r P; a ee nr The Jeff Healey Band Get Me Some Forte / Universal = JEFF HEALEY After a five year absence, the Jeff Healey Band has been wel- comed back into the Canadian music scene with enthusiasm to match the raw _ style 54.40 Casual Viewin’ Columbia / Sony Finger Eleven The Greyest of Blue Skies Wind-Up / Sony ale which it is famous for. At the age of one, Canadian Jeff Healey (Guitar/Vocals) was ren- dered blind from eye cancer but this didn’t stop him from learning how to play the guitar flat on his lap, a style which is “the trademark of his performance.” A musical prodigy, the past has seen Jeff Healey play alongside Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King in Vancouver at Expo ‘86. This gave Healey the attention he needed and it wasn’t long before he hooked Never sticking to con- vention, instead of the usual thoughtful retreat to compose a new recording or in the bands own words “some ‘hot’ video director's freaked-out fantasy, somehow including our musical and visual like- ness” 54.40 decided to take a 20 day shotgun trip around the world instead. They return Finger Eleven is a fusion of metal and rock to allow for a heavy-side interpretation of a style which is predominantly screamed into mikes without any care. In existence since only 1996, the five piece has lifted itself to success on the wings of their wide variance of style and control over the sound up with Joe Rockman (Bass) and Tom Stephen (Drums). They’ve been together ever since. Get me some proves they haven't been idle. As soon as ‘88 JHB released “See The Light” which featured originals alongside such _ well- known names as John Hiatt, ZZ Top, and Freddie King, resulting in a top 10 single and Billboard Hot 100 slots. In Canada the album went platinum and in the US Healey was nominat- ed for a Grammy Award. After 1989, JHB found themselves inundated with stories to tell and “Casual Viewin”’ as their product. Targets for the world tour included Bangkok, Ko Samui, Nairobi, Mombassa, Casablanca and Essaouira. Through the epic stories of under- cover police in Morocco, singing in the middle of traffic in Bangkok, safar- ing in Nairobi, bombing around in Tuk-Tuk’s, which they choose to perpetuate. A Canadian band, Finger Eleven changed their name after the release of their first CD in 1996 “Letters From Chutney” from The Rainbow Butt Monkeys. (Probably a good idea irom a long term view). ‘97 and ‘98 saw the release of “Tip,” first in Cat with multiple awards, magazine covers, and was playing stadiums instead of clubs. 1990 saw the release of “Hell To Pay,’ which went gold. Under Healey’s own new “Forte” label, which encompasses ._ other well-known stars such as Amanda Marshall, JHB released “Feel This,” bridging the gap between blues, rock, ballads, and rap, con- cluding with an ener- getic and new synthesis. A tour with the Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones, and a Much Music bribing museum cura- tors and drinking with the locals, valuable sto- ries emerged culminat- ing in the lessons that “the valuable things in life are subtle and hard to hang on to,” “love only visits from the shadow of a hand,” and “hunger is a sauce that’s worth it.” Casual Viewin’ is 54.40’s self proclaimed “feel good groove Canada aand_ then remastered and released in the US both under the rising name Finger Eleven. - Two years later, FE proves that they have hardly been idle with the release of “The Greyest of Blue Skies,” demon- strating their ability to interpret new styles into their existing sound and 14 +i & cs appearance followed. “Cover to Cover” was released in 1995. Considered a concept album bending classic blues to rock standards, JHB disappeared only to resurface this year with “Get Me Some,’ a return to roots which the phrase sums up well - a true rock sound which possess a “melancholy, keening quality, traits that have come to define Healey’s incomparable style.” record” and it’s easy to hear why. The mellow “take it easy” tunes offer a stigma typical of 60’s soul and hip hop with a theme to the rhythm. Splashed in is the vocal harmonies which has kept 54.40 in the spot light for so long. continue to push the lim- its of their contempo- raries.