Category Archives: Books, articles, magazines

Books, articles, magazines– musically appropriate

Notes: Mapfumo, Bombino, Ragovoy, Congotronics &…

  July 21, 2011 - 3:42 pm | , , , ,
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Shows at the Lula last week As noted in another post, Thomas Mapfumo closed out Afrofest, but because some of his band members didn’t get visas for Canada, filled in with some local musicians (including guitarist Larry Lewis & Tich Maredza on bass).  Mapfumo wasn’t happy with the struggles to get the tightness he wanted, but those who were at both shows agreed that the whole band was much better with another day under their belts on the Monday night at the Lula, and the dance floor was busy. The next night, Bombino (Omara Moctar), the Tuareg guitarist/singer and his … Continue reading →

Yemen Blues, and other event and musical notes

  June 14, 2011 - 1:23 am | , , , ,
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Event notes: (See www.events.to-music.ca for full details of these and other upcoming shows & events) Luminato Festival is now in full swing, with events all over the map (figuratively and literally), including free concerts nightly at Metro Square (now David Pecault Square) at King & John, including Art of Time Ensemble, Delhi 2 Dublin with Malkit Singh, kd lang, and closing with a double bill of Tasa & Nitin Sawhney. Two highlights for me: Yemen Blues: Tue. June 14. Free, 8pm By all accounts, the show might be one of the highlights of the year — at least for those of … Continue reading →

Happy 100th Birthday to Big Joe Turner

  May 19, 2011 - 12:02 pm | , ,
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Slightly belated congratulations to the greatest of the blues shouters, who was born in Kansas City on May 18, 1911.  I’m sure Joe won’t mind me being a day late, as he’s been playing a steady gig in R&B heaven since 1985. He started singing on the streets & in church, and later became known as The Singing Barman.  He and partner/pianist Pete Johnson ended up performing in the first of John Hammond’s “Spiritual to Swing” concerts at Carnegie Hall in 1938, and the pair made their first record the next year, “Roll ‘Em, Pete”. It seems a big jump … Continue reading →

Bo Diddley documentary (1966)

  April 21, 2011 - 2:58 am | , ,
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An excellent 20 minute documentary on the late Bo Diddley, made in 1966: See also Part 2, Part 3 A number of scenes were shot in Toronto’s Le Coq d’Or (or “The Le Coq d’Or” as it was often called). The club was home to Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks for many years. A bit more Bo: live in concert