Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Sean Jones Casa Loma Toronto

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Sean Jones Casa Loma Toronto
Sean Jones Casa Loma Toronto
Fri Aug 25, 2017
Lenny Stoute

On a gorgeous August eve, in the resplendent gardens of a Gothic Revival castle, Toronto's Crown Prince of soul Sean Jones came out to play. Used to seeing Jones testifying to the downtown soul set in enticingly lit clubs like Candyland, so odds were high the set list would be verry diff for the castle crowd. While Jones solo material can upon occasion go dark, the pre show vibe was tres partee and drinkee, hotly anticipating the sound track they came for. They would not be disappointed.

Jones arrived fronting a sextet of genre heavies with backing singer Miku and glided into the vibe enhancing original "This is Love." Great response, as was generated by all of the singles, mostly notably the current “Smoke”. Having ratcheted up the tension sufficiently, Jones got the party smoothly started with Bobby Hebb's 1966 hit "Sunny." The take was a template of what was to follow, an emotional meld of sinewy tenor and sweet falsetto. This from Jones about that: "We've coined the sound "soul over rock" because my delivery still has a strong Soul influence yet ... the tracks really move ... the feel is not urban but rather a fusion of soul and R&B vocals."

Take that to Burton Cummings' 'These Eyes "and The Band's 'The Weight' and the result was a freshness and new perspective, Jones going all Gospel repeating the chant "put your weight on me" and igniting a sing-along that blended nicely into a crowd pleasing soul rockin' run at "Heart Of Gold." Taking the people with him, Jones time travelled through such as the little heard Frank Wilson gem, "Do I Love You(Indeed I Do)", a theatrical and sensuous "Rainy Night In Georgia" with only pianist Michael Shand, a rollicking "Shake A tail Feather."

That was just the first set. The band came back to everybody out of their seats in the tent and jostling for dancing room. The vibe was more heated and urgent so the band obliged with the one-two-three of "Dancing In The Street," " Uptight Outa Sight" and The Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie Honeybunch.)"

Man took that mic and strolled to the centre of the steaming, heaving crowd for a "Stand By Me" sing-along, which pretty much became the thing from there on, morphing into a mellow flow on "Grooving", joined by the horn section in the thick of the throng and whole tent lost its collective mind as Jones falsettoed his way through "My Girl" and never dropped a wail, taking it down a notch or two for the exultant tenor of "You Make Me Feel Brand New", getting all cheeky back to backing "You Sexy Thing" with "Let's Dance."

So that's what went down and left us uplifted and bigass smiling at the sheer beauty and feelgoodness of the music, dishevelled and weak kneed from the dancing, misty in the fleeting magic of the moment.

As a sidebar, Jones offered four guest artists this night; Melanie Durrant, George Nozuka, Alana Bee and Kellylee Evans. Except for Durrant, safe bet that few in the house knew who these r'n'b comers were. The lineup was a snapshot of the current r'n'b scene in the T.Dot, Durrant coming from a classic place, Bee more theatrical and pop inflected, Kellylee Evans showing a hip hop dancehall sensibility, Nozuka working a bluesy baritone.. Given the warm reception accorded each of the guests and the packed scene, seemed like there might be a market for a genre showcase along the lines of OVO Fest. Left musing on the possibility we'd just witnessed a franchise aborning. It'd be a very good thing for Music City Toronto.

Casa Loma Sean Jones Live
Casa Loma Sean Jones Live
Reviews
Album
Sean Jones
Month: Jul 2023
I Want Poetry I Want Poetry
Matt Zaddy Matt Zaddy's Captivating Blend of Folk-Rock and Modern Soul…
Mike Bern Mike Bern's Thunderous 'Reverberation' Showcases The…
Ryan Wayne Photo Credit Brent Orr Photography Americana/roots-rock Singer-Songwriter Ryan Wayne “Overheard in an All…
Shale Alt. Rockers SHALE Captures Raw Anxiety In "Shake" And Announce B.C.…
Suzanne Cook British Singer-Songwriter Suzanne Cook Tells the Stormy, Cinematic…
The Nolas Montreal-Based Alt. Rock Band The Nolas Capture The Latin Spirit In "Mexico…
Mindbender Supreme Mindbender Supreme’s 13th Project, The King Of Queen Street,…
Altered By Mom Canada’s Rock’N’Roll Power Couple ALTERED BY MOM Unleashes Their…
André Bisson Canadian Blues Guitarist André Bisson Releases 'Dusty Albums…
Chin Injeti Renowned Songwriter and Producer Chin Injeti Makes Triumphant Return…
Gideon Foster Gideon Foster's Haunting Single 'Prophecy' Takes…
Beck Norman and James Keith Norman Toronto-Based Beck Norman and James Keith Norman Build Neo-Classical…
Jeff Eager Vintage Pop Soulster Jeff Eager Releases Song For The Ages –…
Jessica Chaz Jessica Chaz Releases Hopeful, Wistful Acoustic Version of Her…

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 100
  • Page 101
  • Page 102
  • Page 103
  • Current page 104
  • Page 105
  • Page 106
  • Page 107
  • Page 108
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers