Hall Monitor

We were both a bit more youthful twenty-some years ago when I met Big Bad Jimmy Dean shortly after his head-over-heels fall for Donna Mead brought him to Richmond to make a new life on the banks of the tidal James. His is one of America's classic rags-to-riches stories and his contribution to the television medium and to what we still eat for breakfast are legend.  Not to mention of course, his indelible mark on the music industry which is at long last being acknowledged this spring by his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Jimmy recounts the phone call one day last week from "someone at the Country Music Association telling me I'd been put in the Hall of Fame, and thinking it was just somebody pulling my chain, I said 'That's very nice...thank you very much and goodbye."  Jimmy hung up on the guy.  It took another subsequent call from Hank Locklin, Jr., CMA employee and namesake of the Opry veteran who recorded "Please Help Me, I'm Fallin'" to make him realize it was for real.  The speculation as to why it took so long is moot now.  A glaring hole is now properly filled.  And with Ferlin Husky, Billy Sherrill and Don Williams going in with him, I venture to say it will be one of the most joyous and emotional induction ceremonies the Hall has ever seen.  May 16...in Nashville.  A giant of a man with a heart as big as the Texas sky.

To shift gears, what an uplifting musical experience we were afforded at the Carpenter Theatre Tuesday night thanks to the stellar players on tour for California’s Monterey Jazz Festival.  Pianist Kenny Barron, violinist Regina Carter, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and percussionist Johnathan Blake with vocalist Kurt Elling enthralled the Modlin Series crowd with a two-set tour of the jazz landscape.  All with distinguished resumes and the miles together to attain an obvious comfort level, this sextet displayed its collective and individual virtuosity with both the familiar…a memorable take on “Georgia On My Mind” incorporating a well chosen phrase from “Amazing Grace” from Barron and Carter, and a sensitive so long to Michael Jackson in Malone’s “I’ll Be There” on solo guitar...  and a couple of engaging originals like Barron’s “Theme # 1” from an unnamed film score and “Calypso Calypso” that he learned in a West Indian club during his early years in Brooklyn.  Yet another feather in our city’s colorful cap as we continue to showcase top-drawer talent from all over the map.  And we welcome the Modlin Center’s new director Deborah Sommers to the U of R and to our community at large…her predecessor Kathleen Panoff set the bar high.  May Ms. Sommers build on Kathy’s programming prowess.

Scroll on down to my previous post A Magic Monday for details on this Saturday’s bluegrass benefit jam at Grandpa Eddies out on Three Chopt.  Venerable tunesmith Patty Larkin celebrates her 25th year as a recording artist with a tour stop at Ashland Coffee and Tea, also Saturday night.  And check out the 25 guest artists she has on her new album to commemorate the milestone.  And one more reminder of our upcoming enchanted evening with the gifted string quartet, the Bee Eaters…our third JAMinc/In Your Ear concert of the year on Thursday March 4th (reservations here) and Adam Steffey’s new bluegrass band, the Boxcars at AC&T on the 5th.  A really big shew is set for Sunday, March 7th…Page Wilson’s 3rd annual Out O’ The Blue Stage Revue at the Canal Club.  Lots or our local best donating time and talent for many music-related causes.  Check it out.

And a ‘save the date’ for the weekend of May 14 and 15 on Brown’s Island:  Floydfest 09 favorites Grace Potter and the Nocturnals play Dominion Riverrock on Friday night and Robert Randolph & the Family Band hold down the groove on Saturday.  More to come, along with some of the early bookings for October’s Richmond Folk Festival III and a peek at the lineup for Groovin’ In The Garden at Lewis Ginter.  Just wait.

TT

(photo of Jimmy and me at NBC12 by Bob Remsberg, others from artist websites)

Punch Drunk

The compelling quintet continues to dazzle with its boundless energy, imagination and precision. Each time we encounter Chris Thile's Punch Brothers we wonder how they could get any better...but lo and behold, each time the bar goes ever higher. They appeared Tuesday at the refurbished Jefferson Theater on the Mall in downtown Charlottesville which by the way can't hold a candle aesthetically to the National, and proceeded to blow through an all-encompassing hour-forty minute set. Sound and mix was impeccable, likely because of the Brothers' road and studio guro Dave Sinko. They began with two ambitious new tunes from their forthcoming album filled with enough time signature, stops and chord changes to completely baffle mere mortals. They played the second half of the first movement to Thile's suite "Blind Leaving The Blind," the most requested half, according to wry banjo wizard Noam Pikelny, and later did the entire third movement, my seatmate's favorite. It's a profound pleasure to see and hear how comfortable and secure these guys have grown with such challenging material. More new stuff including a hilarious fast-paced number called "Next To The Trash" comparing a relationship to what goes on underneath the kitchen sink and later an angsty ode to "Alex." They delighted in a segue from a Strokes cover to the Stanley Brothers "Lonesome River" with fiddle phenom Gabe Witcher leading the longest bent-note slide-up-to-pitch lines ever heard in country music. They finished with their new favorite song (and elixir) "Rye Whisky" and it's interesting to note that the new project due out in May is also named for a drink with mystical healing qualities. Do we have a theme here yet? The double barreled encore was an homage to their favorite band Radiohead. It's a commitment to hit the road on a school night roundtrip to C'ville just to hear some music, but it's generally worth it. With the Punch Brothers...it's a very safe bet. Always. Plus we spent the miles discovering a west coast writer-guitarist Stevie Coyle turned us on to, named Walter Strauss. Never heard of him? Hope we can change that. (natty shirt, Critter)

On the near horizon, don't forget Grammy-winning D.C. singer-songwriter Jon Carroll at In Your Ear tomorrow...a few seats still left here. Also Friday, Bob Hallahan and Adam Larrabee debut their new CD The Street Where You Live in the recital hall at the James Black Music Center at VCU, Grove & Harrison, the always ready Brad Spivey and the Honky Tonk Experience play a home gig at Shenanigans and the Taters hit AC&T. Big Friday. On Saturday, Ashland welcomes Dave Alvin and A Couple of Guilty Women, one of whom is pedal steel great Cindy Cashdollar who graced our Folk Festival a few years back.

And a clarification...in a previous post I'd given a heads up to watch for a local hero during the opening ceremonies from Vancouver last week. I thought Daniel Clarke was gonna be there to accompany k.d. lang for her stunning rendition of Canada native Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" but alas everyone that night except Ms. lang lip-synced his or her performance but she insisted on singing live to a track. Check this background story on the subject from Australian TV. And that was indeed Daniel you heard on piano, pre-recorded, enhancing what was surely the most moving tune of the night. Bravo.

TT

A Magic Monday…

A bit of spontaneous serendipity led us to the Camp Concert Hall at the UofR Modlin Center last night to take in a sublime evening of Latin jazz courtesy of the Luciana Souza Trio.   The Grammy-winning composer/vocalist from Sao Paulo, steeped in the bossa nova tradition from her very beginning, presented a riveting showcase of what a properly- accompanied singer can do in 90 minutes.  A former faculty member at both Berklee and the New England Conservatory, Luciana has lent her lilting pipes to projects by Paul Simon, whose word-free work “Amulet” closes her current album Tide, and Herbie Hancock’s River-The Joni Letters.  And her considerable talents were perfectly couched in the nurturing accompaniment of Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo and creative percussionist Cyro Baptista.  Cyro nearly stole the show with his scarf and crimson specs and the stage-left collection of drums, rattles, cymbals, blocks, bells and whistles…pretty much  anything that could make a noise.  He made an engaging rhythmic statement with a pair of what amounted to whisk brooms and even used a looping pedal to great effect. The list of this master timekeeper’s collaborators ranges from Sting, James Taylor and Trey Anastasio to Wynton Marsalis, Yo Yo Ma, Jay-Z and even Snoop Dogg…a true chameleon keeping the beat.  So we were in the presence of greatness Monday night in the West End and it was all the sweeter having no idea what we were in for…I love surprises!  Thanks Martha.

On the subject of sweet, Valentines weekend is fast approaching and a carefully selected musical evening could tip the scales of Cupid in your favor…here are a few options:

Lots of potent choices Friday including Samson Trinh’s out-of-hiding Upper East Side Big Band taking the new Bogart’s bandstand at 1903 West Cary with Adrian Duke on vocals and the crazy-good James Brown tribute band, The Big Payback playing the Camel on West Broad. Payback-member Charles Arthur, in a shameless display of versatility shifts gears for an acoustic turn with mando flash Chris Fuller the next night at O’Banks Cafe in Ashland…the duo is now working as the Bellevue Rhythmaires…must be serious.  The dapper Mr. Arthur is also featured in the current issue of Style Weekly’s magazine for women Belle.  Pick one up…they don’t call him King Arthur for nothing. 

Fat Tuesday the 16th will be a Mardi Gras party Lone Star-Style as the the Red Headed Stranger himself Willie Nelson returns to the National, shortly after some of his band members were busted on the bus for pot and moonshine possession in North Carolina.  The guy has a reputation to keep, ya know.  Hope his Trigger fingers are feeling better.  And whatever happened to that documentary they were filming last time Willie was in town?  And remember the Punch Brothers play the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville the same night.  Tough call.

Thursday the 18th at Ashland Coffee and Tea, busy eight-stringer Barry Lawson makes his third appearance in as many weeks, after working the past two Wednesdays with Harper Price and the Honey Dewdrops respectively.  This time it’s a duo with guitarist Dave Kuo…just call ‘em Shake and Howdy…not sure who’s whom.  Catch the show to find out.  Coming on March 5th is Adam Steffey’s new band, the Boxcars formed since his previous boss Dan Tyminski has rejoined Alison Krauss & Union Station.  Veteran Ron Stewart will stay at Adam’s side on banjo along with John Bowman on fiddle…lots of promise for sure.  Lovable gallery owner/musician BJ Kocen debuts his new CD The Breaks the next night.  And it’s with deeply mixed emotions that I announce that the powergrass band Cadillac Sky finally plays AC&T on Thursday, April 29th.  That happens to be the first night of MerleFest where I’m a stage manager…a gig I haven’t missed in twenty years.  If ever I could be in two places at once.  At least the Texas-bred dynamos will head on down to Wilkesboro for the weekend. 

Our next two JAMinc studio concerts at In Your Ear should be fine ones, with DC-area standout guitarist/singer/songwriter Jon Carroll on Friday, Feb. 19th and Boston-based string quartet The Bee Eaters on Thursday, March 4th.  Make your reservations now as we only seat 80 and usually sell out.  Just go to our Website and click ‘events.’  And our long-awaited 14-song compilation is nearing the production stage.  We think you’ll like it.

The buzz is growing around the 12-hour bluegrass jam to benefit the Fisher House at McGuire Hospital which takes in wounded vets’ families during treatment.   Click here to see details and the lineup for the Feb. 27th event at Grandpa Eddie’s in the far west end.  Even the timeless George Winn is on the bill.  Good times…great cause.

How many of you knew it was former Old School Freight Train fiddler Ann Marie Calhoun playing and singing with Ringo Starr on all the late-night TV talk shows last month?  The cheery ex-Beatle may not be the best singer but you can’t question his taste.  Ann Marie also as a featured soloist on the Oscar-nominated soundtrack for "Sherlock Holmes.”  And we knew her when…

Be looking for another hometown hero during the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympic Games this Friday from Vancouver…more than that I cannot say.

This pre-Valentines Day post I’ll close with a loving link.  Click on it to spend twenty-plus minutes with two gifted people who’ve shared their love of music and each other with us for many years.  And we’re all the better for it.  Now go show your Valentine some love and affection.  And mean it.  TT

(The Luciana Souza Trio photos in this post are mine.  The rest are from artist Websites.)

Lullaby of Birdland…

With apologies to Charlie Parker, what’s the deal?  Our third major snowstorm in less than a year…right here in River City…where I for one had given up on any significant white stuff anymore.  I used to get hate mail back in my radio days for liking the big white blanket so much and admittedly I still do, but not for the same reasons as before.  It’s now less about snowmen, snowball fights and sledding and more about having hours to make up the perfect chili and cornbread, sip single-malt scotch and watch the cardinals, Carolina wrens, juncos and white throat sparrows in colorful appreciation of my generous kitchen window buffet.  We even had a rare pair of red wing blackbirds stop in.  I hope the storm didn’t wreck any of your plans or your automobiles…it did force cancellation of a planned overnight jam down on Gwynn’s Island but there’ll be other opportunities.  Wasn’t it just week ago the James was running at 18 feet? What a winter! Roll with it.

We’re looking forward to a mid-week ride to AC&T Wednesday to catch Kagey Parrish and Laura Wortman, the Honey Dewdrops, as mentioned in an earlier post.  Come on up…they’re a delightful duo.  The Valley’s Scott Miller follows on Thursday with a full night of his thoughtful originals.  His Website is amazing too.

Our next JAMinc/In Your Ear studio concert features D.C. area singer/songwriter Jon Carroll who helped popularize delightful afternoons back in the seventies with the Starland Vocal Band.  Come hear that he’s definitely not a one-trick pony.  Make your reservations, with no service charges, right here.  Still to come, stringbound sophisticates the Bee Eaters on March 4th and New York based songstress Amy Speace on April 9th.  And this coming Saturday, Page Wilson on his Out O’ The Blue Radio Revue dips into the rich archives of our live concert series to include a couple of segments from the November  2006 performance by mandolin/fiddle virtuoso Peter Ostroushko, of Prairie Home Companion fame, along with exceptional Russian guitarist Arkan Yushin.  In editing the recording for broadcast, I had forgotten what a special night of music it was.  Tune in and relive or enjoy it for the first time.  On the air from 8-10pm or streaming live here.  Like magic.

Friday, February 12 might be the right night to check out the White Hawk Music Cafe in Goochland as some of the capital region’s top-tier bluegrass talent gather as Long Creek.  Hold your breath as Russell and Ricky Bonavitch, Danny Hughes, George Thomas and Mike Sharpe play for their own amazement, and ours.

If you’re looking for a different way to spend Valentine’s eve and you didn’t get quite enough Celtic fare at our terrific Iona concert recently, how about Richmond-based Albafeire performing at the former roadhouse and now fabulous family-style eatery the Tanglewood Ordinary out Route 6 in Goochland on Saturday.  Jim and Anne Hardwick have kept this venerable dining destination open for well over 20 years and have recently added meatloaf and pot roast to their groaning board on Fridays and Saturdays.  If the way to the heart is through the stomach…a little well played music couldn’t hurt either.

If there’s any left over after your day of hearts, show the dazzling Punch Brothers some love in Charlottesville for a seated show at the Jefferson Theater on the mall downtown on Tuesday, the 16th.  

Beloved local writer and bluegrass aficionado Randy Fitzgerald has made me aware of a 12-hour marathon jam on February 27th out at Grandpa Eddie’s Barbecue on Three Chopt.  Randy’s band East of Afton will host the daylong musical benefit, with others yet to be announced and an open invite to any other bands and would-be pickers/singers to join in.  There’s no cover but no doubt you’ll be moved to give generously to Fisher House, an important facility that offers free room and board to families of wounded soldiers being treated at McGuire Veterans’ Hospital.  A noble cause and Barb might even show up!

A parting gift…a link to a YouTube video from the Mockingbird music hall in Staunton recorded Saturday a week ago featuring Jesse Harper with his pal-since-high school Daniel Clarke.  The next best thing to being there and the giggles are on the house.  BTW, Robin & Linda Williams play a home game there this Friday night.

Are we in for more snow this weekend?  Would this be our third Friday/Saturday storm in a row?  Have you had enough?  Is it really Groundhog Day?  As long as we can make it to our Super Bowl party and the red beans & rice with Andouille sausage, bring it on.  The Big Easy will rise again.

TT

(Jon Carroll and Punch Brothers photos from their Websites)