HARRISON KENNEDY & STEVE STRONGMAN @ VIREE BLUES BOREALE
A happening by a Bluesman who lives for, tells and preaches the Blues, at the 9th edition of Virée Blues Boréale
For his first appearance, we had promised a voyage in a small Louisiana cafe. Not only was this promise fulfilled but that performance proved to be a favorite, for most in the audience and for the Virée Blues Boréale’s personnel. A major friendship ensued which led to planning another original show. Some may comment that original shows are quite frequent at Virée Blues Boréale ... Indeed and we like to believe that it pleases everybody ! But this time, the concept is different. We gave this triple Juno nominee recipient carte blanche and the results shall again be something else.
Virée Blues Boréale brought together the best of “Hammer Town” or, if you prefer, of Hamilton (Ontario) Blues. O.K., at first sight, that doesn’t sound terribly “glamour”, but that’s until one goes there, as we did, and discovers the large number of talented artists there. We are presenting you with the fusion between two complementary Blues generations, a logical and chronological suite of styles, Harrison Kennedy and his guest, Steve Strongman, surrounded by world renowned musicians: Alec Fraser, bassist with the Jeff Healey Blues Band and with David Wilcox, Dave King, drummer for many Grammy and Juno award recipients, them among King Biscuit Boy and T-Bone Burnette, to name a few, and, for sure, Harrison’s constant associate, Keith “Nappy” Lindsay, on piano, accordion and other weird instruments.
Harrison Kennedy, a one of a kind storyteller, with original bluesy blood, with a seldom heard-of talent, a voice from the depths of the soul, entrancing, sustained by soul/gospel, blues and funk coated accompaniments, and by the brilliant performance of an all around artist who plays the guitar, the harmonica, the washboard as well as the kazoo... with great skill...!
A Canadian from Hamilton, Ontario, Harrison Kennedy met success in the '70s with The Chairmen Of The Board, a rhythm 'n' blues group that was a hit on Detroit’s and all of North America’s Motown stages. With over one million albums sold, Harrison Kennedy started feeling disillusioned with the recording industry and the Disco fashion. With his guitar, he then came back to his roots, and to the music that he’s always bee playing, the Blues. He’s brought back on the international scene in 2004 with his album, Sweet Taste, where he shows abnegation and his innate musicality, while getting into all types of tricks to spice up his art, like putting together sensuous guitar playing and sounds from some salad flatware or fingers snapping... Now at an age where wisdom usually becomes stronger than instinct, Harrison Kennedy is a man with whom one tends to associate on musical as well as human grounds. He’s acquired an enriching experience through his collaborations with Stevie Wonder, James Brown and B.B. King but also through a musical research which draws from the destitution of the slaves, in the cotton fields, and from their forced exile to more welcoming regions... All those elements come out strongly in those three albums produced within a year one from the other, three very close and complementary works, all with themes inherent to the Blues. Just to think that we will get a preview of the hits from his next album, One Dog Barking, which will be recorded next month, allows for expecting a great show.
But let’s spend a moment on the future legend, Steve Strongman. He went through a similar course; he began his professional career at 16. Steve Strongman toured the clubs of southern Ontario with many rock, country and blues groups. It’s in the United States that he really took off, though, as guitarist for Tal Bachman and Kazzer among others, and while concentrating on his own rock group, Plasticine. Then, in 2007, after over 20 years of touring the United States, Canada and Europe, the call of his always strong blues roots brings him back to reason.
The result is a first blues album, Honey, a traditional sound, that of the old school, a heavy blues carried by his warm voice, by a guitar played with unbelievable technique, with emotion and with just the right amount of wild harmonica. This marvelous CD, highly praised by the critics, teamed with his success at the International Blues Contest, in Memphis, TN, suddenly made him the New Blues Sensation.
After lots of performances with Kim Wilson, James Harmon, Luther Tucker, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl, Roy Clark, Otis Clay, Jeff Healey, Watermelon Slim and opening performances for Buddy Guy’s and Sonny Landreth’s Canadian tours, the momentum is at its peak to launch his new album, Blues in Colour, just a few days before his performance at Virée Blues Boréale.
Come to find out about those mythical musicians, but also and mostly to hear some blues, some true traditional blues, 100% pure. This band is really worth the trip. Harrison Kennedy & Steve Stongman will be here for you at Virée Blues Boréale, on Wednesday, March 25 2009, at 8 p.m. at Addiction, 117 Promenade Du Portage in the Old Hull sector of Gatineau, QC.
For information or interviews, please contact Alexandre Petit at: vireeblues@gmail.com.
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