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Blue Moon Marquee brings Big Easy energy to Prince Albert
“New Orleans is the quintessential music city above all others, especially for American styles of music, whether it be folk, blues jazz, rock n’ roll, rhythm of blues and even punk, metal and hardcore and all that stuff. For me, it really is the cradle of where it all went down. It’s seeping out of every window. It’s in the streets. It’s in the air. It’s undeniably thick with it down there. It’s just so inspiring.” - Jasmine Colette, Blue Moon Marquee
Terry David Mulligan interviews Blue Moon Marquee at the Osborne Bay Pub - where it all started…
A.W. and Jazz join Canadian radio icon, Terry David Mulligan on the stage at the Osborne Bay Pub in Crofton, BC - the original stage where they first met.
Listen On Demand at ondemand.ckua.com.
Episode: Mulligan Stew, Sat, Oct 05, 2024
‘Unless you check the credits, it’s impossible to tell this isn’t some rare vintage recording from the early 60s.’
Review: Blue Moon Marquee ‘New Orleans Sessions’
By Hal Horowitz
Who said “they don’t make music like they used to”?
Not only is it natural for Canadian duo Jasmine Colette and A.W. Cardinal (aka Blue Moon Marquee) to head away from their chilly northern environs of British Columbia to record in humid New Orleans, many would ask what took so long?
The swing, raw blues, jazz and boogie-woogie infusing their dusky sound was unmistakably influenced by the distinctive sonic vibe of the Big Easy. So a few trips down South to that mecca of American music to capture those sounds in their natural habitat for the appropriately titled New Orleans Sessions, is a logical, even essential, career destination.
‘a rollicking batch of ridiculously lively toe-tapping originals and covers with New Orleans Sessions.’
The Juno-winning B.C. blues duo of A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Colette - best known as Blue Moon Marquee - made huge strides with their acclaimed 2022 album Scream, Holler & Howl. Now the energetic, high-octane tandem is back with a rollicking batch of ridiculously lively toe-tapping originals and covers with New Orleans Sessions.
Canadian JUNO Award-Winner Blue Moon Marquee Captures The Big Easy Sound With Latest Album, "New Orleans Sessions," Coming Out September 27
Contributed by Mark Pucci on Grateful Web
JUNO Award winning, British Columbia-based Indie Blues duo A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Colette, best known as Blue Moon Marquee, made huge strides with their highly lauded, critically acclaimed, award-winning album, Scream, Holler & Howl. Now, the energetic, high-octane tandem is back with a rollicking batch of ridiculously lively toe-tapping originals and covers with New Orleans Sessions, coming out September 27.
To think such gorgeous, old-school material dazzling with style & infectious spirit could be crafted over two days one year apart is simply amazing. But that's what guitarist/vocalist Cardinal and singer, drummer and upright bassist Colette (aka Badlands Jass) did with New Orleans Sessions. Recorded at Bigtone Studios and surrounded by a stellar cast of New Orleans' finest musicians and engineer (and harmonica player) Big Jon Atkinson, the live, off-the-floor energy throughout is captured perfectly.
"These two afternoon recordings were a fine pleasure to experience," the band says. "The musicians we had the good fortune to play with and have style for miles and know how to have a good time all the while. Jon is a true-blue lover and aficionado of the music, and it shows in everything he does, whether his hands are on an instrument or in the back room on the dials. We all sat in one room together & played the music in the truest form."
Review: Booker T. Jones, Blue Moon Marquee electrify JazzFest Victoria
The two groups did not disappoint in kicking off the 40th TD Victoria International Jazzfest
Legends and legends in the making came together to perform one unforgettable show on the opening night of the 40th TD Victoria International JazzFest at Royal Theatre.
While traditional jazz wasn't on the menu, it was a night with one of soul and electric blues music's most legendary artists, Booker T. Jones along with his 10-piece band. Additionally, the show was opened by Blue Moon Marquee, Cowichan Valley's swing blues duo which took home their first Juno award this year.
The show got off to a hilarious start, when during introductions, Blue Moon Marquee vocalist and guitarist A.W. Cardinal was met with a loud "Sorry, I didn't understand that," from a phone Siri in the audience. Without missing a beat, he raised his voice, "I SAID...," and proceeded to repeat himself. Later, after sharing another remark, he quipped, "That was for Siri."
Cardinal remained as delightfully charismatic throughout their short but sweet set. Whether introducing songs – "This is a song about dancing with the wrong man's wife" – to giving anecdotes about the band's time at the Juno Awards in March – "They asked me what my favourite Nelly Furtado song was and I said, 'Whose that guy?" – he consistently delivered laughs and warmed the crowd with an unpretentious, easy-going presence.
B.C.-based Juno award winner Blue Moon Marquee set to open Victoria JazzFest
The genre-defying band shares the stage with Booker T’s Stax Revue on June 21 at the Royal Theatre
Having just won their first JUNO award, B.C.-based Blue Moon Marquee is now poised to move on to even greater success.
Although they won their JUNO for Blues Album of the Year (and were also nominated for Contemporary Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year), describing them as a blues band wouldn’t be accurate. Blue Moon Marquee has its own unique take on American blues and folk, jazz manouche, jump jive, Indigenous soul, jump blues and pretty much anything that swings, jumps or grooves.
Vocalist and guitarist A.W. Cardinal and vocalist, bassist and drummer Jasmine Colette together have forged their music playing for crowds at jazz clubs, Lindy Hop dance halls, folk venues, blues haunts, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars and prestigious festival main stages.
“Our music defies easy definition. We’ve had people call it indie blues, but I don’t really like being defined by any genre. It tends to make people pre-judge your music,” said Colette. “I’ve had people come up to me after a show and tell me that they’d heard we were a blues group and that they didn’t really like blues, but they really liked us. Those preconceptions can be really misleading.”
Vancouver Island’s Blue Moon Marquee over the moon with first Juno win
Chad Cawson, Vancouver Island Free Daily
Blue Moon Marquee will open for the legendary Booker T at the Victoria Jazz Festival on June 19
Cowichan Valley swing blues duo Blue Moon Marquee, consisting of vocalist and guitarist A.W. Cardinal and vocalist, bassist, and drummer Jasmine Colette, is over the moon with their first ever Juno win.
The awards were held in Halifax on March 24, and hosted by Victoria-born pop sensation Nelly Furtado.
“This honour is wind in our sails to keep going, stay writing, and to keep creating,” said Colette who plays bass, drums, and sings in the band. “We posted a reaction video on our Instagram, it is pretty evident how we felt. We were not expecting to win — it was surprising and thrilling. A wild ride indeed. There were so many sensational artists and the energy was electric.”
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.
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