Paul Tessier
Special to The Morning Star
There seems to be one in every class. That鈥檚 the kid who鈥檚 like a sponge when it comes to music. Jack Semple was one of those kids. At the age of 10, he started taking guitar lessons. By the time he was 15, he was teaching guitar at the local music store and playing live at the Folk Guild in Regina.
Since then, Semple has won the Much Music Guitar Wars contest and a Juno award in 1991 for best roots recording. He has also won two Western Canadian Music awards and he鈥檚 currently nominated for the Maple Blues awards for best blues guitarist.
Semple will be performing his brand of blues for the Vernon Folk-Roots Music Society on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Vernon Prestige Lodge and Conference Centre.
See:
Like so many kids in the 鈥�60s, seeing the Beatles on television had a lasting impact.
鈥淚 was about 10, when I saw them play on the Ed Sullivan show,鈥� Semple recalls. 鈥淭hen later that year, I saw B.B. King play the blues on TV. Music has been my passion ever since I was 10 years old.鈥�
Early on, Semple played all sorts of styles on guitar. 鈥淎t first, I studied classical guitar. Then I got into Flamenco guitar. But I always loved Blues music,鈥� he explains. 鈥淏ut I never got an electric guitar till I was 18. At the time, I got asked to join a party band around town- it was a good way to make money. So I started reexamining blues music and rock 鈥榥 roll guitar.鈥�
His delving into past music helped form his view of music and the blues. 鈥淏lues music is the essential germ of rock 鈥榥 roll, jazz, country, hip-hop and even heavy metal. It鈥檚 the root and the source of that feeling in music.鈥� Semple goes on to say, 鈥淏.B. King鈥檚 music always spoke to because it鈥檚 so easily understood- yet incredibly difficult to pull off. Recently, I started doing a B.B. King tribute where I play a full evening of his songs. So I practiced his licks and studied his guitar style. I soon discovered that technically it鈥檚 very hard to do but it鈥檚 so lyrical and beautiful. So, I鈥檝e discovered that blues music has always truly been at the centre of my gravity.鈥�
In the late 80鈥檚, his Regina-based band opened a show for the Lincolns: 鈥淚 had seen the Lincolns a few times and they were basically the very best Toronto musicians playing classic soul and R&B music,鈥� he remembers. 鈥淭heir music really spoke to me because it was sophisticated, slick, well-played with a great stage presentation. So we opened for them and after the show, their leader asked me if i would join their band. And I said, 鈥榃hat? You want me to join my favourite band?鈥欌�� he says with a laugh. 鈥淚t was a great opportunity. My wife and I had a two year old at the time so we decided to move to Toronto and give it a shot.鈥�
He spent a couple of years in Toronto and kept himself very busy. 鈥淚 played on movie soundtracks, worked on albums and played all over Ontario and Western-Canada. It was great because I made so many connections in Toronto with folks I continue to play with to this day.鈥� The move to Toronto also bolstered his confidence. 鈥淛ust going there and seeing the level of talent- I came to realize I could compete on that level.鈥�
The show on Jan. 18 will be very special because Semple will be reunited with Dave Chabot on bass.
鈥淒ave and I played together for 30 years,鈥� Semple says. 鈥淒ave just moved to the Vernon area a few months ago. I miss him terribly because he and I are partners, basically. It鈥檒l be absolutely great to play with him again.鈥�
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Semple is also looking forward to doing some tunes from his new album, Can鈥檛 Stop This Love!, released in September of last year. 鈥淏ack in October of 2017, I spent two full months writing tunes for a new recording and I wrote 60 tunes in 60 days. I wrote a song every day. I just put the pedal to the metal and I came up with the best writing that I鈥檝e ever done. Then I picked 10 of the songs and that鈥檚 the new album. It鈥檚 going over well and people are really enjoying it.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檒l be stuff you鈥檒l be able to dance to for sure, Semple says, looking forward to the Vernon show. 鈥� I鈥檒l also be doing some instrumental, solo-guitar stuff and lots of tunes with bluesy vocals.鈥�
鈥淧erforming live is very exhilarating because i want to connect with the audience and give them something that they can feel good about,鈥� Semple says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the whole point- to make the audience feel good. I love taking the audience on a range of emotions- from happy, blues-shuffle music that makes you wanna dance to more thoughtful music that makes you want to reflect on your life and the world around you.When I can create that kind of journey for the audience, I feel I鈥檝e given them something to remember.鈥�
Tickets to the show are $30, $25 for Vernon Folk Roots Society members. Available through ticketseller.ca (250-549-7469), Expressions Of Time bookstore (2901- 30 Avenue) or at the door (if available and cash only.) Doors open at 6:30. Show at 7:30. Food (beef brisket sliders), beer and wine available at the show.
Memberships to our Society sell for $20. Society members receive a $5 rebate when attending a show and are eligible to attend our Annual General Meeting. More information on all shows for the upcoming season is available through vernonfolkroots.com and on Facebook (vernonfolkroots). For further information, please contact: info@vernonfolkroots.com.
entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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