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| Readers Caf� put on a swell party on January 18/04 featuring nominees Morgan Davis (6 nominations), Al Lerman (of Fathead, for best harmonica), Alec Fraser (3 nominations), Jimmy Bowskill (a barely teenage blues-rock musician, discovered by Jerome Godboo), David Rotundo (2 nominations, for best electric act and best harmonica), Julian Fauth (for best keyboards), and another newcomer, Boobie (yes, that�s correct) Browne. The Maple Blues Awards ceremony took place the following night, Jan. 19/04, at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, Sherbourne Street, Toronto. Although Godboo was not nominated this year in the harmonica category, he is a vital part of Bowskill�s Band in addition to many other side projects, most notably his own solo work and with Suzie McNeil, and the Thursday night house band at Healey�s club in Toronto (Bathurst St./Queen St. W.). I�ve already had a taste of his newly-released Live in Tel Aviv CD and marvel at yet another of his musical transformations! Lending his support to fellow Hamiltonians Jack de Keyzer (4 nominations) and Rita Chiarelli (1 nomination, but should have had at least 2) was �Chairman of the Blues� Harrison �Sweet Taste� Kennedy, who can coax a rhythm out of just about any object, including his own velvety-smooth vocal pipes! Other than the conga drum used by Harrison, the onstage drumkit collected dust all night, giving the musical atmosphere a somewhat serious edge that commanded the audience�s more-than-usually-rapt attention. Morgan Davis, Al Lerman and producer/bassist Alec Fraser started off the entertainment with a smooth rendition of Jimmy Reed�s �Ain�t That Lovin� You, Baby� (covered by Steve Miller on his Living in the 20th Century CD), and followed with songs from Morgan�s new CD, Painkiller (now, that�s my kind of medicine!). I especially liked �Hello, Nova Scotia�, which made me yearn for my sons, now living on �The Rock�, and �She�s My Little Radiator�. Morgan reminded everyone why he�s been nominated for his songwriting abilities by playing his blockbuster hit, �Why�d You Lie� (a massively successful hit covered by Colin James). Jimmy Bowskill, already a talented songwriter, instrumentalist and blues vocalist, played a couple of brand-new tunes, one of which was the insightful �Sad Song, Happy Tune�, inspired by Mississippi John Hurt, which captured the true essence of traditional blues music. I particularly liked the lyrics, "He's down and blue but his fingers didn't get the news." Jimmy, Jerome and Alec sang heavenly three-part harmonies on the gospel tune, �Jesus, Won�t You Come by Here� - an excellent performance! Speaking of �The Rock�, I was completely thrown offguard by Newfoundland newcomers Boobie Browne, of Boobie Browne & The Onions (with only his keyboard-vocalist Katherine Heartburn accompanying him that night). Although they could hardly be considered a blues band (and I ain�t no purist), they played Dixon/Smith�s �Big Boss Man� (a theme near and dear to my heart) and Katherine belted out a version of Irma Thomas�s �You Can Have My Husband But Please Don�t Mess With My Man� while giving Julian Fauth�s borrowed keyboard a solid workout. They also played a couple of their own highly quirky but interesting originals (�Liquid Lunch�, �Captain Beano) that have a kind of boogie-woogie jazz feel to them. Unfortunately I was distracted by the loud "buzz" caused by the distortion level on Boobie's guitar to really listen attentively. Harrison Kennedy displayed his instrumental and vocal versatility by playing guitar, harmonica, wooden spoons, conga, kazoo, vocal scatting and doggy barking � ow, ow, oooooo, ruff, ruff � showcasing tunes from his Sweet Taste CD (e.g. Ain�t Goin� to Chicago) as well as brand-new tunes! While my personal copy of Sweet Taste is a pared-down solo acoustic offering, the official copy apparently features, among others, explosive blues-rock guitarist Brian Lee Griffith, also of Hamilton, who has toured and recorded with Daniel Lanois and Willie Nelson and has a full circle of local musical friends making the rounds. David Rotundo (referred to as �the biggest lungs in Canada�) and Julian Fauth brought down the house with selections from their wide-ranging blues repertoire of covers and originals, including David�s deliriously sensual �Can I Come In Your Kitchen� and Julian�s righteous words of wisdom in �You Can�t Choose the World You Live In�, with its memorable line, �She was kind of good-looking, in a skanky kind of way�. On one of his famous �Pied Piper� walkabouts in the room, David graciously invited Jerome Godboo up onstage for a harp duet on �I�m So All Alone�, which gesture and subsequent performance drew thunderous applause from the still-crowded room. If there were a Maple Blues award for �stage congeniality�, David�s my first choice! Among the many tantalizing music books (and CDs) offered at a cut-rate from Readers, I bought Billie Holiday�s autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues (co-written by William Dufty), whose life was made into a film in 1972 starring Diana Ross and the gorgeously dapper Billy Dee Williams, and Jukebox America, by Pulitzer Prize-Winner William Bunch - okay, so neither one is �maple� blues, per se, but let�s give credit where credit is due. Along with providing tasty home-cooked Cajun soul food (gumbo and cornbread) and a counter full of sweet treats, the six-member cooperative that owns and operates Readers Caf� toiled long and hard putting together this wonderful tribute to blues music and specifically the musicians who have performed at their funky little house of blues in Dunnville. Visit www.readerscafe.com for upcoming events, including the next annual Southcoast Blues Festival (formerly known as the Mudcat Bluesfest). Diane Wells P.S. Blues historian Eddy B (Brake), another Newfoundlander who has made a name for himself on "the mainland", would like to notify everyone of his new blues site, www.blueheartarchive.com - also highly recommend by Livin' Blues (www.livinblues.com). Stay posted for photos taken by G�nter Ott. [Recovered photos have now been posted - click here to view - D.D.]. |
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| READERS CAF� SHOWS SUPPORT FOR MAPLE BLUES AWARDS AT HEALEY�S |
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