When you start lookin’ around for live music, whether here or away, it’s truly marvelous the veterans and new talent available to transcend you with their lyrics, help twig memories or a bit of both.  On a recent trip to the big smoke, Tranna, for a conference I lucked into a variety of memory lane and first time performances. 

 

Thanks to my far better half snagging me tickets I was thrilled to see Maria Muldaur of “Midnight at the Oasis” fame at Hugh’s Room with a great back up band, complete with trombone, horn, keys, drums and guitar.  She was promoting the third cd of her trilogy honouring the early great Blues Divas, some of whom she performed with through her 40 year career. Her latest “Naughty, Bawdy & Blue”, highlights Sippie Wallace and Victoria Spivey, the latter being the one to introduce Maria to the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, with whom she started singing, playing fiddle, kazoo and guitar, kicking off her amazing career.  I’d last seen her at Bluesfest on a side stage one wonderful Sunday afternoon a few years ago being backed by Colin Linden and later, Colin James who came and sat in. Her stories then and now continue to give you a glimpse into her love and respect for those great women singers and their struggling lives before her.  As a bonus, while I stood to get my cd signed, along came Sylvia Tyson and I was close enough to hear their brief chatter.  Maria was spouting the fun she’d had watching the 2003 movie “ A Mighty Wind” which was a Christopher Guest mockumentary of the folk music scene.  Maria was saying how Catherine O’Hara’s part reminded her so much of Sylvia and Sylvia retorted, saying “Yeah, she called me about that” acknowledging the obvious parody.  Maria’s pipes remain strong, teasing us all with her double entendre lyrics, just like the mentors she was honouring.  She’s a master of her craft.  The following evening I headed to Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse, his new location across from Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant on Blue Jay Way where Jeff plays every Thursday evening.  It was great to hear him playing guitar again with the house band and Layla Zoe featured in most vocals.  They were playing covers most of the night of tunes harkening back to the 80’s primarily this night but just hearing Jeff play brought back so many memories of seeing him play before in Ottawa, Toronto and Perth.  What a gift he shared that night. New to me the next night were The Mahone’s, a celtic punk style band from Kingston who have earned a great rep through their touring in Canada and around the world, keeping Pogue style music alive.  They thrilled a packed house and myself and you’ll get a chance to judge for yourself as they close Stewart Park Festival on the Friday night.  Closer to home I enjoyed seeing Valdy in Westport.  His still silky smooth vocals harkened me way back to hearing him live for the first time at Humber College in 1971. His relaxed rapport with his audience hasn’t changed a bit either.  His stories quickly brought you under his spell as he went from cause to worthy cause, musically.  Locally I lucked into Ross Neilsen, a fine young blues artist from New Brunswick at O’reilly’s recently, whose solid performance was made even sweeter with Sue Foley sitting in on guitar. Ross’ acoustic guitar stylings and self-scribed lyrics were real easy to enjoy. I’d encourage you catching him next time he’s through town.  I participated in the Relay for Life in Lombardy and was wowed with young 14 yr old Elyssa Mahoney’s pipes as she worked through an impressive set of blues, backed by Peter Brown on piano and guitar prodigy Lucas Haneman on guitar.  Speaking to her later I found out that Elyssa, backed by Peter traveled to Memphis Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge this past winter and with her semi-final standing she certainly showed them as she did us why this young teenager has already won the Quebec / Ontario Youth Music Festival three times and been a Kiwanis Music Festival winner seven times.  She presents way beyond her years.  Equally impressive, I first heard her guitarist Lucas Haneman, a Kanata native, in Toronto in April 2006 when he won the inaugural Domenic Troiano Guitar Scholarship and, following his acceptance of the prize, played to a full house at a fundraiser held yearly now in Dom’s honour for Toronto East General Hospital. He’s now at McGill studying Jazz.  Nice to see youth gaining recognition while developing their own styles. After being impressed with The Laws from Seeley’s Bay at Music on McLean last September, Sue and I were eager to attend their cd release of “Ride It Out” at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield last Friday night. Chris Jackson who played snare at our place but now is picking mandolin, adding some nice stuff to this duo’s sweet craftsmanship, joined them.  Congratulations go out to John and Michelle’s recent winning of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at Merlefest in May 2007, the first Canadians to do so and for having just signed a Publisher’s deal with Born To Write Inc. They’re moving to Nashville in a couple of weeks but promise to be back to share their gifts with us. It seems there’s both young and veteran gifted players out there just waiting to help us escape our daily drudgery’s by sharing their stuff with us so let’s get out to support and allow them to work their magic on us all.  Don’t forget Jenny Whiteley’s Elphin Roots Fest this weekend.  With Bluesfest and Stewart Park Festival coming up I’m sure I’ll see ya out and about…..

 

 

 

Support Live Music Everywhere