29 September 2009

Ottawa Blues This Week - 29 September 2009 - UPDATE

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OTTAWA BLUES SOCIETY

ON THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS

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Two rounds of Semi-Final competition for The Ottawa Blues Society’s “On the Road to Memphis – Blues Challenge” took place September 16 and 23 with the Finals held on Friday, September 25 at Tucson’s, Ottawa. Judging by the crowds who attended (both the lucky ones indoors and those lined up outdoors), it was a huge success! Advancing to the Finals competition for the opportunity to represent Ottawa at the International Competitions in Memphis TN were:

1. Phlegm

2. The Jesse Greene Band

3. Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo
4. Drew Nelson Band

This local “Band” category competition is Ottawa’s second time participating in the prestigious Blues Foundation’s, “International Blues Challenge”. A $5.00 cover charge and impressive raffle draws raised a total of $2,900 as financial support for travel and accommodation expenses for the winning OBS representative. Thanks to the following sponsors who supported this year’s event: Tucson's, The Works, FabGear 64, Chilly Chiles, CD Warehouse, Northern Blues Music and Lorenzo's.

Todd Bernard (DAWG-FM, Canada and North America’s first ever all blues commercial radio hitting the airwaves by Summer 2010) acted as M.C. and Final Round Judges included: Fred Litwin (President of Northern Blues Music), Lynn Saxberg (Ottawa Citizen arts reporter), Alexandre Petit, (Virée Blues Boréale), and Ottawa’s own J.W. Jones (Blues Musician). Throughout the competitions, each band’s 25-minute performance was judged by the same criteria used for the International Competition in Memphis.

When all the scores were tabulated, The Jesse Greene Band (Jesse Greene - vocals, guitar; Marc Seguin – harmonica; Dan Grewal - bass; Jason Cote – drums; and Luke Donovan - guitar) was chosen to represent Ottawa in Memphis, TN, January 20-23, 2010 at the 26th International Blues Challenge.

Congratulations to The Jesse Greene Band!

http://www.myspace.com/thejessegreeneband

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SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK

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Virée Blues Boréale presents

Steve Hill

Club Addiction, 117 Promenade du Portage in the Old Hull sector

Wednesday, September 30 @ 8 pm

Our 10th edition is reason to celebrate and to thank our appreciative fans and our loyal partners. So, we decided to invite an artist most often requested by our fans, Steve Hill. Once more we were very lucky and came to the right place at the right time. Indeed, Steve Hill & The Majestiks were starting a tour of Canada this fall, to present their new album, “The Damage Done”, a true rock album but not denying his strong Blues roots, produced by Steve himself.

Steve Hill made his debut on stage at 16. He was so successful that in less than four years, he was doing more than 200 shows a year on top of recording his first album which was rated ‘Best Canadian Debut Recording’ by Vancouver’s Real Blues magazine. After touring Canada, France and Belgium, he went back in studio sessions in 1999 to record “Call it What You Will”. He then went on a tour which brought him to perform on major stages with some of the Blues’ greatests: Ray Charles, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang and many others.

He launched his third album in 2002, “Domino” which pointed in a different direction, quite far from his usual soundscape. Domino” offers a more contemporary sound that goes together with the progression of Steve Hill as composer, performer, arranger and producer. A mix of rock, R&B and electro-shaded Blues, the album and the tour were highly praised by the critics. The following year, Steve Hill began a 3-year collaboration with the legendary Michel Pagliaro, immortalized on a DVD titled “Live à Québec”. In 2007, Steve Hill pushed his musical exploration further in his album “Devil at my Heels”, an extremely rock, heavy, harsh, but still very melodic. On the tour for this album, Hill performed with ZZ Top, The Tragically Hip and Jeff Beck, among others. Following that, he worked on Eric Lapointe’s album “Ma Peau” and also toured with him. Now Steve Hill is back on tour with his invaluable teammates, Johnny Flash on guitar, who also provides some compositions, Rock Laroche on bass and Sam Harrisson on drums and they present their latest album “The Damage Done”.

www.stevehillandthemajestiks.com

www.stevehillmusic.com

www.myspace.com/stevehillandthemajestiks

www.myspace.com/vireeblues.

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Wild T & the Spirit

Tucson’s, 2440 Bank Street

Friday, October 2 @ 9:15 pm

The power trio line up of Tony Springer, Guenther Kapelle and Murad Gunduz has been receiving rave reviews from fans & press all over. “Fender Bender” is Wild T & the Spirit’s 5th CD, on Jazzhaus Records; it covers the whole spectrum with guitar ripping' blues-rock, soulful melodies & psychedelic super jams.

http://www.myspace.com/wildtandthespirit

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Mr. Something Something

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Friday, October 2 @ 9:30 pm

“A little something for the body. A little something for the mind. The grooves have West African roots, with breaks and basslines designed to induce and sustain a state of ecstatic dancing. The horn section strikes with power and uplifts with melody, leading the dancers through extended forms. Above it all, acting as a lightning-rod for the combined energies of a Mr. Something Something event is the lyric statement of the case for change and consciousness. And dance.”

http://www.mrsomethingsomething.com/

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Ross Neilsen & the Suffrin` Bastards

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Saturday, October 3 @ 9:30 pm

Two time East Coast Music Association nominee and two time CBC Rising Star Award winner, Ross Neilsen, eats, breathes and sleeps the blues. Whether electrifying audiences with his power trio or telling tall tales in his intimate solo shows, Ross has been "out there" delivering the goods.

http://www.myspace.com/rossneilsen

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LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

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Drew Nelson Band

Baker Street Café, 385 Richmond Road

Friday & Saturday, October 2 & 3; 9:30 pm – 12:30 am

“Coffee House Blues” kicks off at Baker Street Café. John Merriam’s idea is to offer a venue where people can enjoy really good Blues in an atmosphere of "just that" … people wanting to hear some good Blues”. Baker Street Café is not licensed … they will be serving a very limited menu with specialty coffees and desserts. John’s roots go back to the Le Hibou days in Ottawa ... and he hopes Baker Street Café will follow the tradition of what was so great so many years ago.

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AREA HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

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Magic Slim & The Teardrops
The Waterfront Bistro, 590 Liverpool Road, Pickering ON

Thursday, October 1 @ 8 pm; tickets $45

Magic Slim & the Teardrops proudly uphold the tradition of what a Chicago blues band should sound like. At 70+, Magic Slim sounds as nasty and gritty as any bluesman you can name. He’s one of the few Mississippi bluesmen who moved to Chicago in the early ‘50s still on the scene. His sound hasn’t
evolved much over the years -- he still plays slide guitar without a slide, just his fingers slipping up and down the strings so he’s able to bend notes while he slides – but it doesn’t have to. His primal vocals, red-hot guitar work, and the supple backing of his Teardrops, Jon McDonald, Melvin Smith, David Sims and Vern Taylor, create the kind of deep bluesy feeling that can't be faked.

Their emphasis on ensemble playing and a humongous repertoire that allegedly ranges upwards of a few hundred songs give the towering guitarist's live performances an endearing off-the-cuff quality: You never know what obscurity he’ll pull out of his oversized hat next. In a world where blues bands are becoming increasingly slick and polished, Magic Slim and the Teardrops are proof the real deal still exists. Slim’s tough, smoky vocals and incisive guitar work are Chicago barroom blues at its best, and each performance captures the man and his band in their element -- on stage, drawing sweat for a room full of fans.

There will be seating for everyone to enjoy the performance in this intimate 100-seat venue. Free parking. Reservations: 905-420-2020; receive a 10% discount on your meal (food only).

Tickets available online at http://www.musicbythebaylive.com/

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WEEKLY EVENTS EVERY MONTH

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Wednesdays: Dr Dave Revue @ the Rainbow, 5-8 pm

Wednesdays: Brian Downey @ The Avant-Garde Bar, 8:30 pm

Wednesdays: Acoustic music with Jeff Rogers @ Tucson’s, 7:30-11 pm

Thursdays: Acoustic blues with Al Tambay & friends @ Tucson’s, 7:30-11 pm

Thursdays: Mike Ktenas hosts the Blues Jam @ Irene’s, 9 pm to closing

Sunday afternoons: Blues jam @ the Rainbow, 3-7 pm

Sundays: Jesse Greene Band @ Irene’s, 9 pm

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LOCALS THIS WEEK

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Friday, October 2

MonkeyJunk @ Irene’s, 9:30 pm

Friday & Saturday, October 2-3

Drew Nelson Band @ Baker Street Café, 9:30 pm

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