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.
