The Return Of The Three Kings!
The Court Musicians
We thank the following musical artists for donating their talents and time to the May 21, 2005 musical benefit extravaganza. Click on the links when available for more info:
Helen Avakian and Terry Champlin
4 of 4 times, Helen Avakian was voted Hudson Valley's favorite acoustic solo act by Rhythm & News magazine. The only suspense each year was who would take second. Helen is an enormously talented singer, songwriter, arranger, performer, teacher and a virtuoso guitarist. She regularly accompanies the Bard College Flamenco Dancers, and is one of the valley's most popular guitar teachers, adept at teaching popular music, flamenco, classical, and overall musicianship. And if that isn't enough, she is most well known for frequent performances all over the Hudson Valley, NYC, and beyond. Helen is also a proud member of the Elixir Strings artist endorsement program. We are honored she took a night off to celebrate with us and donate her talents.
Terry Champlin, Helen's favorite husband, is a monster
musician. Not only a great classical guitarist, but also an
internationally performed composer. Terry composes for solo
guitar, duets, quartets, for other instruments, and even for
entire orchestras! Not to mention he's penned a few folk style
gems. He is the only living composer whose compositions
have been performed in both Carnegie Hall and in the
Cubbyhole Coffeehouse in Poughkeepsie. Helen once said
Terry arranges music much like other folks do crossword puzzles. E.g. he'll see a
quartet score on the kitchen table, sip some coffee and scribble a bit on the score, then
"Goodbye Dear" as he leaves. She'll look at it and realize it's much better than the
original.... but he might not even remember it later. Just as we mere mortals don't
remember every crossword puzzle we do. The Albany Times Union calls him "a
formidable talent...." But I think he's a monster.
Ken Bowles
Ken is an exciting acoustic blues performer. He was inspired by the Mississippi Delta style of blues, such as Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, and others. However, as well as he interprets the old masters, he has also written a number of his own excellent blues. Whether he's playing slide on a metal resonator guitar, or howling a blues while picking a "standard" wood guitar, it's a real treat to hear someone who can perform this style of music with such authenticity. I'm delighted Ken accepted our invitation to perform this night. Others have heard him and invited him to play in blues festivals (e.g. Warwick festival). I heard him, and invited him to play for kings.
Jeff Babicz
For years I thought Jeff was a damn good guitarist who dabbled in making guitars. I got it backwards. About 18 months ago, Jeff & partner Jeff Carano (that's right, the famed Hudson Valley bass player, and former colleague of Jeff B when they were at Stienberger Guitars), launched a new guitar company. So what, eh? Well, it's really hard for any new maker to even get a foot in the door. But these guys had so much innovation that old experts in the industry are waking up to new possibliities. Jeff has been featured in many national music publications, with more knocking on his door. And he's just some guy from Newburgh!
But I invited him to play, not to build guitars! As Ken above is an exciting Delta style blues player, Jeff is a highly accomplished "Piedmont" style bluesman. Piedmont is a bouncy ragtime style of guitar that is quite difficult. Yet Jeff can blow the house down when he plays Rev. Gary Davis instrumental pieces. I've heard very few guitarists (except those who studied directly with Gary Davis) who can play this music with authority as Jeff does.
Bia Ali
I met Bia some years ago. She was a talented kid in Helen Avakian's beginner
guitar ensemble at Dutchess Community
College. I was a mature responsible
experienced adult guitarist in the prestigious
Helen Avakian Intermediate to Advanced
guitar ensemble class. The next semester,
I saw Bia sit down in our classroom. I
thought she had the wrong night, or she
needed to pick up something from Helen.....
and then I heard her play... and then I
understood. This gal took to guitar like a
fish takes to water. Her singing is
incredible too. Mesmerizing actually. She
can play classical, popular, and even folk
songs of other languages. I've invited her
to play a few other times because I love hearing her. I hate to follow that voice
of her's... but I always find it worth the mild emotional experience of fear.
Otherwise, I wouldn't get to hear her.
"King" Pat Daley
This will be a lot of fun tonight. The Hudson Valley is such a great place for live music that one can't help but make a lot of friends just by picking up a guitar. Many of them are playing tonight. I either met them in Helen's guitar ensemble classes, or playing at open mic nights... In fact, I met Helen Avakian and Sarah D both at a Golden Rail open mic some years ago. And here we are again. And many of the George's Rail gang will be here again. And some from St. Mary's. So Musically, Railily, and St. Merrily, tonight is a great night of celebration and coming together. (hey, sorry for the mush... but it's my party! Well, me and Stan and Mark).
That would be me, holding my Jeff Babicz guitar. Photo by my friend, ace photographer Ian Wickstead.
I started playing guitar in college in 1976. I only played instrumental music then, and I didn't have the nerve to play in front of people for 10 years. When I did, I found the experience so terrifying, I didn't do it again for a full year. Then it was another 10 years before I had nerve to sing in front of people. Then after doing that for some years, heck, I could play and sing naked in front of people if I want. But relax - that won't be necessary tonight.
Gitfiddle & John Granata
"Johnnyboy" Granata's style is descibed as "FolkRockabillyBluegrass"... which almost tells the story, but he does some nice blues too. People who play "fingerstyle" (such as classical players who play with their right hand fingers rather than use a pick, or like Jeff Babicz who does fingerstyle blues) are often accused of sounding like they are playing two guitars simutaneously. John often sounds like two guitars even though he uses a guitar pick. When you watch him, and hear the sound, you can't help but wonder "How the heck does he do that?"
A few years ago, his favorite wife Cathy joined him on a number of songs. She started fiddle about 8 years ago, and together they became "Gittfiddle" - guitar & fiddle. The combination adds a very nice dimension to the music. Even more importantly, their husband/wife banter is quite amusing. I THINK they even intend it to be.
Sarah D
That's Sarah D seated in the middle - surrounded by my former short-lived but fun group "Dorothy Skye". We had just completed being guests on the "Sarah D Showcase" TV show in Port Jervis NY (Tri-Star 23). The band disbanded because John Nelson (guitar) and his two talented fiddling kids - Ailsa, leaning on Daddy to the left, and Will, seated with his fiddle, all moved to Scottland. Then Marnie McKnight and Charlie Favell (standing in the back, towards the center) started planning their wedding, and somehow they felt that was more important than being in a band. Little Patty Smith (seated with guitar) moved to Saugerties... which may as well have been Scottland as it was just a bit too far to continuing meeting for practice. Helen Avakian was a band guest that day - too busy teaching and performing to really be in a band. So that left me. King Pat. As I'm the only one who never actually left the band, am I still in it?
Anyway, back to Sarah - in addition to her TV show, she has a number of acoustic inspirational CDs to her credit, and she hosts a summer-long concert series in Walden, NY called the "Concert in The Grove" at Wooster Memorial Park. On the right, she is pictured jamming with my old college friend and bass player Mick Collins at Baird State Park (an open-mic Sarah hosted). Busy gal, ain't she? Like Helen Avakian, I first met Sarah D at The Golden Rail, and I'm honored she'll play a couple songs for us.
Judy Norman
Judy Norman is no stranger to benefit concerts. In fact, she hosts more than anyone I know. She annually hosts the "Mamapalooza" to benefit charities - e.g. Children's Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers and Sisters, American Cancer Society, are just a few. It's been 8 years now, with Mama8 scheduled July 30, 2005. Between those, she hosts other benefits as needs arise. Mamapalooza originally featured women's music and women musicians pretty exclusively. But I was an honorary mama once, and will be again this year. ("King Pat" in May, "Queen Pat" in July??? ut oh. Well, anything for charity).
The GroundHog Coffeehouse and Motorcycle company described Judy's music in one word, "Awesome". She can do soft mellow music, or rock out with a gritty blues sound with just she and her acoustic guitar. Whether her own original music or her interesting interpretations of standards, expect a treat. (Now keep in mind the number of people playing though - so you'll only get to hear a couple tonight. But then be sure to catch her in July in Wurtsboro at the Uncommon Grounds Coffeehouse for Mamapalooza 8).