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East Yorks own Kevin Laliberte

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East York in Toronto where we live, has another claim to musical fame by means of a guitarist named Kevin Laliberte. A Flamenco style guitarist is set to release his 3rd CD entitled Sundance. The most famous guitarist was Dominic Triano who lived at 356 Sammon Ave.

I came across this gem of a story from our local newsletter called The Mirror. The story was about this 40 something musician that lives quite close to us, but is originally from the Stratford Ontario area near Kitchen Waterloo. He also happens to live in the general area right behind my favorite music store The 12th Fret, lucky bugger;)

He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Jesse Cook, backing up Charlotte Church as well as toured Japan and Canada with Jesse Cook and The Chieftains. Not a bad musician for the neighbourhood now is it!

While listening to some of his own creations that are on his site, he seems to have nailed his Nouveau Flamenco style. I love how this style makes you want to get up and dance (if you see me getting up then, hide the kidz and close your eyes!)

I’ve played some flamenco style guitar for a short period of time. Mainly it was just a introduction to this unique approach to guitar playing that my guru Chris P thought that would make me a better all round guitarist.

I found this style just fascinating to listen to, and when playing it correctly, it would allow you to let your mind wonder off to a different world. Playing classical guitar was like that for me. I love how you were forced to perfect all the fine subtle nuances, thus making your mind focus completely on the piece. After perfecting it, that is when the music will take you away.

You had to play this genre of music, in my mind, at a fast pace to get the utmost out of it. It was something that I was not familiar with at that point in my playing career. My respect for these type of players are genuine. The dedication that it takes to play it and the finger dexterity that comes with it boggled my mind. I was and still am, not a speed freak. My true love of playing guitar is in the form of chord progressions. I find that this is what will really move a person.

Here is a video of him with the Sultans of String. It’s called Luna and it’s a tribute to the First Nation Indian tribe and a famous killer whale in Nootka Sound near Vancouver B.C., enjoy! I love the violinist, it reminds me of the band FM.

Sultans of String – Luna

Keep on Jammin’ neighbour!





Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys

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Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was the unsung hero of the band. In my eyes that is. He was not only a talented drummer but a genius of composing.

Dennis Wilson was just as complex a man, a musically gifted one and as charismatic as his brother Brian.

Even though today people view the Beach Boys as the god fathers of soft pop surfer hits, cars and girls, they have this other side that is often forgotten. They helped forge the aesthetic psychedelic lifestyle and elevated American visionary musician’s and their cause to main stream culture.

The only difference was that Dennis’s torch burned out long before it should have.

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The tragedy of being musically brilliant is not only Brian’s to hold. Due to many factors, he was more then a little mis-understood in the eyes of people long ago. In today’s world, his identity as being a wild man and that he was at constant odds with it, would have been taken into account and we all would have given him more lateral leeway in regards to his actions off the musical stage.

Sadly after 15 years had pasted on their massive Good Vibrations success, he was NSF and more often then not homeless. After being put under arrest once, expelled from the band which he helped found many times, and was also not acknowledged for his brilliant work on all their hits, was sadly taken from us only a short 3 weeks after celebrating his 39th birthday.

Todays poperatzy would sure to of had a field day on this poor soul.

Do any of you have some great positive memories to add to the late great Dennis Wilson. Is there anything else that you would share to the future music aficionados to help celebrate the accomplishes of the under appreciated member of the Beach Boys? Please help untangle the truth and myth of this once great fellow lover of the art of music!

Keep on Jammin’ Dennis, we’re still listening for you

The End is Begun by Three

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I just got a copy of the band 3‘s latest release titled The End is Begun from a buddy at work and I’m loving it! The best way to explain this band is intense.

I can sum their own style as a mixture of progressive rock, metal and sprinkles of classic rock all over the place. So I’m listening to it now I hear influences of Yes, RUSH, Styx, Saga and a bit of the Pretenders. If you like any of these bands then I highly recommend buying this album.

First song on this album is named The World is born a Flame. It has this funky, progressive-rock Greek sound to it, nice. Later it has a huge Styx feel to it. The title track is pure metal. Battle cry has fabulous syncopated rhythms all through it. The 4th one is called All that remains is a song that will stay in your head for a while long after you turn it off. I just came back from feeding and walking the dog so I can attest to the last statement. I don’t want to give all of it away, but I will say the middle parts are impressive.

The last song on the album is called The Last Day and the begging has a huge Klatu sound that brought me back to my early 80’s music scene head space. Oh what beautiful intro! Pay attention to the tabla’s on this one.

3, is from Woodstock, NY. and had 3, get it, 3 original band members. They were Joey Eppard on Guitar/Lead Vocals, Josh Eppard on the Drums and Chris Bittner was the Bass player. From what I gather they were formed in 1994 but did not gain prominence until around 2005. I just can’t believe they weren’t signed earlier!

I hope that you either check out some of their sites or get this one for your collection, it’s worth every penny!

3, Keep on Jammin’

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