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BOOGIE WOOGIE LOVERS MUSIC Eleven albums. Two JUNOs and seven nominations. The “Jazz Artist of the Year” Award at the 2017 Western Canadian Music Awards. Seven tours of China and legions of fans around the world. Of all the things pianist Michael Kaeshammer has earned over his illustrious career, the one presently giving him the most joy is his creative freedom. “I’ve consciously taken that path in my career,” said Kaeshammer, a renowned jazz & boogie-woogie pianist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and producer. “It is why I enjoy playing more than ever and why I like to write every day, because I don’t have a single person telling me what to do. I’m at the point now that I’m recording music or doing a new project that interests me rather than just to do a new record. In order for me to keep enjoying this fully like I do I just have to keep pleasing myself with the music I enjoy and hope people gravitate to it.”
PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $49 MEMBER: $42 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Wed 14 Feb 7:30PM
Fans have been gravitating toward Kaeshammer’s music since the classically-trained German-born pianist first discovered the boogiewoogie and stride piano stylings of Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson. After immigrating to Western Canada as a teen, Kaeshammer was lucky enough to discover an equally influential
boogie-woogie mentor named Long John Baldrey bouncing around Vancouver’s local blues clubs. Watching him play helped galvanize Kaeshammer’s resolve to follow a similar career path. “I remember playing with Long John before he passed when I lived in Vancouver,” said Kaeshammer, who will be showcasing new music from his upcoming 12th album during a Valentine’s Day concert at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. “I was pretty young to be part of the blues scene in Vancouver. Everyone kept telling me about this ‘Don’t Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie on The King of Rock & Roll’ song. So I went to see him and I wound up playing a few times with him. That’s exactly what got me into playing that kind of music. It is still why I play it, because it’s so joyous. I can’t even tell you how much fun it is to play that thing on the piano.” Kaeshammer’s current tour had its genesis on CBC’s Q Radio program, which asked him to put together a Valentine’s Day show that he’s since decided to take on the road. For an artist who is thoroughly in love with performing, February 14th marks the perfect opportunity to showcase a variety of styles according to Kaeshammer. “It’s kind of a mix. I’ll be catering to the theme as well as performing some of my other stuff. Because it’s Valentine’s Day and I am so connected to making an audience feel at home it’s going to be a great show for couples. There might be a love song or two.” - David DeRocco GoBeWeekly.com