Dee Curtis--American Blues In Canada

American Blues in Canada
with Dee Curtis

By Mark Grove

This is a repost of an article I wrote on Dee Curtis. Dee is now a bluesman in Hamilton,Ontario Canada and playing like a bastard with a number of session guys from the Toronto area. In the article it's self Dee is not playing with any of those mentioned in the post currently. Although, Carlos La Torre and Brumberger are both in bands and doing well. I still say they aren't playing the kind of music they should be playing. Blues is the only music that matters. So get back on the blues bus and listen to Dee.

deecurtis@rock.com.com  To ask him a question on being a musician, or grab a Blues EP CD. You'll learn something and get some great blues on CD. I'll have some big things coming up on the blog with a CD review of a band you wouldn't normally think would play a certain kind of music. It'll be amazing!

But I'll have more shit on Dee. You'll learn to be a a better musician and create value for other musicians, and learn how to work with other musicians as well. Dee Curtis the transplanted American bluesman who has made Canada his home and given us his original style of blues done his way, has made his time as a Canadian blues artist count. Dee who likes to be referred to as a singer first and guitartist last, and originally from Detroit, played with the likes of Keyboardist Robert Hooker as a teenager. And for those who will ask and that being the majority, yes, Robert is John Lee Hooker's son. As well Dee even Jammed with the man himself and played rythm guitar on a regional hit of John Lee's called "Mr.Penguin".

Little did Dee realize at the time in the 60's even though he wasn't playing straight up blues that the course of his career would take him rightly back to the blues life. Dee's career also had him playing with avante-garde producer Bill Laswell in the band "Last Exit" and a stint in clubs with ex-Temptation Eddie Kendricks.Dee has made Canada his home for the last 10 years and now has a solid three piece band The Dee Curtis Trio backed by solid Session players like Bass Player Dave Brumberger  Vinnie Trad and Rock drummer Carlos Latorre and other artists. The Dee Curtis Trio is the house band at The Under Ground Lounge in London,Ontario and playing a steady stream of gigs in the London region as well to build the chops.

Both Dee and Carlos are regular contributing writers of Canadian Guitar Player Magazine and both have extensive knowledge on the music industry. Dee has changed the dynamics of blues not just to be different but so he makes his own statement. Dee has stated time and time again"playing good blues is not about playing someone's material note for note and saying"man that was good". It's about playing blues boxes and riffs and feeling the music and throwing note for note bullshit and technique out the window.

Dee's blues has a definite Funk and groove feel with a rock edge at times that takes blues farther than the norm,and along with Rock and metal session players like Carlos on Drums and Dave on bass has taken Dee's blues innovation that much further. Along with Vinny Trad's straight ahead in the pocket rock and blues thumping the blues takes on a whole new identity. Dee has been able to come up with a soild back catalog of covers and Original material which will be ready for the studio very soon.

Dee is a very humble musician and likes to be complimented even by people who said he sounds like SRV or Hendrix.But Dee would like someone to say I like the way you did that blues and did it the way you wanted.

Mark Grove-