Son de Madera

MIM:  Son de Madera specializes in son jarocho, the vibrant improvisational music of Veracruz, Mexico, that features jarana and requinto “guitars”, call-and-response singing, and the rhythmic zapateado percussive dance style.  For 20-years, Son de Madera has preserved the traditions of son jarocho music while keeping it contemporary and relevant hundreds of years from its inception.

Son jarocho’s beginnings can be traced to the time of Spanish colonization.  Veracruz communities absorbed the hints of Arabic culture found in the conquistadors’ songs and dances, as well as musical influences from Africans enslaved in the coastal state during the 16th and 17th centuries.  Near the end of the 1800s, jarocho music was formally recognized as a defining part of Mexico’s cultural identity.

I especially enjoy shows that pair cultural aspects along with the music.  I definitely felt this evenings show delivered on both.  First the musical style was exactly as I expected – light and fun, heavily rhythmic and engrossing.  I was not surprised when the band played ‘La Bamba’ prior to the intermission.  This is Mexican music.

But where Son de Madera excelled over a restaurant mariachi band was in their performance.  The guitarists were exceptional and would accompany the instruments with boisterous voices and stomping feet.  The bass was completely new – a box that the musician ‘plucked’ while sitting on it.  I spent most of the evening watching the female dancer.  She stood on a wooden platform box and her dancing was an instrument in and of itself.  With her flowing skirts and beautiful scarves, she was an artist that transported us to a Mexican festival, full of colors and rhythm.

The audience was also fun.  Many were Mexican and appreciated that the band only spoke Spanish.  They clapped and yelled and brought the whole family, but there was surprisingly no dancing.

All-in-all, an enjoyable concert and something I’d enjoy seeing again.

Toumani Diabaté

MIM: Grammy winner Toumani Diabaté is a performer of truly exceptional virtuosity and creativity - he shows that the kora, a unique 21-string harp, can rival the world's greatest instruments.

What a unique instrument!! Mr Diabaté was a very unique concert, and my first exposure to the kora. He demonstrated how he played the guitar/harp instrument with only his thumbs and index fingers and yet it sounded like a full ensemble. In total, he played only 4 songs - each about 20 minutes a piece and each primarily his improvisation. The melodies were very soothing. It was a lovely, calming mid-week show.

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.