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| GREAT BIG ROCK JAM Published by Erika The Red � 2005 (Graphic donated by Don Berryman) |
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| February 15, 2005 - Page 1 |
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| TRANSITIONAL ISSUE FROM HAMMER-JAM TO GREAT BIG ROCK JAM |
| Prior to my leaving the (new) city of Hamilton for St. John�s in this New Year, reprising my recurring role as a �stranger in this town� (and I credit that term to Mr. Richie Sambora), I witnessed a few performances there in November and December that deserve mention. The first and second instances took place at Pepper Jack Caf�. On the bill were Platypi and Flattstreet, both comprised of players whose average age was probably around 20, but playing with a caliber of talent obviously acquired since their early youth. Platypi�s sound had definite jazz leanings to it, but with a twist of ska. I have to admit that the complicated rhythmic patterns of progressive jazz often overwhelm me, to the point of bewildered boredom, and such was the eventual case here. A good parallel would be to walk down a hall looking at a series of abstract art without being able to distinguish anything �special� in any of them. Nevertheless, I do remember some exceptionally enthralling saxophone solos (by Jake Koffman, grandson of the late jazz great Moe (Morris) Koffman). The band was founded by charismatic lead singer-songwriter-guitarist Matt James and drummer Dean Simonsky, and they are also backed by bassist Devin Fox and keyboardist Isaac Ezer. Their website used to be at platypimusic.com, but that URL doesn't seem to be good any more. Flattstreet was much closer to my personal taste, but they were unpredictable in a more �old school� sense. Where Platypi was more upbeat, Flattstreet was laid back, almost to the point of narcosis. That being said, I embraced their entrancingly extended �jams� because of the soulfulness in the playing. The exotic keening of their female lead singer, Sarah Ruba, had a natural intensity that could not be ignored. I thought, �Here is a young woman who could truly do justice to Janis Joplin�s cover of �Little Girl Blue�. Unfortunately, when I mentioned this to her after their set, she stated she was unfamiliar with that piece, which has strangely never received a great deal of air play, even on blues radio programmes. In my opinion, it was Janis�s vocal masterpiece, putting to rest any criticisms that she was just a good �screamer�. For more info and sound samples, visit their website at www.flattstreet.ca. Photos from that night can be viewed on my blog at http://rockintheblues.blogspot.com. I just had to hear Jack de Keyzer performing his signature guitar work one more time before leaving Ontario, so I dragged my companion off to the Corktown for Jack�s last set of the evening. Luckily, Jack was in the mood to rock the joint, and, as usual, he succeeded in luring footloose people onto the ample dance floor, a major accomplishment for most club performers these days, at least in Ontario. I sure hope he makes a stop into the Fat Cat blues club in St. John�s if he ever embarks on a tour of Canada�s �Far East�. --------------------------------- Another event I got to check out was the Tuesday night open stage at Hamilton�s Casbah. I usually steer clear of the clubs this early in the week, but I�d heard from a regular patron that this evening often offered some interesting and eclectic live entertainment. I was pleased to catch the last two songs (both covers) being played by the under-exposed Slick Willie Jr. Blues Band. In addition to various side projects (e.g. The Blue Shadows, Wild Smoke), these guys host their own open stage on Wednesdays at G.P. Grumpy�s, where, I understand, bad-boy rockers Goddo made an appearance in the New Year, ostensibly warming up for their 30th anniversary tour in March 2005 (unfortunately without Mr. Scarpelli). Steve Shelski of Coney Hatch is taking over for him on guitar. Also performing at Casbah that night was Cecilia (Di Benedetto), a friend of the Slick Willie Jr. Band. She performed a solo set on vocals and acoustic guitar. I had a chance to speak with Cecilia briefly and she graciously offered me a copy of her demo CD, Kardamom, released in 2004. In researching the meaning of this foreign word, I learned that �kardamom� is sort of an all-purpose variant of the ginger plant, and depending on which country is doing the cultivation, its function (particularly the seed) can vary from that of a digestive spice to a perfume to an aphrodisiac. (See �CD Reviews� for my comments on Hamilton�s equivalent to the songwriting success that is Madonna.) Cecilia�s vocals also remind me of a popular female singer-songwriter in Belgium who goes by the name of Yanah. Suffice it to say that if Cecilia and Yanah are finally able to attract the right movers and shakers in the music industry, they should both go straight to the top and deservedly so! Cecilia can be contacted at [email protected] and Yanah�s email address can be obtained via her website at www.yanah.be. |
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