GROSSMAN’S TAVERN 7, 70 and 75!
Grossman’s Tavern celebrated 3 outstanding milestone’s with their 7, 70 and 75 on as patrons flowed in like fine wine thru those iconic doors, looking for a prime spot to view the stellar lineup & to be apart of the triple celebrations. Longtime proprietors of Grossman’s Tavern, the Louie family, also celebrated 43 years of ownership of Grossman’s (since 1975) in high spirits on Sept. 25th, 2018 alongside the support from dedicated patrons, music executives, passionate music lovers, Juno award-winning stars that cut their teeth once upon a time on that historical stage & the many media sources present.
Grossman’s Tavern 1st opened as a lounge on Spadina Avenue in early 1948, converted from a deli that opened in 1943, to which in 1975, the Louie family purchased. There is something to be said about rustic or retro if you will, the food is good, the staff is friendly, the comforting décor still reflects the 70’s & with the top-notch swing, jazz, blues performers, it goes 7 decades deep. This was my second time inside the internationally acclaimed Toronto jazz, blues, folk rock hotspot & most definitely not my last.
Grossman’s Tavern is known as Toronto’s longest running renowned blues institution in Chinatown since 1948 & holds the Toronto record for the longest running Sunday night jam as well. Still producing an eclectic range of entertainment 7 nights a week, this old relic survives especially with historical & sentimental interest. I personally adore the feel of an older more laid back establishment with great acoustic & congrats Grossman’s on your brand new upright piano. I was greeted at the door with a huge smile that belonged to the amiable Elizabeth Wong, once again treating me like VIP even remembering my name upon departure, a lot of establishments could learn a thing or two from Grossman’s staff & their genuine hospitality; consequently, it was simply refreshing. There is simply no other musical establishment in Toronto that gives back to its artists they way Grossman’s does.

The Happy Pals
a 6-7 piece act who have graced this very stage for 40 years. Joining in on harp was our Kawartha connection, our very own dynamic Juno Awarded founder of Downchild Blues Band, Mr. Donnie Walsh.
Also, joining in on bass was another multi Juno Award-winning star, Gary Kendall.
Dance floor went from tumbleweeds to crazy in less than 0-60 seconds with every square inch of that iconic floor filled with dancers who knew how to jump & jive. Their Ska infused Jazz is something to see, it’s creative, unique & unique sells. They have been regularly performing at Grossman’s now for 15 years with residency playing EVERY last Friday of each month. Grabbing your attention from start to finish with their signatures Sally Brown too I’m in the Mood For Love & Hey Bartender. Oooo that sexy saxophone enhanced this brilliant 8 piece & the audience went nuts for these Toronto’s traditional music masters. https://www.facebook.com/frankie.foo.547
Next up was the 2017 ALGMS recipient & 2018’s event host, Dan McKinnon.
This man is a great entertainer, well spoken & can he SING? His sound is like that a delicious mouth-watering steak; truly hearty, meaty & with the right juicy flavor to keep your hunger & palette engulfed. Dan has this deep & rich side too, like a great tasting wine getting better & better with age.
He reminds me of Colin James, especially when he is in the zone with closed eyes & epic gurning facial expressions, so young, yet so seasoned! He introduced his mates on drums Mike Carbon & on bass Peter Eratostene as they ripped right thru his newest album The Cleaner just released in 2018, with a few from his 1st album As Sharp As Possible, Sharing More Than a Song. They introduced you to a cover by Johnny Taylor that means the world to Dan’s heart as he perfected the Last 2 Dollars. They were Raining Down on You giving the audience a sample of what was to come at the end of the night as his career is zooming forward fast, he surely Ain’t Looking Back! www.danmckinnon.com
Then, the moment we had waited weeks for, arrived! The presentation of the Amy Louie Grossman’s Music Scholarship was presented by Alexandra Wong to guitarist/vocalist
Matt Allan & The Swinging Blackjacks
featuring on bass multi award-winning Gary Kendall, & they will take this win to remaster, repackage & re-launch their album from almost 20 years ago. They shared their Misery Train, with Little Easter, showing how I Love You So with a Little Red Head just to name but a few, mixing in that spicy cajun bluesy country-flavored classic rock. https://www.reverbnation.com/theswinginblackjacks?fbclid=IwAR0wntvackLMACjz4CRvmTJYziPhAREcUOAgTEUbiBJ4rln2DynVHn_qOps
mounted the stage remembering Ronnie Hawkins stating, “I wish he was here tonight!” as he broke into a unique version of Mary Lou right into Secret Agent Man. This man sings it like it is, dedicating the Kinks LOUIE LOUIE to the Louie Family as Amy loved the oldies rock. The pioneering spirit inside Danny Marks is like no other & glows strongly with no sign of showing exhaustion as he projected perfection, interacting stories with the audience exuding his much-known humor. www.dannym.com
Charisma, tons of it climbed the stage & his name is Jerome Godboo
who is the ALGMS’s 2014 recipient, He is an internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter & harmonica player with a creative force that no one can reckon with. Unique masterpieces oozed from Jerome Godboo & The Action Sound Band’s pores extending to his hard playing on the accordion on Lord Show Me How right into Rooting Out My Devils & he even incorporated his chest plated frottoir too. Jerome brought lifelong musical brothers Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) on guitar, frequent flyer of Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks boot camp bassist Leonardo Valvassori to the forefront this eve & rounded out the bottom end on drums with highly sought drummer Gary Craig who is Toronto based ( who currently tours Canada with Jann Arden & has performed live & in the studio with many artists including Anne Murray, Bruce Cockburn, Colin Linden, Blackie the Rodeo Kings, Tom Cochrane, Jann Arden, Kathleen Edwards, Marc Jordan, The Rankin Family, Jimmy Rankin, Gregory Hoskins, Jenn Grant, Stephen Fearing, Jesse Cook, Suzie Vinnick, Jason McCoy, George Canyon, The Wilkinsons, Allanah Myles, John Bottomley, Lawrence Gowan, The Kings, Eddie Schwartz, Karyn Ellis & Trudy Artman. During this memorable set, Jerome showed he wasn’t just an accomplished blues-men with 14 albums under his 30+ year trademark tool belt, he too has performed with Ronnie Hawkins, Prince, James Cotton, Tragically Hip, Levon Helm, Billy Ray Cyrus & recorded & toured with Alannah Myles, Dutch Mason, Jeff Healey & Kawartha’s Jimmy Bowskill just to name but a few. I have seen his genius live several times, but it was like witnessing him for the 1st time all over again, the acoustics were fabulous, he is always bringing something new and entertaining forward & goosebumps were plentiful, as this Grossman’s staple revved up our audience with Bright Lights Big City, Judgement Day and crowd favorite Cross-Eyed Cat
surely here to stay Not to Fade Away. www.jeromegodboo.com
Dan McKinnon returns to set this stage ablaze taking the establishment by Storm. He presented original hits King Baby, 17 Years, & All Mine, proving he’s More Than Enough talent to wet your rockin’ blues appetite. Dan & his album The Cleaner has a One Track Mind & it should be on your Christmas list 2018. www.danmckinnonmusic.com