The great Mathis James “Jimmy” Reed, blues singer and songwriter, crafted songs as memorable as they were simple and honest.
‘Big Boss Man.’ ‘Wear Something Green.’ ‘Honest I Do.’ Reed, who combined vocals with guitar and harmonica, provided an entry to the blues for more than one rock musician who went on to fame and fortune.
On June 10, Mark “Bird” Stafford, East Coast bluesman Joe Murphy, and special guest Conor Gains performed a Tribute to Jimmy Reed at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library.
The free concert was part of the 23rd annual Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival, taking place June 7-18 at venues in Barrie and surrounding areas.
In recent years, the festival’s outreach has sent top-notch blues and jazz musicians to bring their music to communities including Alliston, Georgina, Innisfil, and Bradford.
Stafford, an alumnus of the Polaroid Blues Band, Sly Dogs, and the Chicago blues scene, was solid on drums and harmonica.
He shared vocals with Gains and veteran Halifax bluesman Murphy (Joe Murphy and the Waterstreet Blues Band), who played guitar and harmonica.
Gains, who describes his sound as a combination of rock, roul and R&B, played guitar on the classic blues numbers, and performed songs off his newly released album, Compass.
For more information, see www.barriejazzbluesfest.com.