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Counterpoint at the 2008 Nuance show

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CounterPoint is the band that impressed me, and I’m sure everyone else, the most at this years show. The brilliant musical virtuosos of each member was breath taking to hear. If I were to see them again at any other time in the future, then I’d be the first one in line!

The band consists of keyboardist Rick Kazmirchuk, bass player Chris Noto and drummer Joe Pawlowski.

The keyboardist Rick Kazmirchuk was playing on a Roland D-70, a Yamaha EX5 and a Proteus 9030 EMU. Great looking and sounding like a million bucks.

The eye catching one on the stage for me was Chris Noto! I closed my eyes and it might as well have been Chris Squire up there playing with the band, no kidding! He had a classic Black Rickenbacker bass, playing through another classic blast from the past, a punchy Ampeg bass amp head. Sorry, but I didn’t get a look at his cabinet. I was too busy watching him play. He alternated from a pick (which I did not ask which one he used) to plain finger playing.

Joe Pawlowski was the man behind the kit! He was using the drums that everyone was using, but too bad that he wasn’t on his own kit. He sounded and looked comfortable on this communal kit. He brought along with him, his gorgeous looking bronze 6 1/2 inch Ludwig, John Bonham special snare. It honestly was nice to look at and I’m not a drummer! There was one thing that caught my eye about his sound, it was that he wasn’t using the chains on his snare. I asked Joe after the show about this and he said that he like the sound and the feel of it, humm.

So if these guys are playing in your area, it is most to go and see them! It is a huge bargain for any price that you will pay at the door!

Keep on Jammin’ CounterPoint





A Canadian band called Helix

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Helix is one of those long lost and forgotten great Canadian acts. They were one of the great big hair bands of the 80’s!

The best song on their first album Breaking Loose, was a classic rockin’/country style called Billie Oxygen, it’s number 5. You’ve got to listen to the guitar/bass/drums solo at 02:07 of the song, tell me what you think of it!

I use to play this one with some guys back in Brantford. It was the first rock band that I played in right after leaving Pylis. Domenic was on drums, Eddie on guitar and Jon (the same guy I’ve talked about before on this and my other blog) on bass!

It took me a while at first to get my musical mojo back, but after playing this tune, I was back in the saddle again! This tune has everything in it to bring a crowd to it’s feet, in my eyes. The harmonizing guitars are fabulous, the bass is just a jumping, the keyboard is nicely accenting in the background with the booming drums kicking up a storm. Oh what a feeling!

I just heard from Domenic while writing this post and he said he does not have the band on tape, but he may have some pictures from that time period. He has in his possession a copy of a talent night that we were playing at, but in different bands! He’s well on his way to sending them to me as I write!

Keep on Jammin’

Leon Redbone

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Leon Redbone is a guitar player from another time. He’s a guitar player like no other. He is … Leon Redbone!

Just a quote from a fabulously gifted guitar player.

Raitt went on to tell her tale of being unable to get past the Redbone persona. “I spent an afternoon with him in a hotel room,” Raitt said, “and I was wondering when he was going to become normal. He never did.” Bonnie Raitt

A walking caricature, Redbone shuffled through folk festivals in his rumpled three-piece suits from the Twenties, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and thick mustache. The only thing widely known about him was that he was a gifted singer and guitarist with a thorough knowledge of blues, urban folk, jazz, and ragtime. Mr. Redbone doesn’t just dig up the past, he embodies it! But, he does look like Frank Zappa on valium.

While listening to this master, and if you’ll let him, he’ll bring you into his unique world. A world where Blind Blake roamed the South and the Depression was all around you. He is like a old time traveling minstrel/vaudeville performer. This gruff voiced crooner was the real McCoy!

This guy just suddenly appeared as part of the Toronto folk scene in 1970. After the 1971 Mariposa Folk Festival outside of Toronto, all the musical greats from all musical genres wanted to soak in his vibes. Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, Maria Muldaur, and Bob Dylan, to name a few, was not going to miss this hidden treasure at the 1972 show.

Dylan said that if he actually owned a music label, I think he does now though, Leon would be the first person he’d sign. The only chart topper this musician had was called Double Time, 1977 I think. The single most memorable moment was when he played of SNL, when it was worth watching!

He did some great add’s for Bud, and Cracker Barrel. His Mr. Belvedere Opening and Closing Themes, and his appearance on Alf and The Tonight show with the late great Johnny Carson, was just a thing of beauty ! The funniest song that he did, that was really obscure, was with Ringo Starr, you gotta listen to it!

So have any of you heard of this long forgotten musical relic? If not, then with all these great examples of the master, what do you think of him now?

BTW, Jon, do you know where that old Leon Redbone record/popcorn holder went to?

Keep on Jammin’

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