"For a harmonica player that was the top job in the world. He was a great band leader, the Duke Ellington of the blues in the sense that he turned out a lot of stars and a lot of band leaders and people who went on to make their own mark." A supremely agile player, Portnoy has as his trademark an ability to balance passages that are light and filigreed against moments when he pushes down hard on the reed to produce a fiercely heavy tone. According to Portnoy, the popular and faintly disparaging view of the "humble" harmonica ignores the versatility of the instrument. "All musicians want to speak through their instrument which is what makes the harmonica such a valuable tool for playing the blues. Its tonal capabilities are unique, so that you can make it sing, speak, talk, moan, cry, bark, growl, beg for mercy or just about anything else."
Jerry's career break came when he was invited to join the Muddy Waters Band. "I had a day job at the Cook County Jail at the time", Jerry recalls. "Johnny Young had passed away, and a benefit had been organized for his family. I went there straight from work. It was very crowded, but on the way across the room, I locked eyes with Muddy. He motioned me over and I made my way to his table, where he asked me to play his set with him that night." "After we played, he asked if I was available to travel. Of course, I was. He said, 'You're going to hear from me.' That was on a Tuesday night. That Friday, Muddy asked me to join his band." Jerry replaced Mojo Buford in 1974. During his tenure with Waters, he appeared on the albums I'm Ready, Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live, and King Bee. Jerry spent the next six years crisscrossing the U.S. and touring the world. With Muddy, Jerry played the White House, Carnegie Hall and all the major blues and jazz festivals; cut three albums (two of them Grammy winners); and shared the stage with the likes of Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Dizzy Gillespie and Bonnie Raitt.
In 1980, Portnoy, bassist Calvin Jones, pianist Pinetop Perkins, and drummer Willie Smith all left Muddy to form the Legendary Blues Band. Throughout the early '80s, Portnoy stayed with the Legendary Blues Band, recording the albums Life of Ease and Red Hot Blue. Jerry wrote and produced most of the band's original material, served as master of ceremonies and generally ran the business. He earned a W.C. Handy award nomination for his songwriting on 'Life Of Ease', one of two albums the band released.
In 1986, he left the band and he briefly retired. By the end of 1987, he had returned to the scene, founding the Broadcasters with Ronnie Earl. Two years later, he and Earl had a falling out, causing Jerry to leave the group. Portnoy formed his own band, the Streamliners in 1989. Two years later, the band released their debut, Poison Kisses, on Modern Blues Recordings.
Between 1991 and 1993, Portnoy was part of Eric Clapton's All-Star Blues Band, playing on the albums "Twenty Four Nights" and "From The Cradle" and the world tours that followed.
After leaving Clapton's band in 1993, he played a number of concerts, releasing his second album, Home Run Hitter, in 1995. Blues Harmonica Masterclass appeared six years later.
Jerry's site: http://www.jerryportnoy.com/
Canadian Sunset
Jerry Portnoy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So lonely and then
You came, out of nowhere
Like the sun up from the hills
Cold, cold was the wind
Warm, warm were your lips
Out there, on that ski trail
A weekend in Canada, a change of scene
Was the most I bargained for
And then I discovered you and in your eyes
I found the love that I couldn't ignore
Down, down came the sun
Fast, fast, fast, beat my heart
I knew when the sun set
From that day, we'd never ever part
The lyrics to Jerry Portnoy's song "Canadian Sunset" tell the story of a person who was lonely and alone until they met someone special. They describe how the person appeared out of nowhere like the sun rising up from the hills. The person's warm lips provided comfort to the singer on a cold day, and their kiss filled the singer with excitement and happiness. The two met in Canada, which was a change of scene for the singer, and the singer realized they had found someone special in the other person's eyes. As the sunset, the singer knew they wouldn't ever part from this special person.
The lyrics to "Canadian Sunset" tell a story of love and finding someone special in an unexpected place. It shows how someone could change another person's perspective on life and how love can change a lonely heart. The mention of the Canadian location in the lyrics adds an extra layer of warmth to the story, as if the beauty and serenity of the Canadian sunset brought these two people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was alone
I was lonely before I met you
So lonely and then
My loneliness was pervasive until you came
You came, out of nowhere
You appeared unexpectedly
Like the sun up from the hills
You brought brightness to my life
Cold, cold was the wind
The weather was harsh
Warm, warm were your lips
Your kiss provided solace
Out there, on that ski trail
In that outdoor setting
Where your kiss filled me with thrills
Where your kiss gave me excitement
A weekend in Canada, a change of scene
I traveled to Canada for a few days to get away from my routine
Was the most I bargained for
I didn't anticipate finding something special
And then I discovered you and in your eyes
But, I found you and saw my future
I found the love that I couldn't ignore
I fell in love with you
Down, down came the sun
The sun set
Fast, fast, fast, beat my heart
I felt nervous and excited
I knew when the sun set
I knew our relationship will survive
From that day, we'd never ever part
We would be together forever after
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Eddie Heywood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind