Moonstruck...

This was the magnificent December 12th moonrise through the sycamores on Tuckahoe Island at perigee, the closest our only planet comes to Mother Earth. A full moon always fills me with nostalgia and melancholy...in a good way. And this one, at the end of a year filled with personal joys and planetary struggles illuminated the gratitude I think we all feel this time of year, for friends and family, for the place where we live and for the music that helps bind us. I'm especially grateful for all those mentioned in the previous thirty-nine journal postings over the past twelve months who have enriched my life immeasurably. January 1st is just another Thursday but breaking out a whole new calendar is an exercise in great expectations and hope that all the challenges we face as individuals, as families and as a nation can, with work and wisdom, be managed if not solved.

Congratulations to Anita Conner, who won tickets to see Robin & Linda Williams' holiday concert at Ashland Coffee and Tea last week for knowing they first appeared on Prairie Home Companion in 1975. And kudos to veteran Tidewater musician Bill Gurley who won the drawing for the UofR/Modlin Center appearance of Garrison Keillor on January 18th at the Landmark. He knew that Peter Ostroushko played fiddle on Robin & Linda's album Visions of Love. The Williamses will open the Richmond show as well. Tickets are still available.

I've got some more freebies to toss out to my loyal readers and you'll have to hurry for these. On the Saturday after Christmas, the 27th, Toad's Place welcomes Charlottesville's pre-jam band Indecision (think Phish meets Steely Dan) opening for D.C.'s New Potato Caboose, a reunion tour of a "Deadly" 80's ensemble that also helped forge the improvisational rock band culture. The Caboose hasn't played Richmond in a decade, and if you can name their keyboard guy (he's from Hopewell), I've got a pair of tix for you. I actually have three pairs, so the first three with the right answer win. Hurry. Submit answers to mail@timtimberlake.com.

If you haven't heard, Aussie Tommy Emmanuel's happily coming back to The National on February 22nd, so grab your tickets now to witness the six-string magic Tommy can create like no one else. They'd make great stocking stuffers.

A couple of fine shows round out the year for Ashland Coffee & Tea, The Taters and The Grandsons tomorrow night (Saturday) and on the 27th, Last Train Home. You may have gotten wind that our favorite listening room is up for sale and there have been a couple of offers. The future of continued live music at AC&T is uncertain at this point although as-yet unlisted bookings have been made for the first few months of '09. If nothing else, catch a show there soon and express your appreciation to Jim & Mary and Kay & George for all they've done for the music. And hope for the best.

All of us at JAMinc and In Your Ear Recording are seriously jazzed about our next Studio A concert on the first Friday of the new year. Old School Freight Train's guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and all-around impressive fellow Jesse Harper will be holding forth for what promises to be a memorable evening featuring some very prominent friends like globetrotting ivory tickler Daniel Clarke and OSFT bandmate Darrell Muller on standup bass. There will be others you've heard of...just can't confirm at this writing. We'll begin with our pre-show social with bring-your-own beverages and snacks at 6:30 and then two sets of top-drawer folk/jazz/pop that you'll be so glad you were there to witness up close and personal. And all will be recorded for later broadcast on Page Wilson's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue. Tickets at JAMinc.org. (Jesse's photo from his MySpace page)

April in December...

The annual transition that sees many of us thrust kicking and screaming into the holiday season when we're not quite ready for it, is now complete. Our daughter in Boulder has had a couple of snowfalls already with more on the way. The Thanksgiving leftovers are fully consumed and the GardenFest lights are aglow at Lewis Ginter. And the attic has been emptied of our growing collection of Christmas decorations that are in the process of finding their proper place. Thank goodness for a few musical diversions to season the twelfth month, including Canadian songbird/fiddler April Verch who lights at Ashland Coffee and Tea this Thursday night. If you haven't heard about her, do explore her Website and MySpace page and better still, head to our favorite room on the tracks...old friend Lincoln Meyers will be joining her on guitar. (April Verch photo from her Website)

Adrienne Young returns to AC&T this Saturday, and then Robin & Linda Williams with Their Fine Group (which now includes former King Wilkie fiddler Nick Reeb) are set for a special holiday show on December 13th. Want a pair of tickets? Just email me (mail@timtimberlake.com) and tell me the year R & L first appeared on Prairie Home Companion. I'll draw from all correct responses on December 8th. Let me encourage you to get out to some of these great shows at AC&T before they fall prey to this deadly economy. Listening rooms like this Ashland jewel are closing all over the country for lack of audience and the only thing that can turn that train around is more passengers, like us. As your gift to those who serve up this live music we love...catch a couple December performances. It'll feel good.

Also on the 13th, Jackass Flats is back at The National downtown after their successful CD launch back in August. The Richmond-based bluegrass band's latest project is an ambitious one that represents lots of woodshedding. A bunch of originals ranging from crankin' instrumentals to some pretty progressive stuff like "The World Today" reveal musicians striving for the next level. This ought to make that happen for Travis Rinehart, Stephen Kuester, Eddie Carlton and Joe Bird. Nice guys...nice work.

Finally this go around I'll announce another chance for free tickets that might end up in someone's Christmas stocking. Robin & Linda Williams, the Shenandoah Valley's touring lovebirds will swing back this way yet again on January 18th at the Landmark Theater as the Modlin Center for the Arts presents America's favorite storyteller Garrison Keillor. Robin & Linda are regulars on Garrison's enduring and endearing public radio show, Prairie Home Companion. They appeared in the Robert Altman feature film of the same name and Mr. Keillor even produced the real-life duo's 2002 album Visions of Love. Now if you can tell me who played fiddle and mandolin on that project (hint: he did one of our JAMinc/InYourEar Studio Concerts back in 2006) I've got two comps for you and yours. Again, if we have multiple correct answers, I'll do a drawing on December 15th. (Keillor photo by Brian Velenchenko)

Finish your musical year with Page Wilson's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue on Saturday, the 27th from 8-10pm on 88.9 WCVE as he welcomes Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers to the Chickahominy Swamp kitchen. I was there and it was delectable...

TT

Covering the spread...

Since last we posted, a couple of rewarding musical experiences worth noting. Friday was one of those "special occasion" nights out, fairly rare for Ms. D and me that found us at Buckhead's for a nice meal and some well-chosen standards from Richmond's durable R&B icon Steve Bassett.  If you've yet to hear how well he's made the transition from Mystic Soul Bubba and Delbert McClinton sideman to convincing purveyor of Tin Pan Alley classics, you're missing out on one of our town's great musical sidebars.  After a handful of charming collaboration albums with late keyboard stylist Jimmy Black, Steve's become a more than credible interpreter of tunes I first heard my parents sing on long road trips from the backseat of the station wagon. These selections from the great American songbook like "Until The Real Thing Comes Along," "Someone To Watch Over Me," and "I'll Be Seeing You" have been given new life by his seasoned pipes and his infectious confidence in front of a crowd, in this case a small attentive group enjoying fine food and romantic atmosphere by the fire.  Devotees of the stuff Steve's known for weren't disappointed as crack jazz keyboardist Anthony Dowd packed it in after the first set leaving Mr. B to serve up a second helping of soul classics with a requisite number of happy hoofers on the dance floor.  Making memories for the generations...Steve Bassett does it well, and for those who enjoyed his Christmas CD years ago, a new stocking full of favorites is just out for the holidays.   Order yours here. And rumors continue to swirl about a 30th anniversary reunion album in the making with Robbin Thompson.  All in good time.

Don't forget Robbin's upcoming JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio A concert on December 5th. It's almost sold out.
Reservations here.  (Bassett portrait from his Website)

  We'd been looking forward to the next night for a good while...a double-date to Toad's Place with fellow aficionados of Robert Earl Keen's brand of Texas roadhouse story songs.  The pot was seriously sweetened by a surprise visit from our Boulder girl who'd flown in as an early birthday present for her ol' man. I was floored.  It was gratifying to see a full house of REK disciples ready to become the roomful of backup singers he's used to hearing...it's still amazing to see how many folks know all the words to all the verses of so many of his road-tested tunes.  It's also encouraging to see the our two new Richmond music halls, Toad's and The National both seem to be making it with creative booking and a top-notch customer experience.  Our live music scene's come a long way in the past year or so.

Page gets Punched...

Anticipation was running high earlier this week as we were getting primed for the illustrious Punch Brothers and their two-night stand at the University of Richmond's elegant Modlin Center.  All of a sudden the meter pegged as Page Wilson, host of WCVE-FM's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue called up and alerted me to a grand re-opening of his Chickahominy Swamp kitchen...with non other than Chris Thile and his musical brethren as special guests.   We gathered just past noon on Tuesday at Bruce Olsen's  tucked-away Northside studios that I'd always wanted to see.  It's a great space...oriental rugs, Tiffany-style lamps, a 1914 Steinway grand, an assortment of guitars and vintage Fender tube amps...and on this day, a big table loaded down with swamp vittles for the boys including Commercial Tap House spare ribs, vegetarian paella, fresh corn bread and Page's own delectable venison stew.  The band rolled in from their first overnight at the Jefferson (nice digs) and elected to avoid the feed bag until the interview/performance was done.  After extensive tuning, a few runthroughs, and the blessings of their soundman Dave Sinko, Adrian Olsen punched "record" and the Punch Brothers were officially welcomed to the Chickahominy Swamp kitchen.   Page chatted up the talented visitors, had them offer up three tunes for each of the two segments now preserved by ProTools for future airing on the OOTBRR.  We'll let you know when.  Chris Eldridge was like a kid at Christmas with his new toy, a 1937 D-28 on loan from E-Town's Nick Forster.  Chris called it a cannon...an ICBM.    We also got to hear the newest Punch Brother Paul Kowert, Edgar Meyer's number-one student on bass.  He replaces Greg Garrison who elected to leave the road to be with his growing family including a new baby girl.  Suffice to say, Paul's a very quick study displaying a strong command of this dizzyingly complex material.   

So the prodigious power quintet finished up with the 1st movement of Thile's "Blind Leaving The Blind" suite, cased their instruments and dove into the swamp fare with abandon.  Then it was off

to the Camp Concert Hall for sound check and the first of two superb Richmond shows.  The Punch Brothers set the string band bar extremely high.  It will be great to hear what they do for an encore from their new New York home base.

Don't forget Robert Earl Keen tomorrow night at Toad's Place.  A big-time Texas party is in store, promising a night-long standing ovation.

A New Day...

Since the Stringdusters were locked in the green room at AC&T by the shady punk string band Hazosphere on Halloween night, so much has happened that the prospect of starting a new journal entry is daunting. The new month of November has delivered us a new president-elect and regardless of whether your guy won or not, I hope you share my sense of relief that the election is finally over and that it was decisive enough not to be contested. And that both the acceptance and concession speeches combined to give me hope that we could swallow our differences long enough to approach some of the incredible hurdles we face as a nation with unity, creativity and courage. Hope springs eternal.

But back to the frighteningly good night of music served up by the Dusters and their bewigged rivals who stole the second set. I've been watching these guys since the Wheel House days, way before Critter departed for the rarified air of Tensions Mountain and I must say that while they've always been a great band, they've now evolved into a super group that takes its mission very seriously. And young Mr. Eldridge was even on hand for a smokin' duet with successor Andy Falco on "Cherokee Shuffle." Vocally and instrumentally, as songwriters and arrangers, their chemistry is undeniable and the result is a thrill to behold. If you're trying to convince any skeptical friends of yours that bluegrass indeed has merit, then take them to hear the Infamous Stringdusters. Converts will be made. Guaranteed.

Fast forward to last Friday when renowned autoharpist and master yarn-spinner Bryan Bowers returned to his old stomping ground for a couple of lively JAMinc-arranged school performances and a mesmerizing evening in In Your Ear's Studio A. JAMinc's president Wally Thulin and I caught Bryan's second school gig at Mary Munford Elementary. While there, we heard about a talented third-grader /mandolin student by the name of Harper Price who's taking from Adam Larrabee at Key Signatures. Bryan had told me about a priceless 1904-vintage C.F. Martin Style 6 bowlback mandolin someone had GIVEN him and that he had out in his big blue Mercedes van. After the lively assembly show, it made the day for all of us that Harper gently took the museum piece in her hands and proceeded to pick out Bill Monroe's "Old Dangerfield." We felt like we might have witnessed a pivotal moment in a young girl's musical journey.

Bryan Bowers' performance later that evening was captivating as he set up each song with well-crafted context and told stories of love and loss, of counting blessings and giving back, all to the compelling soundtrack of his magical harps. He won lots of hearts that night and he'll steal yours too...just listen to his latest CD Bristlecone Pine or his storytelling project September in Alaska. And don't miss his April encore at the Shady Grove Coffee House in Glen Allen.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday, tickets are still available for a major musical double-header at UofR's Modlin Center as Chris Thile and his powerful Punch Brothers play the Camp Concert Hall. This astoundingly ambitious quintet of virtuosos take the bluegrass template into fresh, exciting and often breathtaking new places. Word is that Page Wilson will be welcoming the boys into his Chickahominy Swamp "kitchen" for conversation and and a few live tunes while they're in town. Tape will be rolling.

Thankfully Texas tornado Robert Earl Keen's road goes on forever and it leads this Saturday night to Toad's Place where we'll all be singing along to his classics like "Five Pound Bass," "Gringo Honeymoon," and maybe an early "Merry Christmas From the Family." Sandy & I are psyched.

Our next JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio A concert will be a home game for rockin' Robbin Thompson with special guest Larry Burnett of the great country-rock group Firefall. We can only seat 80 folks for these intimate affairs so make your reservations soon here.

Get on out and support these musicians and the venues that help 'em make a living enriching our lives...TT

(Thanks to Gary Robertson for the hazy Hazosphere photo)

Hatching Politics

This is admittedly a little off subject for this journal but as we near the finish line of this long and often agonizing race for the Presidency, I found this sidebar worth noting and there is a musical connection.  If you've watched any of CNN's election coverage, maybe you noticed the cool graphics that maybe reminded you of some great concert or festival you've attended over the past oh, century...it's because CNN commissioned Nashville's Hatch Show Prints to do posters in their low-tech, timeless letterpress style.  No computers, no PhotoShop, just hand set posters, nearly 30 of them, printed and sent to CNN to be scanned or captured on video to give their coverage a fresh but nostalgic look.  If you aren't familiar with what Hatch has done to chronicle country and bluegrass music in America in the 20th century, do click on the link above and enjoy the story.  It's a good one.  Hatch's Jim Sherraden, pictured above, hand printed the 3x4 foot Patsy Cline monoprint we used as the centerpiece for the Virginia Historical Society symposium back in April.   

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Congratulations to our recent ticket winners:  to Bill Rice, two seats for the Punch Brothers concert at UofR on Nov. 11th for being the first to enter Peter Wernick (Hot Rize's Dr. Banjo) as the producer of Leading Off, Chris Thile's phenomenal solo debut on Sugar Hill.  Quite a few of you guessed Sam Bush, who did produce his follow-up release, Stealing Second...Chris was also quite a star Little Leaguer back then.  Now he's a star of another sort...check out this insightful video featuring his collaboration with former idol and now contemporary Edgar Meyer.  Thanks to Jack Cowardin for the link and to Kathy Panoff at the Modlin Center for the tix.  Don't miss the Punch Brothers there, either on the 11th or the 12th.

And high-fives to Sandy Lux for scoring the Robert Earl Keen tickets for knowing that our lovers-on-the-lam in "The Road Goes On Forever" took a quart of Bombay gin to their Miami Beach motel by the water.  She would know.  Thanks to Erin Scolaro at Toad's Place for the comps and don't miss R.E.K. and his rowdy Texas road band on November 15th.

Gene Raney alerted me to what should be a memorable night of songs and stories at the Paramount in Charlottesville on November 20th.  Imagine Peter Rowan, Jesse Winchester and Guy Clark on one stage together.  Three of Americana's most insightful singer/songwriters sharing inspiration.  Get your tickets here.

And one last reminder...the young and frighteningly talented Infamous Stringdusters blow into Ashland Coffee & Tea tomorrow (Friday) night for what's sure to be a Halloween to remember.  Will anyone go as John Duffey?  Kay & Company have done so much for acoustic music in these parts for so long...let's show how grateful we are by taking in as many of these great shows as we possibly can.  If we don't, they can't.  Simple as that.

TT

Mingus Among Us

I'm sadly intimidated when it comes to saying anything meaningful about jazz...I'm way under conversant on the subject especially concerning its history, who influenced whom and its often dazzling intricacy and complexity. But I'm moved to offer a few thoughts about the sonorous spectacle called M.A.P. (Mingus Awareness Project) we witnessed at Gallery 5 yesterday afternoon as percussion master Brian Jones organized an unforgettable 3-part performance celebrating the music of legendary bassist Charles Mingus and benefiting ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). It started with his choice of venues...the old firehouse-turned-art space at Brook and Marshall downtown, packed with aficionados craving musical heat. Perfection. Three sets: first a trio, then the 8-piece Fight The Big Bull upstairs and finally, an impossibly packed stage filled with nearly 20 of our talent-rich community's A-list players led by the guy who taught and inspired so many of them at VCU, Doug Richards. I've known and admired Doug for more than 30 years since he scored an F&M Bank a-v project for me. I've never seen him as pleased and animated as he seemed yesterday, I hope because he was having such a blast reaping what he'd sown. Lotta love in the room, thanks to this amazing roster: John D'earth, Taylor Barnett, Rex Richardson and Rob Quallich on trumpet. JC Kuhl, Kevin Simpson, John Winn, John Wittman, Jason Scott and Jeff Decker on saxophones. Pete Anderson, Bryan Hooten and Reggie Chapman on trombones, Stefan Demetriadis on tuba, Bob Hallahan on piano, Trey Parker on guitar, Randall Pharr on bass and yes, Brian on drums. They had the ol' firehouse smokin' all right. Congrats to all who played and all who came to listen. We were all in the right place. So good.

I'VE GOT MORE CONCERT TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY!

Here's the deal, first for Tuesday, November 11th at the University of Richmond's Modlin Center, the Punch Brothers  featuring mando monster Chris Thile. I've got a pair of tickets for the first to reply with the correct answer to the following question: Who produced Chris' first Sugar Hill project released back in '94 when he was just 13?

And second, for Saturday, November 15th at Toad's Place, two tix to hear the great Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen for the first correct answer to: in his tune "The Road Goes On Forever" what did Sonny & Sherry take to drink on their road trip to Miami Beach? Be specific.

You can win only once this time around so take your pick of the two offerings above. Good luck....winners' names will be held at will call. Submit answers to mail@timtimberlake.com

Good stuff as usual at AC&T this week: some fine Django jammin' with Gypsy Roots opening for New England's excellent Ameranouche on Thursday night. And then, some scary good contemporary bluegrass with the Infamous Stringdusters on Halloween! Oh yeah.

On into November...after two superb nights at In Your Ear Recording last week with Wayne Henderson & Helen White, JAMinc's got another don't-miss show coming up on Friday, November 7th with autoharp legend, raconteur, roving minstrel and general genial guy Bryan Bowers.  Be there as he fertilizes his Richmond roots in one of our trademark house-style studio concerts with a delicious pre-show bring-your-own buffet. Only 80 seats, so get yours here and now.

And the next night, one of our fine local bluegrass-based groups Good Natured Riot will be having a CD release Party at Capital Ale House downtown. Fans will also want to know they'll be opening for the Hackensaw Boys at the National on December 6th.

(Full disclosure: none of the pix on this post are mine, save the fuzzy fone shot of the M.A.P. big band at the top)

The Crow Show

Apparently I've been taking Sheryl Crow for granted.  Sure she's a successful and appealing pop/rock singer/songwriter with multiple Grammys and platinum albums who had a long engagement to Lance Armstrong and who has a longer record of humanitarian causes.  And she's a breast cancer survivor.  But we weren't prepared for what we witnessed at VCU's Siegel Center tonight.  From her opening number, an extended take on "A Change Would Do You Good" to her energetic encore, Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" and all the hits in between, she offered up a solid ninety minutes of power pop that made believers of those of us who hadn't had the "live" experience.  The girl rocked and so did her 8-piece band including two serious back-up singers.  It's always a treat when expectations are exceeded and tonight's Genworth Children's Advantage Classic benefit achieved that and more.  This will have to go down in my book as one of Richmond's best concerts of the year.  And it's been a very good year. 

There might be just a few tickets left for our JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert with Wayne Henderson and Helen White this Thursday.  Hurry to our Website and snag yours quick.

Our Shining City

When Larry Bland and his impeccably dressed Volunteer Choir filed out of their bus and processed to Ukrop's/First Market stage on a glorious Sunday afternoon to help close the first Richmond Folk Festival, I was overcome with pride when I realized that this Richmond institution got its start the same year I came here.  So we were all celebrating forty years and it was just the spiritual shot in the arm we all needed to underscore this event's greatest attribute:  its reflection of the goodness of this city and its people and how, under the right circumstances, we can all come together and appreciate our differences and our common ground.  God's gift of another perfect weekend of weather contributed to another record-breaking crowd of 185,000+ over the three days.  It was a sight to behold.  I hope you were there to share in the pride...there was plenty to go around.  And so much music to hear, both familiar and completely new.  The tone was set at sunset Friday when the gallant and resplendent aerialists of 

Tezcatlipoca Voladores  made their way up a towering ninety-foot pole to carefully wrap their lines around the top and begin their 2000-year-old swirling descent suspended upside down by their ankles.  If you didn't witness this ancient ritual during their four performances last weekend, it might sound circus-like, but its solemnity and tradition make for a profoundly moving experience.  Being involved with this festival since the National came here four years ago has been a deeply rewarding experience as anyone who's been part of a winning team of any kind can attest; countless good and talented people performing myriad tasks, most of them thankless, to create something truly meaningful for our community.  I'm grateful to you all...can't wait 'til next year!

On Friday, I had the great pleasure of driving and setting up sound for the amazing Columbian joropo band Grupo Cimarron.  As part of JAMinc's festival outreach program that organized two appearances each for seven acts in fourteen Richmond city schools, singer/dancer Ana Veydo(above) and her energetic players captivated the kids at Reid Elementary and Elkhart Middle School on Richmond's south side.  My thanks to Wally Thulin, Andy Garrigue, Bill Rice, Helen Ogden, Sarah Masters, Paul Muller and George Turman for being part of this annual cultural offering.  And to Nieves Guzman of TNT Auto Leasing for the generous loan of his roomy stretch vans and Greg Muzik of Mary Munford Elementary for the use of his PA system.

It was great to see Goochland's Todd Hallawell and his partner Robin Kessinger from West Virginia move up from two years in our JAMinc/Children's Museum family area to the Festival main stages, where the crowds ate 'em up.  Robin actually played his blanket-covered guitar for the folks, just because he could.

Big Dan Tyminski and his all-star band represented bluegrass well after a rough travel day Friday that saw them having to fire their bus driver in Roanoke.  Then Dan's pre-war Martin fell off his bunk to the floor busting a big piece out of the back resulting in a trip to the Guitar Center where he picked out a fancy new HD-28.  Only problem was the action was too low for his liking...with a smile, he said he likes his action closer to a Dobro.  But he played it anyway, and played it big...he's become an impressive lead player over the years.  And word is the Dan Tyminski Band will remain an entity, even after the re-convening of Union Station.

Bomba y plena is the proper description of the powerhouse Latin rhythms of 14-piece Plena Libre from San Juan that closed out the Festival on a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon with inexhaustible energy and musicianship that had the diverse crowd clamoring for more.  For that we'll just have to wait until October 9-11, 2009. 

A few credits are in order for the good people I had the privilege of working with in various ways both in the planning and execution stages:  Julia Olin, Josh Kohn, Andrew Moreau, Anne Kogan, Mike Petillo and Dennis Blackledge of the National Council for Traditional Arts.  Jack Berry, Lisa Sims and Stephen Lecky of Venture Richmond.  Jim Wark and all the informed and engaging members of his programming committee.  And a deep bow to my seasoned team of Artist Hosts who took care of all the performers all weekend, had them in all the right places at all the right times and made it look easy.  You guys are the very best. 

Those post partem blues are setting in, so let's look down the road...if you missed Frank Coleman & Chris Fuller in the Family area of the Festival Saturday afternoon, or even if you didn't, they'll be stretching out again this Friday night at Ashland Coffee & Tea.  (And don't forget the Infamous Stringdusters on Halloween night!)  Also on Friday, the West End Assembly of God presents the band that swept the recent IBMA Awards, Dailey & Vincent.  Ticket info here.

Christopher Run Campground on Lake Anna will be the setting for a Celebration of Music this Saturday in support of guitarist Steve Parks. Folk Festival veteran and Winfield winner Todd Hallawell will be there along with the Campbell Family Band, Dead Irish Blues, Acme Swing Mfg. Co. and Parks & Driver.  Click here for more info.

There should be tickets left to see Sheryl Crow at the Siegel Center Saturday night.  Get 'em here.

We have a very few seats left for our JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert with Wayne Henderson & Helen White on Thursday, October 23rd.  The original Friday show has been sold out for weeks.  Click here for more info.  And autoharp legend Bryan Bowers is coming on November 7th.  Same time, same place.

As always, thanks for spending some time here...TT

It's A Wrap...

 

Is a $450 flight voucher, free bloody marys in the Crown Club and a first-class upgrade sufficient compensation for getting home from Nashville five hours later than planned?  The answer for me was a resounding yes, thanks to an overbooked Delta flight and a new motivation to build up some air credit to visit Miss Em in Boulder.  Plus, I had a little extra time to catalog the memories of three days at IBMA...a daunting task, even with the additional idle hours.  I'll work backwards...on my way back to the room around midnight Saturday after a profoundly notable finale to FanFest, I wandered into an intimate space where the Kruger Brothers and guest Ron Block on guitar were informally playing some dreamy instrumental piece that I took as my personal icing on the cake.  Done.  Denouement.  This sweet moment came after a major-league last night on the Main Stage that for me started with   Ronnie Bowman's great set.  I got there as he began a strong rendering of "Here I Am," a song he co-wrote that was recorded by Adam Steffey and Mountain Heart a few years back.  It's an unsettling look at the world through Satan's eyes and it touched me deeply the first time I heard it.  It was a treat to hear the author's interpretation and it's great to see Ronnie and wife Garnet doing so well, both personally and professionally.  Ronnie's pulling nice checks these days writing #1 hits for big Nashville stars.

For months I'd been anticipating my first chance to witness what all the buzz was about surrounding the new band started by Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, not having heard them live.  If disappointment has an antonym, that's what I was feeling as they made it clear why they had such an unprecedented run at Thursday's awards show at the Ryman.  The sweetly-layered harmony they accomplish with LRB alum Jeff Parker rivals a fresh baklava.  I don't see how the bar can be raised any higher.  They'll be coming to Richmond on October 17th for a concert at the West End Assembly of God on Parham Road and I won't be missing that one...you shouldn't either.  Tickets by phone from 9-5 at 754-0718.

About the only guy who could follow newly-crowned IBMA male vocalist of the year Dailey, would be past CMA male vocalist winner Vince Gill,  who gathered a terrific bluegrass ensemble for the gig, anchored by his longtime guitarist/harmony vocalist Jeff White.  Jeff's got two fine solo projects of his own out on Rounder, Broken Road and The White Album, that are among my all time favorites.  It's time for another one!  Vince was his casual and charming self and offered a varied acoustic set including the moving tribute to his late brother "Go Rest High Upon That Mountain."  One of a number of heart-in-your-throat moments for me last night...the next one came as last year's male vocalist winner Bradley Walker's set began with the first screening of his new video on a song called "A Little Change."   Carl Jackson, one of the most genuine and versatile musicians I know, produced Bradley's Rounder album Highway of Dreams, and this video about a lost soul who's found salvation.  Get online and nag at GAC and CMT to give it some air.  It's simply but beautifully done.  Bradley, living with muscular dystrophy, is an inspiring example of how to turn lemons into lemonade.  And no sooner did I have my handkerchief back in my pocket, he killed me with another Jackson masterpiece, "If I Hadn't Reached For The Stars."  I was ripe for ballads and that one always cuts to the quick.  Then came another super-successful country artist who's found her mountain roots, West Virginia's

Kathy Mattea  who did a wonderfully engaging acoustic set mostly drawn from her Marty Stuart-produced CD Coal.  Both her grandfathers made their livings in the mines and Kathy gathered material reflecting the often hearbreaking impact that four-letter fuel had on countless lives.  From Hazel Dickens' "Black Lung" to Darrell Scott's "Never Leave Harlan Alive," Ms. Mattea dug deep to find a new place from which to tell these dark stories.  But the sun came back out as she encored with her #1 Nashville hit "18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses."  Delightful. 

The time-tested Lonesome River Band  had the honors of closing the long Saturday schedule and they grabbed the bull by the horns with a rousing set of powergrass that included some strong new material from their just-released CD No Turning Back.  Four-time banjo player of the year Sammy Shelor is still anchoring the trademark LRB sound and with Andy Ball (mando) and returning Brandon Rickman (guitar) cranking out visceral harmonies, this quarter-century-old band which spun off the likes of Dan Tyminski, Ronnie Bowman, Kenny Smith, Don Rigsby and Jeff Parker, is in top form.  As Sammy's learned, patience is a virtue.  So are tenacity and hard work.  It shows. 

But not all the highlights came from the big players.  Some of the the most touching moments came from the very young who are so earnestly wanting to play and play well.  And are willing to put in the work and will it takes to learn.    I stumbled on this amazing encounter with banjo master Tony Trischka trading licks with 13-year-old Daniel Patrick from Bethel, Ohio.  You see this kind of thing everywhere at IBMA.  It's a blessing to be around this music.  It's very grounding and I feel for those who don't have it to retreat to when the "world is too much with us." 

Don't forget Sam Bush  puts on his reggae shoes and joins the Wailers at The National this coming Thursday and the next night marks the beginning of our first Richmond Folk Festival, with Dan Tyminski on the bill to help kick it off.  Free even!

Y'all come...TT

A Bluegrass Broom...

 

Vince Gill presents the big one to Dailey & Vincent

Nashville's venerable Ryman Auditorium, arguably the birthplace of bluegrass as we know it, was the scene of a historic sweep tonight of the IBMA's annual crystal obelisks by two humble individuals who have no doubt made their previous employers very, very proud.  I had a feeling that Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent would do well tonight (see previous post) but few foresaw how well:  Emerging Artist of the Year, Gospel Recorded Performance, Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year for Jamie and....the big enchilada...Entertainer of the Year.  It may not be official, but I sure can't remember when any one artist or group has won that many key categories in a given year.  It's a tribute to talent and hard work, as these guys gave their bosses (Doyle Lawson and Ricky Skaggs) plenty of notice that they wanted to move on, put in the requisite amount of woodshedding with Jeff Parker, Joe Dean and Adam Haynes and fielded a band that has accomplished more in one short year than any entity I can remember.  And their duet rendering of Welch & Rawlings' "By The Mark" put the night's only lump in my throat.  The rest of the winners can be found here.  Few surprises really except for the first female to claim banjo player honors since Alison Brown in '91...Kristin Scott Benson, and a belated bass player win for AKUS veteran and now Dan Tyminski Band member Barry Bales.  It was nice to have the show back at the Ryman, after a few years across town at Opryland...more intimate and relaxed and...appropriate.  Chris Jones did a nice job of giving perennial stage announcer Eddie Stubbs a year off and Del McCoury was his lovable, charming self as host.  And finally, a grateful nod to Cindy Baucom and Ned Luberecki who I'm told scripted the "ad libbed" remarks shoved into presenters mouths and actually made them seem natural and even entertaining. 

Del and the boys also hosted the after party down the street at B.B. King's club where western Carolina's Steep Canyon Rangers got things started.  Long day...the rack monster's got me.

More tomorrow...TT

Back To The Ant Hill...

The Biden/Palin debate isn't the only big deal going down Thursday night.  Here at the mother church of country music, Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, the IBMA Awards, the Grammys of bluegrass, will be handed out as the main event of a whole week dedicated to the music, its artists, promoters, instrument makers, record labels and fans.  It's a heady and exhausting experience catching up with old friends and making new ones and trying to summon up enough energy to take full advantage of the 24/7 offerings of performances both formal and informal.  The list of finalists in all categories and who's leading in the unofficial poll conducted by The Bluegrass Blog is found here.  I'm gonna pass on predictions this year except to say I think it's gonna be a big night for Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent.  As alums of Doyle Lawson's and Ricky Skaggs' bands respectively, these two guys hit the road running a year ago and have won wide acclaim.  Not being out there yet, I don't have a read on the "buzz" so I'll be surprised with the rest of you as the show, hosted by Del McCoury, rolls on.  I'm pretty sure it's being carried live on XM track 14, Bluegrass Junction.  The three day FanFest runs Friday thru Sunday with an amazing lineup of artists all waiving their fees to benefit the IBMA Trust Fund for musicians facing tough times.  I get to introduce Bradley Walker, Kathy Mattea and the Lonesome River Band as emcee on Saturday night.  I'll try to post a few times from Music City but it may well have to wait 'til I get home.  There's too much to miss while sitting in your room at the laptop.

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It's always a treat to hear Tony Rice play, even when you have to stand up next to the house stacks to hear over the cumulative din of all those folks who paid for the Science Museum concert but only seemed to want to run their mouths.  I'll never understand.  But it was fun to see a new "Unit" comprised of brother Wyatt, Bryn Davies on bass, Josh Williams on mando and the always tasteful Rob Ickes on dobro.  I'm looking forward to hearing Tony's new Rounder compilation Night Flyer that includes some of his best vocal material and three previously unreleased tunes including a Rice original called "Never Meant To Be."  Fortunately for us though, he apparently was.

And if you're looking for a great night of music close by, AC&T welcomes back gifted singer/songwriter Slaid Cleaves Thursday night accompanied by Richmond's own Mr. Versatility Charles "King" Arthur.  Should be delicious.

Take care of things...TT