The Michigan Daily-Sunday, January 15, 1978-Page 5
Sounds ofjazz-age at the Ark
By MIKE TAYLOR
W HEN I WALKED into the Ark the
other night to see The Original
Sloth Band, I was well aware it was
Friday the 13th and nothing bad had
happened to me yet. So when David
Signlin, who runs the Ark with his wife
Jinda, made his way to the front to re- -
arrange the microphones anj chairs to
accommodate one person instead of
three, I expected the worst.
As two-thirds of the three-piece band
had been unable to make it in from
Canada, Siglin announced, "here's the
original Sloth himself, Ken Whiteley."
Wearing a beautiful white suit, White-
ley strolled on stage to strum and sing a
blues tune.
Tough it's likely that Whiteley could
have put on a better show with his
musical cohorts present, he certainly
held his own as a solo performer.
Playing a variety of numbers ranging
from old pop songs from the 20's and
30's to jugband and novelty tunes and
gospel and blues songs, he made the
crowd feel good, and kept them there,
always ready for the next song.
IN CHOICE OF naterial, Whiteley is
reminiscent of Leon Redbone, but his
style of delivery is completely differ-
ent. While Redbond sings everything in
the same hushed tones, Whiteley uses
changes in his singing strength to good
advantage. One minute, he may be
singing in a whisper, the next, booming
with enthusiasm, or pain.
Though he couldn't duplicate the
sound The Original Sloth Band pro-
duces, Whiteley treated the crowd to
many different instruments, including
a guitar made in the twenties on which
he plays much of his material, another
guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano, wash:
board, and, of course, jug.
To make up for missing horn parts,
Whiteley sometimes tried to duplicate
the sound of a trumpet with his mouth.
If you closed your eyes, you could
almost believe he wasn't alone on
stage.
AFTER HIS BLUESY opener, White-
ley conceded, "it's hard to stay sad
when I see all these people smiling," so
he sang "The Sunny Side of the Street."
Then it was over to soul, with a Sam
Cooke song.
Midway through the second set,
Whiteley announced, "I'm going to call
on some musical support now." Up
stepped Siglin to play guitar, and white-
haired Percy Danforth on bones. The
trio performed a short tune, and then
Siglin exited, leaving Whiteley and
Danforth alone for "Five Foot Two."
Danforth, who works full-time for
Join the'
.arts Staff
Do you have a flair for writing
about the arts? If so, ypu can join
the exciting world of the Daily
Arts Staff at one of three recruit-
ing meetings coming up this
week. On Tuesday, January 17 at
8 p.m. there will be meetings at
East Quad in Greene Lounge, and
Bursley in West Lounge; on Wed-
nesday, January 18 at 8 p.m.
there will be meetings at South
Quad in West Lounge, and
Markley in Angela Davis
Lounge; on Thursday, January 19
at 8 p.m. is the Big Meeting, at
the Daily offices, 420 Maynard.
Hope to see you!
Balance Technology ("for balancing
things that rotate"), drops in at the Ark
whenever one of his many friends is in
town. He knows he'll be asked to play,
since no one would want to miss his
lightening fast hands and gyrating
body, nor the wonderful sounds he
produces. "It's a-lot of fun - I just love
the blues," he said.
Some of Whiteley's best numbers
were upbeat, comical ones like "Lulu's
Back in Town" and "The World's Jazz
Crazy," which contains the delightful
refrain,
Jazzin', jazzin'
You know the world's jazz crazy, and so am 1.
"SLOPPY DRUNK" caught Whiteley
at his most robust, complete with a
roaring voice and stinging slide guitar.
"Melancholy Baby" had him singing
softly, warmly, beautifully. And on
gospel tunes like "Things Are Coming
My Way," he would throw down his in-
struments, and let his voice, hands, and
legs roam free.
A highlight was an amusing quartet
of related tunes. Beginning with a fast
run-through of "Ain't She Sweet," he
moved ot "You Send Me," "Somebody
Stole My Gal," and finally to "Down in
the Dumps."
Whiteley, a native of Toronto, got into
jugband music with his brother and a
friend in 1965, and The Original Sloth
Band was born. "We-began to explore
other music from the same period as
the jugband music - gradually our in-
terests expanded," said Whiteley, as he
explained the roots of the material he
performs.
He hasn't sung by himself in a couple
of years. "The hardest part was that I
wasn't used to singing all night," he
said. "It's a different thing from play-
ing with a group. First of all, all the re-
sponsibility is on you - so it's harder.
But there's also the freedom to do what-
ever comes to mind."
The singer saved one of his strongest
numbers for the end, toe moving "This
May Be The Last Time," and then
walked triumphantly away. But the
clapping didn't stop, so he came back
with Danforth to do an early jugband
song.
And then I left, knowing that though
there were still a few minutes left on
Friday the 13th, nothing bad could hap-
pen on such a charmed evening.
NEW YORK (AP) - Men take
more time investigating a stock
before purchase than do women,
according to Myrna Liebowitz, presi-
dent of the Women Stockbrokers
Association.
"Women usually want the stock-
broker to give an opinion on the stock
they want to buy, rather than read
extensive information themselves,"
says Miss Liebowitz, who is with the
brokerage firm or Merkin and Co.
here.
GUITAR
CLASSES
Right Hand Technique
Basic Classical and Folk
Reasonable Rates
Guitar Gallery
286 Nickels Arcade
662-5888
K en Whit iteDaily Photo by JOHN KNOX
Student writers find new outlet
try 2.JJm v AiJ'nuu
THOSE ANN ARBORITES with
literary leanings can now find two
University publications to satisfy their
tastes. Along with The Gerbil, whose
fourth issue is currently available, Ris-
ing Star, a new literary journal, went on
salt for the first time yesterday in the
Hopwood Room in Angell Etall, and in
several shops around Ann Arbor.
Students from all areas will have an
opportunity to have their best works
published in Rising Star. Edited by
Cindy Rhodes, and David Victor, the
magazine promises students from
every school an equal opportunity to
gain the recognition they deserve. Pref-
erences of well-known area poets, ac-
cording to Victor, will not be the case
with Rising Star.
"While Rising Star welcomes sub-
missions from those poets of the area
who have published, won a Hopwood, or
given public readings," explains Vic-
tor, "we are very interested in those
poets who are truly good, but haven't
received the recognition or won the
awards. We are not interested in
names, but in quality."
In addition, Rising Star will feature
"poetry in translation," foreign poetry
translated by students. French, Italian,
German and Spanish poetry will be of-
fered. Says co-editor Rhodes, "There is
a need on this campus for recognition of
ii
the art in translation. 'Too often, it has
been thought of as a re-copying of the
original work. But each translation is
an original poem in itself, as it depends
on the translator's interpretation of the
meaning." Roughly one-fourth of the
magazine will deal with poetry in trans-
lation.
In addition to Rising Star, The Gerbil
will also be available in the fishbowl.
This publication is beginning its second
year with an expanded format, having
added eight additional pages of fiction
and poetry. The material in each issue
is entirely student writing, with an em-
phasis on fiction. Students are en-
couraged to submit humor, satire,
science fiction and fantasy - in
general, stories that take the reader
away from the campus and dorm set-
ting. Future plans for The Gerbil in-
clude interviews, book reviews and
features from professional writers.
The goal of both these magazines is to
provide access to student writing, as
well as to encouragewriters who other-
wise might not have an opportunity of
being published.
S
'in'.
Just for the
health of it,
Get moving, America!
March 1-7 1977 is
Natonal Physical EdLuCaion and Sport Week
Physical Education Public information
American Alihance for Health
Physical Educat on and Recreation
1201 16th St N W Washington D C 20036
PROFESSIONAL THEATRE
PROGRAM
CHA RLAND
SCHLESIN GER
CR ESSM AN
prints &drawings
january 6-29
IUniversity of Michigan lilbert £ Sullivan ociety
* ' MASS MEETING for the April 12-15th production of
"THE GONDOLIERS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 1978
8:00 p.m. MICHIGAN UNION
Sign up for both cast & orchestra auditions
* Persons interested in technical crew costumes, lights, pro-
grams and publicity are invited to attend. Refreshments
provided. g
opens
Stoday at
'f-6 MENDELSSOHN
THEATRE
1)14) Sun., Jan. 15 2pm &Spm
T icketsavailable at I'l 1icket Office
Michigan League, Mon.-Fri. 10-1, 2-5
For Information Call: 764-0450
Tickets also available through Hudson's stores.
4
Look for:
he GerbilMagazine
ON SALE NOW
in the Fishbowl
and Campus-Area Stores
opening:
jan.6, 7-9
HOURS
-Tu. -Fr., 10-6
Weekends, 12- 5
764 - 3234
FIRST FLOOR MICHIGAN UNION
'it'IVERITY (%USICAL 'OCIETY presentsj