Well, it is a new year and I resolve not to make or follow any resolutions! Yeah!
Found a very special cd a music store recently. Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. "Muddy & The Wolf," features Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart and Hubert Sumlin with The Wolf; Michael Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield with Muddy. What is also special here, is a conversation between who I believe to be Clapton or maybe Steve Winwood trying to explain to Howlin' Wolf how hard it is to keep up with him! The Wolf was not accepting that! "...Ah come on man!" A Gem!
Want to know a great way to have fun and help others at the same time? The Savannah Music Festival needs volunteers to assist backstage or as office assistants; as ticket takers or help with production! This is not work, this is fun and there are rewards! Call 234-3378 ext. 113.
That's all folks! Stay safe
Renee |
The Savannah Music Festival. This is world class. Over 100 performances from performers who are the top of the line in their native homelands. We have them here in the Hostess City of the South for 17-days. Opening night, is the day after St. Patrick's Day so, travelers can party, enjoy the St. Patrick's Day festivities and then cool down with a variety of performances in the city's best live-performance venues.
What's your flavour? Whether Rock, Jazz, Classical, Blues, Bluegrass or Gospel, if you are between the ages of well, at any age, there is something spectacular not to miss at the 2010 Savannah Music Festival.
There is the gift of Wilco. The little rock band that can! Their popularity has skyrocketed since they performed here five years ago. See them live Thursday, March 25, at Johnny Mercer Theatre. I missed the announcement party last October, but I do have Belleville Outfit on cd and they are great. Each track is just g-o-o-d listening. The Outfit will join Mike Marshall's Big Trio opening night, Thursday, March 18 at the Morris Center. Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi are back. Kristina Train is from Savannah. You may know her as Kristina Beatty. She and Ruthie Foster perform Saturday and Sunday March 20 and 21. This is all good stuff!
The Swing Central High School Jazz Band Competition welcomes 12-high schools from seven states. Four are from Florida, two each are traveling from California and Washington state with bands joining us from Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Music in the competition rounds will cover the music of music masters Bennie Moten, Oliver Nelson and the incomparable Jelly Roll Morton. Feel good, all American music! I will share some of what I found while researching these artists.
Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morten called himself the 'inventor' or jazz. He was there from the start at the height of the swing era playing Ragtime and stride! We are lucky Library of Congress archivist Neil Lomax liked to travel and meet people and had a gentile art of persuasion because, there are recordings of Morten's early works and recordings while under contract with the Victor Recording Company as 'Jelly Roll Morten and his Red Hot Peppers.'
Bennie Moten helped to develop the 'rifling' style that defined many of the 1930's Big Bands. This Boogie Woogie pianist had an eye for talent - he recruited Count Basie. The Moten Band had two pianists so it's now clear why the Count could 'ping ping' so profoundly! When Moten died, Basie formed his own band with members from Moten's group.. The tops of the day and they delivered. Basie's smooth, polished style has its roots in the Bennie Moten band.
Oliver Nelson played with and arranged for the Louis Jordan Big Band. What is important here is Jordan is said to be the first 'rapper.' Songs like 'Saturday Night Fish Fry' and 'Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens,' are treasurers. He rapped before James Brown. Yes, the roots of rap music can be found in the music of Louis Jordan dating back to the 1950's. Nelson died young but left an enourmous legacy from his tenure as house arranger for the Apollo Theatre; he played briefly with the Louis Bellson Big Band and with Quincy Jones. WOW. For television he composed muisc for 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' 'The Bionic Woman,' 'Longstreet,' 'Columbo,' 'Ironside,' and 'Night Gallery.' Film scores includes 'Death of A Gunfighter' and 'The Last Tango in Paris.'
Whatever your musical taste, there is a performance for you. Are you going along with someone who has a differing taste in music? Go along for the ride, this promises to be a great evening out! The Savannah Music Festival. Support this local effort. |
Hello again!
On the subject of 'things to do in Savannah,' there is a bulk of activities and outings to choose from. Everything from virtuosos to dance, from Warhol to rodeo. I like that because, as you know, we are a toursim community and many return for a permanent stay. There are differing tastes to support. Let's conduct ourselves well, so the powers that be will agree to build a new arena to support major acts. Someone went overboard at the recent Willie Nelson concert - Mr. Nelson has a way of bringing the wild out of ya! (just kidding). Willie supports farmers - good hearted and well behaved souls. Farmers and teachers are the backbone of our culture and struggle through what they do.
The Savannah Music Festival is four months away. I appreciate the local performers who will grace the stages this spring. Kristina Train nee Beatty, will perform two shows, for two nights in March. Ben Tucker will have a huge birthday party in his honor and James Bignon presents the Gospel Music Workshop for three sessions, in the Neises Auditorium at the Jepson Center. Swing Central is the high school jazz band competition. March 31 through April 2. These are the professional musical performers of the future so, this venue is very important. This involves 12-bands from as far as the west coast; with tutoring during workshops that are conducted by some of the best jazz clinicians around - many comprise the Jazz All Stars Orchestra, including Piano Showdown's Marcus Roberts and Gerald Clayton plus, from jazz royalty, Jason Marsalis of the famed Marsalis Family. The winning band will received a cash prize of $13K.
As you know school music programs are one of the first on the budget cut block so this is big. Each school gets a visit from a clinician in February to prepare. Here, the students attend workshops for three days, open to all and are something to witness. The Pacific Crest Community School out of Portland, Oregon won last year. Four schools from Florida are coming, two from California and Washington state, one each from Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Pennsylvania.
You can hear the bands on Rousakis Plaza Thursday, April 1 from 9a-3p. The competing rounds begin at the Lucas Theatre, Friday, April 2 from 9a-3p. The finale is Friday night at 7. The All Star Swing Summit, the big jam session, follows at 7:30.
Finally a few words about the switch from analog to digital; "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Stop! I can't take it anymore!
Stay safe,
Renee |
Hello. Nothing to say about professional football this time. I want to Congratulate Savannah Christian on THEIR undefeated season. 9-0 - way to go! The big game is coming up so good luck to both squads.
It is the day after and the New York Yankees have won the world series. The rented movie I have on the box is 'Blonde,' the story of Marilyn Monroe - she was Mrs. Joe DiMaggio. His traditional red roses at her final resting place can only be a sign of true love, now lost. Ummmmmm...
Stay safe
Renee |
Hello To You!
This is Tuesday morning and I believe the fellas call this the morning after quarterback. I cannot believe the Falcons lost again! This is a season we've not seen from the birds in a while. Let's hope they can put things right during the season second half. Now the Saints and the Colts (yulk) are the two undefeated teams.
It is no secret of my love of many types of music, but is a secret I once owned a Neil Diamond album. Please don't laugh! This was an impulse purchase, but this album helped me solidify the committment to keep an open mind about the music I listen to and appreciate all of it. On the album notes Diamond talks about theses songs he composed that came to him after a visit to the African continent. By the way, the first record I ever bought - was by James Brown. What was yours?
It the season of giving thanks and giving back. Need an idea? Why not support the 'Dancing with Savannah Stars' effort to help CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates!
Stay Safe,
Renee |
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