A Celebration of the Music of Ry Cooder & Taj Mahal featuring Doug Cox, Sam Hurrie, Colin Nairne & Mick Sherlock

It’s hard to think of any musicians in the roots music world more influential or revered than Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal. Both are master multi-instrumentalists and song interpreters.  It’s a safe bet to say if you are a current Roots Musician either you or your teachers have been influenced by the prolific work done by these two music giants.

So it’s no wonder when discussions began about starting a tribute show celebrating their music, many BC musicians were wanting to be part of the show. “When Mick Sherlock suggested we do this,” says Roots Musician/Producer Doug Cox, “I jumped on it as an opportunity to share some of the songs and styles I learned by studying both Ry and Taj. The sheer joy of playing this music, along with the lessons that come with it, are my reason for taking part.” Cox is both a slide guitarist and a Dobro player and has been involved in many of his own successful collaborations with musicians from Tibet, India, Africa, The UK and beyond. He has spent 30 years as a side person and session player leaving a musical resume as long as your arm. Cox is a multiple Juno Nominee as Artist and Producer and recently played on a Grammy Nominated album for Los Texmaniacs on their version of a song penned by Ry Cooder and John Hiatt, Across The Borderline. The Circle continues.

Mick Sherlock is a wonderful Harmonica player, song interpreter and multi instrumentalist originally from the UK but most recently living in Qualicum on Vancouver Island. Mick is a song interpreter influenced equally by UK folk music and North American Roots Music and has managed to tie the two together creating his own style

Sam Hurrie and Cox go way back, having recorded 3 albums together over the past 20-some years. They have toured together from Texas to Germany and beyond. Hurrie’s storied career includes time spent jamming with Jimi Hendrix when Hurries band, The Churls, were hosting a house gig in New York City. His career has seen him in the same places as blues legends from Muddy Waters to Albert King and it shows in his playing. He is a stunning slide and blues player who mostly likes to play around his home, now in the Nelson area. When asked if he wanted to particiapate in this show, he enthusiastically responded with three simple words “when and where!”

Rounding off the lineup is a very talented music from Vancouver, Colin Nairne. Over the years Nairne has performed with Barney Bentall, Murray McLaughlin, Joe Satriani, Joachim Cooder and Colin James including most recently playing mandolin with Elvis Costello, as part of his historic 10-night residency at The Gramercy Theatre in NYC. In his over 50 years of playing, he has earned 5 Juno nominations, winning one as a member of Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts. Other nominations include a nod from the Genie Awards for best original song in a film, and as part of his bluegrass group the High Bar Gang, a CFMA award for vocal group of the year. He has earned several gold and platinum record awards for his work with The Legendary Hearts and Colin James.