End of Winter Blues 2009

Tim Vaughan, JW Jones and Bill Durst

Photos by Gord Horne

 

 

End of Winter Blues 2007

Loco Zydeco, Cheryl Lescom

and Special Guest Jack deKeyzer

Photos by Gord Horne

 

 

End of Winter Blues '08 Line-up

Lee Oskar Harmonica's

25th Anniversary Tour

Lee Oskar

There is no one in the popular music world quite like Lee Oskar. His unique role as a founding member and former lead harmonica player for the pioneer funk/jazz group, WAR, won him international renown for over two and a half decades (1969-1993). Oskar's signature harp solos helped to define the WAR sound from the band's beginning in 1969, adding dashes of color to their R&B/Jazz/Rock and Latin influences. Oskar's position with WAR was a prominent one from their early days, audiences have marvelled at his improvisational wizardry, not to mention his animated stage presence.

WAR started out supporting Eric Burdon, their very first recorded effort contained the popular tune Spill The Wine, unleashing the genre-busting sound of WAR for the first time. Not far down the road the group set out on their own to compose and perform huge hits like, All Day Music, City Country City, Me and Baby Brother, Low Rider, Why Can’t We Be Friends, The Cisco Kid, Slipping into Darkness, The World is a Ghetto, and many others.

Today, the musical legacy of WAR continues as Lee and original members Howard Scott (guitar/vocal) BB Dickerson (bass/vocal) and Harold Brown (drums/vocal) continue to perform and collaborate as “The Lowrider Band.”

Lee’s own compositions began to get more attention when his first solo album won Billboards Best Instrumental Album of the year in 1976. This was followed by several other releases, most notably, Before the Rain and My Road, Our Road. His compositions and recordings have always been noted for their great melodies, and unique (some would say unparalleled) harmonica performances.

This tour celebrates the 25th year anniversary of Lee Oskar Harmonica Created in 1983 offers harmonicas in a variety of tunings, along with replacement reed plates, tool kits, instruction books, and other related products. Lee Oskar Harmonicas have become a household name with sales that are well-established and growing at a phenomenal rate worldwide.

Enrico Crivellaro

Born in Padova, Italy, Enrico Crivellaro has been able to prove that passion and talent can transcend political and cultural borders, becoming a well-respected, upcoming figure in the international blues scene.

 

A scholarship, helped him become a student of the masters of blues guitar--Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, Kenny Neal. Earl and Robillard, convinced Enrico to take the big step and relocate to Boston. There he soon met Muddy Waters’ legendary guitarist, Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, with whom he played in several occasions. He also teamed up with a young local harmonica player, Jason Ricci, who had lived in the Deep South and had been a member of Junior Kimbrough and his Soul Blues Boys.

Enrico decided to move to the milder climate of Los Angeles, often sharing the bill with the greatest names in the business--John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Mose Allison, Anson Funderburgh, Bill Wyman, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, John Mayall. He also plays regularly with a myriad of top-notch artists, such as singer and bass player Finis Tasby, , guitarists Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Turner, and with Los Angeles’ legendary bluesman J.J. “Bad Boy” Jones.

In Los Angeles, Enrico’s mature knowledge of 1940’s jazz guitar styles was recognized by the swing-rock band Royal Crown Revue, renowned for being featured in the movie “The Mask.” The band took him to Australia for a tour that included a performance at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics Games, and the participation at the Livid Festival in Brisbane, in front of 80,000 spectators and along with Lou Reed, The Cure, Green Day, No Doubt and several other rock bands.

Although Enrico doesn’t consider himself a true jazz-bebop player, it is obvious that his refined rhythm playing combine the sophistication of jazz with the funkiness of blues--such as pianists guitarists T-Bone Walker and George Benson.

No matter what kind of music he is playing--could it be gospel or fusion--Enrico Crivellaro likes to be in the context, yet without forgetting that the roots are in the blues

 

Michael Pickett

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, and Wooden Teeth.

He was all about establishing a groove and seeing where it would take him... and the band. Instead of being in the spotlight, as most harmonica work is presented, Pickett often layered his into the background. As a result, his arrangements were unique and highlighted the genius in his songwriting.

His long anticipated and eagerly awaited debut CD, Blues Money. This all original recording was nominated for a JUNO and received the Jazz Report and Real Blues awards for ‘Blues Album of the Year’. Michael was also presented with the coveted Maple Blues ‘Blues With A Feeling Award’ in recognition of his passion and lifetime commitment to the Blues. 2000 saw the release of his second CD Conversation With The Blues which earned him another JUNO nomination and won the Canadian Indie Music Award for ‘Blues Album of the Year’.

The beginning of the millennium saw Pickett immersed himself in the guitar and was soon practicing up to 14 hours a day. With focus and diligence, this musical transition transformed him into a formidable guitarist. Pickett has evolved into an eclectic and captivating storyteller through Delta Blues, Country, Folk, and Americana, revealing a profound understanding of where this music comes from and why it stands the test of time.

David Rotundo

Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo bought his first harmonica after seeing James Cotton perform at the El Mocambo: "He blew one note on the harmonica that hypnotized me and I've been playing the blues ever since."

David has a greater perception of the blues and a heightened knowledge of the history of the music. today, he spends hours listening to the greats: Sonny boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter, George "Harmonica" Smith, William Clarke and countless others. And so it is that David has strived to develop his own language of the blues.

In 1997, David started a band called the Blue Canadians (with Peter Schmidt, Shane Scott, Julian Fauth and Doc Maclean) and began playing the Toronto circuit. In 2000, David was asked to join the legendary Jack de Keyzer Band. Rotundo has played with Ronnie Hawkins, and with ex-Muddy Waters' drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.

David recorded his debut album, "Blowin' For Broke", with his Blue Canadians. The album features twelve original songs written by David and produced by bassist and engineer Shane Scott. This album was nominated "Blues Album of 2001" by the Canadian Independent Artist Association and was winner of the Maple Blues Awards "Best New Artist of The Year 2002"

Awards & nominations include the co awarded prestigious CBC/GALAXIE RISING STAR award and multiple Maple Blues Hamonica Player of Year nominations. When you see the Rotundo live, you are instantly struck by the fact that David lives for what he does.