One of the performers at Powell River Blues Festival this weekend has a new outlook on music and on life.
John Lee Sanders has been performing since he was a child in Louisiana. He is a master at saxophone, keyboards and guitar and is known for his smooth vocals, dynamic compositions and storytelling lyrics. Sanders is an Emmy-nominated and three-time Canadian Music Award winner with a blend of New Orleans funk, Cajun and gospel that has made him an audience favourite.
His deep-seeded blues has been described by biographer David Ritz as “neither nostalgia nor self-pity...John Lee Sanders’ blues are about nothing less [than] a renewal of strength, a resurrection of the human spirit, a projection of hard-earned hope and a declaration of extravagant love.” This is never more true than in 2012, as Sanders is returning to the stage after a journey with cancer.
February 2011 Sanders was told that he had a stage three squamous cell carcinoma at the base of his tongue. The statistics were “scary” he recalled. “I prayed a lot and others prayed for me.” He strived to keep a positive attitude.
Sanders faced his challenge both scientifically and spiritually, believing that “there are biological reasons, as well as deeper reasons why we get sick.”
He was treated with acupuncture and followed an alternative medicine regime based on Quantum Energy Healing Therapy. He also underwent seven weeks of radiation therapy.
The tumour was painful, and while the radiation treatment was effective, he said it was the hardest thing he has gone through in his life. The healing experience changed his approach to everything. “I don’t worry about day to day stuff anymore. I appreciate the small things in life. I am more thankful.”
Fifteen months after being told that his voice would not come back, Sanders is making music again.
Sanders was booked to play at the inaugural Powell River Blues Festival last June, until his health prevented him. This year he is excited to be in the Saturday lineup with his band: Chris Nordquist on drums, Tim Hearsey on guitar and Rob Becker on bass.
“I have watched the YouTube videos of last year’s performances,” said Sanders. “Powell River is going to be beautiful.” He has played at Pender Harbour Blues Festival and will again this year, but he has never taken the second ferry north to Powell River before.
Sanders is “getting back into the loop” this season. He returned from Washington DC earlier this month, from a concert at the Library of Congress alongside iconic songwriters Ray Parker Jr. (Ghostbusters) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pocahontas, Godspell). He will be performing at several festivals around BC this summer including a concert with Bonnie Raitt at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.
Sanders says the deadlines and business side of music can become too much stress, but since his cancer treatment he does not take things so seriously. He recognises the importance of having fun with music. “Having fun is why I did music in the first place.”
Sanders will serve up some southern-style fun with Powell River on Saturday, June 2, and for those who can’t wait that long, a generous taste of Sanders’ gumbo is available at his MySpace page.
Closing the Saturday night show will be The Strange Tones, an original band from Portland, Oregon that festival music director Steve Kozak heard last summer. “I had to sign them up for Powell River,” said Kozak. “They are very entertaining with their own thing: sort of surf music, rockabilly and blues. The show includes choreographed dancing. I think they will surprise people in a good way.” Lead guitar Julie Strange is a grade seven teacher by day and a crime-a-billy blues guitarist by night. The band is a five-times winner of the Cascades Blues Association’s Best Contemporary Blues Act.
Kozak played last year at the festival with his band, West Coast All-Stars. This year he has put together an all new lineup, many of whom are Juno nominees or past winners, like Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, the best dressed rockin’ pianist. “There is a bit of a piano theme this year.” said Kozak.
Another top piano act is Mitch Woods from San Francisco, who channels the 1930s’ era with his boogie-woogie piano. Woods travels the world sharing his ebullient style and is a favourite on Caribbean Legendary Rhythm and Blues cruises. He inspires audience involvement with his very danceable act.
In addition to his role as music director, Kozak will be playing guitar with the 88’s as backup for Woods, and again with sultry Toronto vocalist Robin Banks, Maple Blues nominee for Best Female Vocalist, 2012.
Kozak is improving the festival as he goes, picking up acts that are in California for the Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival in late May and giving them another West-Coast venue. Kozak is “really proud of this year’s stellar lineup.” He encourages people of Powell River to come out and support the young festival so that “it will continue to grow and build for the future.”
The festival runs this weekend, Friday to Sunday, June 1 through 3 at Beach Gardens Resort and Marina. Gates open at 4 pm on Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. For the full schedule interested readers can visit the festival's website.
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