The Canadian Press
Jeff Healey is considered one of the most distinctive guitar players of our time.
N.B. mourns bluesman Jeff Healey
Guitarist was booked to play at this year's Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
By SHAWN BERRY
canadaeast news service Published Tuesday March 4th, 2008
FREDERICTON - Organizers of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival are among those mourning the passing of Canadian music legend Jeff Healey.
Festival music director Brent Staeben said the news came unexpectedly.
"I was shocked for sure," he said yesterday. "It's just a devastating loss."
Staeben knew Healey was fighting a fourth bout of cancer, which had cost the exceptional musician his eyesight as a toddler.
When Healey recently signed on for this year's Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, Staeben figured things were going well.
"I knew that the cancer was back and that he was dealing with it. But to me the fact that he accepted our offer meant that it was really no big deal," he said.
Healey, a champion of jazz and one of the best Canadian bluesmen, had played the Fredericton festival before.
In the three times he performed at Harvest, it was always with his jazz band -- the Jazz Wizards.
That saw Healey stick largely to singing and playing the trumpet.
Jazz was his passion, but Healey was slated to return to the Harvest stage this year to pick up his guitar and play the music that made him famous -- the blues.
"He was going to be a huge piece of the schedule," Staeben said.
Festival organizers began advertising the fact Healey was a confirmed act last month at the East Coast Music Awards staged in the capital.
Staeben said Healey's performances with the Jazz Wizards at the previous events left an indelible mark on the city.
"He spoke to the audience and he had a caustic wit," Staeben said.
"Just from the number of people who have stopped me on the street, called me or e-mailed me, I think it's clear there was a tremendous affection here for Jeff Healey."