The Monthly Newsletter of the Memphis Area Bluegrass Association Bring the whole family! This Month: C Featured Artist P2 Workshops P3 Haiku Winners P4 Hot Licks Benefit P5 Tennessee Gentlemen P6 Parking Lot Jam Grassifieds P7 Claire Lynch Band Review Website: www.memphis-bluegrass.org Yahoo Group: http://www.groups.yahoo. com/group/maba September 2007 The Lucy Opry Presenting this month’s featured artist: BLUE HIGHWAY Coming to the Lucy Opry on September 22, is the world renowned Bluegrass band Blue Highway. Blue Highway has released six acclaimed albums, received a Grammy nomina- tion, topped the Bluegrass Unlimited radio charts, won a Dove Award and an astonishing 11 International Bluegrass Music Association awards, individually and collectively. Refus- ing to coast on past glories, Blue Highway continues to push their music to new levels of accomplishment. Boldly balanced between tradition and innovation, it remains one of the handful of bluegrass bands able to spread the popularity of bluegrass in the 21st Century. Courtesy Blue Highway Homepage
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The Monthly Newsletter of the Memphis Area Bluegrass Association Bring the whole family!
This Month: C Featured Artist P2 Workshops P3 Haiku Winners P4 Hot Licks Benefit P5 Tennessee Gentlemen P6 Parking Lot Jam Grassifieds P7 Claire Lynch Band Review Website: www.memphis-bluegrass.org Yahoo Group: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/maba
September 2007
The Lucy Opry
Presenting this month’s featured artist:
BLUE HIGHWAY Coming to the Lucy Opry on September 22, is the world renowned Bluegrass band Blue Highway. Blue Highway has released six acclaimed albums, received a Grammy nomina-tion, topped the Bluegrass Unlimited radio charts, won a Dove Award and an astonishing 11 International Bluegrass Music Association awards, individually and collectively. Refus-ing to coast on past glories, Blue Highway continues to push their music to new levels of accomplishment. Boldly balanced between tradition and innovation, it remains one of the handful of bluegrass bands able to spread the popularity of bluegrass in the 21st Century.
Claire Lynch Band Teaches Wok Shops At The Galloway United Methodist Church Saturday Jam
I wanted to send a quick report on the workshops for those that had to miss them! This was the first one time we've had to charge for the workshops, so it's exciting to see all the interest and partici-pation. We had: 7 fiddle students with Jason Thomas , 14 guitar students with Jim Hurst (over capacity by 4, but Jim didn't seem to mind), 8 vocal stu-dents with Claire Lynch, 8 'In The Groove' stu-dents with Missy Raines, 8 bass students with Missy Raines. Thanks to everyone who helped out and to eve-ryone that showed up and made this a success. I heard some great feedback on the workshops from some that attended and Claire Lynch also asked me to thank MABA for sponsoring this program. A couple of us joined the band for din-ner and I know they sure had a good time doing them. A special thanks to TroyAnn at Galloway for helping us find rooms and get situated. It would-n't have been possible without you. I realized later that we forgot to take our signs down...sorry about that! Also a special thanks to the Jackson Pectoral Society for publicizing this too! If you attended any of the workshops and have feed-back, please let me know. Your opinion is neces-sary to make this type of thing better in the fu-ture. If you've got more ideas on workshops you'd like to see, please let me know. Thanks, Jennifer Eggers
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Bellpepper's Bluegrass Haiku Contest for 2007 is now over. Thanks to everyone who participated- -as a poet or as a judge! Here are the winners: FIRST Voices harmonize guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass carried on the wind ~~ Nancy Zuniga SECOND Blue howls at the moon banjo tunes fill the night air the hills feel alive ~~John Blankenship THIRD As Lester solos his flat pick darts between strings a fox on the run ~~John Reed
Here are more haiku that the judges enjoyed. Music soars on wings banjos and fiddles sweet song singer sings last tune the tao of bluegrass hot licks, drive, and harmony morning, noon, and night festival season fire up the old mandolin sleep in September practicing banjo my wife slams bedroom door shut shh! Idol is on picks, grease, steel and strings puts the motor together Big Mon mechanic * * * * * * * * * * * * Thanks everyone! Betty Westmoreland
Claire Lynch Band Teaches Vocals, Guitar, Fiddle and Bass Workshops At Galloway United Methodist Church
This (Missy Raines ‘In the Groove’ and ‘Bass’ )workshop were great! ! I was amazed that MABA could pull something off like this, but, then I realize what is possible when people like you all decide to do great things. My hat is off to every-one involved. Matthew Jackson Matt, Missy IS awesome! I can imagine that it was a great workshop. Complements to Jennifer for all her hard work in arranging it! And the show Sat night – did you see it? So much talent on one stage. MABA – don’t forget, there is more great entertainment on the way! John and I are grate-ful that we don’t have to go all the way to Nashville or fur-ther to see shows like this! Maureen Fitzer
‘Whatever you do, don’t scream in order to be heard above the banjos. In the end they will win, and you will be hoarse’
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HOT LICKS BENEFIT
What a great time we all had, lots of GOOD music and lots of GOOD food. The benefit for our friend Gary Rushing was a sucess thanks to all the great people we had helping and the bands that played. Beth you were wonderful and thanks to Will for the sound system. The Church worked out great (the Air Conditioning was great too on such a hot day). Thanks, Wayne Walker To all our friends: We wanted to send out a note of thanks to each of you to express our appreciation for your gracious gener-osity and show of support and donations. Thanks to all the bands, everyone who baked for the cake sale and Ginny for the pillow-case dresses that she sold. Special thanks to Beth Mays and Jason Tripp who organized the benefit, also Tom Barlow of MOC auto products and the technicians of Gossett Motor Cars who contrib-uted to the MOC donation matching fund. As well as the Kia and Mazda service group for supplying and cooking the food. The commitment and support was over whelming. The benefit funds are greatly needed to help cover some of the medical ex-penses. We wish to thank you again for your support and prayers.
We cannot tell you how grateful we are and what a wonderful organization MABA is. Gary and Charlotte Rushing
Hello to all again! The benefit held this past Saturday for Gary Rushing was a huge success. Gary & Charlotte Rushing came by this morning and wanted to thank everyone involved. They were so moved by the fact that so many people cared enough to share their money and talents and pull together to make this such a success. From the plates of food we sold, bake sale, clothing & CD sales, and private donations, we were able to raise $4,562.15 for them. HOW AWESOME IS THAT? What a great turn-out. We even had folks stop in that were passing by and saw the big grills and sign outside that said BLUEGRASS BENEFIT. How compassionate these folks were and they sure did have a good time. We would like to thank the bands that donated their time - Gone South, Grassfire, Sam Davis, The Potlikker String Band, Jenny Craig & Bluegrass Ramblers,Goin' Home, & Open Win-dow. You truly blessed us with your music and made the evening so much fun. What would we have done without you? We would like to especially thank Tom Barlow and the entire Gossett-Kia/ Mazda Service Group for supplying and cooking over 200 ham-burgers/hot dogs and serving us food all night long. A big thanks to all the women that brought baked goods, and now we are talking FANTASTIC desserts and breads. It was awesome and you know how excited I get about pie. It's a pleasure to be a part of an association that cares so much for other people. Above all, we thank God from whom all blessings flow........ ... If you were unable to attend and wish to make a donation, please make a check out to Gary Rushing and just mail it to his home address at 860 Hwy. 193, Collierville, TN. 38017. Again, thanks every-body and keep on loving one another. God Bless, Will and Beth Mays
I have been notified by our Recruitment center that we are having a replacement drive this Sat 8-18-07 @ our Bartlett Lifeblood location at 8am, for another one of our dear MABA members. Anyone interested in donating for this person, or if you have more information than we, please call me @ your convenience. my # is (901-493-6636 any-time. Give Blood, Give Life. Your donation will be appre-ciated. Thanks! Jason Hayes, ECP,EMT-IV
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Tennessee Gentlemen
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Just to make sure we all get this right, that is left to right Sam Coffee , Kent Coffey, Donny Catron, and Doyle Catron caught live on stage a the Wooten Brother’s Bluegrass Fes-tival, 2007.
Answer The Call MABA!!
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Jammin’ At Yarboro’s Again
Mountain Dulcimer for New Players: Tuesdays, September 4, 11, 18, and 25, from 7 to 8 PM CDT. Located at Union Uni-versity campus in Germantown, TN (2745 Hacks Cross Road). Fee is $70 plus a $10 supply fee payable to the in-structor on the first day of class. No music experience needed. Class will focus on getting started, tuning, intro-ductory strumming techniques, and reading tab. Loaner dulcimers available. The Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival will be September 28 & 29 at Lindenwood Christian Church, 2400 Union. Two days of workshops on mountain and hammered dulcimer, banjo, mandolin, gui-tar. Free jam session Friday, 7 p.m; Concert Saturday, 7 p.m. $10. All events $75 by Sept. 8; after, $90. For info, Lee Cagle, 877-7763 or www.LeeCagleDulcimers.com.
Fiddle – Selling for friend – OLD FIDDLE in good condi-tion, made in Czech Republic, sounds good, looks good, case included, oldie but goodie, 2 bows, one needs rehair. From Pennsylvania area. Walter – 901-484-2722 or 901 837-4146 Mavis Goodson. I am selling my 1956 King bass. Arangements can be made to play this most fridays nights at the town square or satur-day at Galloway. It has gut g and d and superflex on the a and e. I have also had an N- Pin carbon fiber end pin. This great bass is in good shape but hardly pristine (mabe all those years of being used...) this is a real bargain at $ 1800.00 Matthew Jackson
GRASSIFIEDS
It is always a lot of fun to get together with the best people you know, and entertain each other. Many thanks go to YARB0ROS MUSIC STORE! ! !
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Review: Claire Lynch Band at the Lucy Opry, August 11, 2007
Someone wiser than this writer once said, "You can't improve on perfection," but in the case of the Claire Lynch Band, that old ad-age can be put to rest. This wonderful band has always been able to make band changes, mix familiar material with new tunes, and keep right on stepping with delightful performances. They just keep on getting better. The concert on August 11, 2007, at the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center (BPACC) was no exception One listener described the Claire Lynch Band as 'versatile,' as they demonstrate their ability to handle bluegrass, swing, and Cajun tunes with equal dexterity. The word that came to mind for this reviewer was 'comfortable'. Their sound is as com-fortable as your favorite pair of jeans -a good fit! The listener comes away from the show with tunes swirling in his/her head -tunes which hang around in there for days. Tunes which make one sing right along - like "Sweetheart Darlin' of Mine," or "White Train," or the one with the perpetual question: "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring?" Comfortable songs.
Prior to the evening concert, the Claire Lynch Band gave several workshops at Galloway Methodist Church in the Cooper-Young District of Midtown Memphis. Many aspiring performers attended the workshops, hoping to pick up important clues, tips, and advice about how this whole bluegrass music thing works. The attendees picked out excellent performers to learn from, as Claire Lynch, Jim Hurst, and Missy Raines are now and have been quite frequently, nominees for top performers at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass event which happens in September of 2007, in Nashville, Tennessee. Claire is a nominee for Female Vocalist; Jim is a nominee for Guitar Player; and Missy is a nominee for Bass Player.
After a brief rest and dinner, the band took the stage at the Lucy Opry for two hours which were filled with the rich instrumental and vocal work that area fans have come to expect from the Claire Lynch Band. The band met every single expectation with flying colors. Oh! This band is good -really good..
Claire Lynch is a premier vocalist and songwriter. Her distinctive vocal style is immediately recognizable, and her skills as a song-writer are such that she often writes with other respected writers, such as Irene Kelley and Pamela Brown Hayes. Songwriters upon whom Claire often calls for her material are former Memphian Paul Craft, Nashville attorney/songwriter Henry Hipkens, Chris Stuart, Hershey Reeves, Pierce Pettis, and Tim Stafford, of Blue Highway.
Playing the Lucy Opry has become a tradition for Claire Lynch, one which reaches back over time to the days of Harvester Lane in Frayser and appearances by the very popular Front Porch String Band, which was formed by Claire and husband Larry Lynch and others. Claire managed to stop performing and enter a sort of semi-retirement to devote time to family for a few years. She is back, refreshed and renewed, with her first Claire Lynch Band album, "New Day," a huge success. Next up will be "Crowd Favor-ites," which is as its name would indicate -Claire's popular tunes among her adoring fans who said they'd like to hear those tunes
again. Watch for the new album in October of 2007.
IBMA favorites, Jim Hurst and Missy Raines, add their flavor to the comfortable sound of the Claire Lynch Band, with Hurst on guitar, banjo, and vocals and Missy on upright bass and vocals. They fit in well-and each performer also has solo projects and amazing adventures of his/her own. Claire, Jim, and Missy just seemed poised and ready to receive their newest sparkler on fid-dle and mandolin.
Jason Thomas is the newest member of the Claire Lynch Band. Originally from Canada, Jason grew up learning the fiddle from his dad, and it seemed that the time and the opportunity were per-fect for him to come into the Claire Lynch Band. Jason began per-forming with the band in early 2007. They have all learned how each other operate, and the results are just delightful.
First Set: 1. Goin' Up, 2. Paul and Peter Walked (by Chris Stuart), 3. Sweetheart Darlin' of Mine, 4. Unlucky Seven (Jim on banjo, Jason on fiddle), 5. Missionary Ridge (by Pierce Pettis, about the Civil War), 6. who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring (by Henry Hip-kens), 7. Children of Abraham (by Claire Lynch, about living on "a wing and a prayer"), 8. Thibodeaux (by Chris Stuart), 9. Down in the Valley (by Jess Leary, Morgane Hayes, and Liz Rose), 10. I Be-lieve in Forever (by Claire Lynch, for her mother), 11. Love Me Dar-lin' Just Tonight (performed with Lucy favorite, Gary Johnson), 12. Freight Train Boogie
Second Set: 1. Train Long Gone (by Dennis Linde, topped the blue-grass charts), 2. White Train (by Peter Holsapple), 3. Savannah (by Tim Stafford, about a city and a woman, and at times it is difficult to know which), 4. Leavin’ on That Evening Train (by a "hippie type," Claire first heard the song done by the Greasy Beans from North Carolina), 5. Mando Bounce (Jason Thomas on mandolin, Jim Hurst dedicated the song to Lucy Opry legend, Joe Taylor, and his grandsons, Justin and Jeffrey), 6. Your Presence Is My Fa-vorite Gift (by Hershey Reeves, known by Claire's fans as her "critter song"), 7. Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine (Jim Hurst teams with Gary Johnson), 8. Kennesaw Line (by Don Dunaway, a song about events in the Civil War, and which will appear on "Crowd Favorites"), 9. Up This Hill and Down (by Richard Staed-tler, bluesy version of the old Osborne Brothers favorite), 10. Wa-bash Cannonball (by Roy Acuff, and will be on "Crowd Favorites"), and the Encore: This Must Be Love, a swing tune which left the lis-tener satisfied, comfortable, and with another song to sing during the week following the concert.
The Lucy Opry audience turns out in big numbers for the Claire Lynch Band, and it is plain to see why they do: Top-ranked artists who have a genuine respect for their fans, a songbook of familiar favorite tunes from bluegrass and country music to Cajun and swing tunes, and a genuine love for what they do. The Claire Lynch Band always delivers! Watch for the release of "Crowd Fa-vorites" and catch the band at IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Nashville, TN in September. Betty Westmoreland
