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