| *
Sitting on the bus with B.B. King talking about the blues. It simply
doesn't get any better than that. When the most famous blues artist
(in my opinion) thanked me for taking an interest in the blues, I
was simply speechless. B.B. King is without a doubt, the king of the
blues. |
|
* Sitting
in a hotel room with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown listening
to his thoughts on music, life, and anything else that came to his
mind. He is truly a Living Legend.
|
| *
Sitting in a recording studio with Snooky Pryor, Pinetop Perkins,
Mel Brown, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Bob Stroger and watching
them perform their magic was something to behold. This was the blues
at it's finest. |
| *
Going to the Ottawa Blues Festival and being introduced to the music
of Blind Mississippi Morris and Brad Webb by Peterborough Blues DJ,
Alec Kirkcardy. I didn't know what to expect but as soon as I saw
them, I was totally blown away. |
| *
Interviewing Keb'Mo' in town even though the Toronto Blues Festival
was cancelled. The cancellation meant that Keb'Mo had a day off and
gave me an opportunity to interview him in an relaxed environment.
Keb'Mo' was one for the five people I wanted to meet when I began
this project and the chance to meet him was an absolute thrill for
me. |
| *
In 2005, we decided to cover the Legendary Rhythm and Blues cruise
for the series. Although, I didn't expect to get an interview with
Dr. John, his road manager approved my request. He was a very kind
and informative man who was very encouraging to me about my project.
As soon as I returned from the cruise, I read his autobiography which
I would recommend to anyone who's a fan of Dr. John. |
| *
In the summer of 2004, I chased down Sonny Landreth for an interview.
His performance as the Heritage Music Festival in Wheeling, West Virginia
was simply stunning. The chance to sit and talk to him afterwards
was pretty special - not only because of Sonny himself but because
Sonny had asked Robert Jr. Lockwood to tag along for the interview.
Mr. Lockwood did not want to be a part of the interview but his presence
was both inspiring and intimidating for me. However, it was a memorable
experience. |
| *
In 2005, I began working on a DVD project with Mel Brown. The irony
of this is the fact that it took me close to two years to talk Mr.
Brown into doing an interview with me for the series. Now, I find
myself maintaining his web site and doing a DVD with him. I have the
utmost respect for Mel Brown and all that he has given to the world
of music. I feel totally privileged to be working with him and getting
to know him through his music and his words. I admire him so much
not only because of his musical talent but because I believe he is
a person who has lived life on his own terms - which is more than
I can say for most people. Mel has also played a role in my latest
attempt at not smoking - which is something very special. He may also
be the coolest guy I know. |
| *
One may not equate Neal Schon of Journey as a blues guitarist but
he is definitely someone who has been greatly influenced by the blues.
The chance to meet him in the summer of 2004 was pretty special. Yes,
I was and am a huge Journey fan! Not only was Neal very accommodating
in the interview, he allowed me to shoot some footage of him during
soundcheck where he noodled around with a blues riff for me to use.
Neal and the whole Journey organization demonstrated to me how a very
professional outfit operates in the music industry. |
| *
The chance to meet and interview Duke Robillard and John Hammond -
two of the bigger names in blues. Although, I did not interview them
at the same time, I put them both in the same category of important
blues player of a significant stature. The thing I was most impressed
with both of them is the pure passion they exhibit not only when they
play the blues but when they talk about the blues. |
| *
The chance to get to know many of the great Canadian musicians such
as Gary Kendall, Chuck Jackson, Morgan Davis, Jack de Keyzer, David
Rotundo, Michael Pickett, Tony D, Big Dave McLean, Tom Lavin and Al
Lerman through this project has been one of the most rewarding aspects
of this project. |
| *
Meeting Hubert Sumlin for the first time. Ask any blues guitarist
what Hubert means to them and their eyes will light up. I don't play
the guitar but spending an hour with Hubert and hearing his stories
was absolutely great. |
| *
The chance to meet Mighty Sam McClain in Boston and hanging out on
his bus. I was told that Mighty Sam can be a difficult person but
when I met him, he simply blew me away with his generosity, his humour
and most of all, his great laughter. |
| *
Corey Harris is an amazing musician. He is also a very bright individual
who has a lot of interesting things to say. Meeting Corey in the summer
of 2003 was another one of the great highlights of this project. |
| *
I had a chance to meet Charlie Musselwhite, Curtis Salgado and Tommy
Castro at the Ottawa Blues Festival in 2003. Like so many other great
musicians, it was such a great privilege to meet and interview them.
|
| *
I also met Buddy Guy in the summer of 2003 in London, Ontario. The
thing that struck me the most was how much respect he has for all
of the blues musicians that came before him. I don't know why but
his modesty and his acknowledgement of those he learned from really
impressed me as well as everything else about him. |
|
| Musical
Moments: |
|
| *
Enrico Crivellaro sitting in with the Pie Guys one Sunday afternoon
and playing a tribute song to Magic Sam. It was one of very those
rare moments when the music, the audience and the venue became one
and I got goosebumps watching the song being performed. |
| *
Two moments with Jeff Healey - on an encore with the Coco Montoya
Band and trading solos with Jack de Keyzer on a song called "Engine
Troubles" |
| *
Phillip Walker performing a Lightning Hopkin's tune called "Hello
Central" at the Silver Dollar Room. This was the blues at it's
best. |
| *
Watching Keb'Mo perform at the Toronto Harbourfront in July of 2000.
Some may consider Keb'Mo to be a little too commercial but I think
he's brilliant. |
| *
B.B. King - any time, any where. He may not stretch the scope of the
blues like he once did but why should he? I have met four people since
I have started this project who didn't know who B.B. King was. There
is something very wrong with that. |
| *
Many years before I began this project, I saw James Cotton at Maple
Leaf Gardens and Sonny Terry at a small coffee shop. In both cases,
I was blown away by what I saw - not having a clue as to what it was. |
| *
Over the past little while, I have become a huge fan of Sugar Ray
Norcia and the Bluetones. Every time I see them live, they seem to
get better. Their show in March of 2002 at the Silver Dollar Room
was simply spectacular. Sugar Ray has one of the sweetest voices in
the blues while Monster Mike Welsh gets better and better each time
I see him live. For my money, I can't think of a more solid rhythm
section than "Mudcat" Ward on the bass and Neil Gouvin on
the drums. Above everything else, they are all great people who I've
had the great pleasure of talking to. |
| *
It's often not fair to mention someone who I consider to be a friend
on a list of highlights like this but I can honestly say that David
Rotundo and the Blue Canadians show with Enrico Crivellaro for his
CD release party was simply magical. I recorded the show from that
evening and I know I witnessed magic on stage. |
| *
To me, Morgan Davis is one of the finest blues players around. In
one week, I saw him with a band, with Al Lerman on the Harmonica and
by himself. Each show was great but the night he played alone at the
Free Times Cafe made me truly appreciate what an amazing musician
he is. |
| *
The latest in the great shows that I have witnessed was the Darrell
Nulisch show. I saw Darrell Nulisch with James Cotton a little while
ago and was totally blown away by his voice. I mean, this was as good
a voice as I had heard live. I looked forward to the opportunity of
seeing Darrell with his own band for a long time and when I finally
got to see it, he and his band did not disappoint. If you ever have
the chance to see this band perform live, please do. Not only is Darrell
Nulisch one of the best singers around but his band is simply unbelieveable. |
| *
Any time I get a chance to watch Mel Brown work on stage or in the
studio, I am totally blown away by what he plays. Not only is he an
exceptional guitar player but I can honestly say that for me, I am
not sure if anyone else I've heard can play the blues piano like Mel
does. Oh yeah, he is also an amazing B-3 player. |
| |
| |
|
| *
I have been fortunate to have met each and everyone of one of the
people that I have interviewed. To a person, every one has been very
accommodating to me and my project even though, I had no track record
as an interviewer, documentarian or in a lot of cases, any concrete
evidence that anything would ever become of my project. Without even
knowing what the future holds for this project, I know that I am a
richer person for having met and shared some time with everyone involved. |
