Toronto-based blues and roots artist Terry Blersh releases 'Play It All Day'
“an outstanding merger of personal expression and lyricism with expert craftsmanship”
That’s how DOWNBEAT Magazine described Terry Blersh’s songwriting on his self-titled debut album. He hasn’t lost a step here with his latest release, Play It All Day. Once again, Blersh brings a lifetime of experience and a unique and wry perspective to his wonderfully diverse songs.
While rooted in the blues, like any great songwriter, he is not confined by the form. Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll, Tex-Mex, Reggae and Jazz influences all find their way into the mix. His guitar playing throughout is unadorned. His tone is warm and expressive, his touch responsive and dynamic. And best of all - you know it’s him. It easy to hear why Terry is considered one of the most musical, and what we call “tasty” guitar players in Canada.
Terry's voice is warm and moving on the Chet Baker-esq ballad “Only One”, showing a vocal reach not heard on his previous album.
His duet with the multi-talented Jimmy Bowskill (The Sheepdogs) on Gordon Lightfoot's classic "Early Morning Rain", earned a shout out from the composer himself. Other highlights include three more tracks featuring these great vocalists: soul man John Mays (Fathead), R&B/Jazz dynamo John Finley (The Checkmates, Rhinoceros), and the soulful Quisha Wint (Jacksoul, Matt Dusk).
Self-produced and arranged, Terry has assembled some of Canada’s top musicians, each with a specific song or feel in mind. They all deliver in spades. Masterfully recorded and mixed by Grammy and Juno nominated Jeremy Darby (Eric Clapton, Lou Reed) at The Canterbury Music Company, the sound is nothing less than world-class.
You can get your copy on iTunes here
Some recent quotes for the new album Play It All Day:
“active in Toronto clubs since the early 1990s, singer and guitarist Terry Blersh hits all the bullet points on his first feature album in a decade and his second overall” – DOWNBEAT Magazine
“Every now and then it is refreshing to hear an album by an artist who isn’t trying super hard to make an overconfident statement. Canuck musician/producer Terry Blersh is ostensibly a blues artist and a singer-songwriter, but his second album, the completely great Play It All Day proves that he has a firm grasp on a wide range of styles...Play It All Day is an album that lives up to its title.” – Winnipeg Free Press
