Hats off to Healey
BRAD WHEELER
Globe and Mail Update
May 5, 2008 at 2:50 AM EDT
Musician Jeff Healey was saluted enthusiastically Saturday in Toronto,
where a star-studded roster of Canadian and international talent
performed their own blues and rock material as well as songs associated
with, and favoured by, the late guitarist.
“We're here in celebration of Jeff Healey and his music tonight, and we
want to hear some noise,” said Randy Bachman, during a hardy four-song
set of
Let it Ride,
American Woman,
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet and
Takin' Care of Business.
The appearance by the former Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive
guitarist was a highlight, as were spots by Blue Rodeo, Colin James and
ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce, a liver-cancer survivor who had befriended
and played with Healey on the European concert circuit.
“He put his arms around me when I was at my lowest,” said Bruce, who
joined Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan and guitarists James, Bachman
and David Wilcox for a finale of Healey's signature
See the Light.
A sell-out crowd of 2,500 gathered at the lakeside Sound Academy club,
where Healey's widow Cristie spoke about the selfless courage of her
late husband, who died of cancer at age 41 in March. She revealed that
their son, Derek, shared the genetic mutation related to the
retinoblastoma that had robbed Healey of his own sight during
childhood, but that boy's prognosis was optimistic due to medical
advances.
The lengthy concert, which in part benefited Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund,
began at dusk with Healey's own Jazz Wizards, a still-active ensemble
that offered
Stardust,
a poignant standard about “purple dust of twilight time” and the music
of years gone by. It was one of Healey's favourite songs, and the last
he had performed with the Wizards. The show was recorded by CBC for
future broadcast.
A second, more jazz-themed tribute to the musician took place Sunday at
Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, a live-music venue that is expected to remain
in business.
"There's the shirt that I like!"
"It was nice singing with you this evening."