lost and Found DVD Explores Mel Brown's Legendary Life

The late, great Mel Brown was a talented, Mississippi-born blues legend who chose to spend his life in Kitchener, Ontario.  Sadly, he left us in 2009 but his career and legacy are celebrated in Love Lost and Found: The Story of Mel Brown.

This amazing documentary, directed by Kitchener's Sean Jasmins, does justice to Mel's memory.  Narrated by his widow, Miss Angel and featuring musical footage from the 80s to some of his final performances, we get to experience his journey from its humble beginnings to entering the musical elite to choosing Kitchener as his adopted home.

Along the way, we are treated to great interviews with international musicians such as Mavis Staples, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Marcia Ball, and Joe Louis Walker.  Canadian blues stars such as Steve Strongman, Julian Fauth, Cheryl Lescom, Ian Taylor, Matt Storch, Danny Michel and Jordan Patterson also discuss Mel's incredible life and legacy.  Members of his band, the Homewreckers, offer a few cool road stories as well.  To top things off, there's a cool special feature: audio footage of a 1968 recording session with his dad, John Henry "Bubba" Brown, where Mel plays second guitar.

This must-have DVD is available exclusively at Encore Records in Kitchener.



Video above courtesy of Peter Beacock







2 videos above courtesy of Gitar Carl

Blast from the Past: Mel Brown Passes

Links: Mel Brown, More Mel Brown Stories, More DVD Releases, More Releases

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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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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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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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