Acoustic Tent
This is where we feature the quieter side of blues and jazz music in our acoustic tent setting. There is something pure and natural about the sound of a musician and their instrument. When you break it down to it’s raw and simplest form, the truth emerges. Blues and jazz music began this way and we are celebrating musicians who are inspired by early greats such as Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Son House, Fats Waller, Leadbelly, Louis Armstrong and countless others. We will feature local national and international musicians playing inspiring music all weekend long.
Saturday June 5th 2010 - 1:30 PM
ODSS Jazz Band - Orangeville
Saturday June 5th 2010 - 3:00 PM
Joe & Vicki Price - Iowa
http://joepriceblues.com/
Joe and Vicki Price catapult energetic country blues. This is finger style guitar in the Elmore James/Muddy Waters tradition, a bit rough and tons of fun.
Joe has been performing his ruff and tumble blues for over 35 years; a one-man blues tornado who can pack, command and wring-out a dance-floor with the authority of an eight-piece show band.
Vicki Price is a distinctive, blues-belting guitarist who is as earthy, unique and seductive as a greenhouse orchid. Her intuitive, swinging blues style, accuracy and lyrical, light-fingered touch are unmistakable
Joe Price was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in 2002, The Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, and was a finalist in the International Blues Challenge 2006. Joe was endorsed by the Samick Guitar Co. in 2007. Joe and Vicki’s flamboyant, distinctive work on the Reso-Lectric guitars has earned them the endorsement of the National Reso-Phonic Guitar Company.
The pair have opened for such notables as John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Homesick James, Honeyboy Edwards, Louisiana Red, The Reverend Al Green, Greg Brown and Iris DeMent . From coast to coast, and from concerts, to clubs, to outdoor festivals, the Price's singular vision and dazzling, irresistible live performances continue to etch a steady, upward arc.
Saturday June 5th 2010 - 4:30 PM
Richard Henderson - Port Perry Ontario
http://www.myspace.com/richardhendersonsteelguitar
Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic resurgence in roots music and many players have taken up the acoustic lap steel guitar. There are, however, remarkably few solo lap steel guitarists. Richard Henderson is one of those few. The result is unique and compelling: old standards take on a new, vibrant and distinctive interpretation and original material is, well, even more original. Each song is forged in the gritty traditions of blues, country and rock ‘n roll. Given the nature of the lap steel as an unaccompanied instrument, the arrangements are carefully crafted- uncluttered and elemental- driven by the haunting sound of steel sliding on string. And they rock!
Richard has been playing guitar professionally for more years than any reasonable observer will care to recall and for the past considerable time, he has focused exclusively on those guitars that can only be played with a piece of steel. As a journeyman of Toronto’s dynamic bar scene, and having played with such notables as Mike McKenna. Gary Kendall, Al Lerman and Howard Ross, Richard has developed a characteristic edgy style based on the uncompromising essence of the blues and other elemental roots music.
Have steel. Will travel.
Saturday June 5th 2010 - 6:00 PM
Michael Pickett – Crystal Beach Ontario
http://www.michaelpickett.com/
At the age of four he sang for his grandmother who tossed him nickels and dimes while she sat at the kitchen table sipping her whiskey - laced tea. His mother bought him a harmonica when he was about 13. Shortly after that he saw Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on tv and he was hooked for life. The soul of this timeless genre is deeply rooted in his psyche and he continues to nurture this passion.
Pickett embraces the Blues with style, substance and musical integrity. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s he established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band. Musically profound, they pushed the envelope for Blues and funky Roots music. He provided the direction for all three projects and surrounded himself with some of the top musicians in the country.
Pickett now performs exclusively as a solo acoustic artist touring throughout Canada, the US, the UK. and Europe, appearing in Blues, Folk, Jazz clubs, coffee houses, house concerts, theatres, festivals and is no stranger to standing ovations and calls for encores.
Michael was a featured performer at the first Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival. Welcome back Michael!
Sunday June 6th 2010 - 1:00 PM
Humber College Jazz Band
Rick Taylor – Bluewater Ontario
Rick Taylor made his first professional appearance at the famed Mariposa Folk Festival in 1971. Going on to perform at many of the major Canadian folk festivals, Blues, Jazz, Country, Rock, Roots, World, and Contemporary music, influenced Rick's early years on the folk and coffee house circuits.
Rick's new 2010 CD "Lucky Room" sees him returning to his roots; with a bourbon stained voice that sounds as if it could be coming through the torn speaker of a 1927 Buick, "Lucky Room" covers the road from Mississippi to Chicago. It was recorded on vintage acoustic and electric guitars and amps. Close your eyes and you will find yourself sitting at a table in a smokey juke joint somewhere along Highway 61.
After 23 years in Vancouver, Rick has returned to his native Ontario were he is performing and producing.
Morgan Davis [Halifax] with Al Lerman [Toronto]
http://www.morgandavis.com/index.html
For nearly four decades Morgan Davis has been on the road travelling across Canada, the United States and Europe. His performances draw from a rich tradition of country blues, as well as his own contemporary songs infused with wit and a large dose of humour.
Originally from Detroit, Davis grew up listening to a prolific mix of rhythm and blues. The music of Jimmy Reed, Ike and Tina Turner, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino was in the air. He later moved to California with his family, and then in 1968 left for Canada.
While living in Rochdale College, Toronto's mecca for the subculture of the late 1960's, he immersed himself in the study of Delta Blues, especially the music of Robert Johnson. Toronto's music scene in the early 1970's was the perfect place for Davis to cut his teeth as a journeyman, having the opportunity to see and play with many legendary performers. Bukka White, Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, Snooky Pryor, Hubert Sumlin, and John Hammond were encouraging supporters.
Davis hit the road with the Rhythm Rockets, The Knights of The Mystic Sea, and David Wilcox's first band, eventually forming his own trio.
Over the years he has had the privilege of opening for Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, John Hammond, Albert Collins, and Eric Bibb. A highlight of his career was backing the phenomenal Dr.John. Morgan has shared the stage with Colin Linden, who also produced his second album, James Harmon, Gene Taylor, Sue Foley, Ray Bonneville, Carlos DelJunco and the late Dutch Mason.
Davis' songwriting talent received international recognition when Colin James covered his searing ballad "Why'd You Lie".
Morgan's first solo recording "Blues Medicine", on Electro-Fi records, garnered critical acclaim as well as awards for songwriting and production. His multi- award winning release "Painkiller" won an impressive four awards at the 2004 Maple Blues Awards and not long after took home Canada's top music prize...the Juno for Blues Album of the Year.
Davis has established a rich career as a solo artist, and also performs with stellar lineups of musicians as a trio or full band.
His most recent recording, "At Home In Nova Scotia", pays homage to Atlantic Canada where he has been a resident since 2001.
Morgan's passion for the Blues has never wavered...
and he fully expects to be on the road for the rest of his life.
Al Lerman
http://www.myspace.com/allerman
Considered one of the top blues harp players in the country, multi-instrumentalist AL LERMAN is a journeyman musician who plays with sizzle and a whole lot of soul. He’s garnered several MAPLE BLUES AWARD nominations for both his harp and saxophone playing as well as his song-writing. He’s founder and leader of the popular 2X JUNO AWARD winning blues/roots outfit FATHEAD.
When FATHEAD is not on the road Al can be found working with a variety of top notch musicians - as either a sideman or fronting - singing the blues, blowing harp, sax, and playing guitar. He has appeared on several recordings with the likes of famed Chicago bluesmen Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Little Mack Simmons (which he also produced), as well as solid contributions to discs by Rick Fines, Mel Brown, Julian Fauth, Rita Chiarelli, and Morgan Davis. He also performs as a solo artist, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and rack harmonica.
No matter what, you can always expect some downhome blues, soul and R&B that shoots straight from the heart. Al is also involved in teaching harmonica through private lessons & workshops
