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Save The Date: November 23 & 24, 2011
Branford Marsalis at the Toronto Symphony
 Hailing from one of music's greatest jazz families, Branford Marsalis makes a return appearance to Toronto as a special guest of the Toronto Symphony this November.
A three-time Grammy Award winner and equally fluent in many musical styles, renowned soloist Branford Marsalis headlines this rare occasion when saxophone and symphony orchestra blend their voices.
Marsalis plays the folk flavoured Concerto for Alto Saxophone by Russian composer Glazunov, and the jazzy Hot Sonata by Czech composer Schulhoff.
Guest conductor Andrey Boreyko completes the programme with Dvorak's beloved "New World" Symphony.
Performances will take place at Roy Thomson Hall starting at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 & Thursday, November 24, 2011.
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Upcoming Live Performances
The next Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival may still be months away, but it doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of opportunities to enjoy exceptional live blues and jazz music in the Orangeville area.  Here is a listing of some great upcoming live performances: You are also invited to visit the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival's Facebook Profile page to stay up to date with the latest Festival-related news and events. |
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W.C. Clark and Cold Shot by: Garth Stiebel
Once was a sweet thing, baby
Held that love in our hands
But now I reach to kiss your lips
It just don't mean a thing
And that's a cold shot, baby
Yeah that's a drag
A cold shot, babe
I've let our love go bad.
Any Blues fans out there? If you're one, you will recognize those lyrics from one of Stevie Ray Vaughan's greatest hits, Cold Shot. It appeared on his second album, Couldn't Stand the Weather and established him as a bona fide Blues phenom. But he was no overnight sensation. In fact, a number of people helped him along the way and I had the honour of making the acquaintance of one of them. Out of Austin, Texas, W.C. Clark is recognized as a Blues icon, long a fixture in the Texas R & B scene and the author of Cold Shot.  | | W.C. and Stevie Ray Vaughan |
A bass player for much of his career, W.C. played with everyone from Muddy Waters to Joe Tex, before taking up the guitar and leading his own band. In the early '80's he assembled a Blues revue, which included SRV and his brother Jimmy and a friend of mine, now living in Canada, drummer David Menard - a Floridian by birth, raised in Texas.
W.C., a tall black man with startling blue eyes (a little German in the family) encouraged the young Stevie to step up and take his talents to the next level, a mentoring which Vaughan obviously took to heart, having a deep appreciation for the older exponents of the art form and the paths they blazed. W.C. wrote Cold Shot and it helped, in no small measure to propel SRV out of the ranks of average, unknown guitarists to an international star, known and now revered by aficionados everywhere.
I met W.C. through the kind offices of my friend David,
 | | W.C. performs with Trouble & Strife - 2010 |
who persuaded W.C. to perform at the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival for little more than expenses, a fraction of what he makes at gigs in his own home town. It was my honour to take care of W.C., get him whatever he needed and wherever he needed to be. In the process, I got to know a true gentleman, a man brought up in the poorest of circumstances, a veteran of racist attacks and civil rights protests, in short, a living history of Southern black America. Great stories, both musical and non-musical were my privilege to hear.
W.C. deserves to have a book written about him; I only wish it was me writing it. His performances at the Festival were memorable, Blues being the expressive art form that it is.
Now well into his '70's, W.C. continues to tour, much like other Blues masters, such as B.B. King. That's all they know how to do. He doesn't stray far from Austin anymore though and I fear that, like many others of his ilk, we won't see him in Canada again. Like SRV, it may be a case of not knowing what you've got, until it's gone. Meeting W.C. Clark is great memory for me, an inspiration for my own playing to get better and an education, all in one. ~ Garth Stiebel |
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Jazzy Holiday Gift Ideas by: Ryan Grist
With the Holidays fast approaching before we know it we'll be pulling out our Christmas music and singing our favorite carols.
Here are five recommendations on the jazzy side to add to your collection if you haven't picked anything new up in a while:
Straight ahead swinging and singing. If you like Diana Krall's vocals and don't have this album you won't regret picking it up. Personal favorite - "Winter Wonderland"... Bass intro swings like crazy!!
Masterful performances by one of the best. Can't pick one, they're all my favorites.
I happened upon this one at one of those kiosk things in a shopping mall 'nic nack' store four or five years ago. One of the tunes grabbed me with a smokin' sax solo.... it was too good for a 'kiosk' CD album. Bake cookies, wrap presents and clean the house to this one. Fun and energetic, jazzy but not so much that you can't sing along. Great driving music too!
Colin James & The Little Big Band Christmas Colin James' Little Big Band is one of my favorites. Great arrangements, great solos, tight horn section. Man!! I can't stay still when this is on, grab someone and dance!
Happy shopping and listening!
~ Ryan Grist |
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Larry's Top Canadian Blues Picks
Not to be outdone by my Jazz-loving friend Ryan Grist...
Given that the Holiday shopping season will soon be upon us I have compiled a list of, in my humble opinion, are some of the best new Canadian releases from this past year.
If you are looking for gift ideas for the Blues lover in your life, you cannot go wrong with any of these excellent albums. (Each can be purchased from the artists' websites - see links below.)
Stay tuned for more great gift ideas in the December issue of The Groove.
~ Larry Kurtz |
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Enter to WIN a Festive Overnight Getaway for Two at Hockley Valley Resort
The Getaway Resource.com ~ an Orangeville-based company that promotes leisure getaways and activities ~ is a proud and active supporter of The Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival. As a special reward for subscribers to "The Groove" and fans/followers of the Festival's Facebook Profile, The Getaway Resource.com is pleased to make the following offer...  Enter their contest for a chance to WIN a Festive Overnight Getaway for Two (valued at $450) at Hockley Valley Resort.
Prize includes: - Overnight Accommodation for Two
- A Festive Pre-Dinner Drink
- Three-Course Gourmet Dinner at Restaurant 85
- Breakfast for two the following morning
- A Deluxe Facial or a 60-Minute Massage per person at The Spa
***NOTE*** The entries for those who indicate that they learned about this contest via the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival will automatically be counted as two (2) entries - thus doubling their chances of winning this fantastic prize. Visit www.thegetawayresource.com/contest.php for details and to enter the draw. Good luck to all who enter! |
Follow us on Facebook & YouTube If you are not already aware, the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival is on Facebook, and you are invited to join us and stay up to date with the latest photos, videos and upcoming events.
 And now you can also find us on our YouTube Channel, where you can enjoy dozens of performance videos from past festivals. You may even see yourself in the vids. In the meantime, we would like to thank you for your interest in (and support of) our Festival. Stay tuned for more... |
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Harmonica Hank
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Soul-Bender ~ David Gogo
I Found A Love ~ John Mays