Shakura S'aida Reinforces Reputation As Canada's International Blues Singer As She Sets Off On Fourth European Tour This Year

Toronto, Canada (Top40 Charts/ Shakura S'Aida Official Website) - Toronto-based singer Shakura S'Aida is establishing her reputation as Canada's international blues artist, with yet another European tour - her fourth this year.

Born in Brooklyn, raised in Switzerland and a Toronto resident for more than 20 years, she placed second in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January - and came to the attention of European promoters.

Her latest trip - fronting the 39th Chicago Blues Festival Tour - begins in France at the Festival Blues sur Seine, near Paris, on Nov. 15 and ends in late December after dates in Holland, Belgium and Switzerland with two five-day club engagements. The first of these is in Monte Carlo, the other at the Club Lionel Hampton in Paris, and ends the tour December 20.

On most of the dates, she will be singing with a five-piece band including Ken Saydak (who's recorded on dozens of albums, primarily for Delmark and Evidence), Vancouver bassist Russell Jackson and Chicago guitarist Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones.

So far this year, Ms. S'Aida has performed at more than half a dozen festivals in Italy, played European dates in Denmark, Holland, Germany and Belgium with Blues Caravan 2008, performed at the Toronto and Montreal Internatonal Jazz Festivals, and took part in a major festival in Brest, France, a month ago.
She is currently "warming up" for the new European dates with four shows in Quebec.