More change. Steve Jeffries, our sax/harp/percussionist decided to part ways with the band. He plans to put more attention on jazz ~ he plays with the Dave Leffler group ~ and do a few gigs with his other band, Blue Cat Alley. I enjoyed the two years that Steve grooved with the band, and I wish him all the best.
After hearing this Monday afternoon that my band now has no established members besides me, a wise friend said, "Your band is in its unmanifest state. What lies ahead is the field of all possibilities."
It's very encouraging in a strange way. Totally true, not faky, it calls my spirit to speak clear and strong for the unfolding future, to be ready for the next adventure.
Showing posts with label Steve Jeffries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Jeffries. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18
Sunday, August 16
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is the band's latest phase.
We had a great time playing at the mid-July birthday party.
Russ hosted the party in his recently renovated party room and played bass all night long. Ark-Hal Karns played his drum kit, which was perfect since we didn't yet have a kit drummer. Mike played guitar all night, too. I sang a few songs and other singers filled out a great party.
Two days later, bassist Russ England resigned from the band. Three weeks after that, guitarist Mike Scanlon resigned. Russ was my first band member and we made music together for 6 years. Mike was with us for 4 years, and we three were the core of Burnt Sugar Blues.
What a shock. I sincerely wish for everyone to do exactly what fills them with joy, and that's where Russ and Mike say they are going. Burnt Sugar Blues was close-but-not-quite, and life is too precious to put one's time into close-but-not-quite.
I hope they both find joy and fulfillment in their new endeavors.
Russ hosted the party in his recently renovated party room and played bass all night long. Ark-Hal Karns played his drum kit, which was perfect since we didn't yet have a kit drummer. Mike played guitar all night, too. I sang a few songs and other singers filled out a great party.
Two days later, bassist Russ England resigned from the band. Three weeks after that, guitarist Mike Scanlon resigned. Russ was my first band member and we made music together for 6 years. Mike was with us for 4 years, and we three were the core of Burnt Sugar Blues.
What a shock. I sincerely wish for everyone to do exactly what fills them with joy, and that's where Russ and Mike say they are going. Burnt Sugar Blues was close-but-not-quite, and life is too precious to put one's time into close-but-not-quite.
I hope they both find joy and fulfillment in their new endeavors.
So . . . we have a crisis. No drummer, no bassist, no lead guitar, no practice space for ourselves nor to check out new players.
What we got is HEART. Plus multi-instrumentalist Steve Jeffries, djembe player Josy Welty, sound tech Jesse James, and singer/tambourinist me. My philosophy of life says that crisis is an opportunity ~~ the deeper the crisis, the bigger the opportunity. In that case, this has the makings of a phenomenal breakthrough.
Some very talented musicians are interested to see what the band is about ~~ potentials include 3 kit drummers, 2 bassists, 2 lead guitarists, and a rhythm guitarist. What we need at this moment is a practice space to pull all this together.
I checked out a room in a barn yesterday. If we get a crew together to clear out the accumulations, we'll have a place to practice temporarily. With enough hands, it will take less than two hours. This is progress, and I feel eager to assemble our new players and the sounds they bring with them. I sense a whole new evolution for Burnt Sugar Blues.
What we got is HEART. Plus multi-instrumentalist Steve Jeffries, djembe player Josy Welty, sound tech Jesse James, and singer/tambourinist me. My philosophy of life says that crisis is an opportunity ~~ the deeper the crisis, the bigger the opportunity. In that case, this has the makings of a phenomenal breakthrough.
Some very talented musicians are interested to see what the band is about ~~ potentials include 3 kit drummers, 2 bassists, 2 lead guitarists, and a rhythm guitarist. What we need at this moment is a practice space to pull all this together.
I checked out a room in a barn yesterday. If we get a crew together to clear out the accumulations, we'll have a place to practice temporarily. With enough hands, it will take less than two hours. This is progress, and I feel eager to assemble our new players and the sounds they bring with them. I sense a whole new evolution for Burnt Sugar Blues.
Monday, October 14
Burnt Cat Blues *
Sunday afternoon was perfect for playing at the Bentonsport Scenic Drive Festival (and Fine Arts Festival). Sunny on the north bank of the Des Moines River, shady under grand old trees, breezy on the gazebo, we traded places in a game of musical chairs ~ a series of musicians joining and leaving the "jam session" organized by Mark Soth.
Soth's band Blue Cat Alley supplied several players for the jam, including guitarist Kevin Wells and percussionist Steve Jeffries, who played with Russ and I for our four-song set. Mike was busy taking photos of Chicago's marathon that day.
I chose cover songs because we had time for exactly one rehearsal before the gig, so everybody had to know their parts before the rehearsal. Russ and I met with Kevin on Wednesday to work out chords and endings, and we were ready to go. Steve Jeffries joined us on stage after I'd introduced our first song, and I was ready to gun the engine on that Cadillac.
Our 4-song set:
Bring My Cadillac Back
Wind Cries Mary
Little Wing
Wayfaring Stranger
After our set, Mark asked Russ to stay for the next set to accompany Eric Schaffer, along with Kevin Wells, Steve Jeffries, Mark Soth, and David Bordow. I decided to stay, too, and picked up a tambourine to jingle along in an impromptu blues jam with Eric's strong lead singing. After his set, Eric told me that he specializes in simple songs that are easy to jam with no rehearsal.
* With Kevin and Steve from Blue Cat Alley, and Russ and I from Burnt Sugar Blues, Will Gunn suggested the moniker Burnt Cat Blues.
 |
| at the Bentonsport gazebo just before our set, a few members of Blue Cat Alley (named from right to left): Steve Jeffries at far right on congas, Mark Soth right of center behind corn stalks, Beth Payne center, Astred Griffin left of center, and David Bordow seated far left photo by Heather Miller-Rodriguez |
Soth's band Blue Cat Alley supplied several players for the jam, including guitarist Kevin Wells and percussionist Steve Jeffries, who played with Russ and I for our four-song set. Mike was busy taking photos of Chicago's marathon that day.
I chose cover songs because we had time for exactly one rehearsal before the gig, so everybody had to know their parts before the rehearsal. Russ and I met with Kevin on Wednesday to work out chords and endings, and we were ready to go. Steve Jeffries joined us on stage after I'd introduced our first song, and I was ready to gun the engine on that Cadillac.
Our 4-song set:
Bring My Cadillac Back
Wind Cries Mary
Little Wing
Wayfaring Stranger
After our set, Mark asked Russ to stay for the next set to accompany Eric Schaffer, along with Kevin Wells, Steve Jeffries, Mark Soth, and David Bordow. I decided to stay, too, and picked up a tambourine to jingle along in an impromptu blues jam with Eric's strong lead singing. After his set, Eric told me that he specializes in simple songs that are easy to jam with no rehearsal.
* With Kevin and Steve from Blue Cat Alley, and Russ and I from Burnt Sugar Blues, Will Gunn suggested the moniker Burnt Cat Blues.
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