Current News
SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 2008:
NATIONAL STEEL BLUES TOUR
MICHAEL PICKETT AND DOC MACLEAN TAKE IT ACROSS CANADA!
Doc had great success with his previous cross-Canada roots tours and is working hard to bring yet another one to life... this time with Michael Pickett! If YOU want to see this duo come to your town (or neighbourhood if you care to consider hosting a house concert - which is a brilliant idea), well then, contact Doc. If anyone can make it work, he can.
Check out Doc's blog NATIONAL STEEL BLUES TOUR. You'll get a sense of the Master Plan and a running commentary on the tour's progress.
E-MAIL Doc MacLean
MARCH 28 - APRIL 13, 2008:
LEE OSKAR HARMONICAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
A WORLD CLASS SUCCESS STORY
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Lee Oskar is touring and leading a band of national and international players in Ontario and Quebec March 28th to April 13th. This is an eclectic collaboration with touring artists Michael Pickett, David Rotundo, and European based guitarist Enrico Crivellaro.
LEE OSKAR arrives in Haight-Ashbury in 1966 with a harmonica and 15 cents in his pocket! 42 years later Lee Oskar Harmonicas are world renowned:
LEE OSKAR took the once simple and understated harmonica to unchartered and limitless heights and is regarded as one of the most innovative and prolific players of our time. 'Instrumental Artist of the Year' for 1976 in not one but three major industry mags: Billboard, Cashbox and Record World. Driven by his unique style and demand for quality, Lee set out to make a better instrument and decided to partner with Tombo of Japan, one of the oldest and most respected harmonica manufacturers in the world. With Lee's pioneering ideas and Tombo's uncompromising manufacturing process, the Lee Oskar Harmonica was born in 1983.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1948, Lee Oskar landed in the States in the mid 60s and is most popularly known as one of the founding members of the seminal Soul/Rock/Funk band WAR which, in addition to multiple major hits of its own, supported and recorded with The Animals' front man, Eric Burdon. Today, the musical legacy of WAR continues as Lee and original members of the band collaborate as "THE LOWRIDER BAND" which performs internationally, jamming the classic hits they composed and promoting the new name.
LEEOSKAR.COM
MICHAEL PICKETT began his musical career as a harmonica player in the late 60s. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s he established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/ harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band. Musically profound, they pushed the envelope for Blues and funky Roots music. He provided the direction for all three projects and surrounded himself with some of the top musicians in the country garnering multiple awards and nominations for his harmonica playing, (three Maple Blues Harmonica Player of the Year awards), songwriting, singing, and CDs (two JUNO nominations). His own approach to the harmonica was more subtle than most, layering his 'voice' into the background, resulting in unique arrangements which highlighted the genius in his songwriting.
Today, Michael tours internationally as a solo acoustic singer/songwriter whose work on rack harmonica is universally acknowledged as world-class.
"One of the finest harmonica players of our time." (Lee Oskar)
"I knew he was gonna be one of the best. And he is!" (Hubert Sumlin)
MICHAELPICKETT.COM
DAVID ROTUNDO, 2007 Maple Blues Harmonica Player of the Year, is the youngest of the group and has made his life as a full time musician since the 2001 release of his first of four CDs. David has six consecutive nominations for the Maple Blues Awards 'Harmonica Player of the Year'. He received the 'New Artist of the Year Award in 2002 and the CBC 'Galaxy for Rising Stars Award' in 2003. David is regarded as one of the most exciting and dynamic players on the scene. While touring with the legendary Ronnie Hawkins Band in 2001, Ronnie once said, "David Rotundo plays the Blues the way the Blues are supposed to be played... keep Rocking."
DAVIDROTUNDO.COM
Supporting this cast of harmonica slingers is one of the greatest and most exciting guitar players on the scene today... ENRICO CRIVELLARO.
A star in his own right, Enrico is already on dozens of recordings and has released three of his own. The recipient of countless awards and nominations including 2003 Swing Guitarist of the Year which he won over Brian Setzer in the USA, Enrico has already been compared with greats like Eric Clapton, Ronnie Earl, and Duke Robillard. He has toured with and supported many of the great Blues and Swing outfits such as The Royal Crown Revue, Lester Butler and 13, The James Harmon Band, and Luther 'Guitar Junior' Johnson from the late, great Muddy Waters Band.
ENRICOCRIVELLARO.COM
The Lee Oskar Harmonicas 25th Anniversary Tour is a platform for a powerful synthesis of eclectic and dynamic world class musicians who serve up some of the most exciting and entertaining music of today as well as showcasing the versatility of the instrument that has become synonymous with Lee's name.
Do NOT miss this act when it comes to your town! It is an EVENT, a Night of Music to Remember.
Photo by James Ramsay
"HOW LEE AND I MET 30 YEARS AGO" [excerpt from interview in France]
LIONS HALL/INNISFIL, ON - March 28, 2008
HUGH'S ROOM/TORONTO - April 1, 2008 "Lee's Blues" (© Lee Oskar)
"BLUES MONEY" (© Michael Pickett, Doug Romanow) - Doug Riley-keys,
Shawn Kellerman-guitar, Steve Chadwick-bass, Gary Craig-drums
"ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE" - Live session with Lee Oskar & friends
2007 SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE, PORT CREDIT CANADA
TOUR DATES:
3/28..... INNISFIL, ON.....SOLD OUT!!!
8pm / $35
Lions Hall
982 Innisfil Beach Rd.
Peter's Players
3/29..... BELLEVILLE, ON
Loyalist College
*Harmonica Workshop: Club 213 (on campus) 5-7pm
*Concert: Shark Tank Pub (on campus) 9-11:30pm
Walbridge-Loyalist Rd.
(south from Hwy 401, exit 538)
613.962.0826
E-MAIL Shark Tank Pub
LoyalBlues.ca
E-MAIL Loyal Blues
4/1..... TORONTO, ON.....SOLD OUT!!!
8:30pm / $18/$20
Hugh's Room
2261 Dundas St. W.
Hugh's Room
INFO: 416.531.9545
4/2..... TORONTO, ON.....SHOW ADDED!!!
8:30pm / $18/$20
Hugh's Room
2261 Dundas St. W.
Hugh's Room
INFO: 416.531.9545
4/3..... ST-HYACINTHE, QC....SOLD OUT!!!
8pm / $15/$20
Le Zaricot
1450 Des Cascades
Le Zaricot
INFO: 450.774.2383
4/4..... OTTAWA, ON
10pm / $25
Rainbow Room
76 Murray Street
The Rainbow Room
INFO: 613.241.5123
Special Guest: Steve Marriner
4/5..... OTTAWA, ON
12:30-3:30pm
New Bayou
1077 Bank St.
*Harmonica Workshop
SIGN UP at the Ottawa Folklore Center
1111 Bank St.
Ottawa Folklore Centre
E-MAIL Ottawa Folklore Centre
INFO: 613.730.2887
Also featuring Steve Marriner.
4/5..... KINGSTON, ON....SOLD OUT!!!
9pm / $25
Portuguese Cultural Hall
959 Division St.
Kingston Blues Society
E-MAIL Kingston Blues Society
INFO: 613.384.8168
Also featuring Steve Marriner
4/8..... NORTH BAY, ON
6-7PM
Music City
221 Algonquin Ave. (in the old Regis Hotel)
*Harmonica Workshop
Music City
E-MAIL Music City
INFO: 705.472.9907
4/9..... NORTH BAY, ON....SOLD OUT!!!
8pm / $15
100 Georges
246 First Avenue West
100 Georges
E-MAIL Dan Lindsey
INFO: 705.476.2666
4/10..... SUDBURY, ON
*Harmonica Workshop: 2-4pm
Records On Wheels
56 Elm St.
705.675.6617
*Concert: 9pm
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
50 Brady St.
705.675.5602
E-MAIL Vic Theriault
4/11..... PETERBOROUGH, ON....SOLD OUT!!!
9pm
Dobro Restaurant & Bar
287/289 George St. N.
INFO: 705.775.9645
E-MAIL Kevin Carley
4/12..... TORONTO, ON
2-6pm
*TBS Harmonica Workshop
LEE OSKAR, MICHAEL PICKETT, DAVID ROTUNDO, STEVE MARRINER
Silver Dollar Room
486 Spadina Ave.
Silver Dollar Room
Toronto Blues Society
INFO: 416.538.3885
E-MAIL TBS
4/12..... STRATFORD, ON.....SOLD OUT!!!
10pm
The Festival Inn
1144 Ontario St.
E-MAIL Pam Beatson or Stew Lang
INFO: 519.271.8364
4/13..... PORT CREDIT, ON....SOLD OUT!!!
4pm
Roc 'N Docs
105 Lakeshore Rd. E.
Roc 'N Docs
905.891.1754
E-MAIL Roc 'N Docs
w. Chuck Jackson
JANUARY 31 TO MARCH 18:
SOUTHERN US TOUR
Check the Gig Page to see where we went! There were some pretty amazing highlights, most notably the Amphitheater in Islamorada, FL in the Keys, the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, FL, and the famously prestigious Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN. Michael performed in the latter with Gary Nicholson, Colin Linden, and Tommy Malone as part of a Songwriters In The Round. Incredible. I shot some footage throughout the trip and will get them up on this site as well as YouTube and MySpace as soon I find time to edit them. One of the Nashville tunes is already up and running... 'Wicked Grin'... a nasty tune that Michael wrote with Gary. You'll see what I mean.
www.YouTube.com/michaelpickettsolo
www.MySpace.com/michaelpickettsolo
HOUSE CONCERT REVIEW
December 15, 2007
Paul McGrath - noted music reviewer/author
What an honour it was to have so intimate a performance from so talented a man as we had last Saturday night in Wasaga. I was stunned by the precision of your playing, your timing, the subtle things you did with your voice, the ever-deepening revelation of fine detail, the pinpoint intonation, the number of different textures you get out of every instrument, the way you stuck your finger parallel to the harp at the back and made it beg for air and mercy. Man, that was great.
I was a little worried that maybe a lot of people didnÕt know about you, but I see your website is full of killer reviews, people saying the kinds of things any musician would die to have said about them, and so itÕs clear people get the picture, many of them the first time they hear you. IÕm going to go looking for an e-mailable copy of the Wooden Teeth review I wrote some 25-plus years ago and you can put it into your files.
THE LIVE MUSIC REPORT
by Laila Boulos
photo by Mike Colyer
MICHAEL PICKETT at THE AFRIKAN MILLENNIUM and CULTURAL ARTS FEASTIVAL
October 26, 2007
Trane Studio
Toronto, ON Canada
Michael Pickett: The One Man Band
Many years ago, I was walking down Yonge Street, late at night, on my way home, when I heard an amazing harmonica solo whooshing out of the open window of a bar. I stood there mesmerized while the band performed their (ugh!) last song of the evening. That was the first time I heard Michael Pickett. Over the years, I have been making sure my timing is better when attending his gigs.
So, upon hearing that Mr. Pickett would be performing during the The Afrikan Millennium and Cultural Arts Feastival (presented by the Caliban Arts Theatre and The Trane Studio) I was elated. The Trane Studio is a wonderful intimate cozy venue with great sight lines, a tasty Caribbean-inspired menu and easy-going, accommodating staff. Owner Frank Francis has consistently put together eclectic mixes of entertainment attracting a diverse crowd to this popular venue for their many concerts and exhibits. As usual, during this 'Feastival', which runs until December 31, 2007, the lineup is impressive.
Although I was originally introduced to Pickett in his harmonica player guise, that was only the tip of the iceberg. This performer is multifaceted. For this evening's gig at the Trane, he did play a screeching (Lee Oskar rack) harmonica. He also played a Gibson 6-string. He played his National Steel-bodied Duolian. He also sang. And when his hands were free he was thunderously clapping. As an aside, his foot stomping and hand clapping were so skillfully evocative of an erupting volcano that they could be relegated to a separate percussion section!
Over the years, Pickett has received many awards such as: Blues With a Feeling 1999 and Harmonica Player of the Year 1999, 2000 and 2002 (both Maple Blues Awards); Album of the Year 2001 for Conversation With the Blues (Canadian Indie Music Awards); and, Blues Album of the Year 1999 for Blues Money (Jazz Report Awards). He has also been nominated for, and won, countless other awards from Junos to Real Blues Awards. He has been in a number of bands including Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth and the Michael Pickett Band. And yes, he did actually have other people playing with him in these bands, in case you were wondering!
Michael Pickett
Although he is all about the music, Michael Pickett has a great sense of humour and his easy banter with the crowd that evening was only upstaged by his amazing musical performance. At one point he joked that this was his first road gig in Toronto. He recently moved from Toronto to Crystal Beach, Ontario and voiced his tongue-in-cheek disappointment that the crowd did not applaud his decision. This was greeted with laughter. During his performance of "Blues is a Friend of Mine", when he changed a line to sing about the Trane Studio he, once again, had the crowd laughing.
Pickett wowed his audience on this evening with many of his own compositions. Definitely not a typical blues crowd, it was a testament to Pickett's expertise that he kept them listening. Throughout the evening, images of trains barreling through sleepy towns and rolling hills covered with autumn sunshine kept flitting through one's mind, compliments of the vibe created by Pickett's own pieces and the covers he chose.
Watching Pickett play is akin to watching a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde performance. His full-steam-ahead playing is awe-inspiring. Visibly, his whole body is thrown into his craft. He gives his all when performing. Yet, taking the stage, he had a relaxed sitting-in-a-comfy-chair-in-the-rec.-room persona, which was more deeply etched as he eased his body more comfortably into that chair for the second set. Although the first song was a jolt to the senses resulting from the juxtaposition of the unassuming musician who just took the stage with the 'who opened the fire hydrant?' power of his actual performance, it was definitely a nice surprise.
"Linin' Track", a work song, was powerfully and hauntingly sung by Pickett with only his thunderous clapping as stark accompaniment. And, Woody Guthrie's "Deportee" was a beautiful version in Pickett's competent hands. On many pieces, the howling of the harmonica contrasted hypnotically with his soulful strumming on the Duolian. On others, his plaintive, raw voice shone above the cradle-rock rhythms of his acoustic guitar. Pickett expertly traveled through many different styles during this concert. From pieces evocative of everyone from John Lee Hooker to Colin James, this talented musician provided many impressive guitar riffs and harmonica solos during the evening. Yet, along the way, he effectively created a gentle ebb and flow that was easy on the audience with nothing too irritating to the senses. He introduced himself and his dizzying musicianship to a number of unsuspecting fans on this evening.
