SHAWN KELLERMAN

The John Saunders Centre

Get ready to be amazed with the legendary Shawn Kellerman in an electrifying live performance on May 30, 2024    Doors: 6:45Pm Show 7:30pm

80 Sandford Fleming Dr

SHAWN KELLERMANShawn enters his third decade as one of Canada’s most celebrated blues artists. He continues to play the music his mentors Mel Brown &amp; Lucky Peterson taught him while taking another major step forward to find a new sound on his latest album, Kell’s Kitchen. With features from Grammy winners Bobby Rush &amp; Jason Ricci, “I hope people can hear on this new CD that I was reaching from my blues influences, but also mixing it with sounds I had heard, and even collaborated with natives, while touring in over 40 countries”

Shawn Kellerman/ Kell’s KitchenBio (2023)As he enters his third decade as one of Canada’s most celebrated blues artists, ShawnKellerman continues to find new ways to play the music that has fuelled his creativitysince his early teens. He’s takenanother major step forward on his latest album,Kell’sKitchen, a 14-track collection that highlights all of hisinfluences, with his incendiaryriffingtying itall together.From thealbum’sopening blast of “SKB,” “Drivin” and “Show Me What You Got,”it’sclear that Kellerman isn’ttaking any prisoners. All three songs grewout of a writing tripto Texasthat produced a batch ofmaterial incorporating everything from southern gospelrhythms toJeff Beck/JimiHendrix-indebted funk, setting Kellerman ona path toward hismost dynamic set to date.Of course, it wouldn’t be a Shawn Kellerman album without contributions from the manyfriends he’s made over the years. On“We Are Blues Men,” his formeremployer,two-timeGrammy winner Bobby Rush, makes a notable appearance, while Jason Ricci—hailed as “one of the ten greatest blues harmonica players of all time”—shows off hisskills on the slow-burning “You’re Gonna Learn From This One,” as well as two others.Kellerman says, “I love collaborating, and I definitelywanted other people involvedon abunch of songs. On the other hand, I wanted to push myself to write as well. Lots ofthings were in my mind while putting thisalbum together, from the different grooves Iwanted, to lyrics drawn fromthings that have happened in my life, some of them seriousand some funny.”Kellerman specifically points to the song “Down By The River,” a rootsy track he wasinspired to write during his first trip to Greece,along with“Bad Mamma Jamma,” acollaboration with his wife, and “Mac &amp; Cheese,” madewithhis longtime friend,Michigan blues artist ZOOM. The album alsocontainstwo specifically chosen covers:Little Milton’s “Livin’ Off The Love You Give”is a tribute to an artist Shawn grew toadmire during his time livingin the southern U.S., whilea funky remake of The GuessWho’s “Runnin’ Back To Saskatoon” offers a tip of the cap to one of Canada’s greatbands.It all adds up to an album that Kellerman has seemingly been building up to since hefirstpicked up the guitar.Raised in Kitchener, Ontario, he was encouraged by his parents toplay blues,particularly his father who ranKitchener’s famousPop TheGator club.Through that connection,Kellerman was quickly taken under thewing of the legendaryMel Brown, and bythe late ‘90s, he was ready to hit the road, moving toMississippiwhen he began his stintwith Bobby Rush. Still more experience lay ahead when he wasinvited to join Lucky Peterson’s band, which boosted Kellerman’s already healthytouring scheduleto close to 200 nights a year.Along the way, Kellerman launched a solo career that’s led him to receive many honoursat home in Canada, and forge strong bonds with other Canadian blues artists such as PaulReddick and Carlos Del Junco. It’s a passion for all aspects of theblues that has keptpushing his sound in new directions.“I spent eightyears touring,recordingand co-producing recordswith LuckyPetersonbefore he passed away,andI wantedKell’s Kitchento reflect his work ethic, andhow heapproacheda song,” Kellerman says.“I learned so much from him. No, I do not play likehim or have his voice, but I hope his energy and powercomesacrossin my music. As werecorded this album, I wasn’t happy with a take until it felt the same aswhen I wasplaying with him in the studio oron a big stage.”Anyone who has ever seen Shawn Kellerman on stage can certainly attest to him being aforce of nature with a guitar. Still, ashe’s matured, Kellerman hasevolved into a well-rounded player with an understanding that the blues can be interpreted in countless ways.Kell’s Kitchenis unquestionably Shawn Kellerman’s best album to date, and arguablythe bestany Canadian blues artist has made in recent memory.“I still think aboutwatching mymentor Mel Brown, whohad songsin his repertoire thatrangedfrom traditional blues to pop, rock and funk. I’ve tried to keepthat in mindmywhole career, and the older I get, the more I wantto experiment with different genres.The blueswill always be at the core, but mixing in other sounds—whether they comefrom Europe or Africa or the U.S.—willhopefullylead tosomething original.WithKell’s Kitchen, I wantpeople tohear what I have heard through my experiences travelingto46 countries with different artists.”

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SHAWN KELLERMAN

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SHAWN KELLERMAN

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