Leeward

Since we got wind of this gifted breath of fresh air out of Philly at FloydFest a few years ago, my girls and I have been taken with Amos Lee and his seemingly effortless ability to distill the genres of folk, r&b, jazz and blues into a potent and often poignant style all his own.  As a composer, his brilliantly crafted songs of love and love gone wrong are deeply evocative and as a vocalist with the expressive range of a young Al Green, he can squeeze every drop of emotion from his lyrics.  He played to a wildly enthusiastic and adoring crowd at the National Tuesday night and brought along two tasteful sidemen, Jaron Olevsky on bass and keyboards along with Nate Skiles sharing bass duties and also playing guitar.  They both furnished some of the most subtle and spot-on backing vocals I’ve heard to give these great songs life.  Amos Lee is among the most gifted of his generation’s singer/songwriters.  He’ll be opening for Dave Matthews’ summer tour.  Dave better watch his back.  And congrats to Bill Rice for winning our blog contest…Amos went to the University of South Carolina.

Sunday afternoon found me at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on the Boulevard for an inspiring performance by the Richmond Choral Society under the artistic direction of Markus Compton.  I’ve known Markus for the past five years as a patient and engaging director and pianist for our small choir at Goochland’s Hebron Presbyterian Church.  He assumed leadership of the venerable RCS late last year and has wasted no time in instilling these gifted singers with a renewed sense of joy.  It was palpable.  The program’s  theme was Women of Note as part of the four-month celebration of women in the arts across Virginia called “Minds Wide Open.”  Markus chose selections both secular and non-, a capella and accompanied by the outstanding Keith Tan, most of them appropriately composed by women.  The choir was thrilling in its precision and polish during fortissimo and pianissimo and every mood in between.  And a handful of stunners from soprano Lisa Edwards-Burrs took the afternoon to even higher places.  A well-rehearsed group of great singers is a classic example of something far surpassing the sum of its parts.  Their next concert is on Sunday, June 6th…more details here.  Bravo!

Thanks to my choir pal Angie I headed downtown Saturday night to the Carpenter Theatre for the Richmond Symphony’s Masterworks concert under the baton of Erin Freeman and featuring the dazzling 26-year-old violinist Elena Urioste.  This was the inaugural event of the aforementioned “Minds Wide Open” celebration and fittingly featured an ambitious and fascinating concerto by a contemporary composer named Jennifer Higdon.  It was like nothing I’d heard before with some of the most creative and unusual percussion imaginable…think playing a xylophone with a bow.  It was big and bold and magnificent.  Another female composer Lili Boulanger provided a perfect opening selection on the first day of spring with “D’un Matin de Printemps,” followed by Tchaikovsky’s soaring “Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 35.”  Ms. Urioste who was a last minute sub for originally-scheduled soloist Tai Murray, simply owned this piece written primarily to showcase and seriously challenge the violin soloist. She basically tore it up. Hearing our wonderful symphony in its beautifully refurbished home is a sonic source of pride for what we have here in River City.  May incoming music director Steven Smith from Santa Fe take this community treasure to new heights.

Kicking off my long melodic weekend was Hoosier folk singer Tim Grimm who was back for his third stop trackside with wife Jan Lucas for a Friday gig at Ashland Coffee & Tea.  Weekly Ranter Jon Baliles had been singing his praises for some time so I took the bait and spent a nostalgic night re-living my family’s fourteen years on the farm in Hanover County, thanks to Tim’s insightful songs about the simple joys of a rural life.  After nearly a decade in L.A. working the Hollywood mill to some success (see him with Harrison Ford in Clear and Present Danger) Tim found fulfillment by returning home to Indiana and putting down stakes in the country to raise his sons.  If hayfields and wild turkeys are calling you, pick up a copy of his Farm Songs CD and vicariously walk your fence line at sunrise on a crisp spring morning.  Some great shows ahead at AC&T in the next month or so, including Stephen Bennett, Yarn, Rod Picott, Harper & Company, George Turman and yes, Cadillac Sky on April 29th.  

All that, and I still missed the Irish Festival on Church Hill which was a resounding success I hear…Page Wilson said they sold almost 350 KEGS of beer…imagine that.  And I wimped out on a planned post-symphony stop at Shenanigans for a long overdue Honky Tonk Experience.  Brad Spivey and the boys afford us a second chance this Friday at Grandpa Eddie’s out on Three Chopt. Tonight (Thursday) you can catch an all-too-rare performance by Johnny Hott’s Piedmont Souprize with Charles and Sara Arthur at Shenanigans Pub on MacArthur.  Sig Williams of the VA Folk Music Association wants you pickers to know about their bluegrass and old-time jam the third Tuesday of each month at Brandermill Church from 7-10pm.  So the next one would be April 20th.

Our long-awaited JAMinc/In Your Ear compilation CD is finally at the manufacturers and should be in early next month.  It features some of our best performances over the last four years of studio concerts including artists like John Cephas, Bryan Bowers, Kruger Brothers, Tony Furtado, Cadillac Sky, Howard Levy, Wayne Henderson and many others.  We’ll let you know when it’s in and how to get yourself one.  And our next live concert is coming up April 9th with Amy Speace.  Hers is a fascinating story of a formally-trained Shakespearean actor from Baltimore who turned singer/songwriter and never looked back.  Check her out on MySpace and reserve your seat for the show here.  And tune in the Out O' The Blue Radio Revue from 8-10pm this Saturday night on WCVE-FM 88.9 public radio for two segments from last fall's Anne & Pete Sibley concert at IYE.  So good.

We’ll wrap this wordy post with news of what’ll be a must-read for many of us…the authorized biography of the man, the myth, the mega-guitar stylist Tony Rice.  Written by Caroline Wright and Blue Highway’s Tim Stafford, it promises an in-depth look at the enigmatic musician who has influenced so many for so long.  Here’s what Bela said about him:  “Every once in a while, there are seminal figures. They don’t come along even every five years. You might, by a fluke, get two of them in 20 years. Tony’s one of those guys.”  Order your autographed copy here.

And don’t you think the spring peepers are making the most beautiful music we’ve heard since this time last year?  A well-earned season gets underway…how sweet it is.

TT

(Thanks to Mike Chenault for the photo of Tim Grimm and Jan Lucas.  And to John Murden for the busy beer truck. The Richmond Symphony and Amy Speace shots are from their Websites.)

Quality Quartet…

I’m musically replete after four engaging nights in a row of live performance last week and I only regret I wasn’t able to make it five to hear Love Canon at VCU’s Singleton Center on Sunday afternoon.  But more on that supergroup another day.  Back to last Wednesday for a wholly unexpected pleasure at UofR’s Camp Concert Hall thanks to resident ensemble eighth blackbird.  The renowned sextet was joined by guitarist/composer Steven Mackey and actor/vocalist Rinde Eckert for an experiential interpretation of a psychological study where subjects were shown out-of-focus slides and timed on how long it took to recognize what was pictured after they were snapped into focus.  Pretty deep stuff for a mind like mine but the caliber of the performances managed to draw us in deeper as things progressed.  I’d never witnessed anything quite like it and though I struggled to absorb its message, I was moved by its imaginative intensity.  It’s good to leave the comfort zone once in a while.

Thursday brought the long-anticipated arrival of the Bee Eaters in Richmond for an ambitious but more accessible night of music at In Your Ear studio A.  The sensational foursome drove all the way from Boston to spend the day with us including a stop to play for the always-receptive kids at Mary Munford Elementary.  With Tristan Clarridge and his sister Tashina on cello and violin respectively, Wes Corbett on banjo and Simon Chrisman on hammer dulcimer, the Bee Eaters mesmerized the gallery with two sets of intricate originals and choice covers that included Beatle staples“Eleanor Rigby” and “You Won’t See Me.”  Not your standard string quartet for sure…resulting in a unique sound that you can savor by snagging their superb Darol Anger-produced eponymous CD.  It might end up as a soundtrack for some of your best times ever.  Start with taking it along on your iPod for a spring walk in the woods.  Perfect.

Friday night took us back to Ashland Coffee and Tea for an exhilarating night of solid bluegrass compliments of the fledgling power band, the Boxcars.  Dan Tyminski’s return to his spot beside Alison Krauss in Union Station found former bandmates Adam Steffey and Ron Stewart looking for a gig, so they just started from scratch.  With talented guitarist Keith Garrett, veteran John Bowman on fiddle and banjo and a rock-steady Harold Nixon on bass, these guys plowed through the great material on Adam’s solo album One More For The Road and well chosen tunes from the Boxcars’ debut release due later this year.  All but Nixon sing individually and collectively and they take full advantage of the versatility of their bookends Stewart and Bowman.  The two are both outstanding players of both banjo and fiddle and they spent the night taking turns to great effect.  It was only the second real show they’d all done as a band but if they’re already this good and having such a good time at it, the tracks ahead look long and winding for the Boxcars.  All aboard!

Saturday saw us back by the tracks at AC&T to share in the lovefest for hometown bon vivant B.J. Kocen and the release of his new CD, The Breaks.  B.J.’s love for music and life are contagious and the sold out crowd savored all ten tunes in the album, all originals, all sensitively supported by Charlottesville’s Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule on guitars, keys and backup vocals along with Bob Bowen on bass and Stephen Lecky on drums.  Curreri and Sproule set the right tone as a delightful opening duo, making those like me who heard them for the first time hankering for more.  B.J. has been hatching this project for most of his adult life and the joy of his finally getting to the finish line was palpable.  More musical compadres, Jackie Frost, Brad Tucker, George Garrett and Jim Wark, joined him as the Gobstoppers for a rousing finale.  Stop by Glave/Kocen Gallery on West Main to see some fine art and pick up a copy of the CD.  Or check out one of the Kocen-hosted songwriter nights every Tuesday at AC&T.  He’s a busy boy and a seriously nice guy.

Great shows down the road at AC&T this spring…check the Website and sign up for their email alerts.  And now in the former home of Bogart’s at 203 North Robinson, Balliceaux is featuring live music most nights thanks to the wide-ranging musical appetite of Chris Bopst.  Tune in to his delectably eclectic streaming radio show on RVA News…ears wide open.   The National’s bringing the soulful folkster/guitarist Amos Lee to town on March 23rd. Tell me where he went to college and we’ll put you and yours on the guest list for the show.  I’ll draw from all correct answers sent to mail@timtimberlake.com.

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities is one of many arts and cultural institutions facing serious funding cuts and possibly dissolution if measures pending in the General Assembly are passed.  The VFH has been a key player in the National and now our Richmond Folk Festival with Jon Lohman and his colleagues responsible for the always-compelling folklife area each year.  Take a few minutes to make your voice heard if you feel eliminating support for this important work is the wrong way to balance a budget.  Learn more here.

TT

(Thanks to photographer friends Andy Garrigue for the Bee Eaters, Dean Hoffmeyer for the Boxcars shot and Scott Elmquist for the B.J. Kocen pic. The rest are from artist websites.)

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)

Robbin Still Rocks...

Suffice to say, the thirty years since the release of the seriously successful Two B's Please album have been kind to the guys responsible for it and their hometown reunion show at the National last Saturday was joyful confirmation that the Robbin Thompson Band was back.  Robbin, Rico, Eric, Audie and Velpo put on a potent demonstration of what three decades of honing musical skills and weeks of recent practice can do.  The boys simply kicked ass.  They were tight, full of energy and played the near sell-out crowd like a harp, reeling off every tune from the aforementioned best-seller and more current tunes as well.  Their evolution as musicians was evident in the meaty solos rendered by Robertson and Heiberg.  There was even an impromptu Wootenesque bass break by Audie Stanley that left us all shaking our heads, the rest of the band included.  Full disclosure:  Robbin's a fellow JAMinc board member who missed our meeting last week for a doctor's visit to deal with an aching back.  You'd never know it.  He prowled the stage like a youngster although he confessed to needing a few hours in the steam room the morning after to recover.  The generous two-set show was preserved by an eight-camera video crew for a future DVD.  But if they do any more of these live shows, and it's likely they will, you'll want to be there.  Whether you remember the glory days or not. Rock and Roll!  And thanks to Skip Rowland for the photos...there are lots more on his Website.

TT

Second Tuesdays...

  We discovered Tuesday night that we'd missed way too many of these choice gatherings at the Capital Ale House's music hall downtown on East Main.  The Richmond Jazz Society's Guest Educators' Series is a monthly dinner show in one of the city's top music venues enhanced by a fine sound system, a great bar menu, and as you probably know, a serious cornucopia of draft and bottled beers.  This special night featured Courthouse Records recording artists the Butterbean Jazz Quartet.  RJS president Robert Payne set the proper tone, deftly turning the sometimes rowdy space into a respectful listening room as he introduced gifted vocalist Terri Simpson and her supporting cast:  bassist Rusty  Farmer, pianist Lee Covington and drummer Keith Willingham.  Augmenting the mix were Terri's hubby and super saxman Kevin Simpson along with great young guitarist John Conley.  Terri proceeded to demonstrate why she's a 2008 Theresa Pollack Award winner with a long and winding set starting with Rodgers & Hart's "Thou Swell," and moving artfully through a fresh and fascinating arrangement of "Autumn Leaves," a sweet take on Joni Mitchell's "My Old Man" and an elegant encore selection in folk favorite "The Water Is Wide."  So much talent in this town...if you weren't part of the full house at Capital Ale, catch the Butterbeans some Sunday at their long-running weekly Sunday gig at Bottoms Up Pizza.  And the 2nd Tuesday in February will bring Charlottesville's Stephanie Nakasian to town with her music mate Hod O'Brien and others in tow.  Hats off to the venerable Richmond Jazz Society for its continued enrichment of the local scene.

In the house was RJS board member and keyboard king Bob Hallahan who put a copy of his new CD in our hands, ...the street where you live.  It's a solid collaboration with area guitar legend Adam Larrabee and its artistry grows with every listen...we've already been through it twice. We'll let you know when it's out.  Another package worth picking up is another duo effort with Winfield, KS champion six-stringers Todd Hallawell and Robin Kessinger.  Their new project is entitled Ear Candy and it is a high-calorie confection packed with some of the cleanest and most tasteful guitar teamwork you're likely to hear.  You might have caught them at the Folk Festival over the past few years and we're working on a local stop sometime in May.  Meantime, check out the CD here.

JAMinc is excited about opening our 2010 season of In Your Ear Studio Concerts with the versatile DC-area Celtic band IONA on January 22nd.  Reservations are going fast at our Website.  Coming up, former Starland Vocal Band member and multi-Wammie winner Jon Carroll in February and in early March,  the sensational string quartet, the Bee Eaters, about whom Darol Anger says, "The Bee Eaters are the instrumental cream of the brand new string nation. ...somehow these kids have absorbed everything we had to offer and alchemized it into a whole new musical world." 

Congrats to 11-year-young Harper Price and her supporting cast who SOLD OUT Ashland Coffee & Tea last night!  Wish I could've witnessed that.  Hope you saw the nice piece about her in last Sunday's T-D.  If you didn't, click here.  And coming to AC&T on Wednesday, February 3rd are Laura Wortman and Keagy Parrish, collectively the Honey Dewdrops.  We were first enchanted by them during a late-night jam on the front porch at Graves Mountain back in '08, fresh from their 1st-place finish in A Prairie Home Companion's "People In Their Twenties Talent Show."  For a $5 cover, you can't afford to miss them.

We're off to a great start.  Come on along....TT

(Bee Eaters photo from their Website)

Brrrrrrrrrring in the new year…

As cold as everyone makes it out to be for the last week or so here in the sunny south, remember when the lakes and ponds froze thick enough to skate on for at least a couple of weeks every winter?  Skeptical as one might be about the certainty of global warming, it’s hard to deny that our winters just aren’t as frigid as they used to be.  Not that I’m complaining.  I trust your holiday season was all you wanted it to be and you didn’t get stranded in some airport or train station somewhere.  I was happy to mostly be at home with family and friends, to enjoy the lingering blanket of snow, and the prospect of all the musical offerings this clean palette called New Year’s Day will soon hold.  This journal now enters its fourth year and this is my 117th posting.  The apparent acceleration of time is of increasing concern, but your receptive support of my musings here makes the investment of that vanishing commodity worthwhile.  I truly appreciate your time and attention.

Let’s get started with something for nothing, as most of us are pretty tapped out after the well-intended but overzealous seasonal spending.  One of the year’s early musical highlights will likely be the long-awaited reunion of the Robbin Thompson Band at The National on Saturday, January 16th.  The 30th anniversary of the release of the band’s 200,000 unit-selling Two “B’s” Please containing such staples as “Candyapple Red,” “Brite Eyes" and, yes “Sweet Virginia Breeze” is being marked by their performing it live in its entirety. The illustrious and well-rehearsed brotherhood includes original RTB members and a-list players Eric Heiberg, Audie Stanley, Velpo Robertson and Bob “Rico” Antonelli.  They did a very well-received debut performance at the Norva in December and now it’s time for the home game in probably the best park possible.  Tickets on sale here but for one of you, how about a pair of comps?  We’ll put you on the guest list if you can tell us the  name of the artist who did Robbin’s last few CD covers and who also did the original art for our 1st JAMinc concert compilation coming soon. (at left)  All correct responders will be placed in a drawing to be held on January 11th.  Send answers to: mail@timtimberlake.com.  (Robbin photo from the Norva show by Zachary Reid)

Our first JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert of the year is now set for Friday, January 22nd with the DC-based Celtic band, Iona.  This is our first foray into this potent and popular genre and the lively and accomplished group even travels with a dancer.  Check ‘em out online and make your reservations here…they’re already selling well and we only seat 80 folks. 

JAMinc’s founder and president Wally Thulin celebrated his 70th birthday back in November. He’s the most youthful septuagenarian any of us know and with his quiet vision and dedication steering Fieldcrest Music, Courthouse Records and 501(c)(3) JAMinc, Wally’s made an indelible impact on Richmond’s music scene and the artists who populate it.  Thanks to the grateful board members and Courthouse artists who gathered last Wednesday to express appreciation and to encourage him to keep at it, including  Doug Richards, Jim Bland, Andy Garrigue, Bill McElroy, Daniel Clarke, Terri & Kevin Simpson (with Miles), Keith Willingham, Rusty Farmer, Todd Herrington, Trey Pollard, Jesse Harper, Billy Lux, George Turman, Jackie Frost, Richard Ward, Jim Skelding, Danny Hughes, Frank Coleman, Chris Fuller and Todd Hallawell along with supportive significant others.  Yes, there was a jam.  Wally World remains open for business.

Arguably the best publication covering Americana music, No Depression magazine fell victim to the gutting of the recording industry and the general economic malaise last year.  But it lives on…online and I thought I’d share a year-end look at the top-10 bluegrass recordings of 2009.  It’s a pretty solid list but I would’ve included Sarah Jarosz’ elegant Song Up In My Head.  Let me know what you think.

And in the event that one or more of you may have come into possession of a banjo for Christmas, here’s a cautionary bit of breaking news from way out west, courtesy of Barry Lawson.

A resolution worth keeping…see and make more live music in twenty-ten…we can do this! 

TT

Snow Glow...

Sometimes you just have to go for it.  Admittedly motivated by ticketed friends who decided to bag it, we took the wintry ride to Ashland Friday night to savor a John Cowan Christmas.  "The Voice" has just released his first seasonal CD Comfort and Joy and the band had braved I-40, 81 and 64 from Nashville to make the gig.  Although they started an hour late, the intrepid crowd was treated to one extended set of what we'd come for...tasteful new arrangements of "The Christmas Song," Stevie Wonder's "Christmas Everyday," and even "Ave Maria" with reverence and power.  And they offered other non-seasonal treats too, like Tim O'Brien's "Hold To A Dream" and Jeff Autry's cool "East Meets Wes," an instrumental tribute to jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.  Those of us who love this music are indebted to the players who sacrifice the comforts of home and family, especially at this time of year to take on the challenges of making it to the next show, whatever the weather, uncertain of their paychecks dependent on who shows up, but still making the scene and giving it their all.  It's not all glitz and glamour.  It takes lots of guts too.  And we're grateful.

Just a few acknowledgments of recent magic moments, in reverse order...back to Thursday night at the magnificently reborn Carpenter Theatre at CenterStage where the Richmond Ballet's lavish production of The Nutcracker has returned to its perfect home base.  In the pit, the Richmond Symphony played Tchaikovsky's enchanted score with renewed finesse, the sets and lighting were Broadway-caliber and the dancers more than did this seasonal sugar plum justice.  I don't see how it could've been done any better and I'm thankful my girls have me tickets for my birthday and that our town can claim such a first-rate gem.  Bravo!

Monday was my last black tie night of the year, for which I'm always relieved, but for good purpose as host of the Richmond Pops Band's annual holiday concert at the Landmark with the perfectly polished harmonies of the Richmond Choral Society.  Joe Simpkins rehearses the band and my friend Markus Compton directs the choir to such a stirring result that the nearly full house erupted in multiple standing ovations including one of the longest I've ever witnessed for guest soloists Sgts. 1st Class Stephen Cramer and Leigh Ann Hinton from the U.S. Army Chorus and their medley from Phantom of the Opera.  A stunningly beautiful show stopper.

The day before, Saturday the 12th, started with a delightful session at Bruce and Adrian Olsen's northside SounDog studios which for a few magical hours became Page Wilson's Chickahominy Swamp kitchen for some around-the-table live tunes from singer-songwriter Chip Taylor (who penned "Angel of the Morning" and the Troggs' "Wild Thing") with longtime guitarist friend John Platania (who toured with Van Morrison and Randy Newman) and the young and gifted Canadian Kendel Carson (Sirius XM Radio voted her album Rearview Mirror Tears one of the top ten alt-country releases of the year).  Anyway, this potent trio sat and swapped stories and songs based mostly on James Wesley Voight's (Chip's real name) family life as brother of actor Jon Voight (and uncle to Angelina Jolie) and his years as a successful Nashville songwriter.  You'll be hearing the very listenable result down the road on Page's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue on WCVE-FM.  (And I'm out of parentheses.)  Thanks for a great afternoon and some delectable edibles, Page.  And speaking of OOTBRR, don't miss the first show of the new year on January 2nd as Page will be featuring segments from our October 30 JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert with Wil Maring & Robert Bowlin.  Really great stuff...promise.

And we topped off that Saturday with a moving Christmas concert with the combined choirs of St. Giles Presbyterian and the Good Shepherd and Trinity Baptist Churches with guest saxophonist James "Saxsmo" Gates.  There were many highlights over the two-plus hours including Dr. Mel Dowdy's Lightfoot-like take on James Taylor's "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" and Audrey Brown Burton's soaring "Rockin' in Jerusalem."  It got the Christmas season off on the proper foot for me and proved symbolic of the ongoing effort to find the common ground we all yearn for.  Again, shared music is the key.  As another Tim famously said in old London town many years ago, "God bless us, every one."

TT