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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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".

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.