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Lady Sings the Blues/ Live Wire/ Mike Beggs /The News Mississauga
Her vocals easily span pop,country and blues. Gayle Ackroyd will do more of the latter when she appears with her Telecats this Friday at Lake Affect Port Credit. Their set list will take in older blues(B.B. King, Eric Clapton), and more recent R&B (Duffy, Amy Wineshouse, Jully Black).
"I don't think everybody can sing the blues, I really don't," Ackroyd says from her Brampton digs. "It's something I've listened to for so long. My first boyfriend got me listening to John Mayall. I also spent many years playing in country bars....that's where the real pure sounding partof it comes in."
This duality between belting out the blues tunes and a tender touch of country stems from her years on the bar circuit. Though she has known her band members for years, Ackroyd only recently assembled the Telecats after more blues bookings began cropping up on her calendar. They include guitarist Ed Kopala, bassist Bob Bilton and drummer Peter Griffin.
"It sounds like we've been playing together a long time, “she said. “And all of them are singing backup.”
Likened to a cross between Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow, this singer and guitarist (and Mother of one) has three worthy recordings under her belt (Anything but Blue, Women be Wise and Give it all you Got) has hosted a Television Series on Song-writing as well as many workshops, is on the CBC Radio play list and has appeared at festivals across the country (including Mariposa and the Calgary Stampede).
Gayle & the Telecats hit the stage at 9:30pm at Lake Affect Patio Bar & Grill, 1 Port Street (Lakeshore and Stavebank Rd. S) April 24,2009

Gayle Ackroyd has a One Woman Show that pays Tribute to the Women of the 1960's. She sings to Tracks or with a Band. The show features songs by Connie Francis, Barbara Lewis, Doris Day, Dusty Springfield, Leslie Gore, Skeeter Davis, Lulu, The Ronnettes, Petulia Clarke, Little Eva

From: John Taylor
Date: December 12, 2008 8:51:30 AM GMT-05:00
Subject: Review of 'Anchorage' discs ...
Reply-To: bluesharp@rogers.com

Niagara Rhythm Section – Live At The Anchorage 1.0 – Shed 07-12
Niagara Rhythm Section – Live At The Anchorage 2.0 – Shed 08-13
Written By John Taylor

There are tons of gigs like this going on across the country – seasoned musicians, most more or less retired from active musical duty, holding court as invited guests make each week’s show a special event …

Some, of course, do it better than others. Together since 2004, The Niagara Rhythm Section play like the dream band every guest longs for – tight yet supple, responding to the musical needs of the moment with assurance and aplomb, accomplished enough to get along quite well on their own, yet selfless enough to concentrate on making the star shine.

The NRS consists of bassist Steve Goldberger (bandleader and producer, he’s responsible for recording and mixing), with Steve Grisbrook on guitars and Herb Nelson on keys. Drummer Dave Norris and percussionist Penner McKay provide the propulsion.

The theme on Volume 1.0 is predominantly bluesy, beginning with the relaxed “Early In The Morning” that kicks things off. Guests are primarily local legends, though all are first-rate performers. There’s Chuck Jackson, Downchild’s current vocalist, who contributes fine harmonica to the rhumba-rhythm “Who’s Been Talking.” Fathead’s John Mays is typically soulful on “Georgia Swing,” while Johnny Max gets suitably swampy on a sizzling “Polk Salad Annie.” Tony Springer, who’s worked with the likes of David Bowie, brings a funky sensibility to Bob Marley’s immortal “Stir It Up,” and Lance Anderson nails the Memphis groove of “Green Onions” on the B3 he actually lugs from gig to gig. Things come to a fitting close with the belly-rubbing “Talk To Me,” done here with classic bar-band beer-bottle bravado.

Volume 2.0 is a little more varied, from the opener (and NRS theme song) “Looking For The Heart Of Saturday Night,” here treated as an easy-going shuffle, to a extended, funked-up instrumental take on Ellington’s “Don’t get Around Much Anymore.” There’s foot-stomping bluegrass (“Can’t Stop My Heart From Loving You,”), balls-to-the-wall rock ‘n’ roll with John Dickie leading a furious romp through “Long Tall Sally,” the obligatory Stones cover (Paul Martin, “Sympathy For The Devil,” with Martin Alex Aucoin sparkling on keys), and a spine-tingling “I’d Rather Go Blind” courtesy of Gayle Ackroyd.

Return appearances include Chuck Jackson supplying the Bob Marley content with “No Woman No Cry,” Lance Anderson playing both piano and accordion on Professor Longhair’s “Back To New Orleans,” and Tony Springer, whose interplay with Grisbrook on “I Play The Blues For You” is a highlight.

Are either of these absolutely necessary for your continued musical health? Probably not. But if you’re a fan or friend of participants, or simply looking for an instant party platter, one that puts you in the party, either volume will provide a suitable soundtrack - Goldberger’s production strikes a fine balance between clean sound and a lively ambiance.

Again, not essential, but both volumes are eminently likeable outings by a solid, unpretentious, and uniformly excellent cast. Real music by real players – it’s a good thing!

www.stevegoldberger.com

Fourth time is the charm for local musician
The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday September 2 2008
By LORI SHERMAN

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BRAMPTON - From her melodic speaking voice to the CDs stuffed in her bag, even when not performing, it isn't hard to tell Gayle Ackroyd is a musician.
In fact, almost every day of Ackroyd's life has been filled with music.
Now this local talent is preparing for her fourth album release - a mixture of original and cover adult contemporary tunes that she feels is destined to hit radio charts.
Her love of music began, of all places, on a dairy farm in north Brampton. There, in her family's red brick house, she began playing piano and writing songs.
As a teenager, she took on guitar lessons at a local music store. That's where she received a lucky break and her love of singing and songwriting really started to bloom.
"One day I was waiting for my guitar lesson when somebody wandered into the store looking to buy a guitar. I said 'well this is a nice one' and I sat down and started playing it. That's when the boss who owned the place offered me a job there."
At 16, Ackroyd became a salesperson for the Quartet Music Centre in Brampton. She grew as a musician and, that same year, formed a band called The Villagers.
"We all lived in Peel Village," chuckled Ackroyd. "We mostly did covers - Proud Mary, Joy to the World. That sort of thing."
A government grant allowed The Villagers to play local gigs at shopping centres and retirement homes.
She admittedly wasn't earning a lot of money, but from that very first gig until now, Ackroyd has supported herself through music.
"I've always been doing this professionally.”
Ackroyd's music covers a variety of genres, with influences from blues, country, gospel and rock and roll.
Between recording sessions and gigs, Ackroyd also teaches piano, guitar and singing lessons in the evening at Long & McQuade in Brampton.
Ackroyd has traveled with her music - songwriting in Nashville, The Caribbean, Europe and even seeing some of her blues songs hit the music charts in Europe and the States.
Her crooning skills have allowed her to perform with Jimmy Rankin of the Rankin Family, she had a speaking roll with some of Hollywood's elite like Rob Lowe, Lou Diamond Phillipes and was a Stand In for Nicole Kidman. She was personally invited by the late Jeff Healey to play with him and his band at Healey’s Roadhouse in Toronto.
"That was so great. He was so nice to me and gave me the most wonderful introduction. I'd been on the scene in Toronto for so many years, so he'd known of me for some time."
It hasn't always been easy, she admits. But this new album, mixed with the recent flux of concert gigs and her past successes, has Ackroyd geared up now more than ever.
"It's mostly about family, love and belief in one’s self," said Ackroyd of her new album, which has been two years in the works. "Mostly it's about things that happen to me in my life. Something hits me and I feel inspired. I have to run home and grab my guitar right away."
She has also started pitching songs to other artists. At the moment, Ackroyd is pitching to last year's Canadian Idol finalist Tara Oram; who she helped select material last year for the next round of auditions during her trying out stage.
"I ‘m just trying to stay in the game by performing, writing and recording and I'm getting a lot of positive response so when that happens you really feel like you're doing something right."
Ackroyd's next local concert will be at the John Elliot Theatre in Georgetown on October 4, where she will be performing material from all of her albums.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.town.halton-hills.on.ca/theatre or by calling the box office at 905-877-3700.
Ackroyd's albums can be purchased online from iTunes or CD Baby.
For more information visit www.gayleackroyd.com

Gayle Ackroyd featured doing her Women of the 1960's Tribute. The video is on the Guardian's home page. There is a little video screen in the right-hand corner. It's the first video on the series, called Cars&Stars.
http://www.bramptonguardian.com
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