82 SHOWBIZ

The Toronto Sun n Friday, November 25, 2011

SHakura SaIDa

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Errols cant miss list

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Elizabeth Shepherd, Ariana Gillis and Big Rude Jake are part of the sixth annual tribute to Tom Waits tonight at Hughs Room. 8:30 p.m. $27.50. 2261 Dundas St. W. Chris McKhool, Suba Sankaran and Maryem Hassan Tollar are some of the musicians playing a fundraiser for ArtsCan Circle and the Daily Bread Food Bank Saturday. 1 p.m. Trinity St. Pauls Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. PWYC or donate a nonperishable food item. Fans of the funk should not miss Still Black, Still Proud: An African Tribute to James Brown Saturday night at Koerner Hall. JB alumni Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker are part of the funk and soul supergroup. 8 p.m. performance.rcmusic. ca/tickets-and-packages

Dirty, down, nasty blues

25th annual Womens Blues Revue promises all that and more
Soul shouter Shakura SAida made my mission to convince you to check out the 25th annual Womens Blues Revue so much easier. I asked her what we can expect from her at tomorrows show at Massey Hall and she shot back: I hope people are ready to hear some tear jerkin hip shakin slow shufflin , , , dirty, down and nasty blues. And if they dont know what any of those things are, then they need to come on down for darn sure! Joining SAida will be Kat Danser, Ada Lee, Emma-Lee, Treasa Levasseur and Suzie Vinnick. And the band features guitarist Donna Grantis,

Rhythms N Rhymes

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Lily Sazz on keys, bassist Brandi Disterheft, drummer Lindsay Beaver, and a horn section comprising saxophonists Colleen Allen and Carrie Chesnutt, and trumpeter Rebecca Hennessy. Derek Andrews, who founded the Toronto Blues Society with David Barnard and John Valentyn, explained why the organization estab-

lished the Revue 25 years back. We saw the same music industry bias that didnt support women performers showing up in the blues concert and club scene, he says. We felt that by putting a spotlight on women, it could advance their careers and this has proven to be the case. Since its inception, Holly Cole, Amanda Marshall and Serena Ryder have all sung at the event and went on to become household names. Andrews points out that SAida performed in the Revue early in her career but then dropped out of the scene for many years. This will be her

fifth appearance at the event. Her return to the show has been instrumental in reestablishing a profile thats blossomed into international touring and festivals, he says. Shes a perfect example of how the event has assisted the development of Toronto women singing blues for a living. Rita Chiarelli, Diana Braithwaite and now Treasa Levasseur are also making waves all around, thanks in part to the people who work on this project. SAida says those who question the shows validity should keep in mind most blues festivals only feature one female blues artist per weekend, let

alone per day! There are a few who will program more than one, but rarely will you see two women headliners booked on the same festival unless its a 10-day event like the Mont Tremblant Blues Festival or some of the larger European festivals, she says. Theres no doubt that a lot of estrogen is in effect at each Revue, but we hope this sisterly vibe exists beyond the date its held on each year. According to SAida, who won the 2011 Maple Blues female vocalist of the year award, it does. Theres massive respect that carries through from

the performance and it lasts throughout the year. We frequently go to each others gigs and perform on each others CDs, she says, adding the Revues horn section will be playing on her next album. SAida says shell be previewing three songs from the album which she hopes to release next spring. Im looking forward to playing them with the Revue band because I know theyre going to play the stuffing out of the songs! NOTE: The 25th annual Womens Blues Revue starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$55. Massey Hall is at 178 Victoria St.