Canadian Roots Blues Duo Blue Moon Marquee: New Video

Canadian Roots Blues Duo Blue Moon Marquee Premieres New Video for "Scream, Holler & Howl," the Title Track Off New CD Coming September 9th.

Blue Moon Marquee has premiered their cool new video for "Scream, Holler & Howl," the title track of their new alum coming out September 9. 

The players: Al Cardinal (vocals, guitar); Jasmine Colette (vocals, bass, drums).

Inspired by an interview by Howlin Wolf where he talks about what they used to go do on a Saturday night, Cardinal says “The song is about going out and having a good time.” “After what we’ve all experienced the past few years, it’s really about letting loose again. Getting out there and having some fun, seeing a live show. We need music.” adds Colette.

Production Credits: Filmed on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Naw-As, Quw’utsun and Tla’amin peoples. Produced by Raymond Knight, Knight Studios. Starring Clayton James. Booi; Motorcycle by Blue Moon Motorcycles. Featuring the beloved Vault Cafe, Nanaimo, BC. This project is funded in part by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

Canadian Roots Blues duo Blue Moon Marquee announce a September 9th release date for  their latest CD, Scream, Holler & Howl, on their own Blue Moon Marquee Music label.  The new CD was recorded at Afterlife Studios.in Vancouver, British Columbia, and produced by the band, along with multi Blues Music Award-winner Duke Robillard and Erik Nielsen. Scream, Holler & Howl shines a bright spotlight on the prodigious talents of A.W. Cardinal (vocals and guitar) and Jasmine Colette (upright bass/vocals), along with guests Darcy Phillips - piano, Hammond organ; Jerry Cook - tenor and baritone sax; Matt Pease – drums; Paul Pigat – guitar; Bonnie Northgraves –trumpet; and Señor Erik –tambourine. Duke Robillard adds his stellar guitar work on several tracks, too. The album’s “Baker’s Dozen” 13 tracks include 11 original songs, plus two distinctive takes on songs written by the legendary Lonnie Johnson: “Another Night to Cry” and “Long Black Train.”

“To say A.W. and Jasmine are old souls is an understatement to say the least,” says co-producer and legendary guitarist Duke Robillard in the album’s liner notes. “They are poised for worldwide recognition in an amazing genre-bending ride through American blues and folk, gypsy jazz, Native American themes, jump blues, swing and more. These century-old traditions have been redefined and delivered in a new light here. They are astounding in their depth, groove and soul on this recording. Written, played, and recorded here in a heartfelt and natural old-school way for the world to hear, feel, dance, drink or be alone with. For me, working with them in the studio was inspiring and a re-confirmation of my own belief in the power of roots music. Special thanks go out to Afterlife Studios, with their long history of great recordings and real echo chambers, vintage gear, and great engineer Erik Nielsen, who converged magically with all these musicians to make some damn memorable music.”

Blue Moon Marquee writes and performs original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves.  A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette - a.k.a. Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums) - have played for a vast gamut of crowds at jazz clubs, Lindy Hop dance halls, folk venues, blues haunts, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars and prestigious festival stages.

Jasmine Colette not only commands the upright bass, but also brings the rhythm with her feet on a custom foot drum kit, all while singing in her signature honey-dipped tones. Cardinal’s distinctive and soulful vocals barrel out like a raging bull, while his guitar crackles with the swinging energy of jazz-tinged blues.

The result of nine years of rigorous touring, crisscrossing Europe and North America is a distinct energy and style from this acclaimed duo. Carving a path through blues, jazz, jump jive, folk, country, swing and Indigenous soul with an authentic spirit, their sound does not idle easily in one certain category. It stomps and struts through the wilds, conjuring a blend where Howlin’ Wolf tangos with Django, Earnest Tubb shoots firecrackers with Cab Calloway, and Memphis Minnie throws dice with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

Their gift is bringing all these elements together without anything sounding out of step. They collect the roots and smoothly braid them with lyrics that often touch on the underbelly of society, woven with elements of Indigenous storytelling and poetic cadence.

"Blue Moon Marquee have their own completely original style. Modern Blues doesn't really get any better than this. This is a tremendous sound by a hugely talented duo,” says American Roots UK.

With their highly-anticipated 5th album Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee have captured their most sophisticated collection of songs yet. Recorded live to tape, SHH blazes forward with a full band featuring some of Canada’s finest veteran players. While they have primarily performed as a duo since 2013, over the last couple years Blue Moon Marquee have been performing often as a trio or quartet with Darcy Phillips (Jann Arden) on piano and Jerry Cook (Colin James) on tenor and baritone saxophone. 

With 2019’s Bare Knuckles and Brawn, they were nominated as Blues Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

With a “totally unique approach…such a powerful original mix of swing styles with jazz and blues, west coast swing and New Orleans feel” (Sound Guardian) the record topped both the Earshot National Folk/Roots/Blues Charts simultaneously with the National Jazz charts, a rare feat. Starring standout vocals and catchy hooks that speak to music lovers, BNAB instantly charmed first-time listeners and thrilled longtime fans.

News about the band was spreading from heavy touring and old-fashioned word-of-mouth. As word spread, so did interest from talent buyers, allowing Blue Moon Marquee opportunities to open for a range of artists like Lisa Fischer and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Appreciated for their lyrical candor, outstanding musicianship and vivacious live performances, Blue Moon Marquee was the most-requested band in the country for the Canadian International Jazz Festival Circuit following their 2017 release, Gypsy Blues. That full-length album of original material also garnered the Indigenous Artist of the Year nomination from Western Canadian Music Awards as well as Best New Artist nomination at the Maple Blues Awards.

Gypsy Blues was an ode to their deep influences of jazz manouche and vintage blues, infused with verse having a penchant for poet characters and a heavy dose of atmospheric textures, “Blue Moon Marquee harnessed the best of vintage music that’s practically a century old and brought it into modern times. It’s part haunting, part joyous, and sneakily infectious” said Jim Hynes of Elmore Magazine.

Born of the wild rose country in Alberta, Canada, both Cardinal and Colette played in punk, metal and rock and roll bands. Leaving home at a young age, they both spent years traveling on their own, working a variety of jobs and touring with different acts. At one point Colette was hitchhiking throughout North America performing vaudeville with her act of hula hooping, skateboarding and playing trombone simultaneously, while Cardinal was living in New York City working as a bike mechanic and performing at open mics every night.

It was in 2012 that they came together in Vancouver, B.C., to record Cardinal's original material for his album, Stainless Steel Heart, which he had written while living in Montreal. A mutual old friend was engineering the project and they connected deeply on their taste and obsession over music.

The vast répertoire of this band is a reflection of bounteous years on the road, experiencing life through a wide diversity of lenses. The result is their trademark blend that pulls the different parts of their musical worlds together, taking the tones of early blues, the expressions of jazz, the heart of country, the spirit of folk, the swagger of soul and the rhythm of roll. The way Colette's velvet tones lift Cardinal's mystique is something that enthralls audiences from backroom bars to festival stages.

Unbound by genre or era, Blue Moon Marquee has an edge that demands you take notice. With an authentic mixture of tempo, melody and imagery, they are timeless artists perfect for this time.

Mark Pucci Media | www.markpuccimedia.com