Terry Gillespie: Reviews

Terry Gillespie, formerly of Detroit, now calls Ottawa, Ontario home. It is certainly Canada’s gain. The highly regarded critic Tim Holek has called him Canada’s “King of Roots Music.” He has indeed been a bit of a Canadian blues legend for 40 years. Though raised in England, he was born in Edmonton, but it was in Detroit, in the 1950s and '60s, that he cut his musical teeth. He attended MSU to study chemical engineering, but it was musical concoctions that moved his soul. He came up on the local stages and shared space with everyone from John Lee Hooker to Albert Collins, with stops along the way backing Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff. He moved from Detroit to Montreal briefly and made the return to Canada permanent when he took Ottawa for his home in 1967. Brother of the Blues, his first recording in many, many years, is an amalgam of all of the above and more influences picked up along the way. The lead-off title tune reminds of Mark Knopfler with its stunning guitar work. On “Yellow Moon,” there is a heavy footed shuffle and a “chorus” of saxophones from Jody Golnick over Stephen Barry’s deep bass and Gordon Adamson’s snappy drums. “Big Boy” has a slinky groove, “Cold Ground,” with Martin Boodman’s harp comping, is deceptively upbeat. “Yellow Moon” has shades of Van Morrison, both in Gillespie’s vocal presence and in the arrangement. “Carl Nicholson” (aka Van Morrison) is even more so, down to the imagery in the writing. ("I will sing my song along a winding lane/one country to another/we were young/our souls on fire/in 1968 that’s when I met my brother”). Jimmy Reed’s “I’ll Change My Style,” the only cover in the bunch, has a lope that’s infectious. “Rue Guy Boogie” is not a boogie. Whatever it is, it is definitely a toe-tapper of the highest order. It has elements that remind of the Band. Jody Golick’s baritone work is the treat on the cut. “Bath Tub” reflects his affection for Jamaica music, with an almost dub style, and the closer “Kruschev” is a flashback for us of a certain age who remember Nikita and his shoe pounding episode at the UN as the enemy.” Cool harp, big percussive beat, This is most decidedly not your daddy’s blues. www.terrygillespie.ca

Terry Gillespie & the Granary Band
Brother of the Blues

BluesWax Rating: 9 out of 10


Raise Some Hairs

Now living in Ottawa, Terry Gillespie previously hailed from Detroit where he opened and played backup for Blues legends Howlin' Wolf, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, and Buddy Guy. He also played with Reggae superstars Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and Dennis Brown. In 1979 Gillespie formed the band Heaven's Radio, which occasionally still performs.

In 2001 Gillespie began a jam that resulted in the formation of The Granary Blues All-stars. They played The Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2002 and again in 2004. The later was recorded and released as The Granary Blues All-stars Again. Consisting mostly of Blues covers, that album was reviewed in BluesWax in July 2004; the reviewer said, "They raise the hackles on your neck" and "this is a very soulful group that needs to be heard."

Today their music is a sweet tiramisu consisting of liquor-soaked layers of Blues, Reggae, Country, and Jazz. This follow up album consists of eleven songs, ten written by Gillespie. Each of the well-crafted tunes contains a hook, sometimes lyrical, while other times a riff, arrangement, or sentimentality. The band includes Terry Gillespie (guitar, vocals, trumpet), Stepehen Barry (bass), Gordon Adamson (drums, percussion), Peter Measroch (piano, organ), Jody Golick (saxophones), and Martin Boodman (harmonicas).

Opening with "Brother of The Blues," Gillespie writes and sounds like Greg Brown. The surprise here is a funky little beat that powers the song. The careful choice of words and phrasing makes it stick in your head. On "Yellow Moon" the surprise is the Ska sounding horns that join in on the second verse. Jody Golick's saxophone is infectious. "Big Boy" is a Rockabilly treat, "when I grow up I want to have a big band," once again it's the big band-styled horns that pick it up in the middle.

Terry Gillespie's soft trumpet on "Carl Nicholson" begins a Jimmy Cliff-influenced Reggae tribute to Gillespie's musical influences, including Carl Nicholson, Steve Valentine, and Van Morrison. Terry Gillespie sounds like Van Morrison when he sings on "Love Again" and Peter Measroch's piano is perfect. "Cold Ground" is a Hoyt Axton-sounding Country Blues with nice harp playing by Martin Boodman.

"Those Days Are Gone" rollicks and Terry sounds like Bob Dylan. "Change My Style" is the only song on the album not written by Gillespie and he credits it as being "traditional." "Rue Guy Boogie" is the best Blues on the album and once again Jody Golick on saxophone solos nicely. "Bathtub" probably started as a kid's song, but it is so much fun as it Reggaes out, horns and all. "Krushev" at first seems dated, but after several listens one imagines it is also a children's song that has somehow grown up.

Sue Foley plays lead guitar and credits Terry Gillespie as a major influence in her career. Terry Gillespie & The Granary Band possess a magic that seems to occur right in the middle of each song. It's what causes the hairs to rise on the back of your neck.

Richard Ludmerer, Vice President, New York Blues and Jazz Society, is a contributing editor at BluesWax

Copyright Visionation, Ltd 2007. All Rights Reserved with limited rights offered to artist and their agents for publicity purposes only with proper citation to BluesWax, BluesWax.com, or www.blueswax.com.

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TERRY GILLESPIE & THE GRANARY BAND
Brother Of The Blues
TEK0612-01

Terry Gillespie may well be Canada’s king of roots music. So where has he been? Or more appropriately, where have we been that we haven’t come across him before? Gillespie was born in Edmonton, grew up in England, and following his father’s career, moved to the United States. While in Detroit, Michigan, Gillespie played with Howlin Wolf, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Junior Wells, and John Lee Hooker. In the late ’60s, he temporarily relocated to Toronto, Ontario before settling in the nation’s capital city of Ottawa. There, he was part of the cultural dissemination of American music into Canada. He was one of the forefathers of that movement because he had previously been a part of the American music culture. After a two decade gap, Gillespie – a guitarist, vocalist, trumpeter, and songwriter – is back with his semi-autobiographical Brother Of The Blues. He is backed by the impressive Granary Band, who are all reputable musicians in their own right.

The rootsy title track is inconspicuously complex yet it is relaxed and calming. Here, Gillespie’s real blues guitar contains elements of many other genres. The lyrics introduce you to the family of the blues; (“Terror is the father of the blues / heartache is the mother”). The basic rhythm of Yellow Moon sounds extracted from the walls of Sun Studios, but horns give it an urban sensibility. More ’50s Memphis rock ‘n’ roll can be found on Change My Style. Among 11 brisk songs, it is the only cover. Love Again has a ’70s feel courtesy of polished production. Sounding like an AM radio hit, it reminds me of the great balladeers of that decade. Fear provided the inspiration for Kruschev. A discussion about the current state of affairs and how it was any different to the cold war era reminded Gillespie of what it was like to be a kid and afraid. When he was a youngster, he recalls the school kids being brought into the gym and being shown pictures of the A-bomb. He had nightmares for years. Carl Nicholson was the first person Gillespie met upon moving to Ottawa. Here, sounding like Van Morrison, Gillespie sings, (“Van Morrison taught me what to do”).

Too many artists bill themselves as blues artists when they are nothing more than rock ‘n’ rollers in disguise. Terry Gillespie is not that type of bluesman. Yes, he is Canadian so his blues aren’t like that of the Delta or Chicago, yet this powerful roots musician has gained the pride of his homeland. This comeback recording is sure to bring 60-year-old Terry Gillespie more respect and admiration than even his past warrants. Yet if he wants to take the music world by storm, he will require more to make him stand out in the crowd. His vocals are articulate, but sound too similar to Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Mark Knopfler. His blues-based folky rock songs are more memorable. They don’t focus on a blazing guitar or rampant rock energy. Brother Of The Blues is about the songs as a whole. These days that is a joy to encounter.


Tim Holek
Freelance Journalist
www.timholekblues.ca


Originally published in Blues Art Studio, Austria
Holek is a member of the Blues Foundation and Canada South Blues Society. He has been a member of the nominating panel for the Maple Blues Awards (Canada's Blues Music Awards) since 1999.

This CD (Brother of the Blues) is truly one of the best that I have ever reviewed!
All 11 tracks are what i would dub as 'feature tracks' It is very difficult to pick a favourite.

October 21, 2007
Westport, Ontario

TERRY GILLESPIE & THE GRANARY BLUES BAND rolled into THE COVE INN from Vankleek Hill/Montreal last Friday night and delivered a great Show - the second of this yearˆs Blues On The Rideau Series. Terry - an Ottawa blues legend going back into the ‘60’s & ‘70’s (anyone remember Le Hibou?) - played delicious licks on lead guitar all night long with vocals that reminded you at times of Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler and a few other notables. He mixed in some good stories and anecdotes along the way. His veteran backline included Peter Measroch on keyboards, Gordan Adamson on drums, Stephen Barry on bass (a legend in his own right!) and Jody Golick on sax - all consummate pros. Not a missed chord all night.

Their repertoire included everything from straight up Chicago blues to soul, R&B, reggae and even a little country. They played classic covers done in their own unique style as well as original compositions (including a bunch off their excellent new CD ‘Brother Of The Blues’ and Terry’s re-released ‘Heavens Radio’ albums originally recorded in the ‘70s. Both these albums are up for several Blues Awards this year and all those who attended got to see why.

The crowd loved them! The dance floor was packed all night, there was lots of loud applause and many CD’s sold. They came from near and far including a bunch from the Hawkesbury/Alexandria area who love Terry’s music and follow him everywhere. There was even a visitor from Prague, Czech Republic! Ticket sales took off in the last week so it was almost a full house. $520 was raised for the Lucy Drysdale Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Comments from the Cards:

“As a first timer at Blues On The Rideau I was blown away by the excellent music and entertainment” - Jennifer Robinson, Westport

“It was a fantastic evening! We will be back for sure! - 10 out of 10 for the venue, food, service and sound - 11 for the band!” Miro Stastny, Hawkesbury

“Very friendly people and great music. Lucy would be very pleased knowing a good time was had by all and a student benefited from the money raised.” B&G Drysdale, Ottawa

“Better than Viagra” Luc Bujold, Devil Lake

Next up: all the way from Truro, NS - the GARRETT MASON BAND
www.garrettmason.com for a special TWO NIGHT STAND November 16 & 17.
Proceeds to Rideau Vista and St. Edward’s Public Schools.

Terry Loved the GCC

On November 22nd the beautiful doomed room at The Glebe Centre transformed into an intimate living room when Terry Gillespie took the stage at Underground Sound. Accompanied by Peter Measroch on piano and Jeffery Grosvenor on hand drums and bass.

Their repertoire included original tunes as yet unreleased, interpretations of classic black music from the American South and tunes from Peter's homeland South Africa. Soweto Is Where It Is At was delightful and the audience responded to the sweet piano with robust applause. Natural Soldiers, Gillespie wrote for his son and friends as they were embarking on a African Safari, contemplates a young mans passage into adulthood. At times reminiscent of Taj Mahal, at others you thought Gillespie would lose his seat when the chair he was seated upon took on a life of its own as it danced to the beat. Jeffery Grosvenor, recently of Hammerheads, was born playing drums and he has followed the beat all his life. He came to drumming early in life, playing in the workshop where his Father crafted drums for local musicians on his home Island, Barbados. The musicianship was obvious and the rapport between the players was intimate and included the audience in their musical family. Gillespie's voice traveled the musical register easily - each note was perfect, there was no stretching for the high notes , then it was soft and smooth and you wandered how this low down singer could have sounded like an angel in the last tune. Once again Richard Ledmerer, Vice-President, New York Blues and Jazz Society hit it on the pinhead when he describe Gillespie’s music “as complex yet relaxed”.

Comments from the audience:

He should be signed by a major label- M. Lazarovitz

Loved the loose, jammin' feelin … and particularly the african songs – we were enthralled. G. Bailie

Gillespie played the room beautifully. Ian Boyd – Organizer

Terry Gillespie & The Granary Band Brother of the Blues TEKA

Gillespie is one of the founders of the Ottawa blues scene where he moved in 1967 to escape the draft, having spent some time in Detroit playing behind people like Howling Wolf & Albert Collins. A teen named Sue Foley used to sneak into the clubs where he played. He recorded two albums, Heaven's Radio Active and Uptown Babies, in 1979 and 1980 and each will be re-issued with extra tracks this summer. After a hiatus of twenty years, he's back. He first re-surfaced as a member of The Granary Blues All-Stars, a band of veterans whose first CD, Again, was released in 2004. He and Brian Monty shared the vocals on that one but he gets top billing here. The rest of the lineup is the same with Stephen Barry, bass, Peter Measroch, keys, Martin Boodman, harp, Jody Golick, sax and Gordon Adamson, drums. A special guest for this album is Sue Foley on guitar. All eleven songs here are Gillespie originals and by no means are they all blues. His press kit, at www.TerryGillespie.ca), makes clear his interest in other styles. The title song puts the blues in the context of world events set to a Dire Straights-like groove. "Big Boy" has a good Jimmy Reed groove. "Carl Nicholson" is a clever reggae tune that name checks several mentors, including Van Morrison, whose sound then proceeds to dominate the CD. "Those Days Are Gone" is a good one, on a good shuffle groove, though it copies Van's horn sound as well. Not until "Bathtub", a rather inconsequential musing on that subject, does the voice of the opening songs return. Some of these songs seem to have been around for a while: "Kruschev" is a Dutch Mason-style boogie that refers to what I would have thought was a long-forgotten figure. Adamson adds prominent percussion parts in addition to his kit and enlivens almost every song.

BLUES SOURCE
Ottawa Canada is Terry Gillespie's chosen home, where he is recognized as their Father of the Blues. Since playing Blues in Detroit with the likes of Howlin Wolf, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Junior Wells and John Lee Hooker, Gillespie took nearly twenty years off of the pro circuit. He certainly honed his skills during that time. This semi-autobiographical work shows his singing and playing skills have become sharper and mellower. The easy, laid back sound of this band is captured by great mastering and production. The band here is Terry Gillespie on guitar, vocals and trumpet, Peter Measroch on acoustic & electric piano, Stephen Barry on bass, Gordon Adamson on drums, Jody Golick on sax and Martin Boodman on Harmonica. Canadian songstress Sue Foley appears on guitar.

Although a dyed-in-the-wool bluesman at heart, Gillespie is also thoroughly steeped in the world of Reggae, having played with reggae greats Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff and Dennis Brown. Those influences on this work are beautiful and delicate. The whole CD is rather quiet on the overall, but is finely done and is not just another raucous issue. In a sense, this is a new, inventive and refreshing avenue for the Blues. Check it out & pick up a copy at CDBaby.com.

(©) 2007, Gary W. Miller
BluesSource.com

Terry Gillespie is een grote naam in de Canadese bluesscène, sinds 1976
woont hij in Ottawa, nadat hij een tijd begeleider was van o.a. Albert
Collins en Howlin Wolf. Hij nam in '79 en '80 twee elpees op en toen deze
niet zo succesvol bleken, gaf hij er de brui aan en verdween voor 20 jaar
van het muzikale toneel. Een vijftal jaar geleden echter dook hij terug
op als lid van "The Granary band", een band van bluesveteranen. De vocals
werden afwisselend gedaan door Brian Monty en Terry zelf, maar nu op deze
tweede is Brian verdwenen en gaat alle aandacht naar Terry. Speciale gast
op deze cd is Sue Foley (zie foto), die als 13 jarige tiener regelmatig
de optredens van Terry bijwoonde sinds het begin van de jaren 80, omdat
Terry speelde in de bluesclubs bij haar om de hoek. Sue is een echte fan,
en dat laat ze op het hoesje ook duidelijk merken in de liner notes.
Originaliteit is troef op deze opnames, het is geen doordeweekse
bluesplaat. Terry Gillespie flirt met andere muziekstijlen en verweeft
die in zijn composities, geen covers, alles is van eigen hand. Opener en
tevens titelsong "Brother Of The blues" heeft wel iets van wat John
Mayall momenteel doet, het is een meer rustige, half parlando song. In
"Yellow Moon" zit de sfeer van Jamaica en is de blues netjes verpakt in
een reggaeritme. "Big Boy" is Jimmy Reed meets J.J Cale en "Carl
Nicholson" is opnieuw een bluesy reggae, waar hij achtereenvolgens zijn
muzikale voorbeelden bedankt voor hun invloed. Nummer na nummer blijft de
plaat boeiend, het ritme blijft steeds rustig, de songs herinneren
dikwijls aan de manier van zingen van Van Morrisson, hoewel de stem gans
anders is. "Those Days Are Gone" is een traditionele blues, maar ook weer
met een scheutje van wat anders, jazz ditmaal. Kortom, een CD die me kon
bekoren, vooral door zijn afwisseling van allerlei aparte benaderingen
van de blues, van reggae, over jazz naar Stax soul, en dit alles subtiel
gebracht en met klasse. Hoed af voor Terry!
(RON)

Voici le retour sur scène de l'auteur/compositeur/interprète Terry Gillespie. En effet, après plus de vingt ans, le revoici muni d'un album intitulé Brother of the Blues. Il nous propose donc son voyage musical aux couleurs Jazz, Reggae, Roots, le tout poivré de Blues chaleureux.
Sa bio nous décrit son parcourt ponctué d'expériences des plus variées. À Détroit, il côtoie sur scène les légendes tels les Howlin Wolf, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Junior Wells et John Lee Hooker. En 1967, il ramène ses influences Blues américain à Ottawa. Il réalise alors son premier album, Heaven's RadioActive en 1979 puis récidive l'année suivante avec Uptown Babies. Cette fois-ci, il s'entoure du Granary Band avec les Peter Measroch au piano et orgue, Stephen Barry à la basse, Gordon Adamson à la batterie et percussion, Jody Golick aux saxophones et Martin Boodman aux harmonicas. On y retrouve aussi la participation de Sue Foley à la guitare, Suzanne Lamontagne aux harmonies vocales ainsi que Dave Dragone aux tambours.

11 titres nous sont proposés et tous sont originaux. Le premier, Brother of the Blues donne le ton. Sa musique enveloppe adroitement les textes inspirés et cet album rafiné sera certainement le fer de lance des prochains spectacles du Terry Gillespie & The Granary Band. Vous pouvez vous procurer l'album sur le site web www.TerryGillespie.ca .

En attendant je vous laisse avec ma pièce préférée Those Days Are Gone. Sur celle-ci on y redécouvre l'excellent jeu de guitare de Terry Gillespie ainsi qu'un solo de saxophone du très talentueux Jody Golick. Bonne écoute et bon retour Monsieur Gillespsie

Got the CD and I love it. I'm adding five tracks to Galaxie for January and putting in my Top 10.
Also playing tracks on Saturday Night Blues starting in January.
Great songs, playing, singing and everyone involved did a wonderful job.
All the best, Holger

"Terry Gillespie is one of the most sincerely talented musicians in Canada. He's a bluesman to the core, but not in the traditional sense for he has range and influences that take it to a whole new level. His blues is the truth and it comes through with every word and melody he wraps his soulful voice around. This is real."

Terry Gillespie, a stalwart of the Canadian blues scene in the 1970s, reemerged a few years back as a singer and guitarist with the Granary Blues All-Stars, a band of veteran musicians. While the first Granary album was largely devoted to classic blues material, Brother of the Blues puts the spotlight on Gillespie’s own songs. He’s a fine, insightful songwriter whose music draws on various blues styles with some reggae influence. Gillespie also
proves himself a soulful singer and guitar player and gets some superb support from the likes of guitarist Sue Foley and such Montreal musicians as bassist Stephen Barry, drummer Gordon Adamson, saxophonist Jody Golick, Martin Boodman on harmonica and Peter Measroch on keyboards. ****

The Granary Blues All-Stars discovered each other in 2001. They are a very talented bunch of musicians who, from their long and vast experience know "the life". Together they’ve got a wondrous sense of spontaneity and adventure that tells you they’re playing for all the right reasons; that this is why, somewhere in the misty past, they started to play in the first place. The fans who come to hear them play every month at Blues on Tues. can attest to that. All these people who really didn’t dance that much, get up, and dance with abandon. Grooves are found. It gets hot and happy, jiving and shimmying, elbows and bums everywhere; it’s just like what the finer moments in life should be. The crowd always wants more; again!
When the music ends, they are all danced-out and content. I’m pretty sure everybody needs a good shower before bed. Again was recorded live on one of those once-a-month-on-Tuesday sessions, complete with listeners and dancers and bouncing floors and the CBC trailer. - Vlasta Vrana

THE GRANERY BLUES ALLSTARS: AGAIN (Indie)
Here is a real veteran outfit withlongtime Eastern Canada Blues players Terry Gillespie,Stephen Barry, Gordie Adamson, Peter Measroch and Martin
Boodman ganging up to form a collective that's bursting with talent and creativity.This recording is from the 2002 Montreal International Jazz
Festival and it shows the Granary Blues All-stars to be in fine form in front of record crowds.The credentials presented by these guys are both quite extensive and very interesting; While the lineup of songs may appear 'old-hat'(2 originals and 11 standards like"Tore Down", "Ain't Nobody's
Business" "Born Under A Bad Sign""Let The Good Times Roll" and
"Junco Partner the fact is that these guys do really wonderful things with these songs as far arrangements go and given that all 7 players (Jody Golick on sax) are high echelon talents that means that each and every track has stunning, tight and imaginative playing on it.
This is one hell of a rhythm section and Adamson proves to be a superior percussionist especially on the rhythmic New Orleans tracker like"Junco Partner" and "Big Chief" or the funky "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" (nice Lester Davenport-style harp from Boodman and'"New Mown Lawn"
excellent guitar and sax arrangement. Even the tired old "Ain't Nobody's Business" gets new fire courtesy grooving organ and soulful harp treatment.
"Check Out Your .Mind" is fun, funky while Gillespie loses his mind on "Everyday I Have the Blues" (unlike any version you'll
heac) Ditto for the totally rompin' stompin' party on "Let the Good
Times Roll." No wonder the crowd at the festival loved these guys so
much. They're totally lost in the joy of playing with Adamson driving
them on to even higher levels of exuberance. Who says old
Caucasians can't get it on? This is one of the best good- time live
albums in Canadian music history and fans of Canadian Blues will
find mucho entertainment on this disc. 5 bottles for a total Blues
party captured in all its exuberant soulful glory. Not bad, eh?
-Andy Grigg

It is a real surprise nowadays to receive a CD from an unknown group that raises the hackles on your neck. The Granary Blues All-Stars hail from Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Where the hell is that? And why do those folks only get to hear this group of five, dyed in the wool, hard-core Blues musicians once a week? Ordinarily, a group like that wouldn't get any notice at all. Sorry, but I can't help it?they are just too good for words.

Aside from two originals, this CD is mostly comprised of covers. I wish the All-Stars played just down the road from me. I would go every night. There is very nice recording technique and the live and in your face, Soul-smeared cover material shines with an original and precise sheen. It's like hearing a lot of this material for the first time, as it is so expertly done, yet, it retains a loose feel, a certain intimate knowledge of the genre and particular tune that at once puts you right in the groove.

They have been a huge success no doubt, as you only have to hear this CD once to know that you'd be there every night, too. The band is made up of Gillespie on guitar and vocals, Peter Measroch on keyboards, Martin Goodman on harp, Jody Golick on tenor sax, Stephan Barry on bass, and Gordon Adamson on drums. They played the 2002 Montreal International Jazz Festival with great success. They have individually played with Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Albert King, Bo Diddley, Oliver Jones, Luther Allison, and B.B. King - quite nice credentials. It shows, as their interpretation of "Born Under A Bad Sign," with its sax lead, opens up a new window on that tune. The inspired and true interpretation of "Big Chief" is an exciting groove. Curtis Mayfield's "Check Out Your Mind" is very nice.

Wait until you hear "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger," what a groove! This band can lay it down and get the same feel as the original. "New Mown Lawn" and "When I Come Back" are both Terry Gillespie originals that work all the way. You're gonna like this CD. This is a very soulful group and deserves to be heard.

GRANARY BLUES ALL-STARS
Again
Electric Desert Records

Once a month, half a dozen veterans of the Montreal and Ottawa blues
scenes get together and play an early Tuesday evening gig in Eastern
Ontario. Fronted by guitarist-singers Terry Gillespie the band also includes keyboardist Peter Measroch, Montreal bass legend Stephen Barry, and Barry?s longtime cohorts, drummer Gordon Adamson and harmonica ace Martin Boodman. Montreal sax player Jody Golick frequently sits in with the band and is heard on this debut CD mixing live and studio tracks. The band is a lot tighter, and more consistently interesting, than a lot full time units. Showing their versatility, they convincingly move from the New
Orleans second line rhythms of Big Chief, to the slow, jazz-tinged sounds
of Ain?t Nobody?s Business and then rock and roll their way through Let the
Good Times Roll and Memphis Slim?s Every Day I Have the Blues. ***1/2
Host/Producer: Folk Roots/Folk Branches -- CKUT, Montreal
Reviewer/Feature Writer: Montreal Gazette
Reviewer/Feature Writer: Sing Out! Magazine

Terry's singing is superb and that brings the songs to life.

Le Granary de 23h

Le Granary Blues All-Stars est un drôle de groupe; drôle dans le sens curieux, voire original du terme, et non rigolo-comique. Voil six musiciens qui ont commencé jouer ensemble, il y a trois ans de cela, dans la taverne d'un hôtel situé une heure de Montréal pour le plaisir de jouer.

Une fois par mois, ils se retrouvent sur la scène du Granary. On doit préciser qu'en cet endroit, ils ne se produisent pas le vendredi ou le samedi mais bien le mardi. Imaginez ! Un mardi par mois seulement. Le reste du temps, chacun d'entre eux est occupé par d'autres aventures musicales. Il y a de cela, mais aussi beaucoup de ces histoires que l'on classe la rubrique familiale.

Si l'on a bien compris le texte qui accompagne la parution de leur premier album, les compagnes de ces messieurs leur ont accordé ce permis mensuel la condition qu'ils ne commencent pas faire des répétitions et qu'ils fassent dodo compter de 23h. Il faut préciser que les bonshommes étant des vieux de la vieille, les madames savent d'expérience qu'il faut veiller au grain. Lequel ? Allez savoir !

Toujours est-il que la réputation du groupe, toute contenue dans la sincérité, l'authenticité musicale, a fait son chemin jusqu' piquer la curiosité d'un producteur de la CBC qui, après l'avoir entendu, a décidé de l'enregistrer. Depuis qu'on l'a entendu l'autre soir donner le premier show passé 23h, on comprend beaucoup mieux l'enthousiasme du producteur en question.

Peut-être faut-il maintenant dévoiler l'identité de chacun. Puisque j'ai la certitude que vous connaissez plus d'un d'entre eux, vous comprendrez en quoi et pourquoi le succès grandissant du Granary Blues All-Stars est mérité. De gauche droite et dans le désordre le plus complet, le groupe, c'est Brian Monty et Terry Gillespie aux voix et aux guitares, Martin Boodman l'harmonica, Peter Measroch au piano et l'orgue, lui qui fut également le producteur du premier album de Ray Bonneville, Gordon Adamson la batterie et...

Et Stephen Barry la basse et, quoi donc ? À l'ambiance, l'esprit, la ferveur... la disponibilité ! Écouter Barry et ses complices, c'est prendre les affections du blues en adoption.

P.S. : au cas où la distribution de leur album intitulé Again serait bancale, voici un numéro qui sera fort utile : 613-678-3333

Granary Blues All-Stars

S'il y a un groupe présentant un savant camouflage, c'est bel et bien le Granary Blues All-Stars. Car derrière ce nom un tantinet étrange se cachent des musiciens qui ont ceci d'admirable qu'ils jouent le blues... décontracté. Le Granary, c'est Stephen Barry la basse, Martin Boodman l'harmonica, l'excellent Jody Golik au saxophone, Peter Measroh aux claviers, Gordon Adamson la batterie, ainsi que Terry Gillespie et Brian Monty aux guitares et aux voix. Ce groupe est une aubaine des dieux grecs. À la place Fred-Barry 19h et 23h.

Serge Truffaut

Granary Blues All-Stars Again Electric Desert EDRD401-2
Some music industry veterans who live in or near Eastern Ontario like to get together every once in a while to forget their day jobs and make music. They perform at a club called The Granary in Vankleek Hill, ON and had established a sufficient buzz to reach the organizers of the Montreal Jazz Festival. A date was booked, the CBC recorded and this CD was born. They are; Terry Gillespie, the founder of the Ottawa band Heaven's Radio and a music teacher; Stephen Barry who needs no introduction; Gordon Adamson, Barry's bandmate; Peter Measroch a keyboard player who runs Electric Desert Records and harp player Martin Boodman, a lawyer by day. The spirit and talent they share shines through on this disc, with particular praise for rollicking performances of "Big Chief", "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger". There are two originals by Gillespie, "New Mown Lawn" and "When I Come Back" that auger well for the future and might lead to more frequent get togethers, you can help that happen by ordering this CD at terrygillespie.ca