JAKE AND THE FUNDAMENTALS

Jake with Ryan Rogers, Rob Joanisse, and possibly a semi-special guest. Thinking of changing the name from “The Jake Thomas Trio” to “High Rollers”.  There is an opening act both nights - we’ll start around 9:30 or so.

THE FUNDAMENTALS ARE BACK IN THE SADDLE BUT ON A MUCH SLOWER HORSE.   MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SENT ENCOURAGING WORDS - HELPS TO GIVE US PERSPECTIVE.  I’M STILL DOING THE WED. NIGHT “JAZZ-GIG” AT AVERAGE JOE’S RESTAURANT WITH RYAN, ROB, MARK, AND SPECIAL GUESTS.  ALSO GOING TO BE AROUND TOWN DOING SOME TRIO GIGS WITH ROB AND RYAN.  WE’RE ALL AVAILABLE FOR SIDE-MAN DUTIES AS WELL.

CHEERS,

JAKE

   Jake and The Fundamentals are inspired by Chicago blues, Delta blues, good ol’ Rock & Roll, R&B, and everything in between.

   In 1965 I took my guitar to Detroit and tried to make a living.  For a 17 year old rookie from the wilds of Northern Ontario it was like a crash course at “The University of Blues and R&B”.  Over the next decade I shared the stage with great artists like Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal, Johnny Winter, Doug Kershaw, and worked with many Toronto R&B artists like George Olliver and Bill King.

    Around 1975 vocalist Paul Pruneau and I met at a jam session.  We immediately connected musically and made plans to put together a hot blues band.  Because of other commitments it took a little longer than we anticipated.

    The Fundamentals were born around 1995 and Paul came on board about ten years later. We had worked on various projects together but it was nearly thirty years before we played some blues together.

     Ryan Rogers on bass and Mike Perreault on drums (The Young Lads) supply the deep-in-the-pocket grooves.

      Jake and The Fundamentals have opened shows for Magic Slim and The Teardrops, Buckwheat Zydeco, Downchild, Walter Trout, the late Jeff Healey and many more.  I’ve also gigged with the legendary Dutch Mason, Enrico Crivallero, Danny B., Michael Pickett, Jerome Godboo, David Rotundo, Lee Oskar, Willy “Big Eyes” Smith, Bob Stroger and many more.

       Jake and The Fundamentals have released six cd’s and hope to record again in the near future.  Also, I have released two acoustic guitar solo cd’s with a few songs getting extensive airplay on C.B.C.

      After all these years of guitar playing it is still a thrill and a true pleasure. Like the man says: “You can’t lie down when you’re busy getting down.”

                                                                                                  Jake      

“……great stuff from north of the border…..”  (Blues Revue Magazine)

“…….Jake is a world class guitar player…”  (Enrico Crivellaro, world class guitarist)

“These guys were hot - they tore the place up!”  (Bill King, artistic director for the The Beaches Jazz and Blues Festival)

“……The Fundamentals blew me away…”  (John Emms, Timmins Daily Press)