Jeremy Kittel Band

MIM: The Jeremy Kittel Band sports more accolades than we can mention. Winners of multiple U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championships, six Detroit Music Awards, the World Music Award for percussion, the International Society of Bassists Jazz Competition, & multiple National Fiddle Championships combine in this band, and that's just for starters.

Jeremy's reputation was definitely deserved - this kid could play! His bag of tricks included a variety of styles: jazz, classical, Irish. And the rest of the band was very talented; this was their first show together and they sounded like they'd played together for years.

Tonight was a first for me on an ushering level: a disgruntled, annoyed guest! We have a strict no-camera policy and I was rudely confronted when I asked this woman to put hers away. Apparently she was a friend of Jeremy's and apparently she had Jeremy's permission -- but since I detest confrontation it was an uncomfortable situation. Perhaps I need a thicker skin.

But I also had a great compliment as well. I was an aisle usher this evening and helped several guests with their walkers. After the show, a bi-stander told me he appreciated how kind I was with these ladies. It was a very nice boost!!

Tommy Emmanuel

http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/

MIM: Legendary “finger-style” guitarist Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia’s most respected musicians and winner of two ARIA awards (Australia’s answer to the Grammy). His unique finger-picking technique is a masterful mix of dazzling melodic invention and rhythmic percussive effects that have attracted hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide.

In this job, I frequently marvel at what I didn’t-know-I-didn’t-know. The Tommy Emmanuel show was a perfect example of my ignorance. I had never heard of Tommy but was quickly overwhelmed by his sea of fans. The show was sold out and many of the guest were frequently Tommy followers and ardent fans. I enjoyed watching the crowd throughout the show most of all.

Tommy was a showman and wowed the crowd both with stories and with his guitar playing. His repertoire was varied – from bluegrass to jazz to country – and he displayed a new style of guitar playing that incorporated both rhythm and melody in one instrument.

Tommy also had an opening act – Chase Foster, a young musician who was equally engaging and fun. He played many favorites and it was easy to sing or clap along with him. In some ways, I enjoyed Chase more as his music was more approachable and his youth so likeable. Very good opening act!

Old Blind Dogs

www.oldblinddogs.co.uk

MIM: Since forming in the early 1990s, the Old Blind Dogs have stood on the cutting edge of Scotland’s root revival.  Dynamic percussion, polished vocals, soaring fiddle, and stirring pipes fuel the band’s energetic trademark style.

Unfortunately, the drummer for Old Blind Dogs was unable to fly to America due to a family emergency.  At the end of the show, we realized we had hardly missed him.  The three other members of the band were extremely solid and played so well together that the show was highly enjoyable.

The Scottish melodies were hypnotizing and soothing, fun and joyous, familiar and welcome.  I was fascinated by the Scottish bagpipe, played with an arm bellow.  Since I’ve heard so much Irish music, this was an interesting contrast with similar themes and styles.  I thoroughly enjoyed this show – one of my favorites.

Cimarron

www.CimarronoOnline.com

MIM: Cimarron is the most accomplished Llanera group in Columbia. A seven-piece ensemble lead by harpist and composer Carlos Rojas, tha ave been working for over twenty years. These musicians are immersed in the sounds of 'los Llanos'. The seek to explore and experiment with their rich heritage while retaining the essence of the tradition.

Los Llanos Orientales are vast plains that stretch from Columbia into Venezuela. The mestizo people that inhabit these savannahs on the great Orinoco River are descendents of Spanish settlers, African slaves, and indigenous Indians. This is cattle-rearing country, where life revolves around country ranches and music accompanies the daily working tasks such as milking and cattle drives. Most striking is the festive dance music called joropo, a fiercely virtuoso display of rippling melodies played on harp, bandola, and cuatro, and accompanied by bass, cajon, and maracas. This rapid and joyous music is sung with high-pitched voices reminiscent of Andalusian gipsy roots.

What a fun show!! I was blown away by this concert – the energy, the tradition, and the musical styles. Frequently I feel like I’m exposed by a whole new world in the theatre and that was definitely true of Cimarron.

First, the ensemble includes a harp, several guitars, a fiddle, and several drummers. It almost sounds like a joke in the making. The female lead-singer was the weakest musician but the music was so authentic no one cared. The primary drummer was incredible, arranging so many different sounds and beats from one instrument! And they all could and did dance.

I was enchanted through the majority of the concert. I felt transported to Colombia and enjoyed the trip very much. An example: the woman only spoke Spanish onstage and we were surprised to hear them speak English afterwards.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars

www.RefugeeAllStars-Audience.fm

MIM: Formed by a group of refugees displaced during the Sierra Leone civil war, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars is a reggae-influenced band with a humanitarian purpose.

This concert was as much about people-watching as band-watching!! The band was large and brought their family and friends with them. They also were popular with music lovers and had a great story of survival. The music was upbeat and loud and the audience couldn’t sit still. Dancers lined the back and several swayed in the aisles.

The reggae-influence was the most surprising to me – brought back to Africa at the end of the slave-trade from Jamaica and the Caribbean.

I respected their story and musical-talent, even if this wasn’t my favorite show. The loud drums and rhythms gave me a head-ache and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have.

Los Texmaniacs

www.Texmaniacs.com

MIM: 2010 Grammy winners Los Texmaniacs create a unique Tex-Mex groove that blends Texas rock, conjunto, well-cured blues, and R&B riffs.

With a strong blending of fiddle, accordion, and guitar, these guys were fierce! There music was toe-tapping fun and they engaged the audience through the entire performance.

I was surprised at the Cajun influences in their Texas music. In the 20’s and 30’s, German and Czech immigrants (my ancestors) settled in the East Texas area bringing the accordion with them. It was not long before the Cajun French and Mexican influences had melded into the music Los Texmaniacs play today. It really was a fascinating show.

Laurie Lewis with Tom Rozum

Inaugural Music Theater Performance

MIM: Recognized for her ability to incorporate traditional bluegrass instruments and vocals into an exciting musical style all her own, Grammy-award winning fiddler, signer, and songwriter Laurie Lewis provides a seamless mix of pure country and classic bluegrass.

Opening weekend – how exciting!! I was both nervous and excited for the first show in my new volunteer position. I worked as a Greeter at the front door and quickly overcame my butterflies by chatting with our guests. Everyone was in a great mood, needed directions or help, and were dazzled by the new building.

For this first show, I spent most of the concert in the lobby awaiting late arrivals. I was disappointed to not see the whole Laurie Lewis show, but the few songs I did sneak in for were exhilarating. Laurie and Tom were a magical duo. She told wonderful stories and their songs were catchy and sweet and pure bluegrass soul.