Canadian blues icon Jack de Keyzer is returning to Osoyoos to perform at the Osoyoos Seniors Centre on May 1. (Contributed photo)
By Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
After decades of touring the world and playing with the likes of Etta James, Blue Rodeo and Ronnie Hawkins, Jack de Keyzer is still making waves in the blues scene.
The two-time Juno-winning blues man returns to Osoyoos May 1 at the the Concert Hall in the Osoyoos Seniors Centre (17 Park Pl.) put on by the Osoyoos Blues Society.
Playing over 100 gigs a year, the Canadian blues mainstay made it to the semi-finals of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee in January and was nominated for a Juno for his latest album Checkmate.
Originally from England, he moved to Hamilton, Ont. when he was nine and has been living and breathing music in Canada and beyond ever since. What keeps him coming back?
“I just love playing. Music is a big part of my life. When I’m not touring around I’m practising and playing music, it’s my hobby, kind of an obsession really,” de Keyzer laughed.
His latest, Checkmate, is a nod to Chess Records, based out of Chicago and arguably the most influential blues label ever, putting out the legendary Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and much more.
“It’s a hugely influential label,” de Keyzer said.
Moving to a new house in Clarington, Ont. complete with recording studio, de Keyzer wanted to “get the bugs out” and record covers of his favourite blues songs before moving on to original material.
“But the band and I were so happy with the cover tunes that we just put that out,” de Keyzer said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJQ0pCMZv8k
After its release last year, Checkmate took home the Canadian Music Express award for album of the year.
Having listened to Chess Records artists from his teenage years to up to the present day, there was a lot of great material to pull from.
“When you hear some of those Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf records, you up them on your stereo in the living room, it sounds like they are right there in the living room playing. It was such a great sound, such an immediate sound,” de Keyzer said. “And really great equipment. What they used back then would still be considered state of the art today.”
These songs have been with de Keyzer his whole life, so there was a lot of material to look at when sifting through his record collection.
“I picked 12 songs that I think I would enjoy to sing. I could do another one next week. I could pick another 12 tunes quite easily,” de Keyzer said.
Taking on tracks by the likes of Albert King and Howlin’ Wolf, Checkmate looks to recapture the sound that enthralled de Keyzer throughout his life. Recording two albums at his home studio, de Keyzer noted the special sound which comes out of the home recording process.
“It’s a cool vibe because obviously you don’t have as much restraints on time, you’re paying musicians who want to be here, so you don’t have that hourly rate and things are a bit more chilled out. It’s a fun way to record,” he said.
His second visit to Osoyoos will include his friend Owen Owen on bass and feature songs from de Keyzer’s prior albums as well as blues classics featured on Checkmate.
The show marks the first put on by the Osoyoos Blues Society which was formed in March by Earl Krushelnicki and aims to present shows at various locations in Osoyoos and other communities in the Southern Interior, though most will be based out of Osoyoos. The society will put on majority blues shows, but explore other musical styles as well.
Tickets are $25, on sale at Mills Office Productivity. Osoyoos Blues Society members get $5 cash back when they show their tickets at the show. For more information visit www.osoyoosbluessociety.com.
