Luke McMaster

Remember the duo McMaster and James ("Thank You")? Yep ... this is that very same McMaster, now exploring a solo career. Lucky us, because what a tasty treat is "All Roads". After writing with Rihanna, opening for Christina Aguliera and most recently touring with Jim Brickman, Luke is more than ready to bring his own personal style of Blue Eyed Soul and early Motown Mojo to the smooth groove mix. Heavily influenced by such icons as Al Green, Hall & Oates and Marvin Gaye, Luke’s voice delivers on every single track. Indeed, his takes on Al Jarreau's "We're In This Love Together", Hall & Oates "One on One" and Jackie Wilson's "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" are reverential yet delightfully new and original. And my oh my does it take some guts to take on Gladys Knight's "If I Were Your Woman" (and don't worry ... he alters it to "If You Were My Woman")? Indeed it does and Luke makes it entirely his own. Same with Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Making Love". Great old songs - fresh new takes. But where Luke truly shines is on the originals. "Good Morning Beautiful" (with Jim Brickman) is feel-good pop at its very best. "Punch Drunk Love" showcases his incredible vocal range and the title track "All Roads" sets a solid mood for the entire album. This is a beautifully produced late night jam record, perfect for candlelight, wine and someone special. And then the following day ... Good Morning Beautiful!

Luke is performing at Hugh's Room in Toronto on April 30th and I can't wait to see him live for the very first time. Hope you'll join me. We can fall in love together. - Wave FM

Guelph – Songwriter Jim Brickman is hailed as one of the most successful instrumental pop pianist of the last two decades. Throughout twenty year long career, Brickman -- who describes himself as a songwriter that plays the piano -- has shared his artistry with luminaries such as Carly Simon and Olivia Newton-John. He is set to play River Run Centre on Thursday, January 30 at 8 p.m. The concert is presented as part of the Macquarie Music series, and takes place in the Co-operators Hall.

Joining Brickman on stage will be special guest, Luke McMaster. As one half of the duo McMaster & James, Luke enjoyed great success with hits like Thank You, Love Wins Everytime and I Understand. In 2002 the pair decided to dissolve the group and Luke went on to work as a songwriter and producer, writing for film and television, and working alongside hit-making acts like Nick Lachey and Rihanna, Luke has also played with Chantelle Kreviazuk – always a favourite at River Run. After being introduced to Brickman, by mutual friend Marc Jordan – another popular River Run performer, the two immediately felt a creative kinship, and collaborated on the song Good Morning Beautiful, which became the lead single on McMaster’s new album, All Roads.

As an artist Brickman literally owns the Adult Contemporary charts. He has amassed dozens of Top 40 singles, sold over 7 million albums, and has six Gold and Platinum albums to his credit. He is known for his collaborative approach to music, partnering with well-known vocalists such as Lady Antebellum, Johnny Mathis, Michael W. Smith, Martina McBride and Donny Osmond.

In addition to his songwriting, recording and performing, Brickman hosts a weekly syndicated radio program called Your Weekend with Jim Brickman, and he has also released several PBS music television specials. The Boston Herald described this prolific artist and entrepreneur as “a crowd pleaser,” saying that, “his rhapsodic melodies coupled with his considerable stage charm have made him a phenomenon."

Tickets are $38 for adults and $36 for students and seniors. $5 eyeGO tickets are available for high school students with valid ID. $20 uGO tickets are available to university and college students with valid ID. Tickets are available at the River Run Box Office at 519-763-3000, or online at riverrun.ca - Exchange Morning Post

Not too many people are excited about lengthy drives through the prairies, but Luke McMaster is one of them. “Growing up in the prairies I'm kind of somewhat claustrophobic, so living in Toronto is a challenge,” said McMaster. “It's so crowded and there are buildings everywhere, so to get on to those open spaces it (will be) a big relief for me.”

Primarily an adult pop and blue-eyed soul musician, McMaster grew up in Brandon, Man., but lived in Winnipeg for a number of years.

Unlike a lot of musical child prodigies, McMaster didn’t get his start in singing or songwriting until he was 12 or 13 years old.

He remembers having a dream where a friend of his was singing and playing a piano in the back of a pickup. It was an odd dream for McMaster because he was convinced he had never heard the song before.

McMaster said he woke up, wrote down some lyrics, grabbed his tape recorder and jotted down some melodies that were in his head.

“It really triggered something in me,” he said. “I had always been creative and had always played piano by ear, but I'd never thought I was going to be a musician until I had that dream.”

Since then McMaster’s singing and songwriting abilities have flourished, as his ability to play the guitar, something he believes has helped bring his songs to life.

His music video of “Good Morning Beautiful,” which reached number three on Billboard for three weeks, is an ironic testament to that.

The video featured Jim Brickman, who wrote the song with McMaster, in the back of a pickup truck. He was playing a piano.

“I had nothing to do with the script. Jim hired a videographer and he came up with this concept,” said McMaster. “When we were doing the shoot I turned to Jim and I said, 'this is freaking me out. I got to tell you about this dream I had when I was a little kid.’”

McMaster thought he might have been psychic.

He is admittedly not psychic, but is looking forward to starting the prairie portion of his All Roads Concert Tour in Portage la Prairie, Man., on Wednesday night.

The tour will wind up in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., on Oct. 17, but not before McMaster pays a visit to Moose Jaw’s Mae Wilson Theatre for an 8 p.m. performance on Friday, Oct. 11.

He is looking forward to being in the Friendly City and putting on an uplifting show that “anyone can sit down and enjoy.”

“The thread that runs through my whole show is that most of the music is romantically-themed, or it's fairly positive,” noted McMaster. “I don't sing a lot of songs that are kind of doom and gloom.”

That positivity in his show carries over off the stage, where McMaster is all about giving back to the communities he will be visiting on his tour.

As part of his stop in Moose Jaw, a portion of the $30 tickets for the show will go toward supporting Joe’s Place Youth Centre.

"To me, I was really adamant that there was a charitable component to this tour because these are communities I grew up visiting and driving through,” McMaster noted. “Community support is really important to me.”

McMaster hopes that as his music becomes more widespread, he is able to positively affect as many people as he can.

That includes another trip to Africa to raise awareness and improve children’s education.

Nathan Liewicki can be reached at 306-691-1256 or follow him on Twitter @liewicks - Moose Jaw Times Herald