BLUES FOR A BIG TOWN DEANNA BOGART BAND 2008 Blues Music Award Winner! www.deannabogart.com
Deanna Bogart upended Parti Gras! 2007 and returns to Toronto once again to rock the house! Deanna brings her new band and an amalgam of Blues based musical styles to The Silver Dollar on Saturday December 6th. A “you’ve got to see her live” entertainer, the D.C. based Bogart has proven to be one of the most engaging and energetic performers on the scene. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Deanna individually, and collectively with her band, has won an incredible 28 Washington Area Music Association Awards! And, finally, for the first time, she’s caught the eye of National critics with a 2008 Blues Award as an instrumentalist for her talents on tenor sax. To long time fans the Blues Awards respect is long overdue; and while recognizing her versatility, the acceptance for her sax playing is somewhat surprising when she consistently stands at the top of her field as a powerhouse piano player. The accolades for her accomplishments on tenor sax might stem from shout outs for her well received last CD, Real Time, that decidedly breaks new ground. While it marks a return to the Blind Pig label where Deanna got her start with the auspicious debut Out To Get You – and established her astounding Boogie based piano excursions that remain her calling card – it’s the only circling back that’s in evidence. Bogart has revamped her long time band, and altered her overall sound in the process. With its varied textures and Deanna doubling on sax and piano, Real Time proves to be Bogart’s most fully realized, mature work to date. Bogart paints a musical landscape with a distinct Blues hue and moves effortlessly and fluidly from Jazz to Funk to R&B to Country; throwing in Rumba beats here and tossing off a torchy ballad there. Bogart’s sax takes the spotlight on one of three instrumentals (“Blues In The ‘Bine”), and props up a number of other tunes – notably one of the highlights of the disc, “Baby, You Got What it Takes”. Here Deanna leads the band in a truly cool swinging groove on the Dinah Washington / Brook Benton chestnut. Dig how Deanna’s tone perfect sax solo segues into her scatting vocal. It just doesn’t get any better than that! The title song, the rollicking “Real Time”, flashes classic musical events as Deanna wonders aloud “what it was like in real time” to experience some peerless moments in music history. On Saturday December 6th, find out for yourself by catching the Deanna Bogart Band in “Real Time” at The Silver Dollar Room!
2008 WATERFRONT BLUES Woodbine Park June 6, 7, 8 2008 The first year at our new home, Woodbine Park, was a huge success! The crowd was able to enjoy top notch talent relaxing on lawn chairs and blankets on the grass in front of the stage, sipping a cold one at the beer garden, or lounging on the surrounding rolling hills while families enjoyed the children’s play area. As important as the venue is for any event, it’s the entertainment that makes the experience a lasting one. The line-up featuring current major award winners and nominees more than lived up to its’ billing. Every act shared a musical highlight in a mix of knockout live performances; here’s a few: * Duke Robillard’s signature Swing and Jump Blues numbers And there were “Don’t Lose The Blues” prize winners: * Ed Bernardinis won the 56 Pro Danelectro guitar courtesy of NorthernBlues Music So “meet me where they play the Blues” next year – Waterfront Blues at Woodbine Park June 12, 13, 14, 2009 The 20th Anniversary Beaches International Jazz Festival July 18-27 featured an outstanding selection of Blues and R&B:
Woodbine Park (July 18-20) - The audience was treated with a “Double Shot o’ Soul” with back to back performances by Lou Pride and Johnny Rawls – words don’t do justice to this festival highlight - Kelley Hunt warmed a rain soaked crowd with samplings of Blues, R&B, and Gospel in her first major Toronto appearance - Roxanne Potvin debuted a number of great songs from her soon-to-be-released new CD
StreetFest (July 24,25,26) - Juno award winners Fathead played a mix of new songs and crowd favourites with their distinctive musical imprint of solid grooves, soul-drenched melodies, ace musicianship, and compelling true-to-life songwriting - Johnny Max Band, also Juno Award nominees, laid down some fine Southern style Blues - The aptly named God Made Me Funky, again Juno award nominees, were the hit of the newly established Nu-Funk Corner
Kew Gardens (July 26 & 27) - Cajun Bluesman Tab Benoit drew the biggest Kew Gardens crowd in recent memory that was rewarded by an unparalleled performance by arguably the top Blues performer on the scene - Tad Robinson, with guitar maestro Alex Schultz in tow, squeezed every ounce of emotion possible out of selections of Chicago tinged Blues and Southern Soul - Jamaica To Toronto fronted by master showman Jay Douglas and the superb Mighty Pope proved again that “Reggae got Soul”!
Join us for the 21st edition of The Beaches International Jazz Festival July 17-26, 2009 |