July 2011 - Toronto Blues Society

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More Than Music with Jerome Godboo Anyone who has seen Jerome Godboo’s live performance surely has an indelible image of the experience in their mind. The signature lowslung leather belt of harmonica’s, mischievous grin and high energy performances. Yet, there is a tenderness and vulnerability as well. Since fronting the 1980’s blues rock band, The Phantoms, Jerome continues his personal journey of musical and spiritual growth. Here, in the new millennium, with his newest recording “Rooting Out My Devils” he remains true to that path. “Anything you want to get good at involves hard work. For me, that work is meditation. To become more compassionate you have to notice how uncompassionate you are at times. Meditating helps me to get to know myself so I can trust my motives.” Jerome said. “When I’m doing business it’s healthy to be aware of the subtext of why I do things.” Jerome’s interest in meditation began when he was 12 years of age while watching the TV series, Kung Fu. He noticed, through the characters, how the practice of meditation was able to bring calm and kindness into meeting the challenges of everyday life. “After I had my first child I was still acting pretty rock’n roll and while with my band One Monkey, I came across a pamphlet on Vipassana Meditation and felt this was it! It's been a dozen years that I attend annual 10 day silent retreats. There is no communication or eye contact with other students while you’re on a course. This makes it easier to observe your physical sensations while maintaining equanimity of mind and utilizing those tools to transform negativity.” Through his daily meditation practice Jerome’s music has been enhanced as he claims that previously unconscious attitudes and beliefs come to the surface daily. “It’s helped me to get over myself. The blues travel through me. I appreciate my bands and the possibilities the music provides. I’m grateful to have been shown a good path, that with effort, will bring understanding into my life and more harmony with those around me. Metta.” * * With loving kindness. -- Sharon Grace PHOTO BY ALEC FRASER 4 MapleBlues July 2011 www.torontobluessociety.com
Monkey Junk On June 21, Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk released their sophomore CD, To Behold, the first in a three-record deal with their new label, Stony Plain Records and a follow-up to their successful debut Tiger in Your Tank (released independently, then on Vizztone). Not your usual blues ‘power trio’, MonkeyJunk has accomplished much in three years. But like all blues ‘overnight sensations’, there’s lots of history and slogging it out in the trenches behind their success. Their combined experience (almost 60 years) and their long-term friendship contributes to the chemistry that merges Tony D’s guitar virtuosity, Matt Sobb’s solid drumbeat (and assorted other percussion) with Steve Marriner’s passionate vocals, his award-winning harmonica and his skill on a host of other instruments, including baritone guitar, guitar and keyboards. And there’s no bass! They’re always asked where the name came from. Their response: “A chance remark Son House made. ‘I’m talkin’ ‘bout the blues. I ain’t talkin’ about monkey junk,’ he said. We love Mr. House, and we get his point, but the word stuck with us. And we use it as one word: MonkeyJunk, with a capital J in the middle.” Less than a year after their Sunday evening gigs at Ottawa’s Irene’s Pub evolved into a band, they were on the “Road to Memphis” as the Ottawa Blues Society’s representative at the 2009 International Blues Challenge, where they placed third out of nearly 100 bands! In the fall of 2009, they became one of a handful of Canadians to be nominated for a Blues Music Award. In January 2010, they were nominated for six MapleBlues Awards and won five, and they followed up with a Best Blues Artist award at the Canadian Independent Music Awards in March of that year. Their winning ways continued in May when Blues Foundation member/voters made them the 2 nd Canadian band ever to win a Blues Music Award – MonkeyJunk’s “Tiger In Your Tank” was voted Best New Artist Debut. And they started 2011 off with three more MapleBlues Awards. They call their music “Swamp R&B. Soul boogie. Deep blues … and bedroom funk.” What does it sound like? A beat that won’t let you sit still, melodic harmonica, eloquent guitar solos alternating with tasty rhythm, keyboards for a change of pace … the closest you come to bass is the baritone guitar. And what does it look like? A full dance floor! While “To Behold” is more eclectic than the cont’d on page 7 Congratulations to the 2011 TBS Talent Search Finalists The Distillery • Nicole Christian • Bradleyboy Mac Arthur • Richard Henderson • Fraser Melvin Blues Band • Ken Yoshioka The six finalists, (clockwise, The Distillery, Nicole Christian, Bradleyboy Mac Arthur, Richard Henderson, Fraser Melvin Blues Band and Ken Yoshioka) will perform before a panel of judges at Nathan Phillips Square on Thursday August 18, noon-2pm during City of Toronto’s “Tasty Thursdays” series. The Distillery is a hot young blues trio that can appear to be deceptively mellow at times. Please don’t relax too much as Neil, Myrrhine and Jordan bring out the sabre tooth tiger when you least expect it. Check out their intoxicating brand of original blues based on real life experiences that we all share. “What You Told Me” is the first in an exciting series of blues recordings by The Distillery and is being released at The Gladstone Hotel on Thurs July 28. For the past several years Nicole Christian has performed and produced music events in Toronto at venues such as Hugh’s Room, The Silver Dollar and The Supermarket, Grafitti's and The Black Swan. Nicole has recently been featured in The Toronto Star, as well as on Newstalk 1010 and CBC Radio, where she has played her song “Barn Dance” (co-written with Stephen King) live on air. Nicole recently played a North American tour with Hamilton guitar player Alfie Smith. Run Rabbit Run was just voted The Best Debut Roots and Blues Album of 2010 award by the Underground Blues Network. In 2004, after playing in bands for the better part of 25 years, Bradleyboy MacArthur started doing things his own way. He’s been developing his one-man band approach while mixing blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, and punk at his home studio, the Red Room, in Orono, Ontario. MacArthur’s new album, Salt Gun, was released on June 7th. Richard Henderson was named Instrumentalist of the Year for 2010 at the Durham Region Music Awards and was invited to showcase at the 2011 Blues Summit in Toronto. As a journeyman of Toronto’s dynamic bar scene, Richard has developed a characteristic edgy style based on the uncompromising essence of the blues and other elemental roots music. The Fraser Melvin Blues Band was formed in 2003 by friends Fraser Melvin (Guitar & Vocals) and Alex Furlott (Bass). With a revolving door of other musicians, the current lineup consists of Jon Hyde (Drums), Josh Cavan (Keys), and Andrew Moljgun (Saxes). All enrolled in Humber College's music program, this quintet plays a mixture of music, fusing blues, jazz, and soul. The Fraser Melvin Blues Band is an exciting and entertaining band - definitely one to keep your ears open for. Originally from Kamakura,Japan. Ken Yoshioka came to Toronto in 1994. He started to go to blues jams at bars such as Chicago's, Gladstone Hotel, Silver Dollar's, Grossman's where he picked up lots of musical skills and experiences thanks to the mid 90's live music resurgence in Toronto. He has been giging and recording with Julian Fauth, Jay Clark & The Jones, Mike O'Grady, Bo Basiuk, Billy Heffernan ansd was also the subject of a documentary called "Harmonica Man From Japan" by a Japanese Director Eiko Watanabe. Ken recently did 9 shows in Tokyo and Kanagawa gaining lots of nation al press The winner will recieve a professional development package that includes a showcase opportunity at the Blues Summit Six in January 2013, a showcase opportunity at this year’s South Side Shuffle Festival, a photo shoot with Bill King, mentoring sessions with industry professionals, rehearsal time at Pro Rehearsal & Backline, and more. www.torontobluessociety.com MapleBlues July 2011 5
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Page 7 and 8: Elwood Goes to the Races: Dan Aykro
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July 2011 - Toronto Blues Society

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