News

Some thoughts aboout this and that...

February 2009

I am deeply saddened to learn the passing of my friend, Al Kirkcaldy. He was a great individual who always shared his love of music and his unique perspectives on life with me - he had a way of always making me laugh with his twisted view of things.

He was an incredible supporter of the blues with his blues radio show, newspaper articlles in the Peterborough Examiner and the various blues shows he promoted in Peterborough. He loved the blues like very few other people I know. Every time I saw him, he'd tell me about another artist or another album I should listen to. I believe the last one he recommended was the latest ZZ Top DVD.

I feel a deep sense of loss today but I think the Al that I knew, would prefer that I and everyone else who knew him, celebrate his life in the way he lived it every day.

Rest in peace, Al.

January 2009

Happy New Year!

When I look back on 2008, I can't help but to thnk that it was quite an amazing year. I had the chance to see and work with a lot of great artists for my television series and my podcast project. I feel very lucky to have had such a great year and I'm looking forward to another great year in 2009.

I really don't have much to report at this time on the music front. However, we have been working on a few more video podcasts and we are slowly building our audience base. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do so by clicking the "Podcast" option above. You can view the podcasts from this site or go to the iTunes store and download the episodes to your video iPod. If you get a chance to view them, I would love to know what you think of the pieces.

Till next time...

M.

October 2008

At the end of September, I went to Baltimore, Maryland to do some work at the Severn Records 10th Anniversary Bash. Anyone who knows me already knows how big a fan I am of some of the Severn artists - people like Darrell Nulisch, Sugar Ray Norcia, Tad Robinson, Alex Schultz, Mudcat Ward, Neil Gouvin, Steve Gomes, Robb Stupka and David Earl to name a few. Well, they were all there and then some. It was one of the greatest days of music that I have ever witnessed. Here are some pictures from that event.

I've also been working on the "talkin'blues" podcasts which appears to be coming along. If you haven't checked it out, please do so by clicking on the Podcast button on this site. I have recently added a couple episodes on Watermelon Slim and Ruthie Foster and I've been shooting a number of other future episodes which I'm really excited about. I'm hoping that there will be enough interest in these podcasts that I can somehow find a way to continue doing them. If you get a chance to view them, let me know what you think about them. If you have iTunes and/or a video iPod, please subscribe to these episodes - they're free.

The other highlights from this past month was seeing Harry Manx and Paul Reddick with Colin Linden at Hugh's Room. Two exceptional performances that I'd recommend for everyone to see...but you probably already know that.

September 2008

Once again, time has flown by and here we are in September already. I had a great summer working on different projects and seeing some wonderful music. This past weekend, I saw Keb'Mo and Youssou N'Dour. They were both amazing. The other musical highlights include seeing the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Watermelon Slim, Sharrie Williams, John Hammond, and Gary Clark Jr. (pictured on the right).

Over the past few months, I've been working on a couple of blues related projects which I'm really excited about. The first one is a video podcast of the Talkin' Blues project. The goal is simple - create more blues video content which will be avalable on iTunes for free. Wrap that around with a short interview with the artist and see if we can generate some kind of a following for this project. I am hoping to produce a short 5 -12 minute episode every month or so. I will do this for 6 months to a year to see if this project is worth pursuing. You can find out more about the project by selecting the Podcast button on this site.

The other project I'm really excited about is the work I am doing with the European Blues Senter (Center) in Norway. Jostein Forsberg of the Notodden Blues Festival is currently in the process of planning for a European Blues Senter which will hopefully be built in the next 2 to 3 years. As part of this Blues facility, they have asked me to produce some videos for the project. We flew to Notodden this summer to document some of the festival and to discuss some other ideas for the Blues Senter. Needless to say, I'm feel absolutely honored to be included in this project.

Also - I noticed in the TV listings that BRAVO! Canada is currently playing repeats of my "Talkin'Blues" series on Tuesday morning at 7:00 am Eastern and my "Rhythm, Roots and Soul" series right after that at 7:30 am. So for anyone interested, that's one full hour of Talkin'Blues Media produced shows each week for the next few weeks. Okay, that might not mean much to you but I think it's kind of cool

In the mean time, I'm still working on a few different television proposals with the hopes of getting antoher project on air. If anythiing happens, you'll be the first to know.

July 2008

I had a chance to meet Johnny Winter last week when he came to play The Phoenix Theatre in Toronto. I first saw Johnny in the early '70's during his "Still Alive and Well" Tour. I haven't seen him in a lot of years but the show I saw last week was quite special. He was pretty amazing on stage that night. It was great to see that he's still got that magic after all these years.

I also had a chance to see John Hammond and his band a few weeks ago. I haven't seen him since the beginning of this Talkin'Blues project and he, too, simply gets better with age. You can see images of both of these bands in the "Latest Images" in the Images section of this web site.

I'm working on couple of projects right now which I'm very excited about but since nothing is cast in stone yet, I'll wait to talk about them until things are finalized. (Okay, I probably shouldn't have mentioned anything at all if I'm not going to talk about them but I just wanted to let you know that I am actually "still alive and well" and actually working on things just in case you wondered.)

Hope you're well.

March 2008

I am deeply sadden by the passing of Jeff Healey. I didn't know him very well but I was a huge fan of his music. I had the opportunity to shoot some footage of Jeff with both his blues and jazz band over the past year. He was a very special person who will be greatly missed by his friends and fans. Jeff was an unbelievably talented musician who had a way of elevating his music to a totally different level - but the thing I will remember the most about him will be his laughter. When I heard the news, I spent some time putting together a tribute video for Jeff. Click here to view the video.

I also wanted to let you know that my new series "Rhythm, Roots and Soul" will be airing on Bravo! Canada starting April 4th, 2008. For more information on the series, check out the Rhythm, Roots and Soul web site or go to the Bravo! Canada site.

January 2008

Happy New Year!

We're currently in post production for the "Rhythm, Roots and Soul" series. I am hoping to deliver the new series to Bravo Canada in a few weeks and will let you know when this series will go on air.

I'm going on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise soon. My plans are to begin shooting some new shows on the cruise. This will be our second time on the cruise and we're really looking forward to being there. f you'd like to find out more about the cruise, check out www.bluescruise.com.

I recently shot some footage of the Billy Boy Arnold (with Mel Brown, Billy Flynn, Bob Stroger and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith) live and in the studio. Not sure what will become of this material at this point but I feel very honored to have the opportunity to document such great musicians doing what they do best - making great music. I'll keep you informed if anything comes of this projects.

All the best in 2008!

September 2007

The Mel Brown DVD won the Living Blues Magazine People's Choice Award for the Best DVD of 2006. Thanks to everyone who voted and a big thanks to Living Blues Magazine for nominating this project in the first place and most importantly, thanks to Mel Brown for allowing me the opportunity to work on this project with him - Needless to say, this is quite an honor since this was my first official DVD project.

Had a great summer checking out some great music. I went to the Chicago Folk and Roots Festival to see Uncle Earl and Bettye LaVette and the Canmore Folk Festival to see a number of artists including Bill Bourne, Chumbawamba, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Eric Bibb with his father Leon and his daughter, Yana, as well as Harry Manx and Kevin Breit. I also got a chance to see the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, Rebirth Brass Band and Mavis Staples with Rick Holmstrom in town which was all wonderful.

The new shows are coming along well, I think. It's always tough to tell at this stage but hopefully, I can wrap them up soon and finish the post-production work over the next few months. Hope all is well with you.

June 2007

I have just been informed that Mel Brown The DVD has been nominated as one of the finalist in the Best DVD of the Year category by the Living Blues Magazine.

If you wish to vote for your favourite blues artists, please go to the Living Blues Magazine site by clicking here.

May 2007

Last week, I attended the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee. This is the third year that I have put together an "In Memoriam" video paying tribute to all the great blues musicians who've passed away in the last 12 months. I seem to get the credit for the video but what truly makes the piece work is the wonderful photographs contributed by all the great photographers documenting the blues. They include people like Donovan Allen, Scott Allen, Susan Antone, Karen Bryant, Bob Corritore, Tim Duffy, Anne Dyson, David Horwitz, Jef Jaisun, Randy MacNeil, Astor Morgan, Jerry Novick, Jennifer Ocken, Joseph A. Rose, Dusty Scott, Jen Taylor, Art Tipaldi, Kelley Verzey, Dick Waterman and W.A. Williams. If you have a chance, do take the time to check out their work because they are all wonderful artists.

I've also received a number of inquiries about the songs I used in the tribute. They were "Remember Me" by Paul deLay from the "Heavy Rotation" CD and "Shake My Hand" by Snooky Pryor from the CD of the same name.

The Blues Music Awards is an amazing evening of blues music. There are too many highlights to mention but for me, Irma Thomas with Marcia Ball singing "Shelter In the Rain" was pretty special. I didn't stay for the whole evening because I believe it went on past 2:00 am but click here to view some images I shot from the Awards.

I've been busy working on the new series which is coming along on schedule. I will post more information about the new series closer to the air date which should be in early 2008.

January 2007

I was recently awarded a Maple Blues "Blues Booster of the Year" Award by the Toronto Blues Society. It doesn't seem fair to receive an award for doing something you love to do so much but I guess that's what makes this award even more special.

I remember going to my first Maple Blues Award just a few years ago hardly knowing anyone there. And a number of years later, I'm actually up there accepting this award...well, it just doesn't get any better than that. I am truly honoured to receive this recognition.

In addition to receiving this award, I just received news that BRAVO! Canada has accepted my proposal for a new series which will profile R&B, Soul, Gospel and Roots musicians. The title for the project is "Rhythm, Roots & Soul" and the work on this series has already begun. I am hoping to deliver the project for the beginning of 2008. Needless to say, I'm thrilled to be working with BRAVO! Canada again.

Just so you know, I am hoping to continue my work with the blues. If you didn't notice on the home page, I have also began posting some blues (and non-blues) performance videos on YouTube. Click here to view these videos. Hope you enjoy them.

November 2006

Robert Lockwood Jr. passed away last night. Although, I got a chance to meet him a couple of times, I never got to sit down and interview him. He sat in on the interview I did with Sonny Landreth in Wheeling, West Virginia. I remember being very conscious of the fact that he was watching me work and I didn't want to screw up. There are very few musicians who commanded the kind of respect he did and he certainly deserved all of it. What an amazing legacy he leaves behind.

In addition to Mr. Lockwood Jr., Ruth Brown passed away last week. She was someone I've wanted to meet but never got the opportunity to do so. Life is sometimes way too short.

On a slightly brigher note, I had the opportunity to see two great R&B musicians recently when I saw Bettye LaVette and England's James Hunter. They were both spectacular in concert and I would highly recommend them both if you get a chance to see them. Two amazing singers who move you with their amazing voices. You can see the images I shot in the "Images" section.

By the way, Jack de Keyzer's DVD is now available through his site at www.jackdekeyzer.com.

September 2006

I've spent the last little while putting together a proposal for another television project. Whether or not, there's any interest in this new idea, I guess I'll know over the next few months.

Haven't seen a lot of shows recently but I really enjoyed Mark Hummel's harmonica blow out with Lee Oskar, Jerry Portnoy and Magic Dick. I have some images from the show which I hope to add to the site soon. However, my favourite show of the summer was Bobby Rush at the Kitchener Blues festival. Bobby Rush is an amazing performer and a true gentleman. This is the second time I've seen him in the past year - once acoustically with Shawn Kellerman and this time with his full band (also with Shawn.) He was great both times and I look forward to seeing him again soon. I have a great interview with him which I hope I can use some time in the future.

I recently read that Curtis Salgado underwent a successful liver transplant surgery. Needless to say, I'm so pleased to hear that he's doing well. I know he's not out of the woods yet but this is definitely good news. He is another class act who I feel so lucky to have met.

Jack de Keyzer told me that the DVD I shot of him at Hugh's Room should be coming out before the end of this year. Right now, there's no word on the Talkin' Blues compilation and I'm thinking that it may make more sense to make it available through the internet. Not sure yet but I will keep you posted.

Finally...just to let you know that I've added a few videos to this site under the "Variations" section. I hope to add more as times goes by.

July 2006

Things have been quite slow over the past little while. Working on proposals for new TV concepts while trying to get the Talkin' Blues DVD concept off the ground. Unfortunately, I don't have much to report.

I saw Kelley Hunt, Michael Powers, Reba Russell Band, Finis Tasby with David Rotundo's Band and Rusty Zinn over the past little while. Enjoyed all the shows a lot. You can check out the images in the "Latest Images" section under Images - if that makes any sense.

We lost a great one recently when Sam Myers passed away. I had the great pleasure of watching him record his last solo album, "Coming from the Old School". It's an experience I will never forget. Luckily, he left us with a lot of great music.

May 2006

This past month, I attended the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee. For the second time in the past two years, my "In Memoriam" Tribute video was shown at the awards. This year, the video included an excerpt from an interview I did with the great Clarence "Gatemouth"Brown. What a thrill it was to have had the chance to meet Mr. Brown and to share some of that interview with the audience at the BMA's. There's something about him that commanded such respect - the whole place was quiet when Gatemouth spoke.

I feel privileged to work on the tribute video but I do find it difficult to be one of the first one's to know about the passing of all these great blues artists each year. However, it is a real pleasure working with some of the finest blues photographers out there who contribute the photos of these great musicians we have lost.

I really enjoyed my trip to Memphis. One day, we ate lunch at Route 61 Cafe. As we sat there, we listened to all these great blues songs - many from Chess Records. As I listened to people like Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and many, many others, it occurred to me how great those songs were. Unlike many of the blues songs of today, it was about the song which were a little over 3 and a half minutes long and without drawn out guitar solos. The blues and soul (and Southern Rock for that matter) sound so much better down there, I think...

April 2006

I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of great people during the course of the Talkin' Blues project. Some times, not very often, I meet someone who goes out of their way to treat me like a friend from the moment I meet them. Curtis Salgado is one of those people who made a real strong impression on me - both as a musician and as a person. Therefore, I was truly sorry to hear that Curtis has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Having spoken to his manager, Shane, he assures me that Curtis is doing well and they are very optimistic about Curtis' condition. I am hoping that Curtis and I will work together on a project in the near future.

A special account has been created for donations to help Curtis with medical costs and an all-star benefit concert is also being planned. Donations can be made for the "Curtis Salgado Fund" at any US Bank or can be mailed to US Bancorp, 2550 NW 188th Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124. For additional information, please visit www.curtissalgado.com.

In other news, the Mel Brown DVD is now available. Please check "the DVDs" section for more information.

March 2006

The DVD projects have been delayed a bit but we are on the final stretch...I think. I am hoping the Mel Brown and Jack de Keyzer DVDs will be available in the next month or two but hopefully, sooner.

Working on getting stuff together for the Talkin' Blues Compilation DVD volume 1 right now. I have selected the segments...now, it's a matter of negotiating them. This is all new to me so hopefully, things will come together without too much pain. The artists and the management I have approached have been very open to the idea. I was rejected by one artist so far but that's not so bad. I'm sure there will be more. This should be a very interesting exercise. I do hope it works out as I do have a lot of ideas that I would love to execute on DVD in the future.

February 2006

Things are pretty much on hold right now as I try to figure out how I will proceed with things. I have put together a proposal for a series on "songwriters talking about writing songs" and the relationship between the writer and the song and another proposal about the recovery of New Orleans as seen through the eyes and music of the musician. Unfortunately, neither idea has received any interest so it's back to the drawing board.

In the mean time, I have decided to continue my Talkin' Blues series on DVD. If all goes well, my plan is to issue one or two volumes of my favourite moments from the series in addition to my DVD projects with Mel Brown and Jack de Keyzer. If those projects are well received, I will continue with the project and start to release shows that I have completed (but haven't aired.) And of course, if that works, I plan to create new shows and expand on some of the older material. The ultimate goal is to see if I can create a Talkin' Blues DVD Magazine that will come out on a regular basis which will continue to document the blues music of today. That's the plan but we'll see how it actually plays out.

In addition to this, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Eric Burdon this month. What an amazing person he is and what a fascinating life, he has lead...and what a great new album he's produced. If you haven't had the chance to hear it, it's definitely worth a listen.

January 2006

Every January, the Toronto Blues Society hosts the Maple Blues Awards - it's the Canadian Blues Music Awards or the Junos of the Blues, I guess. This year it was hosted by Colin Linden.

I remember attending these awards five years ago hardly knowing anyone and feeling a bit out of place. Now, I know a few more people and feel a little less out of place. It's an impressive gathering of the Canadian Blues music scene. One can always argue the validity of award shows and all that goes on behind the scenes but it's always nice to see the artists get recognition for the hard work they put into their music. I have said this before and I will no doubt say it again and again - "It's a tough, tough life being a musician - but thank god these people do what they do."