JAZZ FM LIVE TO AIR BLUES SUPERHOUR

One of the perks of doing volunteer work at a radio station is you get access to meet some pretty interesting people, both radio personalities and artists that drop by for interviews and live performances.

One such character is the host of the blues program Bluz-FM, Danny Marks.  A very talented blues artist and historian who could sing just about any blues song you throw at him.  On Wednesday August 24, 2016,  he hosted and participated in a live to air performance called blues SUPERHOUR.  Now, hearing that title one might expect a huge band including drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and maybe even a horn or two.  But that night it was just Danny and two very special guests, Paul James and Jack de Kyzer.

Toronto native, Paul James started playing in the 60’s and has played in bands with Neil Young, with founding members of Steppenwolf, sat in with Muddy Waters, played in Bo Diddley‘s band and backed up Lightening Hopkins and Sunnyland Slim, John Hammond and even John Dylan. For decades the Paul James Band was a Toronto staple and highly sought after band.

Jack de Kyzer, is a highly recognized and awarded Canadian great who worked with Etta James, Ottis Rush, John Hammond, Robert Johnson and the band Blue Rodeo.  jack also plays some fantastic jazz guitar.

The performance was as you would expect, very intimate but there was no lack of blues intensity or playful musical conversation between the three.  Each took turns playing songs from their own repertoire with the others playing along and Danny threw in a few standard blues tunes like ‘Sweet Home Toronto’ (come on he just had to do it).   Paul did a really great solo acoustic number that had a lot of Hammond influence and Jack did a great rendition of his tune ‘If You Were My Woman And I Were Your Man’. (see video below).

It was a fantastic performance by all three well seasoned musicians.  And what a bunch of down to earth gentlemen they were. Here are a few clips from that night’s performance.