“Finding Voice: Poetry and Portraits from the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Emergency Shelter.”

Poetry writing workshops have been held at the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Emergency Shelter since 2009.  During that time several hundred men have participated in the programs.

Pink Flamingo Press and Creative Endeavors, along with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, who run the shelter, have recently published “Finding Voice: Poetry and Portraits from the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Emergency Shelter.” The book contains over fifty poems written over the last three years by men who have, at one time or another, made the shelter their home. The poems are accompanied by very vivid portraits of some of the residence by staff member Lydia Bailey.

The poetry is surprisingly upbeat and touches on a variety of topics, from lost love to city living to experiences with addiction and unemployment.  Kenneth Gregory writes, “the courage to change gives/Sight into the unseen/Stars to those who dream.” He also writes of an estranged daughter, “I love you dear daughter Kendoll I do/And when you come looking/Dad will be waiting for you.” Amir Muhammad writes about making choices in life, “Don’t know my next move/These trails and adversities/Go way farther than my dreams/next stop Heaven or Hell.” John Correll writes about life at the shelter, “A mission of hope/A place to sleep/To rest from the storm/A place to share my sorrow.” Nathaniel Moore also writes about the shelter, “I’ve been mentally and physically abused/Plus the drugs that I used/It’s a wonder I have a place to stay.” Willie Brown writes about his Alabama home, “I’m from red clay on my clothes and shoes/and ‘Hey Boy, stomp you foots’/I hear Miss Sippie Delta blues/And eatin’ turnips wit da roots.”

Annie Holden who currently runs the shelter’s poetry and creative writing programs says it best, “What stands out about the poetry written by these men is the humanity.”

This Friday, May 11, there will be a book release celebration for “Finding Voice: Poetry and Portraits from the 2100 Men’s Emergency Shelter,” at Brothers Lounge, 11609 Detroit Avenue, on the Cleveland/Lakewood border, from 5:30- 8:00. A $20 donation gets you a copy of the book, hors d’ouvres, and live music by Cats on Holiday.  For more information visit www.lutheranmetro.org/Shelter-Housing/, or call 216.496.8286.

David Sanborn Trio and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Cleveland Tri C Jazz Fest 27 April 2012, State Theater at Playhouse Square

Friday night’s Jazz Fest Concert at the State Theater featured two distinctively different performers. What they have in common is an abundance of talent, solid players behind them, and loyal fans.

Opening the show was the David Sanborn Trio, led by the long time sax player who has been a force not only in jazz but rock for the last forty years. Many Clevelanders, whether they knew it or not, first heard Sanborn when he played the terrific sax solo on the studio version of the Michael Stanley classic “Let’s Get the Show on the Road,” from Stanley’s 1973 Friends and Legends album. His hour long opening set found him backed by his long time organist (and a jazz legend in his own right) Joey DeFrancesco, and Jeremy Thomas. Thomas was making his debut as Sanborn’s drummer but you would not have known it if Sanborn had not mentioned it. His play was solid and consistent. DeFrancesco almost stole the show, with a steady stream of solos as well as his well-received lead vocals on Louis Jordan’s “Let the Good Times Roll.”

And Sanborn was Sanborn, playing one sax solo after another in the six song set. He also added some great story telling, as he appeared to be very comfortable in front of the audience. His story of his first meeting with Tommy LiPuma was outstanding.

I was a little surprised that Sanborn and his trio opened the show, but that’s because I had never seen Trombone Shorty and his band live before. After I did the lineup made sense. While Sanborn had the crowd glued in their seats listening to every note, Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue had the audience up and dancing in the aisles for most of their set.

I have been told by several people whose music opinions I highly regard that Trombone Shorty might be “the next big thing.” After finally seeing him perform live, I agree. His set was outstanding. Backed by a six piece band of guitar, bongos, bass, drums, and two saxophones, Shorty really ripped it up. Whether it was on trumpet, trombone, vocals, or leading the band, all of it was outstanding. I started jotting down the influences I heard in Shorty’s music. The list included Johnny Guitar Watson, the Nevilles, al Hirt, Little Feat, the Tower of Power, Tommy Dorsey, Cab Calloway, the Allman Brothers, Willie Nelson, Santana, Louis Armstrong, George Benson, EWF, the Blues Brothers, and Charles Wright and the Watts 103 Street Rhythm Band. And I’m sure there are dozen more.

Shorty had the audience in the palm of his hand, whether it was during a wonderful version of “Sunny Side of the Street”; imitating Louis Armstrong or leading the band through the audience during “When the Saints Go Marching In”; channeling John Beluschi during a rowdy version of “Everbody Needs Somebody”; or leading the audience in some Cab Calloway yodeling. It was all great stuff.

I know Aretha was good during opening night, and Diana Krall is always entertaining, and there has been nothing but praise for all of the Jazz Fest activities this year, but the highlight for the 2012 Tri C Jazz Fest for many had to be Friday night’s Sanborn/Trombone Shorty doubleheader. 

May/June 2012 Cleveland Clubs Concert Preview

Great stuff all around…I love going to Nighttown, and over the years have seen every genre of jazz performed there. But I think the place is at its best when it’s a great vocalist surrounded by stellar players. You’ll have that chance to see two of the best in May as Helen Welch does two nights on May 11 and 12. She’ll be doing songs from her recent Beatles tribute album, and then the legendary Freddy Cole comes in on May 14 & 15. I’ve seen both of these great singers perform at Nighttown and it is always special.  For those of you who like a touch of rock with your jazz, former Journey drummer Steve Smith brings his band Vital Information to Nighttown on June 18 & 19. Cleveland’s best jazz club has all sorts of great things going on in the next few months, check out their music calendar at www.nighttown.com.

As you head to Progressive Field this summer to see the Tribe don’t forget Wilbert’s, right outside centerfield on Huron Avenue. The club will feature almost every genre of popular music over the next few months. I have not seen her yet, but I have heard very good things about Australian folk singer Marta Pecek who plays the club on June 1.  Thursday, June 14, will be a special night at the club with a tribute to the recently deceased blues DJ “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, with a who’s who of the local blues scene playing including “Moon Child” Haddix and Wallace Coleman. Long time Cleveland favorite Norm Nardini from Pittsburgh will play for two nights June 15 & 16.  Check out all the stuff going on at Wilbert’s by visiting www.wilberts.com.

Don’t forget to head out to the west side soon and check out all the good things happening at the Winchester in Lakewood. May 4 slide guitarist Chris Duarte from Austin, Texas; Glen Philips from Toad the Wet Sprocket plays May 19; and local favorite Bowie tribute band Diamond Dogs returns on June 16. Lots of other great shows, plus Phil Keaggy in July, check it out at www.thewinchester.net.

Down in Kent the Kent Stage is continuing its tenth anniversary celebration with some terrific shows, including Asleep at the Wheel and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on May 18; blues guitarist Robert Cray on June 2; and making a rare northern Ohio appearance on June 8 is Rickie Lee Jones. Their music calendar is at www.thekentstage.com.

The Beachland Ballroom as always will be going strong over the next few months with blues guitarist Sonny Landreth on May 17; the Punch Brothers on June 3^rd; Jonathon Richmond on June 6^th; and one of my favorites, Paul Thorn and his Band on June 20^th. Don’t forget about the club’s rock and roll brunches on Sundays and its record/vintage clothing store in the basement. Check out www.beachlandballroom.com for all the story.

            Downtown at the House of Blues things will be rocking with local products Rosavelt along with Don Dixon and Marti Jones on May 18; local favorites the BeDeans on June 24^th; and Collective Soul on June 26^th. Don’t forget about their Sunday Gospel Brunches and Brandi Carlisle and Rufus Wainwright are coming in August. For more info visit www.houseofblues.com/cleveland.

Swing Kids Part of the Tri-C Jazz Fest State Theater, Playhouse Square 25 April 2012

One of the neat freebies of this year’s Jazz Fest was a 45 minute presentation fronted by Trumpeter Dominick Farinacci for a mostly kids audience at the State Theater Thursday afternoon.

The set included a little blues, a little Freddie Hubbard, a little Clifford Brown, and a whole lot of interaction between the young audience and the band, which besides Farinacci featured Dominic Jones on piano, Dean Hewitt on Bass, and Jerome Jennings on drums. All players are Cleveland bred, Tri-C educated.

For one number Farinacci took eight volunteers from the audience ranging in age from six to sixteen and arranged them in and around the musicians then asked them for their reactions. He and the band also took questions from the audience at the end.

A good time was had by all, hats off to the Jazz Fest and their sponsors for covering the costs of such a good thing.

            

Holiday in a Box! Cats on Holiday COH 1201 Spring 2012

Cats on Holiday in one form or another have been putting out good music and putting on great live shows around Northern Ohio for a very long time.  Holiday in a Box is their fifth effort, and it is another good one filled with their unique Cleveland meets New Orleans sound. This is the first CD that really features lead singer Denis DeVito’s button box playing, which can be heard on each track.

The disk features five DeVito originals, two reworkings of Cajun classics, and a great Cats on Holiday bouncy version of the Kinks’ “Apeman.” Probably the best track on the disk is a lively version of Andrus Espree’s “Just One Kiss,” complete with a spoken word poetry intro by percussionist Jeffrey Bowen.

We get a lot of CDs here at CoolCleveland to review, many from local artists putting out their first serious work. Before you and your band think about putting out a disk, talk to the guys in Cats on Holiday about doing it right. Everything about this disk, from the sound and mixing to packaging and design, is first rate. Track down Rick Christyson or Denis DeVito and they will send you in the right direction, you won’t be sorry.

You can pick up a copy of Holiday in a Box! At any of the Cats’ shows this summer. They are playing everywhere between now and when autumn rolls in, including but not limited to the Flat Iron, the Sunset Grill, the Rush Inn, the Islands, Shaker Square, and numerous arts and street festivals. Amongst their May gigs are the Voice of Homeless Benefit at Brothers Lounge on May 11; the Kamms Corner Hooley on the 12^th; and the Hessler Street Festival on the 20^th. For their complete summer schedule, or to hear samples of their music, go to www.catsonholiday.com.

Carlos Jones and the Plus Band "Positive Vibrations" 2011 Little Fish Records

We are in the middle of the best spring in years, and that means summer isn’t too far away. And one of the best things about summer here in Northern Ohio is seeing Carlos Jones and the Plus Band play somewhere. Whether it’s an afternoon at Whiskey Island or a street festival Jones and his band will have the audience up and dancing and moving to what he calls his brand of American Reggae.
He has been doing this for thirty years, and hopefully he will keep doing it for another thirty.
Late last year Jones and his band released a four song disk titled “Positive Vibrations”. The only negative about the disk is that it is too short, with only four cuts, all of them very good. Jones is right in calling his music American reggae, because it not only contains elements of traditional reggae but almost every genre of American roots music, including but not limited to funk, Motown, jazz, and calypso. Amongst the tracks are a cover of Bob Marley’s “Mellow Mood,” and a Jones original “Apartment Living.” The songs all feature Jones’ signature sound of percussion and guitars, with two of the tracks having a horn section that really jumps. Jones vocals remind me a lot of New York artist Garland Jeffries, who put out a great album last year "King of the In Between", which featured the single "Roller Coast Town." This disk is just as good.
Next time you see the plus Band perform pick up a copy of "Positive Vibration" so you can take a little bit of them home with you.

Upcoming Northern Ohio shows for Spring of 2012

As a mild winter turns into, hopefully, an early spring, our local concert clubs and small hall venues have a variety of great shows in almost any genre for music fans to enjoy as the seasons change.
The House of Blues welcomes the coming of spring with a line up of classic rockers and singers with Eddie Money on the March 1st; Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on March 2nd; Boys II Men on the 16th; the Saw Doctors on March 23rd; and blues guitarist extraordinaire Johnny Lang on May 13. For info on these shows and all the stuff going on at the HOB on Euclid and East 4th go to www.houseofblues.com/tickets.
The next several weeks Nighttown on the top of Cedar Hill has a stellar lineup of shows, starting with Boston jazz vocalist Michelle Wilson, backed by Cleveland bluesmen Blue Lunch, on February 25th. The next night February 26th Manhattan Transfer original member Janis Siegel does a solo show. Comedian and social activist Dick Gregory stops in for two nights, on February 29th and March 2nd. On March 7th guitarist Murali Coryell (son of Larry) brings his trio in for a show. For more info about everything that is Nighttown go to www.nighttowncleveland.com.
The Beachland Ballroom will soon be celebration its 12th Anniversary with a whole menu of great shows over the next several months. On February 23 its Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires; on February 24th it is the Del Fuegos on a small mini-reunion tour; the Greenhorns on March 12th; Dave Alvin, once of the Blasters, on March 7th; the Reverend Horton Heat returns March 15th; Loudon Wainwright III returns April 19; Jonathon Edwards will take the audience back to Athens on April 27; and Sonny Landreth and the Brickhouse Blues Band will play May 17th. This is just a small sampling of the shows on tap at the Beachland in the coming months, get the full calendar of events at www.beachlandballroom.com.
If you love guitarists and rock legends, the Winchester is the place to be this spring. Starting with Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials in February 25th; followed by Denny Lane (of Wings amongst other bands) on March 9;blues legends Savoy Brown, with original lead guitarist and founder Kim Simmonds, takes the stage on March 10; and bluesmen Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers play on March 23. In April local legends take over the stage, with the Wally Bryson Group playing April 13, and Jonah Koslen’s Stagepass Now coming back for a return engagement on April 20. April closes out with Kelly Richey and her Band on the 28th.
And, finally, don’t forget about all the good things happening south of town at the Kent Stage in downtown Kent. On March 2nd they too host the Del Fuegos on their reunion tour; followed the next night by blue grass legends Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys. Guitar virtuoso Neil Zaza has a CD release show on March 16; Greg Brown returns on March 31st; Leon Redbone appears on April 27th; and the beautiful Judy Collins returns on April 28th. For more information about all of the shows at the Kent Stage visit www.thekentstage.org.