J-Tones deliver old soul and R&B

Alan Parker’s 1991 film, The Commitments, made quite an impression on Andre Bisson, with its homage to 1960's soul and R&B.
And though he’s only 25, his band, Andre & The J-Tones, specializes in your James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, etc., while also covering classic rock (The Beatles, The Guess Who).
“It did (have an impression) on me, definitely. Before that I was really big into Elvis; he was the main influence on me growing up,” says the Hamilton singer/guitarist, whose band plays its monthly show at Cuchulainn’s this Saturday. “I just really loved it, and I watched the movie like 25 times. It’s music that really spoke to me. I loved that soul/rock edge.”
Bisson's six-piece group has been stirring up the dance floor at this Streetsville pub with its sweet grooves and clean playing. The lineup also includes Kevin Matthews (saxophone), Loretta Hale (trumpet), Mike Rowell (bass), Dan Rodrigues (guitar) and Anthony Giles (drums).
He says people are always commenting on the horns.
“When you play soul songs, you need those lines,” Bisson says.
“You start playing a song, and down the road it sort of takes on a life of its own. The horn line, or the melody, will change a lot. On (Percy Mayfield’s) Hit The Road Jack, it kind of ends up differently every time.”
By age 15, Bisson was gigging with a Steeltown band playing 1950's rock (Elvis, Little Richard), and at 18 he joined an R&B act in Sault St. Marie. He went on to study jazz at Mohawk College, where he met up with the rest of the J-Tones.
While he likes jazz, he wouldn’t be a purist.
“That influence has helped when I’m writing and arranging the music,” he relates. “I just basically use the tools.
“(Our) being able to read charts has helped a lot. It really speeds up the process (of learning the covers). I can just write out the music. We only have to run through a song twice.”
They gig five or six times a month, and they all teach music on the side. Bisson works at the Royal Ontario Conservatory of Music in Hamilton; Giles heads up the percussion department at the local Merriam School of Music. Beyond that, they all have little side projects.
Bisson has cut 10 of his own tunes, and hopes to have an indie CD out by the fall. While keeping his expectations "in stride," between his MySpace site, internet radio, CBC and college stations, he expects his music will get heard.
Recorded live off the floor, the arrangements have been left tastefully raw. While several of the songs are upbeat, the slow blues ballad, Second Chance, is the obvious highlight. His vocals are quite good, unashamedly recalling the soul greats.
“I try to keep it within that retro sound. I find the modern stuff, they almost make it too perfect,” he offers.
“Right now, there seems to be more of a market for it, because of the Boomers. They’re retiring and they have some money, and they want to go out and dance.”
There’s a 9:30 p.m. kickoff at Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub on Queen St. S. in Streetsville.
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ON THE TOWN: Wednesday, the Honey’s Beestro acoustic jam continues while the Tom Barlow Band does its weekly jam at Enfield Fox.
Thursday, Jack b. Nimble jams at Abbey Road.
Friday, Derek Pilgrim returns to Caven’s Alley Bar, Trip Doubt checks into The Brogue Inn, Dean Gray jams at Trojan’s, Straight Shooter rocks Lucy’s and Ralph hosts the weekly open mic jam session at The Clarington.
Friday and Saturday, it’s Sab & The Family Band at Roc ‘N Doc’s, the Jay Douglas Band at Snug Harbour, Cece Pastor at The Harp, Taxi at On The Curve, Stir Crazy at West 50 and Prime Time at P.K. Creek.
Saturday, Jim and Carmen from Saltwater play the Manchester Arms, Krista Blondin and Maxine Young duo at Lake Affect and the  Cronics return to Butt Rhettler’s.
Sunday, Kevin Phillips holds court at Mulligan’s, Phil & John return to Misty Moon and Reno entertains at Karma.
Tuesday, Ten presents the Chris Smith Band.