Hurricane Igor

21/22 of September, 2010 I took few pics during and after the storm. This is what smart people say: “Significant wind and flooding damage was reported across much of the island of Newfoundland as Igor passed just to the east. Many communities had to declare a state of emergency and some parts of the community of Clarenville were evacuated due to flooding. 238 mm (9.37 inches) of rain fell on the Burin Peninsula at St. Lawrence, making Hurricane Igor at least the third wettest tropical cyclone to be recorded in Canada; roads and bridges were completely washed away as well. The Bonavista Peninsula and Avalon Peninsula were also hard hit, with severe flooding in many communities in those areas as well. Power outages were also reported in many communities in eastern Newfoundland as a result of the strong winds. Damage in Newfoundland is estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, but no exact figure was available. One person is missing from Random Island after reportedly being swept out to sea.”

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 5 part 5

17th of July, 2010 H’SAO @ MAJESTIC THEATRE (390 Duckworth str.)  Drawing from gospel, traditional African music, as well as their Chadian roots, H’sao display clear soul, pop, and R&B influences. All the members of this Montréal afro-pop group are singersongwriters; elements of their various influences are smoothly blended with African rhythms to create fresh songs in a unique style. Masterful a capella singing sets them apart on the vast soundscape of world music.H’sao’s journey begins in their native Chad. Initially, the group is made up of the Rimtobaye brothers and sister: Caleb, Mossbass, Taroum, and Israel. Their father dubs them Hirondelle (‘swallow’) in honour of the birds that are always searching for higher ground; their first singing is done in the church where he is the pastor. Their first performance outside of church is in 1994, when they take part in the ”Fête de la Musique”, a presentation of the Centre Culturel Français (French cultural center) in N’Djamena. H’sao starts building their fan base at this first of a long string of shows. In 1995, Charles and Service Ledjebgue join the band and with their arrival the group takes on a new name: H’sao—H for hirondelle and Sao in honour of their Chadian ancestors. For more info pls visit: http://www.hsao.ca/

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 5 part 4

17th of July, 2010 PLANET EARTH @ DUSK ULTRALOUNGE (14 George Street) Planet Earth have been called soul, funk, acid jazz, R&B, power funk and so on. But whatever you want to call them, they are sure to make you move. Touted as one of the vanguards of funk revival, they have been playing the Toronto club scene since 1999 and now boast three releases of original material out on the band-owned label Sleeping Eddie Music (20 MILES FROM BUFFALO -2008, THE ALI SHUFFLE-1999, and ELASTICITY-2001).In recent years, PE have made appearances as an opening act for Maceo Parker, K-OS, Maestro, and Joey DeFrancesco. Three sold-out Soul in the City concerts, Toronto International Film festival cast parties (1998 and 1999) at Skydome for Dreamworks), Beaches jazz festival appearances (1998-2004), charity events, and a six year running thursday night slot at famed Toronto nightclub The Orbit Room. PE recently had six of their original songs chosen for two feature films: “Fall” (starring Michael Madsen) and “Silver Man” (starring fellow Canadian Eugene Levy). Both records, produced by the band, have received excellent reviews and sold well as independent releases. For more information pls visit: http://planetearthfunk.com/

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 5 part 3

17th of July, 2010 DARRELL COOPER ACOUSTIC TRIO @ FAT CAT BLUES BAR (51 Pleasant Street) Darrell Cooper is known for his guitar. Over the past decade or so he’s fronted too many bands to count while still finding time to fill out the sound as lead guitarist with several other groups.

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 5 part 2

17th of July, 2010 MOPAYA @ MAJESTIC THEATRE (390 Duckworth str.)  Mopaya Music is unique unto itself and has been a force on the province’s scene since 2002, drawing from Angolan, Congalese and Newfoundland musical cultures. An irresistible African groove, rich vocal stylings and melodies that will never leave your head characterize this wonderful band. With their CD, Sango Vango, and a new one in the works, the rest of Canada and the world have something good coming their way. It’s even better to see MOPAYA live. Their high energy, hip-shaking performances challenge everyone within earshot to get up and dance!

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 5 part 1

17th of July, 2010 JAMES HURLEY / JAMES WYLIE @ YELLOWBELLY BREWERY & PUBLIC HOUSE (288 Water Street & 1 George Street) Newfoundland born pianist James Hurley is a semi-legalized US resident living in the Boston Area. James first established himself as a well known artist in an array of musical idioms in the St. Johnʼs area where he studied with classical pianist Timothy Steeves (Duo Concertante) for four years to complete a Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance. While there he came into contact with the beautiful world of John Wyre (Nexus), which opened him up to the endlessly inspirational world of sound in all its forms.James landed on New Englandʼs Puritan shores in August 2008 to further his quest of musical (and personal) enlightenment. He attended the New England Conservatory in the studio of Alexander Korsantia, from which he graduated in May 2010 with a Masters in Classical Piano Performance. During his period here, James worked with some of the foremost music educators of today such as Bruce Brubaker, Ran Blake, Anthony Coleman and Danilo Perez, along with many others which helped him shape and define his style and concept of music. For more info pls visit: http://jameshurley.ca/

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 4 part 4

16th of July, 2010 KEITH HALLETT @ FAT CAT BLUES BAR (51 Pleasant Street) 20 Year old blues guitar player, Keith Hallett of Fredericton, New Brunswick, has been turning heads for a little while now. He has something to say through his music and the audience feels it instantly. Keith has been playing guitar since the age of 13, got into the blues around the age of 15 nd has enjoyed studying and playing it ever since. In a very short period of time, Keith has been able to play many festivals and special events. He has had the opportunity to open for such groups as Grady,Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, Watermellon Slim and the Workers, and has shared the stage with names such as Matt Anderson, Ross Neilson, Morgan Davis, John Cambelljohn, Thom Swift and The Lee Boys. In September, Keith’s hard work paid off in the form of the 2007 Galaxie Rising Star Award, presented to him during the anual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. Keith Hallett’s Future is a bright one. Loaded with a ton of talent and audiences falling in love with his infective style on a daily basis, he is sure to be around for a long time to entertain us.

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 4 part 1

16th of July, 2010 ROWDY BLUES @ MAJESTIC THEATRE (390 Duckworth str.) Rowdy Blues consists of some of the top blues musicians from the St. John’s, NL scene going back some 25 years. Each show is a dynamic tour through the blues with rags, instrumentals, and jazz and folk styles mixed in. Packing harps, guitars, mandolins, dobros and a suitcase full of blues, they mean business and play hard…every time! For more information pls visit: http://www.rowdyblues.com/

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 4 part 2

16th of July, 2010 THE LORI COOPER BAND @ FAT CAT BLUES BAR (51 Pleasant Street) Lori Cooper  was singing at age two and playing piano at age six. Her parents often held socials that always included everyone singing and playing and Lori was usually the little star. Lori went on as a classically trained pianist to complete a B.Mus and B.Mus. Ed. from Memorial University’s School of Music. Through the encouragement of friends and blues masters Roger Howse and Wade Pinhorn, Lori put teaching on hold and chose a life of rock & roll. As keyboardist for The Thomas Trio & Red Albino, Lori toured extensively and even competed in a World Talent Competition located in Tokyo representing Canada in front of 13,000 people. In 1991 Lori traded in her life on the road and resumed her other passion teaching. To this day Lori has managed to successfully fill the roles of teacher, school manager, mother and working musician. Along the way Lori has played keys for folk music icon’s The Plankerdown Band, continues to play synth and percussion for musical productions, adjudicates music festivals and has evolved into a prominent member of music education in Newfoundland.In ’96 Lori was encouraged to sing at a Sunday night blues jam by Coop De Ville’s, Wade Pinhorn and Darrell Cooper. Darrell heard a “soulful voice” and asked Lori to special guest with his band. He handpicked a song list and Lori got a taste of the blues which quickly led to a thirst!Lori leads her own band aptly named The Lori Cooper Band and they fill the dance floor at the Fat Cat Blues Bar in St. John’s, Newfoundland on a regular basis. Her zest for life, jubilant spirit and deep love for singing the blues comes through in every song and affects every member of her audience.Lori’s biggest influences have been Etta James, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Carl Weathersby. Also look for her in Three Shades of Blue, a vocal trio that adapts classic songs of various styles and delivers them in a sweet sounding three part harmony accompanied by keyboards.

Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival Day 4 part 3

16th of July, 2010 MATT ANDERSEN @ MAJESTIC THEATRE (390 Duckworth str.)  New Brunswick, Canada’s Matt Andersen has a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage. Matt’s sprawling blues, roots and rock musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice and astonishing guitar-playing has sparked a phenomenal buzz on Canada’s East Coast and that grass roots word of mouth cannot be contained any longer!In the past few years, Matt has released an introductory EP along with two critically-acclaimed live fans’ favorites, the full length studio release “Second time around”, “Something In-between” which garnered two East Coast Music awards for Matt (Male Solo Artist of the Year and Blues Recording of the Year), “Piggyback” with harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens and “Live at the Phoenix Theatre”. Along with a very busy touring schedule as a headliner at major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America and the UK, Matt has also shared the stage and toured with David “Honeyboy” Edwards, America, Randy Bachman, the late Bo Diddley, Little Feat and a host of others. For more information pls visit: http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/