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.)
No comments:
Post a Comment