With 11 albums (12 counting the 1995 compilation title “Then Again”) blues guitar great Colin James is now well into his 3rd decade in music here in Canada. Having honed his chops with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan – Colin is one of the few that has mixed elements of raw blues guitar with soul, R&B, straight ahead rock and jump/big band blues.
His new album is on the away out – titled “Rooftops and Satellites” I’m excited to hear what this innovative blues artist is up to next.
I’ll also be watching this Tuesday November 10th at 10PM Eastern on Canadian cable channel Bravo when Colin appears as part of the Motown 50th anniversary special filmed in Toronto.
For those of you who can’t catch him on Bravo – here are a couple of clips of Colin at his finest:
This legendary show is where Colin got to share the stage with blue guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. While this wasn’t his best performance, there is still magic and obvious chemistry between Stevie and Colin. Ever since these early days spent with Stevie, I swear there is some of Stevie’s soul that was transferred to Colin – it comes out on his best solo’s and best nights – you almost swear you see flashes of Stevie Ray as he hits the perfect note!
And now…for some new stuff, this one’s on Colin’s new album “Rooftops and Satellites” – a rockin blues guitar tune titled “Man’s Gotta Be A Stone”. This one has a ZZ Top feel to it, but with Colin’s smooth voice and some Colinesque guitar parts – whatta you think?
And last but not least – a really improvisational version of his hit single “Keep On Loving Me Baby” where he loses himself totally in the solo and touches on “Third Stone From The Sun” and then finishes with the rhythm to “Hidden Charms” with lots of other goodies thrown in for good measure – take a listen:
Finally – Colin is heading out on tour across Canada in early 2010 – take a look at his new website to find out where he will be and how you can catch up with him – his live shows are ALWAYS awesome!
Oh..and if there are any other Canadians (or U.S.) people who have heard Colin and want to weigh in – leave a comment and let us hear from you.
Jeff
Filed under blues guitar, Blues Legends by on Nov 9th, 2009. Comment. 
Did you know that the original Blues Brothers – Dan Akroyd and John Belushi were inspired by a Canadian band called The Downchild Blues Band – take a listen to this clip and you will see why…
Talk about some great jump blues on that second number.
I remember seeing them back in the 90’s at many local Ottawa and Toronto bars – they always put on a great, tight and swinging blues show.
With some great blues harp, blues guitar and excellent portfolio of traditional blues and swing blues numbers – you knew when you went out to see Downchild, you were going to be entertained.
What did amaze me is this article in The Globe about the upcoming 40th anniversary of Downchild – wow where the hell has the time gone? Great to hear that they are on a celebration tour for their 40th anniversary hosted by non other than Dan “The Man” Akroyd himself. With stops planned in Ottawa, Toronto, Belleville, Niagra Falls and Montreal this should be a terrific blues event.
Check out their tour schedule and help vote for them on the several nominations they received for the Maple Blues Awards by visiting their website.
What about you – have you ever been in the audience for Downchild?
Filed under Blues Legends, maple blues awards by on Nov 10th, 2009. Comment.
I was first “infected” with Joe Bonamassa about a year ago when I was wandering through a music store and instantly recognized a blues guitar “real deal”
You know the feeling you get when you hear something that is so real – the hair stands up on your neck and suddenly all of your senses are tuned in for that 5-10 minutes.
Now 32, having started at just 12 years old, there is no doubt Joe Bonamassa is experienced – beyond his years, knows how to put it all together channeling energy reminiscent of the greats, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and of course BB King, Buddy, Albert and Freddy before them.
The marriage of Fender Strat, Marshall amps, technical prowess and that kick you in the gut power when he is tuned in makes him one of the leading blues guitar greats today.
Take a listen to this phenomenal version of “If Heartaches Were Nickels” – over 7-minutes you hear it all, finesse, power, feeling, tone and technical mastery:
Haven’t seen Joe yet – well he has just released a new packaged DVD from his recent concert at Royal Albert Hall – Joe Bonamassa Live from the Royal Albert Hall
Here is the trailer – take a look:
Right from the point he was a young boy Joe had a dream to be a blue guitar player and someday, play Royal Albert Hall. Watching this DVD inspires us all to dream big and we too can eventually reach our dreams.
This Bonamassa Joe Bonamassa Live from the Royal Albert Hall
DVD is chalk-full of inspiration and incredible blues guitar – shades of Stevie Ray as he made his way to the top. Folks, we finally have the next major blues guitar hero in our midst.
Filed under blues guitar, Joe Bonamassa, New Blues by on Nov 12th, 2009. Comment.
Robert Johnson Gibson L-1
Every great movement has its legends, for blues – and blue guitar especially – no legend is greater than that of Robert Johnson.
A mystery man that was known by many names, by all accounts a transient who never stayed in one place very long, and a man who died young under very suspicious circumstances. Born in 1911, Johnson’s life was cut short in 1938.
Along the way, there was the odd disappearance of an “average” blues guitar player and the re-emergence of a masterful, almost “beyond-human” guitar man leading to the legendary story of how Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the Crossroads of Highway 61 and U.S. 49 in the Mississippi Delta.
Today I came across this story in the hometown newspaper of Johnson’s confirmed birth – Hazlehurst Mississippi – “Hazlehurst To Restore Blueseman’s Home” where the county is close to reaching its objective of raising funds to restore the house.
Will the restored house bring tourist dollars to the county? Perhaps – in any case it is good to see reminders of the great musical artists in history, sort of a snapshot in time.
What is your favorite Robert Johnson song? Sweet Home Chicago? Crossroad Blues, Hellhound on My Trail? Others?
Filed under blues guitar, Blues Legends by on Nov 13th, 2009. Comment.
Stevie Ray Vaughan had some of his best performances at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and the amazing clip from the 1988 Jazz Festival featured 3 of the greatest blues guitar legends of all time – Stevie Ray, BB King and Albert Collins.
I love the interaction in this clip between Stevie and BB King on a version of often performed SRV Texas Flood. You can see Stevie tearing into the intro of Texas Flood intending to play all of the inter-verse blues guitar lead as he always did…but at about the 56-second mark you can tell he hears something special in BB’s lead and from that point on gives BB the entire guitar part.
For all of you who are used to seeing BB slow and sweet, this is the “fast and nasty” BB – and man it sounds incredible.
I can tell you right now, I would not want to be the one standing in playing the guitar accompaniment to Texas Flood – that is pure energy, tone and muscle with an does of finesse from Stevie – it often was his signature song of the night – but BB is up to the challenge and perhaps my favorite all-time guitar from the King of the Blues.
What do you guys think?
Filed under bb king, blues guitar, Blues Legends by on Nov 23rd, 2009. Comment.
It seems that BB King continues to thrill audiences with his blues guitar playing and singing, but what most impresses me is that he still (as he has always done) puts his fans first.
In this terrific concert review we find King can still electrify and endear himself to audiences as he did in San Bernadino just a few nights ago. Even confined to a chair on stage and spending time in a wheelchair offstage for mobility, the King’s personality and love for his fans transcends any genre of music.
Can you imagine the Stones, Clapton, or any other major artist for that matter taking time to talk with their fans, really connecting with their audience and staying around well after the show to sign autographs and speak with his fans?
Blues music, more than others (though Country and Bluegrass could also be sited here) relies on its connection with the audience – too bad Rock, Rap, R&B and other forms of music have never quite been able to understand this fundamental emotional characteristic of music – and for that I am so happy to be a Blues music fan and part-time player.
So BB King – thank you for being the shining light, for being a living example of what music (ALL MUSIC) is to our spirit and may god be with you as you continue to spread the word through your 15,000 + performances…
What about you – have you ever had the chance to see Mr. King in concert? What did you think? Leave us a comment by clicking on the “Comment” bubble at the top right of this post.
Filed under bb king, Blues Legends by on Nov 26th, 2009. Comment.
