Jeff Healey 50th Celebration and Contest

T-Mak World: Philip, your new album is called “Influence”. Upon listening to it, one can conjure up images of who the influences for the album are, and Jeff Healey is one of them for me. Would that be a correct guess?

Sayce: Yes, Jeff Healey is one of my biggest influences in music. Before I picked up a guitar for first time I was in love with his music. The first time I heard Jeff’s music I was still a little kid, his command, power, virtuosity, and his God-given gifts resonated with me at an extremely deep level, as they do today. If you can hear a bit of Jeff’s inspiration in my music, wow, I can’t think of a more incredible compliment. Thank you!

T-Mak World: You probably already know this, but on Wikipedia under your entry associated acts are Jeff Healey and Melissa Etheridge – presumably because you played with both of their bands. Tell us what it was like being on stage with Jeff?

Sayce: Performing with Jeff on a nightly basis for about four years is something that changed my life, and inspired me at my core. Jeff was a true improviser, so he never played the same thing twice. It all just seemed to come through him. He was connected to the universe in a magical way, and the music that flowed through him was extremely powerful. There were no limitations for Jeff, he just seemed to keep reaching new plateaus every time he stepped on stage. He left everyone in a state of joy & pure inspiration.

Q: What’s up with Toronto and kick ass guitarists?

Sayce:  Ha! Toronto is home to so many world-class musicians. Everyone talks about Nashville, Austin, where there are many deliciously talented artists. However, I would put Toronto right alongside in terms of “badasses” per capita. Toronto has hosted some of the best musicians in the world dating back 50 years or more. Maybe it’s something in the water. Maybe it’s the long winters and everybody stays inside and woodsheds… All I know is that I’m extremely grateful to have been raised in Toronto.  I had the opportunity to go and see so many world-class performers up close on a regular basis at venues like Grossmans, The Silver Dollar, The Horseshoe, Massey Hall, Chicago’s, Blues on Bellair, and many more venues.

Thanks for that Philip, you are truly a killer guitarist and we cant wait to catch you at the show.

Landreth: I’ll be coming in to play for the Jeff Healey celebration. As the event marks what would’ve been Jeff’s 50th birthday, some of the musicians who had ties to him were invited to participate in the tribute. I was honoured to get the call.

T-Mak World: Healey was a phenomenal guitarist, and as we celebrate his legacy at this show, why do you think people will gather at the show and pay tribute?

Landreth: Jeff’s music still resonates with people the world over who were touched by him. It says a lot about the man himself, he meant so much to so many. He will always be remembered, revered and missed.

T-Mak World: Do you think Healey could be as good or even a better guitarist if he was not blind?

Landreth: I think it probably pushed him to focus in a different, more profound way and maybe that’s what set him on his path to develop such a unique approach. He sure sounded like a super hero with heightened senses and a deep soul. Though he was amazing technically, he also possessed a timeless quality with both grace and power. In the world of the guitar playing community, Jeff is still our champion from the Great North.