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Blue Moon Marquee feeling upbeat after Maple Blues Awards sweep
Don Bodger, Cowichan Valley Citizen
Blue Moon Marquee is already well-known across Canada and many parts beyond for its music, but now the recognition factor of the dynamic duo has gone off the charts.
Jasmine Colette and A.W. (Al) Cardinal are already adopted favourites of the Cowichan Valley after moving to the area eight years ago. Their acclaim and the appreciation of their music is soaring, particularly after a memorable Maple Blues Awards night in Toronto on Jan. 30.
They were not only nominated for four awards, but won all four: Entertainer of the Year; Acoustic Act of the Year; Recording/Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
“There will be many different album releases in 2022; different, yes, but none better.”
This is the fifth album by A. W. Cardinal (vocals/ guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a Badlands Jass (vocals / upright bass / drums). Cardinal is a stylish, eloquent guitarist in the jazzy tradition of T-Bone Walker and Pee Wee Crayton, who sings in a raspy deep tenor reminiscent of somewhere between Tom Waits and Chuck E. Weiss. Notably, Cardinal was nominated for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards for the album Bare Knuckles and Brawn. Colette is a lovely, honey-voiced, sultry singer and a swift, versatile bassist. Together they make a potent duo with refined musical taste and boundless virtuosity in the foundational blues genres, with a strong backbeat groove and wailing, swinging horns….
“While much of the disc rides a fluid jazzy vibe…the lyrics often hit pretty hard.”
Mark Smith, Jazz & Blues Report
Blue Moon Marquee is the duo of A.W. Cardinal on vocals and guitars and Jasmine Colette on upright bass and vocals. They are supplemented here by keys, horns, drums and guitars, all of which add well balanced seasoning to the tasty stew of blues, folk, gypsy jazz and swing found on the thirteen cuts included on this, the duo’s 5th disc. Think Tom Waits and Maria Muldaur fronting Leon Redbone guesting with a New Orleans street band and you’ll be in the right neighborhood for the sound and vibe of this disc.
While much of the disc rides a fluid jazzy vibe. . .
“…no pretending going on here…Pure badassery that delivers”
Chris Spector, Midwest Record, Chicago, Il
Is it the duo? Is it Duke Robillard in the producer’s chari? Is it the stars in the right place at the right time? This Canadian duo has got smoky, dirty blues that doesn’t start until way after dark down like they’re to the manor born. Using DIY freedom to passionately take you where they want to go, there’s no pretending going on here. Pure badassery that delivers.
Paris Move delivers first review of Scream, Holler & Howl
Patrick Dallongeville, Paris-Move, Blues Magazine, Illico & BluesBoarder
“Without claiming to be a revivalist, our tandem nevertheless proudly anchors its inspiration among the 20s and 40s of the last century.”
Big Announcement
Blue Moon Marquee Release Stunning Short Film For Song ‘Hard Times Hit Parade’ (The Sound Cafe)
Jasmine joins Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Podcast
Listen to an insightful chat with Jazz Colette of Blue Moon Marquee
#18 on The Deep Roots Elite Half-Hundred of 2019 (Deep Roots Magazine)
Blues Bytes (Phoenix Blues Society)
Cardinal and Colette’s vocals complement each other perfectly, and the duo’s songwriting shows a fresh approach to the blues, addressing current issues.
Long road home brings Island's Blue Moon Marquee to Hermann's Upstairs
Blues Blast Magazine album review
Imagine this reviewer’s surprise on finding eleven original songs that bring back the big-band sound of the 1940s, complete with horns, ragtime beats, and lead vocals reminiscent of Louis Armstrong’s.
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