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Kingston Chapter News
Volume 20, Issue 4: March & April 2000
Newsletter segments:
Kingston chapter news, Patterson chapter news, Poughkeepsie chapter news, and other articles.--January Review by Cheryl A. Rice
'Kingston Light', so dubbed by substitute host Les Herring, (due to a slender New Year's Day crowd) started off with a tune by Joe Murray, on his new Xmas guitar from, "the best wife alive." "Angel (Flying Too Close to the Ground)" was followed by "Wonder Why". No wondering why this new guitar sounds so good, Joe. Bruce Blair did a "good country song, truckin' actually", "Still Willin'". Bruce's warm, storyteller presence charms. He next did the Eddy Arnold classic, "You Don't Know Me."
Grand Poobah Linda Breithaupt took the stage next, with an introspective Paul Simon number, "Wish I Was a Kellogg's Cornflake", and James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend." Linda is also a warm, engaging performer whose rich vocals are equalled by her solid guitar work. I read a couple of poems following, re: New Year's and Damaged Men.
Two newcomers were welcomed to the Kingston Coffeehouse. Terrence Falzano did an original piano instrumental, "Key of G Blues." Very nice! Dominique was next, with a cover of the blues number "El Capitaine". He also shared a recollection of hearing the late, great Rick Danko singing "You Don't Know Me" one night at Woodstock's Tinker Street Cafe', "...very touching." Please, come back soon!
Joe came back to kick off the second half of the night, after the break, accompanied by Ms. Breithaupt this time, with "Make Me An Angel." "She's no Finley..." quipped Les, in reference to our absent leader, President Denise Finley, sweltering in the miserable Florida sun. Their second song, " Fly Home" spoke to all of the sweet things home means.
Bruce encored with "Sorrow", a Blues Project tune covered by David Bowie, and Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" (any other kind?). I followed with two more poems expounding on the aforementioned theme. Terrence returned with two more strong originals on piano, the second of which was written while residing in a shelter in Oregon. He frankly confessed how hard it had been for him to learn to play for people "without that glass at hand." Thank YOU, Terrence, for sharing your struggles, and come back whenever you want a supportive venue
Dominque closed the evening with two more numbers on the very unique dobro, "Got To Show Me" and "Nearer My God to Thee", sharing a story about playing for the needy, "...a very rich experience." Live music will do that for ya.
--February Review by Les Herring
Many of the performers were concerned musically with Valentine's Day and the blues, or, perhaps not suprisingly, both. Brian (Hade), Carol (Hutt), and Peter (Martin) began by showing off Brian's songwriting chops on "Past Promises" and "Check It Out", a song about the advantages(?) of Brussels sprouts. Patricia Bradaigh sang her own "Daddy, You're Slipping Away", accompanying herself on Appalachian dulcimer, and led the audience in the African sing-along "Sun Shines, Rain Falls". Denise Jordan Finley performed "Joe's Guitar" and was then joined by the selfsame Joe Murray for "Indigo Blues". The man with the flying fingers, Bruce Ackerman, zoomed through instrumental versions of "Black Mountain Rag" and "Blue Hawaii". Singing a capella, Blair Shephard provided a moving version of "Green Funnel Line", then picked up the guitar for John Prine's "Pass Me Around" about organ donation, of all things.
Pink Anderson's immortal "Travelin' Man" was Stephen Rhodes' first offering. His own song, "Blues So Bad" , among other downers, announced his new website, www.woeisme.com. Sarah Nelson plays a fine guitar and sings with a fine voice, and she did so on two original compositions. "Final Call" was a meditation on Lake Powell and the destruction of the Colorado River, and "Easy" concerned Valentine's Day. Joe Murray did Toby Keith's "Should've Been a Cowboy", and then Chris DePalma performed two originals--"His House is Not His Home" and a blues, "Four Mondays and a Friday"--we've all had weeks like that, I guess. Lisa Dudley played and sang her own "Valentine's Day" and a stirring anthem, "One Flag, One People".
After a refreshment break, the performers went around again with another song. Brian Hade, solo this time, sang his original "Give Me a Hand", followed by Carol and Peter's rendition of Dory Previn's ode to Janis Joplin. Patricia Bradaigh's song was "Hollow Flute", her own song based on Native American traditions. Denise Finley and Joe Murray combined on a fine version of Suzy Boggis' "Letting Go" . Bruce Ackerman added his voice to his picking this time on "New River Train". Grey Larsen's thoughts on dinosaurs, cockroaches, and evolution was Blair Shephard's song, and Steve Rhodes did an original with Western overtones, "Cheyenne Girl". Sarah Nelson's song "Beautiful Thing" was about love for a guitar, an appropriate sentiment. Chris DePalma covered "Wonderful World" and Lisa Dudley finished the show with an original, "Let Go".
Such fine music deserves a larger audience. Here's hoping everyone who reads this and is near Kingston on March 4 will stop by the Coffeehouse. See you there.
[Editor's Note: March 4's featured performers are the Hayden-Morrison Trio, consisting of Bill and Brandi Hayden and Guild veteran Bruce Morrison. Their unique 3-part harmonies and skillful musicianship enhance their eclectic choice of material: originals, blues, bluegrass and gospel. Don't miss it!]
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