JT Brown's 100th Birthday

Today would have been Saxman, JT Brown's 100th birthday.

Biography highlights (courtesy of Wikipedia)

• Born in Mississippi (April 2, 1918)
• Recorded on the Harlem label (1950's)
• Played and recorded with Elmore James and Howlin' Wolf
• Played (and sang a tune) on Fleetwood Mac live album (1969)
• Passed (November 24, 1969)

We asked local sax players for comments on Brown's influence.  Here are a few quotes:

Darcy Hepner

Seriously great R&B player who really knew his way around the horn. Loved his solo on Sax-ony Boogie

Richard Thornton (Jack de Keyzer Band)

He was one of my idols and today my style is very much duplicated in his form of hard growling tones and from the soul blues improv.

Mark Volkov (Cootes Paradise)

He had a really distinctive sound and style. 

Here are some videos from the man himself.



Video above courtesy of Mark Hanses



Video above courtesy of Anthony Rago



Video above courtesy of Fede Corchero

Links: JT Brown, More 100th Birthdays

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Trebleclef to Become the Easter Monkey Next Year!

If you bump into the Easter Bunny this Easter, you may want to say goodbye. After decades of hard work, he's decided to hang up his basket and move to Florida. In more incredible news, Trebleclef, our little monkey mascot has been hired to replace him.

"I've had a great run," the Easter Bunny admitted, "I'm looking forward to playing cards and shuffleboard at the Roundtree Retired Rabbit Residence. My buddies Thumper, Bugs, Peter and Oswald are already there.

Easter Inc. C.E.O. April Fulcilli had to make the hard choice of replacing the legendary rabbit.

"There was a lot of competition," she explained, "Due to Easter Inc's diversity mandate, we opened it up to all species. A flood of creatures came through the door" Applicants included the Tazmanian Devil, Animal from the Muppets, Jaleel White (Urkel from Family Matters), Ed the Sock, TC (Ti-Cats mascot) and of course, Treble.

"There'll definitely be changes," said Lou (Treble's manager and also our esteemed blogger), "Not only will kids get the usual tasty treats but we've decided to add something for the adults."

Starting next Easter, Treble will be hiding local CD's to help promote the area music scene! Keep your eyes peeled in 2019!

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News Roundup (Terra Lightfoot, Viva Trio, Jason Buie Passes, Cartoons)

Cool Music Cartoons

More Musical Toons

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News

Local

• CBC First Play: Terra Lightfoot
  
  
  
  Links: Terra Lightfoot, More Terra Lightfoot Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music
  
  
• Talkin' Blues Podcast w Mike Daley
• CHCH Videos: Viva Trio
  
  
  Links: Viva Trio, Video above courtesy of CHCH

• Ben Caplan's Play About Jewish Refugees Opens in NY
• Juno Winners incl video footage of the event
• Local Juno Gala Winners

Canada

• East Coast Music Award Nominations
• Talkin' Blues Podcast w Shakura S'Aida + Andrew Galloway
• Victoria Bluesman Jason Buie Passes
  
  
  
  Links: Jason Buie, Video above courtesy of BelAxeBluesWarmlyCooled
  

Passings

• Peter "Mars" Cowlings (Pat Travers bassist)

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Adventure of Trebleclef, the Music-Loving Monkey

Trebleclef popped by the Corktown in Hamilton again. This time he saw Trickbag joined by special guest Andre Bisson.

Click here for more pictures from the event

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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Pearl Bailey's 100th Birthday

Today (Thursday, March 29) would have been actress and singer Pearl Bailey's 100th Birthday.

Biography highlights (from Wikipedia)

• Born (March 29, 1918)
• Began singing in clubs (1930s)
• Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman (1946)
• First film: Variety Girl (1947)
• Her version of Takes Two to Tango hits top ten (1952)
• Wrote The Raw Pearl (1968)
• Wrote Talking to Myself (1971)
• Hosted The Pearl Bailey Show (1971)
• Wrote Pearl's Kitchen (1973)
• Wrote Hurry Up America and Spit (1976)
• Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (1976)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (1988)
• Passed away (August 17, 1990)

We asked for comments about Pearl from local musicians, here is what we got:

Tom Altobelli (Altobeelays)

A very happy 100th to the late, great, Pearl Bailey. Her contribution to music, without a doubt, shall be forever remembered for years to come!

Here are a few videos from the lady herself

Video above courtesy of TheJazzStreet



Video above courtesy of YJD67



Video above courtesy of George Luis

Links: Pearl Bailey, More 100th Birthdays

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CONGRATS! 2018 Junos Winners + Footage of Arkells, BNL Reunion & Downie Tribute

Unfortunately, there were no local winners at the televised portion of the Junos on Sunday, March 25, 2018 in Vancouver. There were a few at the gala on Saturday (click here for more).

The big winner this year was the late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, who won 3 Junos. There were also many tributes to him at the ceremony.



Links: Gord Downie, More Tragically Hip Stories, Video above courtesy of GordDownieVideos



Links: Sarah Harmer, More Sarah Harmer Stories, City and Colour, More City and Colour Stories,  Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Hamilton's the Arkells rocked the ceremony as well.



Links: Arkells, More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Here's a complete list of Sunday's winners

• Fan Choice: Shawn Mendes
• Album : Arcade Fire: Everything Now
• Artist: Gord Downie
• Breakthrough Artist: Jessie Reyez
• Rap Recording: Tory Lanez: Shooters
• RnB/Soul Recording: Daniel Caesar: Freudian
• Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Barenaked Ladies
  
  
  
  Links: Barenaked Ladies, More BNL Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music
  
  
• Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award: Denise Donlon

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories

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CONGRATS! David Braid and Rezz Earn Early 2018 Junos

Hamilton Jazzman David Braid and Niagara Falls electronic musician Rezz brought home Junos during the untelevised portion of the awards ceremony on Saturday, March 24, 2018.



Links: David Braid, More David Braid Stories, Video above courtesy of Boe Larsen

Links: Rezz, More Rezz Stories, Video above courtesy of mau5trap

Also of note, two releases from Waterdown's True North Records (Bruce Cockburn/Buffy Sainte-Marie) also won.



Links: Bruce Cockburn, More Bruce Cockburn Stories, Video above courtesy of The Indie Folk Music Channel



Links: Buffy Sainte-Marie, More Buffy Sainte-Marie Stories, Video above courtesy of The Indie Folk Music Channel

CONGRATS!

We are still keeping our fingers crossed for the Arkells and Walk Off The Earth who are both up for the Fan's Choice award on Sunday!

Below is a complete list of Saturday's winners. Local acts are bolded.

• Jazz Album (Group): David Braid, Mike Murley, Anders Mogensen and Johnny Aman: The North
• Electronic Album: Rezz: Mass Manipulation
• Contemporary Roots Album of the Year: Bruce Cockburn: Bone on Bone (released on Waterdown's True North Records)
• Indigenous Music Album: Buffy Sainte-Marie: Medicine Songs (released on Waterdown's True North Records)
• International Achievement Award: Arcade Fire
• Single: Shawn Mendes: There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back
• Video: Grimes: Venus Fly
• Blues Album: MonkeyJunk: Time to Roll
• Adult Alternative Album: Gord Downie: Introduce Yerself
• Adult Contemporary Album: Michael Bublé: Nobody But Me
• Alternative Album: Alvvays: Antisocialites
• Country Album: James Barker Band: Game On
• Jazz Album (Solo): Mike Downes: Root Structure
• Recording Engineer: Riley Bell (Daniel Caesar)
• International Album: Kendrick Lamar: DAMN
• Group: A Tribe Called Red
• Breakthrough Group: The Beaches
• Songwriter (s): Gord Downie and Kevin Drew
• Traditional Roots Album: The Dead South: Illusion and Doubt
• Pop Album: Lights: Skin and Earth
• Rock Album: The Glorious Sons: Young Beauties and Fools
• Vocal Jazz Album: Diana Krall: Turn Up the Quiet
• Instrumental Album: Do Make Say Think: Stubborn Persistent Illusions
• Francophone Album of the Year: Daniel Bélanger: Paloma
• Children's Album: Fred Penner: Hear the Music
• Classical Album (Solo or Chamber): Janina Fialkowska: Chopin Recital 3
• Classical Album (Large Ensemble): Jan Lisiecki with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester: Chopin: Works for Piano and Orchestra
• Classical Album (Vocal or Choral): Barbara Hannigan w Ludwig Orchestra: Crazy Girl Crazy
• Classical Composition: Jocelyn Morlock: My Name is Amanda Todd
• Dance Recording: Nick Fiorucci: Closer ft. Laurell
• Reggae Recording: Kirk Diamond: Greater
• Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album: The Color: First Day of My Life
• World Music Album: Kobo Town: Where the Galleon Sank
• Producer(s): Diana Krall
• Album Artwork: Do Make Say Think: Stubborn Persistent Illusions
• Metal/Hard Music Album: Anciients: Voice of the Void
• Comedy Album: Ivan Decker: I Wanted To Be A Dinosaur

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories

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News Roundup, Part 2: Canada and World (Searchlight Contest, Awards, Passings)

Burlington's Gordie Tapp

Graham Lear, Gordie Tapp inducted into Jack Richardson London Music Awards Hall of Fame

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News

Canada

• Paul White, Capitol Canada’s ‘Creative Pioneer’ Passes
• Talkin' Blues Podcast w Eric Alper
• Tegan & Sara, Murray McLauchlan Receive Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards
• Canadian Radio Music Award Nominees

CBC Searchlight Contest

Halifax's aquakultre Wins

Links: aquakultre, Song above courtesy of aquakultre SoundCloud

Top 10

• aquakultre: Sure (Nova Scotia)
• Jordana Talsky: Run (Toronto City)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Jordana Talsky
  
  
• Chloe Hataley: Palace (Ottawa)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Chloe Hataley
  
  
• Sara Diamond: Stay A Little (Montreal)
• Fallbrigade: Sweet Hope (Vancouver Island)
• CC Trubiak: Raven (Manitoba)
• Amanda Jackson Band: Dance into the Light (Prince Edward Island)
• Scarlet Sway: Room of Mirrors (Interior and Northern B.C.)
• Sinzere: On Time (Calgary and Southern Alberta)
• The Kwerks: Firelight (Greater Vancouver Area)

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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News Roundup, Part 1: Local (Final Barber Shop Podcast, Mel Monaco, Revive the Rose, Elton Rohn)

We'd like to salute Kevin Barber and friends on 5 years of amazing work on the Barber Shop Podcast! The episode below is also their final one (we're told there may be a few "unreleased" shows left)

We here at the Hamilton Blues Lovers will miss this wonderful program that featured the best in local music. It was the best part of our News Roundups.

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Local News

• Barber Shop Podcast 5th Anniversary/Final Show
  
  
  
  Links: More Barber Shop Podcasts, Video above courtesy of Barbershop Podcast 
  
  
• Band on a Couch w Mel Monaco and Company
  
  
  
  Links: Mel Monaco, More Mel Monaco Stories, Video above courtesy of Band on a Couch, More Band on a Couch Stories
  

CHCH Videos

• Revive the Rose
  
  
  Links: Revive the Rose, More Revive the Rose Stories, Video above courtesy of CHCH
  
  
• Elton Rohn

Links: Elton Rohn, More Elton John Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of CHCH

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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New Album from Hamilton's Azalea Features Lush Harmonies and Beautiful Melodies!

Hamilton musical duo, Azalea keeps growing with every recording and their latest, Gypsy's Moonlight Motel proves it. The production is amazing and they've created a fabulous melding of pop and roots music.

Their lush vocal harmonies flow through the entire album as the sometimes infectious and always beautiful melodies bolster the sound. It's a perfect mix of vocals and music that can't help but effect you emotionally.

You can pick up the CD at their live shows. It's also available through their online store or iTunes.





Videos above courtesy of Azalea

Links: Azalea, More Azalea Stories, More CD Releases

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Marian McPartland's 100th Birthday

Today (March 20, 2018) would have been English/American Jazz pianist Marian McPartland's 100th Birthday.

Her career highlights included (according to Wikipedia):

• Married trumpeter Jim McPartland (1945)
• Wrote for Down Beat magazine (started 1949)
• Singed her first record deal (1951)
• Worked with Benny Goodman (1963)
• Co-founded Halcyon Records (1969)
• Host of Piano Jazz on National Public Radio (1978 to 2011)
• Published All in Good Time, a book of essays (1987)
• Down Beat Lifetime Achievement Award (1994)
• Named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (2000)
• Inducted into National Radio Hall of Fame (2007)
• Lifetime Achievement Grammy (2014)
• Named to the Order of the British Empire (2010)

Video above courtesy of bluetaka55



Video above courtesy of BillEvansArchive



Video above courtesy of UWTV

Click here for more 100th birthday celebrations

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