Thursday, December 5, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz - Nov. 29

The Deep Blue Band played at the House of Jazz stage, Friday Nov. 29. 9:30 PM

"We'll be introducing a singer new to the Montreal scene. Her name is Elia Soul. She's a great singer with a repertoire that fits perfectly into our Chicago style. She'll sing jazz standards and blues. This is a show not to be missed."

That was what I wrote. On that Friday, we did on of our best shows ever. Eilia did a great job and the crowd loved it.

Two weeks ago, a guy from Chicago came in for the weekend and naturally he visited the House of Jazz. He frequents Chicago's famous Green Mill Jazz Club (so did Al Capone). He saw our band and joked, "I come from Chicago to Montreal, go to a club and what do I see, another Chicago band." When we say the "Real Deal" we mean it!

Jazz influenced Chicago blues is not the most well known of Chicago styles of music but it's great fun to play and hear. We're the only group in Montreal that presents this style and we've become very good at it. We keep adding new material and refining our show. Last week we added a swingin' version of "What Is This Thing Called Love" and a very bluesy version of "Stormy Weather". That's why we call it the "real deal". Our sound reflects the energy and intensity Chicago musicians are famous for. Our Monday night shows reflect Chicago's famous Blue Monday sessions. Clubs that featured this music dotted the south side of Chicago. Among them were the "Tropical Hut",  and the "Burning Spear" & currently, the Green Mill Lounge.

Deep Blue (Johnny Beaudine, Peter Mika, Gary McKenzie, Snooky Alston)
Come down and join us. 7:30 to 11PM. 
House of Jazz - 2060 Alymer   514-842-8856

You can find our video of "Work Song" on the House of Jazz website as well as a complete listing of our shows there. (House of Jazz.Ca)
Here's the link for Deep Blues " Work Song".

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz - CKUT

Here's the link to my recent radio interview on CKUT radio. There's a few cuts from the Chi-Town Hustlers and I tell some stories about the legendary blues artists I had the great pleasure to both work with and know such as James Cotton, Otis Rush and Junior Wells. I'm looking forward to another interview.

Johnny Beaudine interview on CKUT

Monday, August 12, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz - CKUT-

I had a great time being interviewed on CKUT(FM 90.3) radio's Cha Cha Cha in Blues show.

I really enjoyed the evening. We talked about the blues in Chicago, some of the legendary blues artists I've known and worked with. We played a few Chi-Town Hustler cuts and other some great music and swapped stories about the blues.

The interview is fun and you can hear it by going to the CKUT website show archives.



Saturday, May 25, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz - Little Red Rooster

We're warming up to go back to the House of Jazz on Monday (27).
We've some new tunes to try and as always we love to have our friends
come down to sit in with us.

Sylvia Harris sent me this video. Deep Blue and Sylvia, "Little Red Rooster"
I remember sitting at Big Duke's Blue Flame Lounge on West Roosevelt Road
in Chicago and listening to the great Howlin' Wolf sing this live.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Johnny Beaudine & Deep Blue - House of Jazz - About our Repertoire

One of the books I've been reading lately is "The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire" by Ted Gioia.

This comes Amazon.com's description of the book.

"Many books recommend jazz CDs or discuss musicians and styles, but this is the first to tell the story of the songs themselves. The fan who wants to know more about a jazz song heard at the club or on the radio will find this book indispensable. Musicians who play these songs night after night now have a handy guide, outlining their history and significance and telling how they have been performed by different generations of jazz artists. Students learning about jazz standards now have a complete reference work for all of these cornerstones of the repertoire."

I've learned a great deal about the songs in the Deep Blue repertoire and that gives
the playing of these songs a new perspective and a new depth.


I recommend the book to players and listeners.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz - "They Call Me Big Mama"


Here's a video shot during a show we did at the House of Jazz on May 3. This video features Sylvia Harris on vocals and Jeff Simons on drums as well as myself on tenor sax, Peter Mika on piano and Gary McKenzie on bass.

We were doing a tribute to Big Mama Thorton, organized by Doudou Boicel of Rising Sun fame, hence the tune, "They Call Me Big Mama".

Check out "They Call Me Big Mama"

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz - Big Mama Tribute


This was the first outing of the full band. With Jeff Simon's on drums and Sylvia Harris
taking her place as featured vocalist, the band took rock solid form.

The House of Jazz was full on Friday and we took the stage after Taurey's group finished. The show was initially assembled by Doudou Boicel as a tribute to Big Mama Thorton, so we did quite a few tunes recorded by Big Mama. The band did "Watermelon Man" a Herbie Handcock tune that was also, strangely enough, recorded by Big Mama.

Jeff Simons did a great job on drums and took the band to a new level. Jeff fit in as though he'd been in the band since the start. Peter Mika was on fire on piano and Gary and Jeff were rock solid. Every time Sylvia sings with us her performance gets better and better.

A television producer from Ireland was in the house and filmed part of the show. He edited the video and we've got a great video of "Work Song" that we'll be posting soon.

The trio played Monday, May 5. We had a great crowd and it was fun night. We played some new material too. We'll be back on Monday May 12 with some surprises. Quite a few people in the audience have expressed how much they enjoy the way we blend blues and jazz. This combination was something I saw back in Chicago and was sure Montreal audiences would
respond to.


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz

After the Easter holiday we were back on Apr. 8.

Sylvia Harris came down as well as our friend Pat Loiselle.

Our first set was a real Blue Monday Chicago set. We opened with
"Kansas City" moved to Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas" then we were
joined by Pat Loiselle in a tribute to Muddy Waters. Sylvia Harris joined
us next and did three smokin' tunes and the set ended with "Sweet Home Chicago".

That was the pattern for the evening.

We'll be back on Monday Apr. 15. That's one thing for sure about the Blue Monday
sessions. You can come down every Monday and never see the same show.
So come on down.  7:30-11PM.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz


Deep Blue did the Blue Monday Session at the House of Jazz on March 18.

This was the first Monday that we created that real Chicago Blue Monday feeling. 

There was a nice crowd and the trio did the first set. As is often the case, our friend Doudou Boicel was in the audience,
cheering on the band. Among the tunes were Sonny Rollin's "St. Thomas". The night really got rolling with the second show. We were joined by our first guest, our buddy, ace harmonica and guitar player, Pat Loiselle. Pat sang a few tunes and played some great harp. Next the lovely Marjolaine joind us on stage and sang "At Last". The set finished with "Sweet Home Chicago" with Pat joining on harp.

We kicked off the third set with Benny Golson's "Killer Joe". and Miles Davis's "Four". We were
joined on stage by our friend and sometimes Piano Rouge vocalist, Christine Ghawi. She sang a
great version of "Summertime" We got back in the blues direction with "Work Song". 

The last section of the set featured our special guest, Sylvia Harris, she started with "Hoochie Coochie Gal" and off we went. Pat Loiselle climbed back on stage with some killer harp work and a few more blues tunes. the night finished strong with the whole gang on stage.

This Monday night was a great example of the Blue Monday spirit. Everybody a had great time, new connections and friendships were made, and everybody went home with a smile on their faces.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - House of Jazz

Deep Blue did Monday Mar. 11.

Two great figures in Montreal nightlife were there. Georges Durst, the owner of the House of Jazz and the great Doudou Boisel. As I've mentioned before Doudou owned the Rising Sun and founded the Montreal Jazz Festival. Every jazz and blues great played at the Rising Sun.

Doudou and I have a mutual admiration society. Doudou heard everybody play so when he's happy you know you're doin' pretty well.  He also loves Peter Mika's very fine piano playing.

During the last set we tried out two New Orleans tunes for the first time.
They'll be in the repertoire from now on.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - Chicago Blues

Wow. I just checked the Chicago Reader music listings, just for fun, and
discovered that Aaron Burton, James Cotton and J.W. Williams were listed
as playing in Chicago this week.

Back in my Chicago days I played and toured with all of them. I played with Aaron at quite a
few clubs back then and he was part of the gang at the old Kingston Mines on Lincoln.

James Cotton is one of the greatest harmonica players of all time and it was a real privilege to have played in his band.

J. W. Williams was the bassist and singer in the Chi-Town Hustlers when we played and toured.

If you check my post about the Chi-Town Hustlers you'll find a link to some live recordings we made back then.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Johnny Beaudine & Deep Blue - House of Jazz

On Monday the 18th Deep Blue did the Monday Night session at the House of Jazz.

The evening began with a trio set that featured myself, Naveen on piano, and Gary McKenzie on bass.

The second set brought up my friend Steve to play drums. Steve had come down and sat in once with the band with Snooky so he was new to the group. Steve brought his friend "Hawk" We did a real Chicago blues set with some Muddy Waters tunes. We called Hawk to the stage to sing and play some harp.  He did Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me" and B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone" The band ended the set with "Sweet Home Chicago". Personally I loved this set because it took me back to Chicago and some of the great Blue Monday sessions. It had the real Chicago blues feel, it was loose but the groove and energy was really kickin' and most of all, everybody had a good time. It's sets like this that give people a reason to go to a club on Monday night.

Steve joined us again for the third set and we mixed jazz and blues. Gary McKenzie played some smokin' bass on Duke Ellington's "Caravan".

Thursday, January 24, 2013

John Beaudine - House of Jazz


On January 22, I played with the trio at House of Jazz. It was one of those bitterly cold nights so the crowd was small but appreciative.

As usual Sebastien Pellerin played great bass and did some tasty solos and Maude Locat layed down some great chords and showed a fine grasp of the bluesy jazz idiom.

My pal Snooky Alston dropped by and sat in for a few tunes.

The evening ended with the trio doing some pure jazz that were in the mood to play. Highlights were "Almost like being in Love" and a killer rendition of "Night and Day".

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

John Beaudine Trio- House of Jazz

Tonights the night. This is gonna be a fun night. Maude Locat on piano, Sebastien Pellerin on bass.
We've got some great tunes lined up. A cold day but we'll warm up the house. We'll be on stage at 7:30. See you there.

New Directions

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