Terrance Simien at the Jiggle Jam Festival, (Crown Center) Kansas City MO 5/30

Terrance Simien's enthusiasm for performing is evident all the time. But when he's in front of children during one of his specialty Creole for Kidz matinee shows, it's apparent he makes an extra special effort for the little ones. Zydeco music in Simein's experienced hands, it seems, allows anyone regardless of age to feel like a kid again. You can't help but be drawn in. This was the feeling when Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Express played the Jiggle Jam Festival in Kansas City on Memorial Day weekend. Encouraging kids to learn about another culture while having big fun is a win-win situation for all. With tales of his linage back to Africa and a word about his family's Creole roots in southwestern Louisiana Simien looked into the past while he continues to move the zydeco tradition forward. He accomplishes this by bringing an exuberant message of peace, love and zydeco to the young masses. Simien's hour-long set found him singing like Sam Cooke, playing his accordion like Clifton Chenier, and offering a brief musical history of New Orleans while extolling everyone to dance. With his gifts as an entertainer apparent, he is able to leave everybody smiling, dancing, and reaching for beads. A big part of this cross-cultural presentation is education; the telling of stories, origins, and histories. Simien willingingly shares with his young audience the story of Amede Ardoin, the first Creole/Cajun musician to record zydeco accordion, and about about how his people trace their roots back to Senegal Africa. It seems Simien was diversity long before it became a political term: his ancestors were French, Caribbean, African, and Native American. One of the highlights was long-time frottoir player Ralph Fontenot doing double duty by helping children--equipped with miniature rubboards around their little necks--on and off the stage after they'd had a chance to play along with the band. During the last portion of the show Simien performed a medley of hits from Crescent City artists like Dr. John, the Wild Tchoupitoulas (Mardi Gras Indians), and Fats Domino. Simien himself earned his keep on a muggy Sunday afternoon by relentlessly throwing multi-colored beads to all comers no matter size or age.

JJ Grey & MOFRO June 17 at Frederik Meijer Gardens

We caught up with soul singer/songwriter JJ Grey as he busied himself finalizing production for his new album due later this summer. He was in the middle of getting copies made of the original recordings and sending the disc to be pressed. Otherwise preparing to depart for Grand Rapids and a show with Buddy Guy at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens Amphitheater on June 17. This trip comes days after a short Canadian tour with George Thorogood. One of the first things to come up is the oil spill.

“We don’t have any shows coming up along the Gulf coast so that’s not an issue now,” Grey said of the worsening slick in the Gulf of Mexico.

“But it will affect me somehow that’s for sure. I don’t know how but it will,” Grey said.

One way Grey's livelihood might be affected is if no one wants to hit the Gulf Coast on vacation this year because they can’t go to the beaches. If bars and clubs are struggling keep the doors open they won’t need the extra entertainment expense. It seems the ongoing news of the spill’s magnitude hits Grey hard.

“I live by all kinds of lakes and streams. We’ve got fresh and salt water down here. I can get to the ocean and surf in about 35 minutes. I live in paradise,” Grey said ever the outdoorsman.

His song "Lochloosa" helps illustrate his place among nature in his home state:

Homesick but it's alright; Lochloosa is on my mind. She's on my mind.

I swear it's ten thousand degrees in the shade. Lord have mercy knows - how much I love it. Every mosquito, every rattlesnake; every cane break – everything. Every alligator, every black water swamp; every freshwater spring - everything

All we need is one more damn developer tearing her heart out. All we need is one more Mickey Mouse. Another golf course, another country club, another gated community. Lord I need her, Lord I need her, and she's slipping away…

JJ Grey the musician lives in Northern Florida about half-an-hour west of Jacksonville and another 25 minutes from the udder–like chunk of densely-wooded Georgia forest protruding into the panhandle. Also living near him with the mosquitos and rattlesnakes is a well-known grasshopper. Hear tell it’s a cool grasshopper; you know, as insects go. Kind of spunky, resilient, and familiar. But evidently there's been some talk among the townspeople. Leave it to Grey to worry that people might say he is comparing himself to the grasshopper somehow, of all things.

“This is not the case," he said of the gossip.

"I could only hope to be as cool as that grasshopper. The old timers down here call it the Georgia Warhorse. It’s got a folklore all its own.”

Founding players and writers wrote about things they saw everyday like trains. Other local sights and sounds inspired Southern writers were church bells ringing, steamboat horns bellowing, and shrill whistling. True to this storied writing form, Grey writes songs about elements of life in his neck of the woods.

“Things like the Georgia Warhorse are just part of my environment down here. I write about what I see,” Grey said.

But unlike the four-piece band that just toured with Thorogood, Grey plans on bringing a big Southern-style soul revue band to the Meijer Gardens complete with horn players and guitarist Daryl Hance. This way you'll get to experience the spirit of Stax records and songwriters like Tony Joe White. It’s not often he can get everyone together with so many schedules to deal with but it’s an opportunity he tries to enjoy every time.

“I encourage my players to go do their own things when they feel it necessary. We’re all adult men and try to deal with it as such. I appreciate these guys but I don’t want them to feel like they owe me anything,” Grey said.

His new CD on Chicago-based Alligator records, Georgia Warhorse, is due at stores and online August 24. A brand new song collaboration with Toots Hibbert (Toots & the Maytals), who contributed vocals, has Grey particularly excited.

"I had Toots up for the Blackwater Sol Revue. He will always be one of my heroes. I was excited to hear he'd participate in this project, so I sent him demos of me singing all the parts of the song. He sent it back and it sounded great in a way only Toots can," Grey beamed.

If you’re wondering if Georgia Warhorse will sound similar to its successful predecessor Orange Blossoms (Alligator), Grey offers this.

“I recorded it in the same studio as Blossoms with the same gear and some of the same musicians. All of my releases have featured different sets of players and this is no exception.”

Buddy Guy wsg JJ Grey & MOFRO at Meijer Gardens Thursday June 17 at 7 pm

(As of Tuesday 6pm only about 60 tickets remained)

Click here to hear more on JJ's MySpace page

Smokin' Joe Kubek at Callahan's April 25

Sometimes it's all you can do just to get to the gig. Van trouble and an hour earlier time change are just two of the pitfalls to hitting the road. It takes patience, work, and-these days-plenty of gas money to get anywhere. So by the time Smokin' Joe and company hit the stage at Callahan's, they were ready to play. The workman-like approach to the art of performing seemed to serve the band well. Featuring guest guitarist Jimmy Thackery, the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band with B'Nois King did what they could to liven-up an otherwise sleepy Sunday night in suburban Detroit-and it paid off for everybody. It was no secret Thackery was at the club the night before, hence an invite to stick around and play. Thackery took in all the latitude that Kubek afforded. Thackery is a tasteful guitarist by far. His presence was much anticipated. In a pleasant surprise was how well these guitar players--including King--fit together. Many times on slide guitar rather than straight lead, Kubek unfolded a steady perusal through his 20-year catalog. Featured were the songs "Texas Cadillac," "Burn One Down," and "I Saw It Coming." The latter featured the sweet vocals of B'Nois King. Enough cannot be said about the front man talents King commands, or about the way he approaches his job. King never loses focus that the audience is always a part of the show, engaging them even while a guitar tuning takes a little too long. It was hard to believe that this was only bassist Patrick Recob's (Kansas City MO) fourth gig with these guys. But it hardly showed-even for a live recording. King pitched a new CD on Alligator records due this spring. Sure there was the van break-down outside Rock Island IL a day-and-a-half earlier. Then there was the hour time change back east that inadvertently slipped by everyone. But Kubek and his band showed poise all the while, later rewarding themselves with a pint of Ben & Jerry's.

Wanda Jackson at the Orbit Room 5/15

Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson loves what she does. She counts her blessings for having made it this far in her decades-long career, and she gets a kick out of Betty White. She is a 2009 inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Early Influences category) and counts Elvis Presley as one of her former admirers.

Ask why music lovers who come out to her live shows still like to hear songs written 50 years ago, you’ll get this response.

“This music says America--rockabilly and ‘50s rock,” says Jackson on her way to a tour stop in Buffalo.

"I think songs like this will live on, really, forever because it's just classic and good stuff. Clean and innocent--for the most part. This music is so opposite from the stuff they're doing today. Not everybody likes what they're doing today. That's where we fill in a gap."

Jackson has been filling musical gaps all along, even forging her own way back in the ‘50s when it came to onstage fashion. She was one of the first to start wearing fringe dresses, high heels, and jangly earrings as part of her country singing act.

“I was the first to break barriers, whatever you want to call it. I had been wearing traditional cowboy attire. But I never did like because it was heavy and cumbersome. I didn’t look good in it. I’m only five foot one. It was just too heavy.”

“I told my mother who was always my seamstress that I wanted to come up with something that was showy but sexier, more glamorous. So we got our heads together, found this silk print, and decided that was the way we were going to go. I was the first one to get out of boots and hats,” says Jackson.

Her hour-long set with her band the Lustre Kings will showcase her influential singing style.

“I feel so lucky. I’ve always loved a variety of music. Even when I listen to it for pleasure I play a variety of styles. I feel fortunate that I could record it first of all, that my producer let me stretch and get outside the borders a little bit. This helped me in my career later on because now I have audiences in gospel, country, and rockabilly—I prefer to call it ‘50s rock.”

“Country and ‘50s rock are like kissing cousins. Anyone who likes one usually likes the other. It makes for a good varied show; I always get comments about the variety of material that I do. I even throw in a yodel to go with the gospel, country ballads, and Elvis songs,” says Jackson.

http://www.myspace.com/wandajacksonmusic

Wanda Jackson with The Lustre Kings, wsg The Rhythm Dogs (local) and DJ Del Villarreal (Ann Arbor), appear at the Orbit Room in Grand Rapids on May 15 at 7:30pm.

More info: http://www.orbitroom.com/

The Bruce Katz Band at the Livery in Benton Harbor April 18

If there is one original music which has kept dance floors busy across this country it has to be the blues. We're speaking here of piano-based uptempo roots music sounds of New Orleans, sometimes known as early rock'n'roll. Musician Bruce Katz seems to understand this reality and, as such, tailored his live set at the Livery to include material from all the leading American songwriter sources. Whether sliding into a jazzy Professor Longhair tune or a Hank Williams honky-tonk, Katz is fearless when reaching into the well for treasures from artists whose ageless gems grow more valuable with time. Katz also has the foresight to include other home-grown keyboard influences which helped put this country on the musical map. All of this make for lively in-person presentation. The second song of the 2nd set was a nod to Katz's days with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters. "Blues in D Natural" proved a perfect showcase for guitarist Chris Vitarello. After trading hollow-body jazz guitar for solid wood Telecaster, Vitarello absolutely delivered. His first guitar solo was searing. Meanwhile Katz was providing some serious organ, often using the double-fisted triple keyboard method. Katz even stood up to play the piano in a Jerry Lee-inspired moment. Vitarello also proved a soulful singer as heard on the Allman Brothers version of Muddy Waters' "Trouble No More." From there it was on to what Katz described as a "Huey 'Piano' Smith version of Hank Williams" and a Fats Domino-inspired version of "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)." Drummer Ralph Rosen was spot-on, providing an enviable pocket in which to lay back. Katz featured songs from his most recent release "Live from the Firefly" and a tune from his Mississippi Moan CD originally sung by Mighty Sam McClain called "Hanging on the Cross." Katz finished up the night with tunes from Billy Preston and Blue Note's Jimmy McGriff ("Talking About My Baby") completing a unique American odyssey across the keys. (Photo by Alan Bartlett)

Morris Dees at Fountain Street Church April 1

Morris Dees has spent the better part of his professional life illuminating the dark issues hate groups in this country espouse and act upon. When the founding member of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama speaks, like he did at the Grand Rapids Community College Diversity Lecture Series on April 1, he articulates in an authoritative way few of his peers match.

Speaking in front of a mostly middle-age mainstream audience not quite filling Fountain Street Church, Dees gave a compelling and comprehensive update on hate groups operating in the United States today. Dees described first-hand accounts of these groups--with a glimpse into their future--and speculated on what factors may have given rise to recent activity.

“The issues that loom for this country--a change in political power and the change in how we cut the economic pie--will present an enormous problem for this nation.”

Dees says the real issue is this: America is changing—sooner rather than later.

“In 1950 non-whites made up 20 percent of the population; this year it will be around 39 percent. By 2042 census takers and demographers tell us that people like myself and many of you here tonight will be in a minority,” Dees said.

He says memberships in most hate groups have risen significantly in the past two years; this includes a new group which targets Latino immigrants. But he also cautions about hateful venom spewed by both mainstream media commentators and members of the Tea Party movement.

Although security was expected to be tight for Dees' appearance due to near constant death threats, absent were walk-through metal detectors upon entering. Just before the presentation was to begin a man heard raising his voice was seen being quickly escorted out of the church by GRCC campus police.

After some welcoming remarks by Bob Woodrick, benefactor for the evening's discussion, Dees—a former preacher himself--took to the podium.

"I accept those kind words of praise for all the people who have worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center," Dees began.

As he would throughout his 50 minute talk Dees infused his lecture with the words and examples of civil rights icon Martin Luther King.

“Dr. King faced rivals and many in his own race who had no vision, politicians with no backbone, and finally in Memphis a terrorist with no conscience," said Dees of the many challenges Dr. King experienced during his short lifetime.

"However in the forty years since Dr. King we as a country have taken three steps forward and two steps back in regards to the civil rights movement," Dees said.

"There has been an enormous backlash since because of the election of Barack Obama. That’s really the best way I know how to put it."

Speaking with a soft-spoken southern accent, Dees contends there are many factors at work on this issue.

“Maybe this backlash is because we have elected an African-American president. Maybe it’s because of the economy that we’re going through now which is the worst in my lifetime and the lifetime of most of you here. Or it could be a backlash because of the enormous Latino migration in this nation. But there’s been an extreme reaction since the election of President Obama in our country."

By this time the already attentive crowd grew more silent with each word.

"There are approximately 950 certified hate groups operating today--Ku Klux Klan, Skinheads and others,” Dees said.

“That’s a big increase in the number before Obama starting running for office. But more alarming is the increase in what we at the Southern Poverty Law Center call militia groups in our country; I won’t call them hate groups--they’re not necessarily hate groups. They are those groups who feel it’s necessary to arm themselves in order to protect themselves against our government."

As expected he made a direct reference to the Hutaree militia in southeastern Michigan whose members were arrested less than a week earlier.

“We know here in Michigan, recently, eight members of one these groups were arrested,” Dees said.

“This is a group I guess you’d have to qualify as an absolute hate group because they hate Jews. They felt the Jews were controlling our country and that we were going to have a One World Government, and they wanted to start a war to end that. They were going to kill a police officer and then blow up those who came to the funeral. Now whether they had the ability to carry this out who knows.”

“But there’s been a 244 percent increase in militia groups in the last 12 months alone. Something’s happened in this country in the last year or two to cause an enormous increase in these groups,” Dees cautioned.

Dees went on to describe the methodology of the newly described hate group.

“And then we have about a 50 percent increase in what we call ‘nativeist’ groups. These are anti-Latino groups and in many cases create acts of violence against Latinos, whether they’re documented or not in this country. All told there are about 1850 militia, hate, and ‘nativeist’ groups—or just plan Klan groups. That is a 44 percent increase in just one year alone. You add to that the whole Tea Party Movement that we have going on, and I’m sure exactly what it is and what it will amount to or what percentage of our people this represents. But there are some really ill-tempered and hateful things coming out of the mouths of these people. And on top of that we have commentators like Glenn Beck and other who say things like 'Obama hates white people.' I don’t know where this comes from but Beck has a big audience—a very big audience. Add to that the dozens of other commentators who 24/7 spout intolerance in the worst sort of way.”

The current climate in Washington did not escape scrutiny.

“Then you end up with-- I’m not sure it’s totally the reason for the increase--a Congress in absolute gridlock. We tried to pass a healthcare bill that just got through by the skin of its teeth and it was opposed 100 percent by the Republican Party. That’s not the Republican Party I knew growing up when you had people in it like Richard Nixon, who proposed a much more comprehensive health care bill than was passed by this last Congress,” Dees said.

While listening to these stories it may seem easy to lose hope in fellow man. But Morris Dees left time to once again quote Dr. King, referring to his famous speech at the Washington Mall and the role of faith in a better America.

“I don’t mean to put words in this great American’s mouth. But if Dr. King were here today he would have to include the barrios, the reservations, the poor, and perhaps even the uninsured,” as groups still in need of equality.

Dees spoke of the SPLC, an organization which pioneered innovative legal strategies—with some surprising allies along the way--to bankrupt contemptible groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nations.

“I think the health care bill is a precursor to the problems we see today because the bill is about how we’re going to allocate cash resources in the future. You might say in many ways this is a class issue.”

Claudia Schmidt at Wealthy Theatre April 22

The artistry of Claudia Schmidt goes like this: She's got a split-brain musical personality disorder--sort of. On paper, jazz and folk couldn't be further apart in most anything--audience included. However, over the course of a 35 year career Claudia has given the idea life and made it look easy. One might say her very own spot well-deserved; an 'X' on the musical stage of life. She practically invented a sub-genre of music--currently not classified by name--by infusing jazz and folk with highlights of spoken word and humor. Even with her unique talent and vision going for her, this duality is hard to grab hold of for some. Schmidt finds she must continue to carve out a space for herself.
“Those two forms--folk and jazz--as best as anything represent what I’ve been all along,” says Schmidt.
“I’ve always done a hodge-podge of different styles of music. My more easily described solo stuff tends to be more folk-ish and my band material more jazz-ish.”
The jazzy side of her sound will be the focus of her next show in Grand Rapids celebrating the release of her newest CD “Promising Sky” at the Wealthy Theatre on Thursday April 22.
Despite the boundary-straddling all is not on the downside for northern Michigan resident Schmidt. This twin approach has lead to musical appearances on the acclaimed “Prairie Home Companion” and spot in the movie “Gap-Toothed Woman.”
“Folk club owners are afraid to hire me sometimes for fear I’d sound too jazzy. Then you have jazz club owners who say ‘Oh. I didn’t know she was a folkie,’” says Schmidt from the middle of a two-week solo tour in the Pacific Northwest.
Add to that a perceived shrinking of an already-narrow mind set of some music listeners.
“It’s worse now than it has ever has been,” she says of people wanting to think of her in singular music categories
“People are less adventurous in terms of their musical palate.”
Leave it Claudia to come up with a handy answer for that.
“I’ve found I’m constantly there to rub salt in the wound of musical ignorance,” laughs Schmidt with her good-natured response.
“I’m here to say ‘Try this, it might not be as bad as you thought,’” noting that long term fans have always appreciated both sides.
“It’s still going to be me no matter what kind of music. It’s still my musical sensibilities. That is a constant,” says Schmidt.
“I’m only doing songs that I love to do. The art of performance for me is always about figuring out a fun sequence of songs. I never do the same set twice. That makes it fun for me. I always put together a set of songs that are special and particular for that night.”
Claudia Schmidt has stylishly out maneuvered musical margins—stealthy as she is—and that’s lucky for the rest of us.
On April 22 Schmidt will take the stage at the Wealthy with a quartet of jazz musicians from Traverse City plus local drummer Randy Marsh. Together onstage you get several decades worth of musical expertise.
“Promising Sky” contains several gems including the opening track, “Can’t Get Yourself Out of Love,” which reminds of Maura O’Connell courtesy of the languid pedal steel of Joe Wilson and enriching mandolin of Don Julin.
The bluesy side takes over on “Missy Ma’am,” a medium tempo propelled along by Marsh’s crisp drum work.
If putting together a long career weren’t enough, Schmidt must sometimes convince potential employers that while she might not be that much of a hot babe any longer, she remains the one who can deliver the goods.
“There are some club owners out there who when you call on them you get the impression they’re thinking, 'Oh, it’s you again. I thought you just went away…'”
At that point if Claudia has her druthers she’ll be right over with the salt shaker--no extra charge.

More info: http://www.claudiaschmidt.com/

Claudia Schmidt & her Funtet perform at the Wealthy Theatre on Thursday April 22 at 8:00pm. She also performs with the Funtet at Blissfest 2010 (Cross Village) July 9-11.