Toronto Blues Society - Guitar Workshop Review

I attended the above noted seminar this past Saturday March 3rd 2012 at the Dominion on Queen by the Toronto Blues Society. Danny Marks let the event and his warm and gracious stage presence kept the love flowing as the musicians floated on and off the stage. His one defining thought that really struck with me was how he loved music, and how grateful he was to be making a living at it.  He currently hosts  the Jazz FM Saturday night blues show and is now about to host a television show about the blues. He said that if you keep a thought in your mind long enough, eventually you will take that dream and make it into a reality.

As luck would have it I sat at the bar unkowingly next to Kevin Breit, who was the final and closing act of the outstanding selection of guitarists, including Donna Grantis, Dylan Wickens and Danny Marks. He was a very humble guy, who explained that he would be performing, later, and I realized later why all the main actors were milling about talking to him.

Kevin is a fourth generation musician, and he explained that he played a $100.00 Ibinez guitar (like me) and that most shops, think he is a novice musician when he packs such a basic instrument. This once again proves, it is not the equipment, but the performer, that makes the sound great. He flowed into mandolin ( my first instrument) and showed what that little instrument can really do.  Once again, it is not the instrument, but the musician that makes the sound.

Donna Grantis captured the male audience by storm, as hecklers yelled out asking if she was married. She had a Jimi Hendrix style, with the grace and sensitivity that only a female musician could have with that sound. She was firendly and polite as she explained what all her pedals on the stage floor did to make her guitar sing the way it did. She presented her first CD at the show as well. She was a real treasure for the male dominated performers and audience.

In summary, I am somewhat confused as to why it is called a workshop, when the audience watches the artists as opposed to learns guitar with instrument in hand. Perhaps it should be called guitar presentation as opposed to workshop. Nonetheless the Toronto Blues Society did an amazing job by gathering some of the best blues guitarists in the city to show and explain their craft. Just don't call it a workshop. It was a blues guitar show.

Rock On,


The Adventure Guy