Biography
| The East Coast is home to a variety of talented musicians. With each leaving a distinct fingerprint, there has been a steady evolution in the area's sound. This has infused local artists with an indefinable element that goes beyond their specific genre, an element that is at the heart of what Maritime music is. |
"The history of Maritime music has been one of family and community, of cultures colliding and mixing, of new sounds and genres birthing."
Brent Staeben, music director of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival 2005 |
Hot Toddy / Isaac & Blewett's Live at the Black Box is the perfect embodiment of this; two East Coast mainstays coming together to push the borders of their collective sound while keeping themselves rooted in tradition.
| Individually, the bands are figureheads of their respective scenes. Hot Toddy, made up of Thom Swift, Joel LeBlanc, and Tom Easley, have released five award winning roots/blues albums out of New Brunswick. Renowned for their artistry and musicianship, the band has thrived on developing their craft through exploring new approaches to creation and delivery. |
"Not since The Band roared through upstate New York with it's original sound have I heard such unique music...."
The Signal Star, Goderich Ontario |
Tim Isaac and Jim Blewett have long operated with a similar state of mind. Also from New Brunswick, Isaac and Blewett have released two albums that have highlighted their stylistic development over the past nine years. Intent on pushing their instruments to their sonic limits, the duo has progressed from being a blues act to skewing the lines of any genre classification.
| Finding a true kinship in each other's music, Hot Toddy and Isaac & Blewett played the first of what would be a series of shows together in 2004. The spark between them was immediate. "Playing together gave us the chance to go to different spaces," says Jim Blewett. "Each guy didn t have to cover so much, so you could really get experimental." |
"The sound is spot on and perfectly captures the immediacy and subtleties of a concert..."
NOW magazine, Toronto |
As their joint performances continued, the bands began to see the importance of documenting their collective output. Soon, plans were made to record two evening performances and two afternoon sessions in May of 2005, at The Black Box Theatre at St. Thomas University, NB. "With Hot Toddy, we have always recorded everything live, off the floor," claims Thom Swift." We feel it's just a real honest way of doing things."
| The result is Live at the Black Box, an album that merges the styles of five different songwriters and two different groups into one dynamic sound. Together, they create beautiful melodies set atop stirringly innovative music. This sound is pushed even further with the group's 'wood and strings' based instrumentation. Creating a feeling of warmth and familiarity in the music, it makes the record feel like it's an old favourite from the first listen. It's traditional without being conventional and heartfelt without being overwrought. |
"This is a true collaboration, with a strong desire to travel the back roads of possibilities...."
Telegraph-Journal , Saint John NB |
As all five members contribute two songs to the album, each track shines with personalities as distinct as the people writing them. Thom Swift starts things with "Hard Times." Combining sparse instrumentation and Swift's powerful vocals, the song offers a moody reflection that captures its audience from the first listen. Joel LeBlanc contrasts this tone with "Chignecto." Swaying from a somber cello refrain into a gentle folk ballad, the song s absorbing narrative is beautifully delivered by Tania Been. Jim Blewett's "Look Around" takes things in a more upbeat, swamp rock direction. Building toward a stomp without any overt percussion, it's the band at its most playful. The album ends with the combination of Tom Easley's "Wrong Time, Right Place/Moving Dues" and Tim Isaac's Elephants. Easley's instrumentals set a placid mood, highlighting the group's penchant for adding levels of texture without being overbearing. Isaac's "Elephants" continues in a similar mood. With its delicate chord progression, the song caps off the album with a serene beauty.
| Each performer's presence can also be felt through their instrumental performances. The lineup for the concerts included Thom Swift on acoustic guitar and dobro, Joel LeBlanc on lead guitar and harmonica, Tom Easley on acoustic bass, Jim Blewett on rhythm guitar and banjo, and Tim Isaac on Cello with all the members offering vocals with some help from Fredericton based jazz singer Tania Breen. |
"...it's a multi-colored mood swing reflective of the sea of influences that inspire five very talented musicians"
Exclaim! , Toronto |
| With two of the East Coast s most respected artists coming together, this is truly an album that represents the heart of Maritime music on a world-class level. |
" When it's all over, you feel you've heard a disc made by experts of the craft..."
Times & Transcript , Moncton NB |
www.hottoddytrio.com / www.isaacandblewett.com
Publicity: Wendy Phillips, Sonic Entertainment Group
(902) 492-0960
www.sonicentertainmentgroup.com
September 2005
KEY DATA
Release Date:
September 20, 2005
Style:
Roots
Also Available:
Hot Toddy:
Hot Toddy: The Salty Sessions Vol. II
Hot Toddy: The Salty Sessions Vol. I
Any Day
Shoe Factory
Hot Toddy
Isaac & Blewett:
Redhead
Fingerprint
Mud River (Isaac, Blewett & Cooper)
Walk On (Isaac, Blewett & Cooper)
Hot Toddy and Isaac & Blewett, two of the East Coast's most prominent and innovative acts, have collaborated on this multi-session, live off the floor recording titled Live At The Black Box
The album was recorded over two afternoons sessions and two evening performances at The Black Box Theatre at St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB in May 2005
Emphasis tracks "Hard Times" and "Look Around"
Hot Toddy is Thom Swift (acoustic guitar, dobro, vocals), Joel LeBlanc (lead guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Tom Easley (acoustic bass, vocals)
Hot Toddy is 2005 East Coast Music Award (ECMA) Winner for Blues Recording of the Year and 2005 Canadian Independent Music Award Nominee for Blues Group of the Year
Isaac & Blewett is Tim Isaac (cello, vocals) and Jim Blewett (rhythm guitar, banjo, vocals)
Isaac & Blewett have been nominated for multiple ECMA Awards, including: Blues Recording of the Year (2002 & 2005) and Blues Recording of the Year (2001) and Blues Gospel Recording of the Year (1999) as Isaac, Blewett & Cooper
The album also features vocal work from Fredericton based jazz vocalist, Tania Breen
The two acts will be performing together on a national tour to support the release this fall
Publicity: Wendy Phillips, Sonic Entertainment Group
902-492-0960
wendy@sonicentertainmentgroup.com
Selections
hard times
love for my lady
come on down to the country
chignecto
help me make it ta spring
after the fire
everything she got
look around
wrong time right place/moving dues
elephants |
