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Doc Pomus: documentary, biography & appreciation
A new documentary, AKA Doc Pomus will screen on May 13 at the Bloor Hot Docs Theatre as part of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. (Screening details here) I don’t know the documentary, but highly recommend this, based only on what I know of Doc Pomus’s life. Doc grew up as a short, overweight Jewish […]
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“Appalled by Dick Clark”: Joe Boyd on Clark’s Bandstand beginning
He may not be hip, but he was clean Two very, very different rock & roll figures died within a day of each other this past week, and have each received, in their own way, extensive media & internet coverage. Below is one take on Dick Clark. One of the news stories I read about […]
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Benefit for Billy Bryans tonight at Lula
A reminder of the night for Billy Bryans tonight at the Lula Lounge. The producer, musician, publicist, promoter, DJ and friend of music (especially Cuban and Latin music in recent years) has been suffering from lung cancer for some time and is now in palliative care. His impact to the local music scene has been […]
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Bombino: London concert still on (Fri. Apr 13)
It’s unfortunate that the visas for the Bombino and band did not come through in time for Thursday’s Lula Lounge show; no doubt the band would have rocked the place again. They may be back later this summer, but the good news is that they did finally get the visas this afternoon, and their Friday, […]
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CANCELLED: Bombino concert at Lula Lounge, April 12
Sadly, it looks like the return of this great Tuareg guitarist to Toronto won’t be happening. From Small World Music: It’s with considerable regret and frustration that we’re forced to cancel tomorrow’s Bombino performance at Lula Lounge. Due to visa complications, the band was unable to enter Canada for this show. We hope for their […]
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Gospel (and other) music for Easter
An appropriate time for a bit of gospel… Mahalia Jackson From the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, the intro says it all: “The World’s Greatest Gospel Singer… Miss Mahalia Jackson” Sister Rosetta Tharpe Gospel and rock & roll: The connection is well known. Numerous soul singers had roots in that tradition, starting with Ray Charles, […]
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Khaira Arby at the Lula May 8
Great news, that Malian singer Khaira Arby is finally playing a concert in town with her band. Of course, given the situation in Mali, especially in her region, around Timbuktu, we can all hope not only that she gets here, but that the fighting is resolved soon, and the people there can enjoy peace. She, […]
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April treats
A gloomy start to the month of “April showers”, but the musical forecast is anything but. Check the full event listings at www.to-music.ca/events A few goodies picked out from there below. (Details and links for all these shows are in the events calendar) April 5: Brazilian/Mexican grooves at the Lula: Aline Morales and Quique Escamilla. April […]
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“O Death”
Death masks of the long-gone famous, set to Ralph Stanley’s well-known version of the tradtional song: