Angel Forrest - Hell Bent With Grace - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hell Bent With Grace, from Angel Forrest, and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Menie the Monster, a sure footed rocker, Forrest shows excellent poise with a gritty edge on lead vocals, backed by Denis Columbus on acoustic guitar and bass, Ricky Paquette on guitar, Bernard Quesy on B3, Alec Mc Kelchenson on bass, and Sly Carombe on drums. Get It On has just the right amount of funk with a hot bottom, and great drum work by Carombe and some real nice guitar riffs by Paquette. The Blame Game has all of the components of a radio track with the strong melody line, solid backing vocals by Paquette and just a light tint of country with a memorable guitar solo by Paquette. Bluesy ballad, Marigold, is my favorite track on the release with strong vocals by Forrest, a really nice melody and rich Wurlitzer tones and guitar interweave by Quesy and Paquette. Wrapping the release is Bane Lorraine, a strong rocker with a steady beat. The band pulls out the stops on this one with a loose instrumental overture stretch which gives the release a bit more weight.  

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Myles Goodwyn - Friends of the Blues 2- New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Friends of the Blues 2, by Myles Goodwyn and it's easy going. Opening with shuffle track, Hip Hip a shuffle track with Kenny Blues Boss Wayne on piano and Blair Mackay on drums, Goodwyn on lead vocal and ripping some tight guitar riffs. Bobby Womack's, All Over Now, gets an interesting rework with John Main on piano, Shrimp Daddy on harmonica and John Canpbelljohn on slide. Very cool. More traditional blues track, Fish Tank Blues, has cool guitar pick and slide technique over a slightly funky rhythm under Goodwyn's vocals. Campbelljohn is back on slide on Daddy Needs New Shoes, a quick paced shuffle with a snappy beat and backing vocals by Reeny Smith and Lisa Macdougall. Up next is I Saw Someone That Wasn't There (And It Was You), a blues rocker with some of the best vocals on the release and likely the best radio track on the release. With it's solid melody, call and response guitar riffs by David Gogo and nice piano lead. Wrapping the release is cowboy style track, Even Singing Cowboys get The Blues with a two step rhythm and yodeling. Jack De Keyzer on guitar and slide by Campbelljohn add a little spice to this closer.

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Angel Forrest - Electric Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Electric Love, from Angel Forrest and it's strong. Recorded live at Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde in Quebec this is a powerful numbered and signed limited edition. Opening with All The Way, a funky blues rocker, Angel Forrest projects live right through the player. Joined by Alec McElcheran on bass, Sly Coulombe on drums, Denis Coulombe on acoustic guitar,  and with slick guitar soloing from Ricky Paquette, this is a strong opener. On Janis Joplin's Piece Of My Heart, Forrest shows a genuine likeness to Joplin's own performance of this trademark track with able backing vocals by McElcheran, Paquette and Coulombe.  Traditional folk track, The House Of The Rising Sun, made popular by Eric Burdon in the 60's gets a nice makeover with stinging guitar work by Paquette. Excellent! Wrapping side one is smoky Move On with a cool driving beat, swaying feel and stylized guitar work by Paquette. Nice closer. Roll On Down has a country swagger but an almost gospel vocal intro. Forrests vocals are cool and Paquette opens it up with fiery rock riffs. Country rocker, Hold On Tight, Mr. I'm Alright may be my favorite track on the release with a powerful bottom, strong guitar riffs ang great vocals. Crucify is a super ballad with strong vocals from Forrest and terrific guitar soloing from Paquette. Excellent! Kris Kristofferson's Bobby McGee is up next maintaining much of Kristofferson's original feeling and Joplin's bluesy interpretation nicely showcasing Forrest's voice and Betts like guitar soloing by Paquette. Pulling out the stops for the closer, an extended jam on Ruth Brown's  Mama, You Treat Your Daughter Mean / Led Zep Whole Lotta Love. The band fuses the two dynamo tracks together into one 15 minute jam with power, feeling and rock. Solid closer to a very enjoyable release. 

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Multiple-Award Winning Canadian Blues Vocalist Angel Forrest Releases Ambitious Double Live CD

Multiple-Award Winning Canadian Blues Vocalist Angel Forrest Releases Ambitious Double Live CD

With a career spanning 30 years and 10 albums, the recipient of the Maple Blues Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year for the past five years, Angel Forrest released her ambitious double live album Electric Love on February 2, 2018.  Recorded live on October 26, 2017 at Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde in Quebec, this limited edition, numbered and signed Electric Love features various sounds ranging from blues to rock through, with original compositions and covers of great classics that you will certainly recognize.  Well known in the Canadian blues scene, Angel Forrest has been performed at major festivals in Canada and Europe (International Jazz Festival of Montreal, Tremblant Blues Festival, Blues sur Seine, Blues Festival of Edmunston, Victoriaville, of Trois-Rivières and Kuujjuaq). She also had the chance to share the stage with many artists including Jarvis Church Burton Cummings, Shawn Phillips, Thornetta Davis, Larry McCray, Eric Burdon and more. In addition, Forrest was a finalist in the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.    angelforrest.ca

Angel Forrest - Angel's 11 - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Angel's 11, from Angel Forrest and it's got a special feel. Opening with Hangman, a solid blues rocker, Forrest shows that she's serious business and ready for anything. With Johnny Flash on guitar, Dennis Coulombe on bass, Sly Coulombe on drums and Bernard Quessy on B3, this track could easily see a lot of radio play. All The Way has a real cool rhythm and perfect timing from Coulombe on percussion. Forrest has a special voice and this track is perfect for her. Rob MacDonald lays in a nice guitar solo rounding out this track. Spoil Me Up is a real cool, jazzy track featuring beautiful guitar work from Steve Strongman and nice horn work from Frankie Thiffault on tenor sax, Mathieu Mousseau on bari sax, and Nicolas Boulay on trumpet. Excellent! Hold On Tight has a bluesy rock/ country sound with a real cool bass line from Alec Mc Elcheran. Ricky Paquette steps up with some searing guitar lead and I particularly like Sly Coulombe, drum work on this track. Tumbleweed really falls back with a western sound and a sweet melody. With steel guitar work by Dimitri Lebel-Alexandre and Ben Clement on drums, this track is very strong. A bright acoustic number, Goodbye, features Paul DesLauiers on acoustic guitar, building as it goes. This track reminds me quite a bit of a Steve Winwood composition and the instrumentation is tight! Let Me Go is a smooth R&B style track with full horn compliment. With tastes of Etta James styling, Forrest hits the target dead on with solid vocals and Kim Greenwood really rips loose on strat for some of the most emotional guitar work on the release. Wildflower is an uptempo rocker featuring Corey Diabo with metal guitar styling which blends surprisingly nicely with an otherwise pop oriented track. Very cool. Shane Murphy opens Touch of My Hand with fiery guitar riffs, played off of a funky bottom and sassy vocals. This is a pretty cool with a lot of heat. Steve Hill lays out some really nice lead guitar work on Crucify, a vocal ballad, performed nicely by Forrest. There are a number of really note worthy guitar pieces on this release and this is certainly one. Very nice work! Wrapping the release is silky smooth, You and I, with nicely blended vocal harmonies and light, spanish like executed guitar riffs from Adam Karch. This is a really super track to complete a nicely executed release of Forrest sharing her main stage with some excellent guitar players. Very nice job!



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QUEBEC BLUES ARTISTS SWEEP MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

QUEBEC BLUES ARTISTS SWEEP MAPLE BLUES AWARDS

Montreal's Steve Hill Tops Tally With Four Wins

January 19, 2015 (Toronto) - Blue Monday, thought to be the most depressing day of the year, was anything but last night Toronto’s Koerner Hall, as internationally renowned Canadian Blues Artists from coast-to-coast were honoured by their peers at the 18^th Annual Maple Blues Awards gala.

Montreal’s one-man band, Steve Hill took home all of the awards he was nominated for including Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, Recording of the Year for Solo Recordings Vol. 2, and Guitar Player of the Year. Angel Forrest won two awards including Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Also representing the thriving Quebec blues scene were Nanette Workman who won the Blues with a Feeling Lifetime Achievement Award and Greg Morency of the Paul DesLauriers Band who won Bassist of the Year. From Montreal, Guy Belanger won Harmonica Player of the Year, sharing it with Vancouver’s Harpdog Brown in the first ever Maple Blues Awards tie.

Vancouver’s Brandon Isaak won the Acoustic Act of the Year award with David Vest taking home the award for Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year. The New Artist or Group of the Year award was presented to Ottawa’s Wicked Grin. Edmonton Folk Festival producer Terry Wickham joined Stony Plain Records president Holger Petersen to present the Blues Booster of the Year Award to Edmonton’s Peter North, who was recognized for his dedication to promoting the blues as a broadcaster, talent buyer and festival Artistic Director.

An additional award was handed out last night as the winners of the first ever Cobalt Prize for Contemporary Blues Composition were announced.  The creator and benefactor of the award, musician Paul Reddick, presented Digging Roots the grand prize for their song “Hwy 17”, with Rob Lutes and Samantha Martin announced as runners up.

Hosted by renowned musician and broadcaster, Toronto’s own Danny Marks, the Maple Blues Awards included outstanding performances from Maple Blues Award nominees past and present, including the evening’s big winners Steve Hill and Angel Forrest, Joel Johnson,  Downchild, Harpdog Brown and Brandon Isaak, all backed by The Maple Blues Band.

Winners of the 18th Annual Maple Blues Awards

 

 

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Steve Hill

 

ELECTRIC ACT OF THE YEAR

Steve Hill

ACOUSTIC ACT OF THE YEAR

Brandon Isaak

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Matt Andersen

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Angel Forrest

NEW ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Wicked Grin

RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Steve Hill Solo Recordings Vol. 2 No Label Records; Producer: Steve Hill

BLUES WITH A FEELING AWARD (Lifetime Achievement)
Nanette Workman

BB KING INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Johnny Winter

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Steve Hill

 

HARMONICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tied: Guy Belanger and Harpdog Brown

PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

David Vest

HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jon Wong

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Tom Bona

BASSIST OF THE YEAR
Greg Morency

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Angel Forrest

BLUES BOOSTER OF THE YEAR
Peter North