DISCovery of the Week: FRASER DALEY

Fraser Daley play a song written by Ken Whiteley and Mike Daley entitled "Carrying On". When Jeff Healey heard that his band mates Alec Fraser and Mike Daley were forming an acoustic blues duo, he was heard to say "Ah! My big brother and my little brother." Four years later, Fraser Daley's full-length CD has elicited rave reviews from the Maple Blues Newsletter, Penguin Eggs and the UK magazine Maverick. They have been featured on Roots Music Canada and made acclaimed live appearances at blues and folk festivals around Ontario. Their second full-length CD, set for release in January 2012, will feature more of their infectious country blues originals, including a song co-written with Canadian roots music legend Ken Whiteley.

Bassist/vocalist Alec Fraser ('big brother') was born in Glasgow and emigrated to Canada at 11 years old. He soon fell in with the blues-rock scene around Toronto, touring extensively with Morgan Davis, Danny Brooks, David Wilcox and Jeff Healey. Along the way, he has produced Juno-winning recordings for Jack DeKeyser, Morgan Davis and Julian Fauth. In the past year alone, he has produced records for Al Lerman (Fathead), John Mays (also from Fathead), Harrison Kennedy and Danny Marks.

Guitarist/vocalist Mike Daley ('little brother') fell in love with the blues as a teenager in suburban Burlington, Ontario. He voraciously learned from records and eventually made a serious study of music, studying jazz guitar and earning a Ph.D in musicology from York University. Meanwhile, Mike was keeping a busy playing schedule, working with Rita Chiarelli, Suzie Vinnick and Jeff Healey while also releasing solo work. He relocated from Hamilton to Toronto in 2003, and began working with Alec Fraser in 2007.

Fraser Daley's music combines the freshness and vitality of authentic country blues with close vocal harmony "sounding so sweet these two could be siblings"(Eric Thom, Maverick). This duo also sounds uncannily like a full group when Alec employs the "brushbass" technique, playing a small drum mounted on his standup bass simultaneously with his bass lines. Their repertoire combines old-time blues like Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Bad Luck Blues" with original songs in the country blues style like "Blues All Around Me" and "The Relentless Gambler."

With their fresh take on the country blues, Fraser Daley is winning fans across the country. Radio airplay has been strong, with cuts from their debut CD remaining in rotation on several blues shows and the CBC Galaxie network. 2012 promises to be a landmark year for this popular duo, with a second CD in the works and a growing slate of live appearances. Jeff Healey would be proud.

FRASER DALEY WEBSITE