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Barrie folk may Join Wayne Buttery & The Groove Project later today, January 22, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Fitzy’s Crabshack located at 143 Dunlop Street East, at Mulcaster Street in Barrie. For reservations call 705.721.8785.
Here’s a newsletter from Wayne Buttery about our eastern jazz happenings for those who live close enough to take advantage of traveling on these snowy days.
The “Wednesday Night Jam” kicked off it’s 2012 season last Wednesday evening in Wasaga Beach and what a great way to begin the year. Special thanks to our fans who honored us with a near capacity turnout. Also, Erwin Giles who was filling in for our regular drummer, Dennis King who was keeping Patty company while she was recovering from her medical procedure earlier that day. I’m happy to let everyone know that all when smoothly for Patty and that Dennis will be back to his regular post as the band’s regular drummer from here forward. Also thank-you Jamie Hazzard for making the trek from Bracebridge (via Midland) to Wasaga Beach to fill in on keyboards while neither Louis Lefaive nor Peter Boynton was available.
Remember, The Beacon is closed this Wednesday while the owner, Guy Puccini take a well deserved one week vacation but we’ll be back every Wednesday from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. beginning Wednesday, February 1st. We look forward to seeing you at the Beacon when this weekly Wednesday night tradition continues for 2012. The Beacon is located at 146 – 45th Street North in Wasaga Beach. For reservations please call: 705.429.4433.
And, in Collingwood this week Blue Mountain Ski Resorts, on Thursday, January 26, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m hosts Louis Lefaivre and the Kings of Swing at the Toronto Ski Club. Always good for an evening of jazz and swing music, Louis also has busy Wayne Buttery sitting in. 705-445-0231
It will be interesting to catch the performance of Perrin Grace and his trio next Thursday, January 12, 2012 at The Walker House, Southampton, Ontario. His father, Mike, superlative bass player, has been an integral part for several years of Charlie Bell’s Quartet, jazz foursome based in Saugeen Shores.
Those who brave the uncertain weather of Bruce County should enjoy a eclectic mixture of jazz; traditional as well as some interesting nuances from the younger generation. House band is Charlie Bell Quartet with Charlie on saxes and clarinet, Andy Harasymczuk, guitar, Mike Grace, stand-up bass and Mark Mariash on drums.
For reservations and other details, call The Walker House 519-797-2772.
Several jazz fans could not get reservations last week at Duffy’s Restaurant in Southampton, where Christmas Jazz was on the bill of fare in Saugeen Shores, Ontario.
Charlie Bell says Rebecca, Andy, Mike and Mark will join him on Thursday, December 22, from 8:00 to 10:00pm for a repeat performance of their special kind of intimate jazz. $10 at the door.
Call ahead for reservations to 519-797-5972
Click for more details:
Rebecca Poster
That Big Band Sound fills the Roxy Theatre on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 2:00 pm with one of the most popular groups of polished jazz musicians to breeze into Owen Sound.
This once a year performance by relative youngsters will no doubt offer some scintillating choreography to go along with music to really tap your feet by. Audience members regularly comprise age groups much more mature than the teen and twenty musicians on stage playing traditional jazz standards made famous by 1930s and 1940s big band stalwarts.
Can’t remember first time I saw and heard the Toronto All Stars Big Band (TABB), but each batch of new band members that move in seems to enhance the original stable of youngsters drawn from Toronto area high schools. More details can be found on their web site:
Toronto All Star Big Band
A dozen or more dyed in the wool jazz fan friends plan to attend their umpteenth performance and they, together with many more local fans, join others from out of town who don’t want to miss a jazz and big band concert like this Christmas celebration, of that I am sure.
For tickets to Sunday’s concert, call Roxy Theatre at 519-371-2833 or 1-888-446-7699
Earlier this year, this privileged bunch of talent performed at the home of celebrated Glenn Miller Big band in Ohio, USA.
Other local jazz listings can be found at:
Jazz By The Bay
Thursday, December 8 at 8:00 p.m. Duffy’s Restaurant, Southampton, showcases one of my favourite local quartets and a nightingale of a songstress for an evening of jazz standards and Christmas music. Rebecca Binnendyck joins Charlie Bell, Andy Harsymczuk, Mike Grace and Mark Mariash. Pretty good food also. 519-797-5972
Tickets are going fast for Molly Johnson’s gig on Saturday, September 24, at 8:00 pm in Meaford Hall.
Several balcony seats sold on a first come first served basis may be still available at $40 each for this diva whose “luscious interpretation of jazz and blues standards” has won her a 2009 Juno Award.
Besides being my favorite host weekend mornings on CBC 2 here in Owen Sound, Molly has also been dubbed best female vocalist in 2009 National Jazz Awards category.
And her album gets lots of plays on my iPod!
See ya there?
Check out local Jazz events in Grey & Bruce:
Jazz By The Bay
The Ontario towns of Port Elgin and Southampton on shores of Lake Huron buzzed last night with 17th annual Friday Night Jazz, opening this weekend’s Canadian Big Band Celebration.
We trucked over from Owen Sound to take in three of the combos, filling several venues in these holiday towns so recently packed with summer visitors. Young and old tasted the talents of local and visiting performers.
Port Elgin Legion’s spacious polished dance floor felt shoes of stately ballroom couples as well as a few whose jitterbug and jive moves are reminiscent of the 1940s. Howlin’ Dog Vintage Jazz Band’s rendition of favourites, C-Jam Blues and Flip, Flop and Fly proved once again the staying power of musicians who began their musical career many years ago. I always enjoy listening to dulcet tones of Karen Weber, lone woman in this six-piece band formed in 2002. Her bass guitar completes the dependable New Orlean’s Jazz group with a weird name; the origin of which is explained on their web site.
Harmonica player Rod Ramsay shone in the back room of Wismer House, as did Brian O’Rourke’s guitar work. Drummer Steve Morell leaned heavily on rim shots but hey, I sprang from family of dance band percussionists whose repertoire included smooth snare and cymbal variety. Tara MacKenzie, sometimes heard warbling celtic ballads is a classically trained opera singer with a local village name. She is as much at home with heavy beat blues of Big Bad Wolf combo. Double Bass player Joel Dawson belied his youthful appearance with accomplished playing that sounded like an old pro’s. Mr. Piano, Rob Gasidlo at keyboard surprised us with his versatility; we hear him play in a different jazz genre almost every time we see him perform.
Charlie Bell’s Gift to Jazz & Big Band Music
Charlie Bell belies his advancing years, turning in a whiz bang performance that wowed the standing room only Walker House crowd. Tyler Yarema, a vibrant whiz kid from Toronto, dominated the room pounding on a grand piano that I swear moved a foot from the place where it started. He led each tune with a key call and coaxed a young pianist to join in a few bars. Crackerjack drummer Mark Mariash, Andy Harsymczuk struggling to keep up with Tyler’s licks as well as polished professional Jack McFadden, a stalwart bass player of our Owen Sound Symphony Orchestra, completed this abfab chemistry. Late comers stood around or danced in front of the bar.
Some left here to cross the road to where soul and blues sounds filled Duffy’s Fish & Chips with Blackburn brothers’ dad, Bobby Dean Blackburn. Sidekick Frank deMatteis on drums and Lighthouse saxman Steve Kennedy were more than adequate for an evening’s jazz. We have heard this trio before at local eateries; Bobby Dean currently hosts a weekly Sunday afternoon gig at Wismer House – and plans to continue through the winter, I hear. Yeah!
We are sure fortunate so many jazz greats have chosen Grey and Bruce Counties for their homes. Former music teacher Charlie Bell is credited with attracting fellow musicians from Canadian and overseas to participate in this swinging weekend.
Web site roster:
Three old pro’s led three local newbies through a jazz lesson at the Wismer House, Port Elgin, yesterday afternoon to the delight of a patio-packed with patrons enjoying a sunny and windy nosh.
Bobby Dean Blackburn masterfully brought a ragged six-piece group to a smoothly melded jazz combo. By the time Bobby Dean struck up Goodnight Irene, his sign-off melody, you could swear the musicians had rehearsed for hours.
Among the lessons were some standard favorites of our Jazz Gang, mixed in with tunes heard on a Bobby Dean CD, such as Back To The Chicken Shack and 24 Hours A Day.
Wismer House is fortunate to get this popular performer – whose credits date back more than 50 years in Canada – for weekly entertainment sure to draw many enthiastic crowds of diners. The packed patio, served by a couple of busy waitwomen, frequently showed their appreciation.
Billed as Bobby Dean Blackburn & Friends, Bobby played keyboard with his regular sidekick, Frank deMatteis on drums, and special guest, Syl MacIntosh on soprano and alto sax.
A harmonica player of considerable expertise called Cowboy sat in for the entire afternoon together with a bass guitar player whose hesitant playing fully blossomed by the end of the afternoon and an interesting percussionist,
It was just sweet, watching Bobby, ever the kindly teacher, calling the key for each tune, and consistently reminding the audience that these three additions had never played with his group before.
Not that the crowd showed anything but appreciation with boisterous hoots and whistles denoting an enjoyable time they’re having in this Bruce County town beside Lake Huron.
Another musician joined the group for a couple of songs; Susie Q rendered a couple of acceptable numbers. A vocalist with obvious professional jazz band experience, Susie coaxed a chorus from the crowd with Flip, Flop & Fly.
In spite of a blustery day with winds that played havoc with paper menus, meals arrived tasty albeit somewhat tardily delivered from a new chef at this refurbished eatery.
We look forward to returning often for this weekly jazz gig. Let’s hope a discerning owner holds on to this prospective crowd-pleaser through the winter.
Wismer House is a rambling old house converted to a roomy sports bar with several separate rooms; quiet dining areas as well as cosy ones suitable for snacks while being entertained by local musicians.
Bravo Wismer House, you’ve made some good choices so far for your clientele.
My friends Tom Lewis and Jim Ansell each attended one of the concerts at Kincardine Summer Music Festival, which ends August 13 with a Grand Finale Student Showcase and a Chamber Music Showcase, highlighting the students taking part in the two-week long festival.
Tom, with his friend Dennis Eckersley, also a jazz oficionado, took in “Mays at the Movies” on Thursday, August 4, and told me that Dennis was delighted with the concert as “it was his kind of jazz – contemporary with improvisations”.
” I am more into mainstream jazz,” Tom said, although he has some CDs of contemporary jazz and likened it to the type of jazz played by Renee Rosnes.
Jim Ansell travelled with his wife Patti to the evening concert on August 2 with Rick Fines on guitar, Carlos del Junco, harmonica and vocalist Susie Vinnick. Here is his review:
Tuesday Night Blues
This was the third time I’d attended this event featuring these three excellent musicians. Carlos del Junco is a virtuoso who pushes the boundaries of what is humanly possible with a harmonica. Rick Fines is a Peterborough singer/songwriter whose guitar prowess has delighted audiences across this country for decades. And Suzie Vinnick’s incredible voice and talents on guitar and bass have gathered awards and praise from high places. I’ve also seen Rick and Suzie perform as a duo many times; they’re always a delight! As a bonus, veteran drummer Michael Sloski joined the trio, making a quartet for most of the evening.
Each performer in turn introduced a song … the circle went around five times. After Carlos’ lead piece found its groove, you couldn’t help but sway to the rhythm … Mike Sloski kept it right in the pocket for the rest of the evening. The highlight of the first set for me was Rick’s fabulous playing on Howlin’ Wolf’s “Cause of it All”. No wonder his “new-to-him” telecaster needed tuning after this one … oh, the bending of the strings! Carlos closed the set with a rousing rendition of the old rhythm and blues tune, “Rocket 88”.
Second Set
Suzie opened the set with the audience favourite, “Oreo Cookie Blues”. Suzie brought enough of Mr. Christie’s goodies to go around, and we munched while she displayed some tasty chops on Mabel, her little Larrivee parlour guitar. Mmmm … sweet! Rick stretched out on the Tele with BB King’s “Crying Won’t Help You”. From the second row we witnessed his seamless technique of switching from flatpicking to fingerstyle and back again. He’s amazed me every single one of the dozen or so times I’ve been blessed to be in his audience. Suzie contributed a lovely bass solo, and Carlos … did I mention his virtuosity? Every time he blew it was brilliant. He played some runs I didn’t think were possible on harmonica. His extended version of “Got My Mojo Working” began with an otherworldly intro “a la Pink Floyd” and included his most freakishly brilliant solo of the evening.
Strangely, the audience refrained from demanding a well-deserved encore … maybe their ears were full!
I would certainly encourage music fans of any genre to check these artists out, either live or on their many fine recordings. Guest review by Jim Ansell.
And that, dear friends is all for this year. We all look forward to the 21st year of this popular Kincardine festival in 2012.
Subscribe to My Foggy Day for music news updates from musicians and local music events in Grey and Bruce counties.
Here’s an update posted by Tyler Wagler on Facebook:
“I am very excited to be releasing my very first solo release, a five song self-titled EP. And of course to celebrate the occasion I’m throwing a CD release show with some of my favourite musicians at my favourite venue in Owen Sound on Saturday August 13, 2011 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00.p.m”.
Joining me will be Keira McArthur on cello and vocals, Joel Morelli on bass and vocals, Christian Ingelevics on drums and Thom Hammerton on keys.
I’m very pleased to have up and coming young singer/songwriter Ben Turcotte opening the show!
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. $8 or Pay What You Can for students. Tickets available at The Bean Cellar and Fromager’s Music.Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8.
Mudtown Pottery is a beautiful gallery type space, located at 1835 3rd Avenue East in Owen Sound,
Footnote:
And I’m very excited that this young man, who I first listened to years ago in a bike shop in Owen Sound, is making sound waves in the big time. Bravo Tyler.
Subscribe to My Foggy Day for music news updates from musicians and local music events in Grey and Bruce counties.
email from Dave Schmalz this morning:
“Just a quick heads up to let you know our date at the Park House this Saturday is off due to activities at the adjacent park which will invlove some pretty loud rock music . Sometimes old guys with horns just can’t compete.
We will however be in Goderich at Lions Harbour Park on Sunday August 28th at 7.00 pm (concert)
The Bruce Inn- Kincardine Sunday Sept 4, 2.00 – 6.00 pm
Port Elgin Legion , Friday Sept 9, 8.30 pm till midnight ( great dance floor )
For up to date listings of jazz events in Grey Bruce, click here: Jazz By The Bay
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