featuring
Danny Marks

with special guests
Douglas Watson, Dylan Wickens, Shrimp Daddy, Chris Antonik,
Julian Fauth , Shane Scott & Bob Vespaziani

 

One of  Toronto’s favourites bluesmen, Danny Marks will be joined by several of Toronto’s best to salute Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, the Kings of Chess Records! Shrimp Daddy, Julian Fauth, Chris Antonik, Dylan Wickens, Shane Scott, Bob Vespaziani and Douglas Watson play some of the most powerful music ever written!

Danny Marks is the current holder of the Toronto Blues Society’s Blues with a Feeling Award for lifetime achievement in music and broadcast. This iconic rocker’s roots go back to the sixties as a founding member of Capitol Records’ group, Edward Bear. After a span as a journey man session musician throughout the seventies, Danny settled in to the club scene, establishing a cult following as a genre bender in music and humor. A house band gig at Toronto’s famed Albert’s Hall led him to host his own nation-wide TV show, Stormy Monday. Through the eighties, Danny starred in CBC radio’s hit series the Hum Line. Most recently, Danny Marks recorded two original music albums, Guitarchaeology and True, before paying tribute to Toronto’s R&B roots with Big Town Boy in 2005. Danny’s in his fifth year as the radio host of JAZZ.FM91′s Saturday night blues show, bluz.fm.

 Douglas Watson grew up in Chicago and was surrounded by the blues. His father Lovie Lee (Eddie Watson) played piano from 1979 until 1983, in the last Muddy Waters Band. Carey Bell, Lurrie Bell and Eddie Clearwater were close relatives who often shared the same address. Koko Taylor, who Douglas refers to as his Godmother, was a friend of the family. Douglas played bass on several recording sessions in Chicago by artists like Lovie Lee, Blyther Smith and Vance Kelly. He is also featured along with Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan on A. C. Reed’s recording, “I’m in the Wrong Business”.

When Douglas moved to London Ontario in 1989, he was known primarily as a funky bass player. His first steady gig was with the house band at the Other Side of Five. The gig lasted for 3 or 4 years. During this time Douglas began to sing and he started to get noticed as both a vocalist and as an entertainer. His singing was so impressive that he started getting gigs just to sing. He has a huge smile and an even bigger voice. His vocal style combines the power of Muddy Waters with the sweetness of Marvin Gaye.

After leaving the Other Side of Five he sang for a few years with the house band at the Old Chicago Speakeasy and Grill and then started his own band Douglas Watson and the Hot Flames. Later he toured with Jordan Patterson, Chicago Pete, Chris Murphy, Zoom and several others before he moved to Kitchener and started his current band, The Douglas Watson R & B Revue.
 

The debut solo album from Toronto guitarist Chris Antonik is a diverse, soulful and tightly executed blend of classic guitar blues and original, innovative, contemporary blues-rock. After thrilling audiences in Toronto blues clubs as a sideman, Antonik has stepped out on his own to deliver this self-produced collection of original material and two classic blues covers.

The album “Chris Antonik” is a portrait of a maturing blues guitarist and songwriter who fully grasps the importance of song over solo – while still leaving plenty for guitar fans to enjoy. The songs deal with repairing relationships and giving back to those around you, as well as classic blues themes delivered in modern vehicles. Using the guitarist–as–front man approach and a variety of guest vocalists, the record is a solid collection of soulful, strong and smart blues. Guest performers include some of Chris’ friends from the Canadian blues scene, including Mark Stafford, Suzie Vinnick and Richard Underhill.

The primary vocalist and keyboardist on the record is the soulful and inimitable Josh Williams of the jam band Fat Cats. Bassist Andrew Taylor (The Blazers) and drummer Chris Chiarelli provide the tight and funky rhythm section.

On stage, Chris currently plays in a blues trio with Mark Stafford and guitarist Pete Schmidt (Mel Brown, Jack Dekeyzer). In 2010, Chris also shared the stage with Juno-winning guitarist Darran Poole (Fathead, Gary Kendall) as part of a similar trio.

As engineer/producer/vocalist/bassist (upright and electric) Shane Scott has made a name for himself, winning the Canadian MapleBlues award for “bassist of the year 2003″ and responsible for over 30 full-length recordings to date. Two receiving Juno awards, two of which have received nominations for blues album of the year Juno Awards, blues album of the year Canadian Independent Awards, new blues artist of the year Maple Blues Awards And winner of the CBCs New Galaxy contest. Shane has become one of the hardest working bass players on the scene. He was a member of the legendary Jack Dekeyzer band for a number of years and now works regularly with David Rotundo, Peter Schmidt and occasionaly plays with Mel Brown, Mark Bird Stafford, J. W-Jones Band, Dr. Nick, Danny Marks, Andy Earl, Paul Redick (of The Sidemen)and Little Bobby and The Jumpstart’s. Shane plays with a powerful but simple approach, often switching between upright string bass and electric bass during live performances. Shanes main influences on bass are Willie Dixon, Larry Taylor And James Jamison which can be heard in his playing. During his time with the Jack Dekeyzer Band, he also had the great privilege of playing with Muddy Waters drummer Willie Big Eyes Smith and opened up for B.B.

Michael “Shrimp Daddy” Reid is a journeyman harp player and front man who originally hails from Montreal. Michael moved to Toronto in 1999 and currently resides in Milton. In 2001 Michael heard amplified blues harmonica live for the first time was instantly hooked. For his 2001 New Years resolution Michael promised himself to learn to play blues harp. Over the next two years he focused on learning his instrument prior to focusing on developing his skills as a dynamic and highly entertaining front man. For a guy who took but a few lesson from harmonica legends Michael Pickett and Carlos del Junco, Michael rapidly developed into a driving force in vocalizing, interpreting and writing Chicago and West Coast jump and swing blues.

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