| JACK DE KEYZER - SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE (PORT CREDIT BLUES & JAZZ FESTIVAL - 2001) |
| JACK PACKS WITH A KNACK AT SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE Catching Jack de Keyzer's packed-to-the-rafters, as usual, Southside Shuffle gig at the Harp (not the Harp & Crown, for anyone who received that misinformation), I am once again amazed that this man (and any and all musicians accompanying him) does not receive major airplay in Canada! He's got such a knack for choosing players who, like himself, perform with such passion and joy that he's really not jiving when he plays "Your Pleasure is My Business"! This time around was no different, either, as Jack was joined by regular drummer Tony Ajo, Dave Rotundo on harmonica and Shane ("The Animal") Scott on bass. I found this to be a perfect combination of individual talents colluding with each other - Jack, with his kick-ass guitar delivery (which I'm sure most women would compare favourably to a certain sexual act) and inimitable vocals; Dave, with his absolutely heartaching "demonic" delivery on harmonica; Shane "putting some bass in your face - grrr!); and last but certainly not least, the exciting and dynamic Tony keeping it tight on drums! What's not to love here?? Also, I'd like to extend special thanks to Waxy Belbin, Brent Ogletree (from the Sab Band) and friends for inviting me to join them at their table for some illicit cigarette-smoking and general goofing around (I want to see those pictures FIRST, guys!). My apologies to the Peter "Sab" Band for missing the gig at Touchdown that same night - sorry, but there's no competing with two gorgeous and mischievous adolescent boys for my attention). In that same vein, I especially regretted missing both Justin Bunn and Chris Chown, two guitar meisters who are barely out of their own adolescence and who have their own respective and respected blues-rock CDs! Next chance I get, I also want to check out Black Cat Bones and that new band everyone is raving about - the JW Jones Band. Hey, for that matter, I want a repeat of this festival next weekend to catch ALL the great music artists I missed! |
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