On The Beat
Beaches fun
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2004-08-08
BEACHES JAZZ: It was yet another successful year for this Toronto institution. Free concerts by fine musicians in a lovely setting - what could go wrong? Only the weather, and it co-operated nicely. It was simply perfect for the Saturday proceedings that On The Beat caught. Just missed promising young blues singer ROXANNE POTVIN, but the sunny vibe of NICHOLAS BRANCKER & THE BARBADOS ALL-STARS was a treat. They're from Barbados and mix gentle reggae, soca and ska rhythms in with easy-listening jazz. They should delete the wimpy version of "No Woman No Cry" though. Next up were local r'n b faves JACKSOUL. Good to see them get some mainstream airplay for their new material, as, led by smooth-voiced singer HAYDAIN NEALE, they do old school soul just about as well as anyone around these days. Former FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS guitarist KID RAMOS closed out the day in spirited fashion. It must be tempting to sit on hard-won laurels, but it would be nice to see Beaches Jazz somehow find the budget to book one more high-profile star each day to kick the event up a notch artistically.
BY DIVINE RIGHT: Just in from the Maritimes, these local indie rock heroes played a semi-surprise gig as part of the Horseshoe's New Music Nights. It was a surprise to see them appear as a four-piece, for guitarist BRIAN BORCHERDT was absent (temporarily). Still, little was lacking from their sound as they ripped through tracks from their new CD, Sweet Confusion. They really are a great band live, with energetic mainman JOSE CONTRERAS superbly backed by guitarists DYLAN HUDECKI and COLLEEN HIXENBAUGH. Thanks to super-catchy riffs and Jose and Dylan's infectious cheerleading, the crowd was soon cheering and yelling along to the new songs. Rock 'n roll fun, indeed. Also on the bill were HOPEFUL MONSTER, the project of former BDR member, the now Nova Scotia-based J. BALL. He was accompanied by Oshawa alt-country band CUFF THE DUKE, and their sound moved from orchestral pop to roots-rock. A cover of a TOWNES VAN ZANDT song was a set highlight.
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