J.F. Findlay emerging from hibernation to do live recording

\TORONTO EAST\

I last heard hugely talented and versatile John Fraser Findlay perform (or “J.F. Findlay” as I suggested he call himself —in part to avert a common confusion between this Juno-nominated multi-genre guitarist and singer John Finley of John & Lee & The Checkmates and Rhinoceros fame) when he did a solo acoustic set at one of my open stages about three years ago.

Since then, despite the 2011 Juno nomination as a member of the Johnny Max Band, he seemed to have faded from the spotlight somewhat, at least compared to 2006, when he released an album, Fairplay, at Hugh’s Room, which garnered a lot of acclaim in Blues circles.

That followed years of working in the background with Jazz, Blues and Pop artists such as Max, Marc Jordan, Carlos del Junco, Rita Chiarelli, Snooky Prior, Sylvia Tyson and Carol Welsman, to name a few.

I suppose with the Max band keeping him pretty busy the past few years —the group was also nominated for three 2011 Maple Blues Awards (it was their fourth album, A Lesson I’ve Learned, that attracted all the attention)— he hadn’t felt the need to perform much on his own.

But apparently something’s changed, because now he’s coming out of the shadows once more starting tonight. He’s put together a band, Jazz Blues Explosion and is setting up recording gear at Linsmore Tavern in East York to do the first of two live album sessions. (The second takes place there next Thursday, July 31.)

Promo for the show describes the sound he’s after as “red-hot Rhythm & Blues, Funk and Swampy Jazz”.

He’s definitely got some red-hot talents backing him, including famed Jazz saxist Johnny Johnson and highly respected piano man Matt Horner, with Scott Alexander and Amed Mitchell on bass and drums respectively.

There’s a nominal $5 cover and it all gets underway at 8 p.m. in the down-to-earth room at 1298 Danforth Ave. a few steps from the Greenwood subway station in East York.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

*5-8> Kirsten Jones @ Richtree Restaurant, Eaton Centre (14 Queen St. West), TO ~Country originals & Pop covers

*5-8> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

5-8> The Tutwiler Blues Train @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

6> Bryce Jardine @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~moody Blues

7-9> Liane Fainsinger @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7> Ben Riley Trio @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Jazz/R&B; $10

7> 24^th Street Wailers @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

7-11> One King feat. Vivian George for Beaches International Jazz Festival @ Balmy Beach Club, 360 Lake Front @ Beech Ave., Scarborough

*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO

7> Shugga @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Funk

7:30-9:30> Roger Zuraw @ Second Cup Coffee Shop, 4850 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke South ~original Roots

7:30> Disco Night @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Ave., TO North

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7:30> open stage with Rob Phillips and Chelsey Bennett Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~Jazz Blues

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*8> open mic with Anthony Abbatangeli & Ken Foster @ DeSotos, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

8-12> Lost Vegas @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit ~Rock

*8-12> open mic & jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*8-11:30> Christopher Plock & Stevie G @ Mulligan’s Pub, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~Blues/Jazz/R&B

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

8:30> SongStudio showcase with Rik Emmett; Blair Packham; Liam Titcomb; David Leask; more + 20 performers from SongStudio workshops @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~free

8:30> Animal Kingdom feat. Peter Eastmure @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots Rock

8:30> Anna Gutmanis & Friends @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriter

8:30> Red Moon Road @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~Roots-Pop

9> John Findlay’s Jazz Blues Explosion @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~first of two live album recording sessions

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Annie Bonsignore @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9-12> Kristen Schmitt & Her Special Powers @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Bluegrass

9> Philly Moves @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

9> Blair Harvey @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rootsy Blues

9-1> Brian Cober Blues Band @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~double-slide Blues

9> Marshall Dane @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Country

9> The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer featuring Samantha Martin @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Country Rock

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

9> Paper Bag Blues Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Blues

*9-2> karaoke with Joe @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

*9:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Coyote Jack’s, 64 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

*9:30> karaoke with Kiki @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Leyland Gordon Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:30> Greg Wyard @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

*9:45> Mary Mckay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10> Soul Funkshun featuring Dave Girdlestone @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul; $10

10> Abbot, Clutton, Strachan, Vorvis @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10> The Rucksack Willies @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Rock

10> The Tonkas @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

*10> Salt & Pepper karaoke with Josh & Danish @ St. Louis Ajax. 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

10> Pearly Jenkins @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

10:30> Don Campbell Trio @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

Copyright © 2014 Toronto Moon Magazine. All Rights Reserved