Steve Marriner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve Marriner is a multi-instrumentalist (including electric guitar, harmonica, hammond organ, and upright bass), singer, songwriter and record producer based in Ottawa, Ontario. He performs in a variety of genres ranging from blues to rock and roll. He is currently the frontman for MonkeyJunk, which won a 2012 Juno award. He has also played in the Johnny Russell Band and the JW-Jones Blues Band.

Career

Early years (1996-2003)

Marriner began playing the harmonica at the age of 11 after being inspired by The Blues Brothers movie. He first studied the harmonica with Larry "The Bird" Mootham, a blues harmonica player from Ottawa. After a year of tutelage, Marriner began joining "The Bird" and his band on stage in Ottawa-area clubs. Before taking the stage for the first time, "The Bird" bestowed Marriner with the moniker "Southside Steve," a reference to Marriner's home in South Ottawa.

In the summer of 1998, "Southside Steve" met guitarist Tony D, and would perform regularly with him at The Rainbow Bistro. (The two would later form MonkeyJunk with drummer Matt Sobb in 2008). Later that year, Steve joined The Johnny Russell Band. The band played Chicago Blues and New Orleans music and performed around the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

In June, 1999 at age 14, he won the Ottawa Blues Harp Blow-Off, an annual battle of harmonica players held at The Rainbow Bistro. With the win came an appearance on stage at the Royal Bank Ottawa Blues Festival and a recording sessions at Distortion Studios in Ottawa. The Johnny Russell Band used the studio time to record their album "Whippersnapper." The album was released in December 1999, and is the earliest public recording of Steve Marriner.

He also performed, toured, and recorded with the JW-Jones Blues Band. He contributed both vocals and harp to the JW-Jones Blues Band. He performed with the band at clubs, bars, and blues festivals. While in the band, Marriner played several shows with Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman, the singer and harp player Kim Wilson when the band was backing up Wilson during his performances in Canada. He also accompanied acoustic blues player Harry Manx on a world tour.

His debut album is Going Up was released in 2007 on Dog My Cat Records.[1] The record was reviewed favourably despite low sales and no nominations.[2] The BlogCritics review of the album states that "with only a couple of exceptions the majority of the music on the album follow[s] the standard rock/blues boy wanting girl theme". The review positively notes "Remember Me", with its "plea for the homeless" and the fourth song, which has "a nice rockabilly feel." The reviewer states that there are "glimmers of real talent on this album", such as Marriner's rare ability to play the "complexities of a Flamenco beat".[3]

The review from jazzreview.com notes the album's "nods to harp legends Little Walter, Junior Wells and Kim Wilson, and states that Marriner's "tight band fan the flames of tradition with a scorching sound for the 21st century." [4] The review states that "Marriner proves himself an adept singer/songwriter who writes highly melodic tunes that are energetic and full of catchy hooks, reminiscent of Delbert McClinton". The review states that "his lyrics stay true to the braggadocio tradition forged by past blues legends." [5] Overall, the review states that the "highlight [is his] blistering harmonica playing", which has a "natural sense of blues phrasing with a down-home, gritty tone." Jazzreview.com states that with its "solid performances and slick production, Going Up is a strong premiere by a driven young blues maverick with crossover potential and all the makings of a star."[6]

Marriner played upright bass in a rockabilly band for a period, The Polaras, "which has since disbanded."[7] Marriner lists "Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Hopkins and The Fabulous Thunderbirds at the top of his charts for musical influences; although country wonders Hank Williams, George Jones and Johnny Cash come in for a close second."[8]

Marriner has also played on recordings by Newfoundland singer-songwriter Chris Kirby.

MonkeyJunk (2008 - Present)

Marriner is the frontman of MonkeyJunk, a Canadian rock'n'roll/blues band signed to Stony Plain Records. They are based in Ottawa. MonkeyJunk are frequent winners at the Maple Blues Awards,[9] and in 2012 their album To Behold won the Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year.[10]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/stevemarriner
  2. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/stevemarriner
  3. ↑ blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-steve-marriner-going-up/
  4. ↑ http://www.jazzreview.com/index.php/reviews/latest-cd-reviews/item/24694-
  5. ↑ http://www.jazzreview.com/index.php/reviews/latest-cd-reviews/item/24694-
  6. ↑ http://www.jazzreview.com/index.php/reviews/latest-cd-reviews/item/24694-
  7. ↑ http://www.thecoast.ca/
  8. ↑ http://www.thecoast.ca/
  9. ↑ The Canadian Press (January 16, 2012). "MonkeyJunk nabs 3 prizes at Maple Blues Awards", CBC News. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Local artists among winners in Junos pre-show gala". CTV News. Retrieved April 3, 2012.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.