WHO: Jeff Healey Band
WHERE: Dustys
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11
One of Canadas musical greats graces the stage of Dustys this weekend. The Jeff Healey Band makes a stop in the resort as part of its club tour promoting the bands latest effort Get Me Some .
The CD has had a relatively soft release, leaving many wondering where Healey has been for the last five years. Several successful side projects and record company woes filled Healeys time over the haitus.
Healey says Get Me Some has actually been a work in progress over the five years. The band had been in the studio or on the road for 12 years leading up to the extended rest. And rest is what they did, taking their time with the new songs.
A major shift for The Jeff Helaey Band occurred when it came time to release Get Me Some . The bands original record company, Arista, felt there was no "radio single" amongst the 13 rock and blues songs. The band was picked up by Atlantic Recordings, but after more artistic disagreements, Healey and bandmates Joe Rockman and Tom Stephen started their own label, Forte Records. And that would actually keep the band from releasing their own work just a little longer while they acted as manager to the likes of Amanda Marshall.
Healey says he never stopped playing during the absence. In fact the group made trips to Europe, and Healey could often be heard playing with his Dixieland Jazz band, The Hot Five Jazz Makers. A recently renewed contract with CBC Radio also keeps Healey busy in the booth spinning his favourite blues and jazz from his personal collection of over 4,500 records and CDs.
When asked what the title of the new CD means, drummer Tom Stephen says a lot of blues music is about "not gettin any," and while it may have appeared that was the case for the trio, it seems The Jeff Healey Band has actually been getting quite a lot.