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bass guitar
alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, all sax
solos and horn arrangements
Hammond B3 organ
lead vocals, guitar, percussion
drums, percussion, back-up vocals
Additional
Musicians:
- The
Horns of Mercy: Janet MacRae, Trumpet; Ali White, Trombone;
Rick Flanagan
- Jim
Preston: guitar, vocals
- Dawn
Diamond: alto sax
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Clyde Forsberg: trumpet
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Mark Paidra: trumpet
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Les Casson: percussion
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Georgette Fry: back-up vocals
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Bob Robertson: back-up vocals
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When
I first formed this band I thought it might last 2 or 5 months.
Wrong!!! It's been over 5 years of a regular weekly gig at The
Wellington and what a ride it's been. The club's manager, Peter
Schwarz, has been a rock in helping us develop an audience for
the blues. Thanks man.
When Peter decided to try blues at The Welly, I got on the phone
to my favourite players. First call was to Grant Heckman, the
musical director of the band. He's also the musical director of
the Kingston Summer Theatre Festival, and plays in other bands
around Kingston. I should mention that Grant wrote the original
songs on the CD and worked as its producer. As I was saying, Grant
got the first call because he knows hundreds of blues songs, plays
great, and is a good friend. He was in as soon as he heard it
was a steady Monday night gig. Grant thanks Sandra Bell for her
support.
Next in was Mike Sakell, Kingston's most enthusiastic drummer
and certainly its busiest. He's usually in 6 or 7 bands at once,
but Monday nights were free. Mike plays with Grant in Wild Blues
Yonder and a couple of other groups, so it was logical that I
try to get these two together. For their unfailing support through
all the years Mike would like to thank Jim and Ger Sakell; Bros
Andy, Chris and Tom; Uncle Spiro for inspiration in "The Corps";
and his partner Sara, "for putting up with me and my drums," and
for all the little things she does.
Bassists are in short supply in Kingston but there are some terrific
ones. I was hoping Zak Colbert would be interested, as I had played
lots of jazz and R'n'B with him. He's talented and has a great
sound, as I'm sure you'll hear on the CD. Surprisingly, Zak also
had Monday nights free and after 2 rehearsals we had ourselves
a blues band. Zak would like to thank his wife Marina for her
support.
About 8 months later we invited Ken Hall to join us. The addition
of his lush-sounding organ and his savvy skills in pop music –
he's been gigging around town for the last 25 years – was the
finishing touch on our sound. On this CD, Kenny played a 1957
Hammond BC organ modified to B3 specs and a model 122 Leslie.
Kenny thanks Kathie, Ben and Chris for their love and understanding.
In the beginning we played to the walls of an empty club. In fact,
our crowd usually consisted of musicians; thus our tradition of
having players sit in. Eventually the word got out and we've had
full houses for the last 3 years; full of blues fans, friends,
local musicians and players travelling through.
Thank you Blue Monday for giving me a great way to start each
week and for coming together for this debut CD. I'd also like
to thank Pat and Claire for making me practice as a kid; Knobby
for being a good teacher of the horn; and my sons Amos and Lincoln
for the inspiration they provide me. Lastly, I'd like to thank
the many souls, too many to mention individually, who have made
my life rich.
- Rick Flanagan
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