Local bluesman Tommy Fyfe and his Whiskey River Blues Band will get a workout playing with Jack De Keyzer, Juno and seven time Maple Blues award winner, at Shaughnessy's Pub and other venues.
They and the award winning guitarist will be performing at a number of gigs the week of Dec. 9, from Sault Ste. Marie (Water Tower Inn, Dec. 9), Timmins (Victory Tavern, Dec. 10), Lavigne (Lavigne Tavern, Dec. 11) and finally at Shaughnessy's Pub on Saturday Dec. 12.
“This will be a terrific show at Shaughnessy's,” Fyfe noted. Fyfe's daughter, Stephanie, will accompany her dad on stage. The show begins at 6 p.m. and includes a buffet dinner in the $15 ticket price. For tickets phone 673-1866.
“The buffet is awesome,” Fyfe claimed.
De Keyzer has released six CDs and one DVD and has appeared in hundreds of sessions with musicians and bands such as Bo Diddley, Blue Rodeo, Ronnie Hawkins, Otis Rush, John Hammond Jr., Etta James and Duke Robillard.
De Keyzer moves in high circles, admitted Fyfe.
"Prime Minister Steven Harper's son Ben received a guitar lesson from Jack at the request of Canada's first lady, Loreen Harper, at the Prime Minster's residence in January of 2009. Jack was also awarded Great Canadian Blues Artist of the year from a poll of CBC radio listeners in 2009."
Fyfe said De Keyzer was said to be the best blues guitarist in Canada by Jeff Healy, blues and jazz guitarist, prior to his death.
“Even Bob Dylan said that if De Keyzer had been from Chicago or New York, he would be famous,” Fyfe quipped.
“Jack is currently mixing tracks for a soon to be released live CD (Corktown Sessions) while in the midst of writing songs for an all new original CD slated for a 2010 release. He performs over 150 shows a year across Canada, the United States, Mexico, France, Portugal and Greece,” Fyfe said.
Fyfe himself is no stranger to the blues.
He has opened for Downchild Blues Band, Dutch Mason, Michael Pickett (formerly with Whiskey Howl), Paul James, Margan Davis and Tony D. His CD Dr. Tom's Blues Tonic contains nine tracks of original tunes.
For more information, email [email protected], visit www.jackdekeyzer.com and www.tommyfyfe.com.
