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When Tracy K asked Jamie Steinhoff what they should name their upcoming CD, he said, “Brian.” A humble funny guy by nature and chef by trade, when Jamie’s not cookin’ in the kitchen, he’s cookin’ on guitar! His secret was soon discovered and Ms. K pulled him out of the kitchen and stuck him on stage. Now they cook together in the kitchen and on stage.
Known internationally for wailing on harmonica and beltin’ out the blues with her Right Hand Band, Tracy K’s desire to form a specific kind of blues duo was fulfilled after moving to Thunder Bay, Ontario in 2004 where she met Jamie “Snakeman” Steinhoff. Wood shedding for over twenty years, Jamie’s dedication to folk and blues music from the 1920s to the 1940s is revealed in his swampy Delta slide, Piedmont finger style guitar work and gritty soulful vocals.
The duo’s steamy blues, lively rags, contemporary originals and vintage gems in the blues-folk tradition make up their sound. The acoustic tracks from Tracy K’s CDs find a home in this show amidst song choices unheard in her electric set and a couple of Jamie’s clever originals. On stage, Jamie gladly shares his great knowledge of early blues history with inquiring minds while Tracy remains the consummate Ukrainian hostess with the small-town prairie hospitality. Jamie recorded on both of Tracy K’s award winning songs which are part of their repertoire and the duo has just released their debut recording, Canned Heat.
Gracing stages for about two decades in many guises, Tracy K settled into a solo career as a recording artist and touring musician in 2000. Her Right Hand Band, which was nominated as Best Electric Act by Winnipegblues.com in 2006, has appeared in two Hollywood movies.
Tracy K was selected to perform at the Toronto Blues Society’s Blues Summit, their Harmonica Workshop and their Women’s Blues Revue. She has been a featured vocalist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and several women’s blues concerts across mid Canada.
Together, Tracy and Jamie have been recorded by CBC Radio One’s Bandwidth and Radio Two’s Canada Live, gave a private performance in the Caribbean and co-wrote and performed an epigrammatic tribute song, This Axe Is Your Axe for Jowi Taylor’s Six String Nation Guitar tour. The duo has shared workshop stages and concert billings with the likes of John Sebastian, Bill Bourne, Tim Williams, Fred Eaglesmith and Matt Andersen.
With generous support from Canada Council for the Arts they were very well received at their Ontario Contact and Manitoba Arts Network showcases. At home they keep busy with public and private gigs. On tour they play festivals, theatres and house concerts appropriate clubs and concert venues. One buyer states that “they produce a memorable show you’ll carry long in your heart” – sums it up! www.tracyk.ca
Tracy K Awards
- 2007 Ontario Independent Music Award for Best Blues
- 2007 International Songwriting Competition Finalist in Blues
- 2007 International Songwriting Competition Finalist in Performance
- 2007 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search First Runner Up
- 2006 Winnipegblues.com Harmonica Player of the Year
- 2006 Winnipegblues.com Female Vocalist of the Year
Submitted Profile
