Interviews and Reviews by Shelley G
Ronnie LeBlanc and His Magic HatAfter an acrimonious break up of An Acoustic Sin, Ronnie Leblanc has returned to form with new confidence and energy.
The Rhythm of Shane Philip
Coastal pied piper gets everyone doing the subterranean groove.
God Made Me Funky - In Full Effect
From the wedding circuit to the Juno circuit, God Made Me Funky takes their cue from the people
Rebecca Jenkins-Renaissance Woman
Rebecca Jenkins re-imagines the standards and crafts a new chapter for herself.
David Blake
Next Year PeopleIt is an interesting arc that a musician travels to develop his own musical identity.
Vancouver jazz guitarist David Blake has travelled that arc and has released his debut album Next Year People.
This is...
By Shelley Gummeson
Boombox Saints
For The MomentWith their first debut full-length album For The Moment, The Boombox Saints have set a course for the top. These guys are the freshest hip-hop crew to come out of the west coast recently.
Andru Branch
The Only ConstantAndru Branch, who was nominated for the 1999 Juno for Best Reggae album with What If I...
By Shelley Gummeson
Monica Chapman
Small WorldToronto jazz vocalist Monica Chapman has released her third CD Small World, a recording that showcases her passion for Hollywood movies and musicals. She has carefully curated a dozen songs that have left a lasting impression on her through...
By Shelley Gummeson
Anita Eccleston Trio
Anita Eccleston TrioAnita Eccleston is a jazz-trained trumpet player and vocalist. She is also a dynamic artist, as the Anita Eccleston Trio EP can attest to. The three-song EP is essentially a sampler to the multi-talented Vancouver musician. Her...
By Shelley Gummeson
Frazey Ford
Indian OceanI was driving around in my car on a crisp fall day. My hand was tapping the steering wheel like I was hitting a snare drum, and my head was bobbing yes as I was...
By Shelley Gummeson
June Garber
This I KnowJune Garber, a vibrant jazz vocalist from Toronto, has released her third album This I Know. She's gathered energy from the experiences of her life so far, and infused 12 songs with it.
Garber has...
By Shelley Gummeson
Jaclyn Guillou
To The City
Jaclyn Guillou
The Lover's WalkThe Lover's Walk, is jazz vocalist Jaclyn Guillou's second album. It transports you to a low lit, late night jazz club, softly clinking ice cubes and a bartender who's heard his share of luckless stories....
By Shelley Gummeson
The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer
A Real Fine Mess
Joshua Hyslop
Cold WindInto an industry where bellowing at the top of your lungs often constitutes as singing, where slick pre-packaging is touted as style and a gimmick is equated to originality, steps singer/songwriter Joshua Hyslop. This young...
By Shelley Gummeson
Joshua Hyslop
Where The Mountain Meets The ValleySinger-songwriter Joshua Hyslop has released his debut full length album, Where the Mountain Meets the Valley. He had to live through swooping highs and devastating lows first, before digging deep to write. It was worth...
By Shelley Gummeson
The Kirby Sewell Band
Girl With a New TattooThe Kirby Sewell Band, a raucous, blues styled band with a soulful underlay has let loose with their third album Girl With a New Tattoo. These ten road worthy tunes will help get you to...
By Shelley Gummeson
David Kirton
Time For ChangeDavid Kirton’s latest album, Time for Change will embrace a new generation ready for new reggae anthems.
He has busted out of the box with this, his third album, by blending...
By Shelley Gummeson
Ronnie LeBlanc
Jack Slap’s Magic HatWhen you plug into Jack Slap’s Magic Hat, the new disk from Toronto born Ronnie LeBlanc, you better be ready to make a choice between strapping in or strapping on. It... By Shelley Gummeson
Usra Leedham
The Architects Wound"Best laid plans o' mice an' men gang aft agley" so wrote Robert Burns in his native Scottish tongue, meaning even our...
By Shelley Gummeson
Fern Lindzon
Like a Circle in A SpiralElizabeth Barrett Browning said, in her letters to R.H. Horne in 1839, "the luck of the third adventure is proverbial'.
Juno Award-nominated singer and pianist Fern Lindzon's third recording Like a Circle in a Spiral...
By Shelley Gummeson
Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Send the NightingaleToronto roots and blues artist Samantha Martin, has a voice like a high voltage transmission line that could power up a city block, but she uses it to shine like a natural star.
Lindsay May
Bronze And BlueBronze and Blue, the debut album of Lindsay May, is a solid first step into what will no doubt be a lengthy and productive music career. With her unique phrasing and... By Shelley Gummeson
My Son The Hurricane
Cashing A Dead Man's ChequeIf complacency is the death of a band, then My Son The Hurricane is the antithesis of complacency.
Cashing A Dead Man's Cheque, the bands' new EP defies anything you've heard before from them. It is...
By Shelley Gummeson
My Son The Hurricane
Is This What You Want?!My Son The Hurricane is a 14 piece “brasshop” band that forges hip-hop, funk and jazzy brass band style with enough propulsion to blow your hair straight back.
Headquartered in St. Catharines, The Hurricane have...
By Shelley Gummeson
Parker Abbott
ElevationThe Parker Abbott Trio is a group of three individucals from Toronto. Teri Parker - keyboards, Simeon Abbott - keyboards, and Mark Segger - drums and percussion.
This 'piano-centric' trio soars above the mundane with...
By Shelley Gummeson
John Pippus
This City
John Pippus
Born A Genius
John Pippus
Wrapped Up in the BluesWrapped Up In The Blues is the third CD release from John Pippus and it’s not without surprises.
Pippus is a songwriter and a story teller. This time out his story is the blues. He...
By Shelley Gummeson
The John Pippus Band
Howl At The Moon‘I could have sworn I was at a John Pippus concert, but when I opened my eyes I was in my living room listening to Howl At The Moon on the stereo.’
Elizabeth Shepherd
The Signal
Steve Strongman
Let Me Prove It To YouI'm pretty sure that bluesman Steve Strongman didn't make a deal with the devil at some Hamilton crossroads, but he sure plays his guitar like he did.
On his latest release Let Me Prove It...
By Shelley Gummeson
Dana Wylie Band
The Unruly OnesThe Unruly Ones, is the Dana Wylie Band’s sophomore album. It will make you laugh, squirm, engage in introspection, clap your hands,...
By Shelley Gummeson
