Sunday, November 12, 1972

THE MICHIGAN DAISY

Page Three

Sunduy, November 12, 1972 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Three


CUQLTURE CA1"ENUAR
FOLK MUSIC-Sam Neely appears at the Ark tonight at 9;
Betsy Beckerman, Iois, and Bonnie sing traditional folk
songs at Union gallery tonight at 8.
ART-Black Odyssey, a history and art exhibit created by
Black historian George Norman of Detroit will be shown
today from 12-9 at the First Presbyterian Church (1432
Washtenaw). The exhibit draws the viewer into the world
of Black inventors, artists, poets, soldiers, political and
spiritual leaders. Ann Arbor Women Painters exhibit
their work in Rackham Gallery. Ann Arbor Art Asso-
ciation sponsors a sale of ceramics, weaving, macrame,
oils, watercolors today at 2275 Platt Rd.
Bazaar featuring demonstrations of glassblowing, and pot-
ting today at St. Francis School (2270 E. Stadium).
MUSIC-Bread perform at the Toledo Sports Arena tonight
at 8; People's Ballroom Benefit features Rio Smokehouse
and Walrus tonight.
SCHOOL OF MUSIC - Margaret Smock Janson, soprano:
SM Recital Hall this afternoon at 4:30; Carol Entin,
horn honors recital, SM Recital Hall, tonight at 8; Ben-
jamin Christy, clarinet doctoral, SM Recital Hall, tomor-
row night at 8; The University Choir and Philharmonia
will present Verdi's mammoth Requiem with Maynard
Klein conducting, tomorrow night at 8 in Hill Aud.
BOOKS-University Press sponsors a large inventory-reduc-
tion book sale today and tomorrow at their offices, 615
East University from 10-6.
FILMS-Cinema Guild shows Cukor's Adam's Rib tonight at
Arch. Aud., 7, 9:05; Cinema II shows Von Sternberg's
Scarlet Empress tonight at 7 and Kurosawa's Rashomon
tonight at 9, Aud. A.; Psych 171 Film Series shows Amer-
ican Time Capsule; Why Man Creates?; Powers of Ten
tomorrow afternoon at 4, UGLI-multipurpose room;
Cinema Guild shows Clayton's The Pumpkin Eater tomor-
row night at 7, 9:05, Arch. Aud.
* * *
Information concerning happenings to appear in Culture
Calendar should be sent to Arts Editor c/o The Daily.

By BOB SCHETTER
From the first chord, I sense
that John Denver's newest album
Rocky Mountain High (RCA Vic-
tor - LSP - 4731) is a major in-
surrection in the hum-drum world
of today's Pop music.
Not only has he revitalized
the recently over-abused folk/
country medium with his hand-
ling of the album's compositions,
but he manages to make state-
ments concerning man and his
environment which are both pure-
ly beautiful, as well as forebod-
ing.
Probably the most recent de-
velopments in American Pop mu-
sic is the return to its folk tra-
ditions. Perhaps it started with
James Taylor's Country R o a d s
and Carolinas. Or maybe with
the releases of Dylan's n e w
"folk philosophy" in Nashville
Skyline. But it soon became clear
that music was developing a non-
activist, back-to-nature philoso-
phy which seemed to reflect the
political orientations of the once-
rebellious youth of the sixties.
The Pop industry felt it was
on to something new and began

Denver release:
major insurrection'

to push folk/country music in any
shape, manner or form. And
problems arose because they ap-
peared to be only resurrecting
former folk/country traditions in
shiny new packages. In t h i s
way a certain vitality was lost.
The joy, energy and positiveness
that marked much of the 60's
music was lost.
Seen as a new trend, however,
the music and lyrics that were
produced were first viewed as
something fresh. But the final
outcome was a definite triteness
in music. There didn't appear to,
be any true feeling for the art
form. The music seemed to mim-
ic the past and rapidly 10 s t
meaning with each additional re-
petition of the old.
John Denver is something dif-
ferent. Long as a singer of na-
ture's beauty, God, mountains

Art Ensemble of
Chicago: Beautiful

and human emotions, he has nev-
er fallen into the "cliche" trap.
The key seems to be in the pur-
pose of Denver's material. There
is a direction here which ex-
tends into the texture of every
song, whether it concerns strip-
mining in West Virginia, t h e
leaving of loved ones, or des-
criptions of the seasons.
In other words, he has been
able to sustain the energy level
of the 60's and combine it with
the more traditional folk trends
now apparent in Pop. And in
doing so, he makes a statement
much more political than it seems
initially: We are destroying the
beauty of Man and Nature. Stop-
page of this trend is implied.
Not only do the lyrics evoke
feelings of meaning and "positive-
ness," but so does the artistry
with which the music is com-
posed and arranged.sFolk/coun-
try songs today are commonly
devised around simple chord pro-
gressions, and as such tend to
be musically uninteresting.
Denver, writing in this med-
ium, has been able to revitalize
these simple chord progressions
by varying rhythms, changing
certain chord patterns and above
all, providing interesting melo-
dy lines. Coupled with his own
crystal-clear voicetand Mike Tay-
lor's colorful guitar work, the
sum effect is one of high energy
and optimist. Even songs which
tend to be in a "sadden" vein
(such as ballads and love songs)
maintain a high level of optim-
ism.
Of special note is the guitar
work of Mike Taylor. Present in
all the songs, Taylor lays down
a background of leads and riffs,
always concisely executed and
in good taste, which give t h e
compositions a "flavor" a n y-
where from pure country to jazz.
A knowledgeable guitarist, he
gives that extra touch of variety
which makes this an excellent al-
bum.

"Prisoners" sets the tone of the
album. It deals with the empti-
nes of life caused by the loss of
loved ones to war. In this case,
those lost are POW's, and we
get a glimpse of their entrapment
at the hands of the political ma-
chinery:
And I stare at the grey walls
around me
And I see her face in the stone
And I try to imagine our baby
And I wish they would let me
go home
And I wish they would let me
go home
The mixture of an "up-tempo"
rhythm and saddening minor<>
keys in part of the accompania-
ment tend to emphasize the emo-
tional trauma of all caught in the
vices of war. And the plea to
"bring all the boys home" at
the song's conclusion just makes
sure we know that we are also :
responsible for this dilemma.
Doubtless, Denver intended us to
ponder to what degree we all
are prisoners of social forces.
He implies that the responsibil-
ity to act lies with us, o n c e
again.
Listening to Rocky Mountain
High will surely give you the
feeling that there is something
to live for; something positive,
more meaningful. Owen
Irish rebel songs
wth Owten McBride

Daily Photo by KAREN KASMAUSKi
McBride

By RON URBACH
Artist - The Art Ensemble of
Chicago
Album - The Art Ensemble of
Chicago with Fontella Bass (Pres-
tige 10049)
Performance - Excellent
Recording - Excellent
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
beautiful. This record is unfet-
tered by the myriad of electronic
effects that, to my personal
taste, clutter many recordings.
In fact, the only electronix on the
LP is the occasional sound of
the Fender bass and the vibes.
It is simple and direct; no gloss.
You may recall Fontella Bass
as the Woman who recorded
"Goldfinger" and "Rescue Me."
The musicians-Lester Bowie,
Fontella Bass, Roscoe Mitchell,
Joseph Jarman, Michael Favors
and Don Moye-use over 20 in-
struments among themselves, in-
cluding soprano, alto and bass
sax, clarinet, flute, marimba and
bass marimba, cythar, temple
blocks, b e 11 s, whistles, gongs,

siren, guitar, and flugelhorn. The
liner notes claim it takes them
two hours to set up. It took me
two hours to come down.
You may like this album. If
you have ever heard the Art
Ensemblein performance or have
seen oJseph Jarman or Roscoe
Mitchell in concert and liked
what you heard; if you really
get off on ourishing, conscious-
ness-expanding music; if your
tastes lean to the likes of Albert
Ayler, Sun Ra, John Coltrane,
Pharaoh Sanders, Paul Horn,
et al.
You may not like this album:
If you prefer music that is more
or less structured and with a
rhythm that is dominant and
easy to recognize; if you think
Miles Davis was better when he
was doing things like "Sketches
of Spain;" if you are only mar-
ginally into jazz; or if you buy
it on the chance that you will
like it but don't listen to it with
enough concentration.

By DIANE LEVICK
"Regardless of one's politics,
one can't help but agree that
there's no better example of
music as propaganda than Irish
rebel songs," Owen McBride said
at the Ark Friday night, intro-
ducing an example.
Belting out anti-British songs
as well as assorted love and
tragic ballads and drinking songs,
the Toronto Irishman brought
one of the Ark's great tradi-
tions back to life this season:
the audience sing-along. The aud-
ience, reserved at first, soon let

UAC-DAYSTAR PRESENTS
THE
ALMAN EBROTHERS

Elvin Bishop.. .
ust a country boy

loose with a spirited refrain of
a bawdy Irish tune about a young
woman marrying an old man:
For he's got no faloorum
fa-liddle-i-urum;
He's got no faloorum
fa-liddle-i-ay.
He's got no faloorum; he's
lost his ding durum.
Maids, when you're young,
never wed an old man.
Although McBride had played
many of the same songs in prev-
ious appearances at the Ark,
they were no less enjoyable this
weekend. And his tale about "The
Golden Ball," a story about peo-
ple from "the other world," still
retained its charm.
With simple chord progressions
and strums on guitar, McBride
performed a full aray of mater-
ial on Irish life, from wronged
maidens to the brewing of po-
teen, illicit Irish whiskey.
"It's a very versatile liquid,"
explained McBride with a twin-
kle in his eye. "It'll cure ulcers;
it'll also take the paint off the
door . . . It's great for lightin'
the fire, too, by they way." And
he broke into song:
Gather up the pots and the
old tin cans,
The corn, the mash, the barley
and the bran.
Run like the devil from the
excise man; .
Keep the smoke from rising,
Barney.
McBride's facial expression

told very little; his eyes showed
you when he was joking or when
he was mourning for political
martyrs. His voice, which has
that "folksy" quality, sometimes
hovered on the borderline of be-
ing off-key - but never q u i t e
crosed it. His humor, spirit, and
ability to controlsthe audience's
mood made the shortcomings of
his voice almost unnoticeable.
One of McBride's most effec-
tive presentations was a series
of songs written by Scottish folk-
singer Ewan McCall about the
Irish tinkers.
The tinkers, a gypsy-like peo-
ple, have wandered through Ire-
land since biblical times, but
they are dying out now and
frowned upon by modern civiliza-
tion. Recently the Irish govern-
ment tried to take a census of
them. From the point of view
of a tinker, McBride sang to a
quiet, reflective melody:
I am a free-born man of the
travelling people.
I've got no fixed abode; with
nomads I am numbered.
Country lanes and byways
Were always my ways.
I never fancied being number-
ed.
The audience joined in auto-
matically, some with unsolicited
but beautiful harmony, as they
did on McBride's last song, "The
Patriot Game." McBride called
it "the last of the great rebel
songs written before the current
troubles" and noted that some
"great songs are coming now
from Northern Ireland."
Ironic it is that such tragic
fighting breeds such fantastic
song, but fortunate it is that
troubadors of McBride's caliber
disseminate them.


Presenting An
East Indian
Dinner Special
SUNDAY, NOV. 12
4:00-8:30
INDIAN SUMMER NATURAL
FOODS RESTAURANT
315 S. State, Ann Arbor, 761-7918
~~

also: Dr. John, Rockets
DEC. 9, SAT 7-12 p.m.

$4 gen. adm.
Crisler Arena

IT'S A DANCE!
Tickets on sale TODAY both outlets.
MICHIGAN UNION and SALVATION RECORDS
Sorry, no personal checks.
JAMES TAYLOR this coming Friday
MANY GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE BUT GOING FAST
TICKETS ARRIVE TUESDAY, NOV. 14, AT UNION

By HARRY HAMMITT
Elvin Bishop is just a country
boy from Tulsa, Oklahoma who
has migrated to the big city,
learning as he went. The f i r s t
time he was exposed to the pub-
lic eye was when he played se-
cond guitar in the original But-
terfield Blues Band. After the
departure of Mike Bloomfield,
the band added a brass section,
changed their image, and Elvin
was elevated to the status of lead
guitarist, assuming the name of
Pigboy Crabshaw along the
way.
Things went fine and Elvin
produced a classic blues num-
ber called "Drunk Again," but
prettyasoon Elvin decided it was
time to go out on his own. He
moved out to San Francisco and
formed a band of his own, call-
ing it, appropriately enough, the
Elvin Bishop Band.
It took the band a little while
to come out with an album, but
when they did it was sensational,
Bishop was singing in a hillbilly
style that was so unpretentious
and lazy that it was great. His
guitar work was tough but sensi-
tive and the rest of the band
could really get it on. It was the
best example of a blues band
that really had fun when they

i

played.
Well, things changed; Elvin
brought his girl, Jo Baker, in on
lead vocals and the band went
into a soul phase. Now the band
has come out with its third al-
bum, Rock My Soul (Epic KE
3163), which is not as good as
their first, but superior to their
second.
The band is a far cry from the
one on the first album; besides
Elvin, the only remaining mem-
ber of the original band is Steve
Miller on keyboards.
There is no real straight blues
on the album, but there is a fair
variety of offerings ranging from
funky soul to Elvin's good-time
comic music. The vocals are shar-
ed equally by Bishop and Bak-
er; Elvin has improved im-
mensely on his singing, but he
can still sing in his relaxed coun-
try style. The best songs a r e
those on which Elvin takes it
easy and lets things grow in a
nice slow natural way. Among
these songs, the two best are
"Don't Mind If I Do," and "Out'
Behind The Barn," which turns
out to be a really fine Dixie-
land swing number. There's
some good loose soul music which
is typified by the title song, and
"Holler and Shout." "'Rock Bot-
tom" is the closest the band ever
comes to blues; it's quite urban-
ized and white-influenced, but
Bishop plays excellent guitar
with real taste.
The band has conquered t h e
Bay Area audience which is a
difficult thing to do. They gig
a lot and their playing shows
it; there is a mark of profes-
sionalism in their sound, and
they prove that they are used
to the studio with several well-
integrated instances of sound ef-
fects. The band is no knock-
out, but they hit no true low
points. They are tasteful, profes-
sional, but still truly enjoying
their own music, which makes
for enjoyment on the part of the
audience. The album is no land-
mark, but the music of Elvin
Bishop is always universally en-
joyable, witty, and tasteful.

ARTS

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___________More ARTS today on Page eight

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ADVANCE SALES AND INFO
PTP TICKET OFFICE-MENDELSSOHN LOBBY
764-0450
ECINEMA*I PRESENTS
SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER
7:00-SCARLET EMPRESS
Directed by Josef von Sternberg. Marlene Dietrich
and Sam Jaffe. "Bizarre and fantastic historical
carnival" based on diary of Catherine the great.
9:00-RASHO-MON
Akira Kurosawa
Toshiro Mifune. Explores four accounts of a brutal
murder in Ancient Japan. "Hypnotic power . . . the
use of music and sounds is superb."
AUD. A * 7 and 9 O'CLOCK * ONE DOLLAR
REVISED SCHEDULE FOR REMAINDER OF THE TERM
FRI. 17 NOV.-LA DOLCE VITA Fellini (App. 7 and 9:30)
SAT. 18 NOV.-GOLDDIGGERS OF 1935. Busby Berkeky
SUN. 19 NOV.-7:00: GOLDDIGGERS, 9:00: LA DOLCE VITA
FRI. 1 DEC.-THE 39 STEPS Hitchcock
SAT. 2 DEC.-PSYCHO Hitchcock

SHOWS AT 1 -3-5-7-9:05
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toni ght
6:00 4 News
7 Movie-Western
"Escape from Fort Bravo."
(1953)
9 U.F.O.
50 Star Trek
56 World Press
6:30 4 News
56 A Public Affair/Election '72
7:00 2 TV 2 Reports
4 George Pierrot
9 Tom Jones
50 Lawrence Welk
7:30 4 Flip Wilson Cartoon
56 Just Generation
8:00 2 M*A*S*H
4 Snoopy's International
IceFollies
7 FBI
9 Nature of Things
50 International Performance
8:30 2 sandy Duncan
50 Pro Hockey
9:00 2 Dick Van Dyke
4 The Trouble With People

7 Movie
John Wayne's Oscar-winning
"True Grit."
9 Sunday at Nine
56 Masterpiece Theatre
9:30 2 Mannix
10:00 4 Night Gallery
9 Weekend
56 Firing Line
50 Lou Gordon
10:302 Evil Touch
4 Profiles in Black
11:00 2 4 9 News
11:15 9 Religious Scope
11:30 2 Name of the Game
4 Wild Wild West
7 News
9 Movie
"Flower Drum Song." (1961)
50 For My People
12:00 7 Movie
"Yellowstone Kelly." (1949)
50 Man in a Suitcase
12:30 4 News
1:00 2 Grambling Football
2:00 2 Golden Gospel-Music
7 News
2:30 2 News
MONDAY
6:00 2 4 7 News
9 Eddie's Father
50 Flintstones
56 To Be Announced
6:30 2 4 7 News
9 Jeannie
50 Gilligan's Island
56 All About Welfare
7:00 2 Truth or Consequences
4 News
7 To Tell the Truth
9 Beverly Hillbillies
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In new screen splendor...
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The FRIARS!

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