Local Musicians on Saturday Night Blues Top 10 of 2012 List

CBC's Saturday Night Blues recently published their Top 10 Canadian Blues albums of 2012.  A few talented area performers were featured.

Brantford singer Chuck Jackson's Cup of Joe (which also features Hamilton's Jesse O'Brien on keys) came in at number 7.  At number 9, there's local bluesman Steve Strongman's A Natural Fact (Jesse on keys for a few tracks here as well).  Hamilton's Harrison Kennedy also had a role (some vocals and harmonica work) in Shakura S'Aida's Time..., which reached number 4.

Here's their complete list

1. Julian Fauth: Treating A Stranger Right
2. The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer: Checked Past
3. Peter Karp and Sue Foley: Beyond the Crossroads
4. Shakura S'Aida: Time...
5. David Vest: East Meets Vest
6. Jack Semple: In the Blue Light
7. Chuck Jackson's Big Bad Blues Band: A Cup of Joe
8. The 24th Street Wailers: Unshakeable
9. Steve Strongman: A Natural Fact
10. Danny Marks: A Friend in the Blues

Links: Chuck Jackson, More Downchild Stories, Jesse O'Brien, More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Shakura S'Aida, More Shakura S'Aida Stories, Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories



Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories, Video courtesy of LyttleGoGo

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Harrison Kennedy on Santa's Got Mojo 2 CD

Electro-Fi's latest Christmas compilation, Santa's Got Mojo 2 has many of the top blues acts in Canada layin' out some fantastic festive funkiness.

Hamilton's own blues legend, Harrison Kennedy, offers up Hot Cider Cinnamon, a soulful, haunting, beautiful Christmas song about holiday memories.

Harrison's joined by Fathead (they have 2 tracks on the disc), Chris Whiteley, Shakura S'aida, Julian Fauth, Fruteland Jackson, Morgan Davis and many more with their own wonderful, original songs.  No sappy, dull carols in the lot.  This CD is filled with soul, swing and funk.

To cap things off is an amazing bonus track with the late, great Mel Brown and the Homewreckers playing the classic Merry Christmas Baby.

You can purchase the CD at the Electro-Fi site or download it through iTunes or eMusic.

Below are a few videos of tracks from the CD



Links: Shakura S'Aida, More Shakura S'Aida Stories,  Video courtesy of the Electro-Fi



Links: Morgan Davis, Video courtesy of Calm Tom 6

Blast from the Past: Harrison Kennedy and Others@Hometown Christmas

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories

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Jack de Keyzer on New Harmonica Shah CD: If All You Have is a Hammer

Talented bluesman Harmonica Shah may be from Detroit but he knows exactly where to find great blues players.

Hamilton's own Jack deKeyzer plays guitar on his latest CD, If All You Have is a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail.

Joining Shah and DeKeyzer are Canadians Alec Fraser (Jeff Healey, Jerome Godboo) on Bass and Al Cross (Big Sugar, Jerome Godboo) on drums. Juno award winner, Julian Fauth also lends occasional piano to the disc.

Most of the same group teamed up for Shah's previous CD, Listen At Me Good as well.

If All You Have . . . is good old fashioned blues in the style of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters with a bit of soul. DeKeyzer's guitar prowess is evident on all tracks. There's booty shaking boogie and some amazing slower numbers too.

The CD is available online, including as an e-music download.

Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack De Keyzer Stories, More CD Releases