0
ARTS
Page 6
Sunday, October 31, 1982
The Michigan Daily
Hot Koko heats up Rick's
By Andrew Porter
as the dance floors]
Koko Taylor drol
back to Chicago.
-.nr~ - n~i1 .. -
playing festivals a
T HE CONSPICUOUS video games and ESPN boxing pilgramage overse
highlights were the only traces of present-day Ann Arbor Female Blues Voca
in what was otherwise an old and smokey Chicago tavern reknowned achiev
-.hursday night at Rick's. Koko Taylor appeared with the people in last nighi
.Blues Machine and transformed the modern setting into a complishments an
classic, enjoyable evening of blues and R&B. spiring music.
After an hour of mingling and drinking with the crowd, the e second set
,lues Machine (sans Koko) took the stage and delivered a Teisecne d
.tight, well-meshed sound. With heart and power, the band lpreviously. Machinedi
generated a short set of explosive blues that clearly demon- revtook the stage
strated their keen musical prowess. Two wailing guitars and shcitementro tha
straed hei kee muica proess Tw waiingguiars iteentfrom thai
classy stacatto drumwork filled the space between the harsh marked the show's
r yet sincere vocals quite well and contained all the ingredients The latter part o
of a first rate show. improvisation fro:
When Koko then took the squeaky platform, her singing Chappell turned in
stifled the strength of the instrumentation and initially solos, lead guitaris
seemed to be somewhat of a letdown. Any bond that the Blues out very creativel
-..Machine had established to link themselves to the audience ney through a glob
was broken and much of the forward potential of the music denly stop leaving
became dissipated. The set gradually recharged, however, up with nowhere to
as the band performed renditions of three blues anthems in The evening was
response to shouted requests from the crowd. The first one, Koko and those wb
"Sweet Home Chicago," was the turning point for Koko and its Blues Machine dor
timely tempo lifted the once-dancing fans back up. "Hey gave a very worth
Bartender" and "Wang Dang Doodle" then followed suit and indeed a bizarre ex
=the steaming band returned to their much needed drinks just be reminded that y
"THE LAST EPIDEMIC"
Can it be stopped?
Film and discussion sponsored by The Physi-
cians For Social Responsibility and the Hillel
Committee for Social Action
hit their peak.
pped by Ann Arbor in passing on her way
The last several months she has been
and concert halls all around Europe. Her
as was a great success and her string of
alist Grammy awards are evidence of her
ements. Unfortunately, a great deal of
t's audience were oblivious to her past ac-
d were satisfied just to dance to her in-
began the same way as the first only the
Idn't set the house ablaze as they did
quently, Koko started off dominating when
e and the audience was trapped in ex-
it moment until the last cymbal crash that
end.
f the evening also featured a bit more solo
m the group. While drummer Bentson
in amazingly flashy yet structured drum
st Mike (he prefers no surname) twanged
licks. The group would occasionally jour-
be of musical development and then sud-
the anxious audience feeling all charged
ogo.
pleasureable to all those who came to see
rho happened upon the show. Although the
minate4o the performance, Koko Taylor still
y show to a very undemanding crowd. It's
,xperience to step out of Rick's and have to
you're still in Ann Arbor.
Daily Photo by SCOTT ZOLTON
Koko Taylor turns Rick's into a Chicago blues saloon Thursday night.
I
Preserving sweet
Dixieland jazz
MONDAY, Nov. 1
8:30 pm
1429 Hill
FEMALE NUDE MODELS
needed for Eastern Michigan University's Art De-
partment's Life Drawing Classes.
Experience preferred but not necessary.
Only dependable and reliable persons need apply.
Apply at 112 Sherzer Hall or call 487-0186
between 8:15 and 12 noon, Monday thru Friday.
The hours bre varied and flexible at $4.20 an hour.
By Sebastian Rotella
W ITHOUT THEIR instruments,
they could have been old folks sit-
ting on a porch somewhere. Bespec-
tacled and balding, they leaned over
sometimes to chat amicably with one
another. But they brought their in-
struments. On Thursday night in Hill
Auditorium, the Preservation Hall Jazz
Band played a show energetic and in-
fectious enough to make you laugh your
enjoyment out loud.
The eight-member Preservation Hall
band embodies a musical legacy. They
play the traditional New Orleans jazz
that they have been playing since the
early part of the century. New Orleans
jazz is a close relative of Dixieland, a
music of which one tends to already
have a general impression. Performed
live any by originals, however, the
sound reasserted its appeal and fun-
damentalsignificance to jazz. It com-
bines root elements of blues, swing and
big band styles.
Exuding a relaxed atmosphere, the
Preservation Hall personnel were just
fun to look at. The ancient professionals
followed a simple performance format.
Backed by chopping banjo, stride
piano, and the rhythm section, the hor-
ns initiated loose, blaring numbers.
Opening choruses featured lots of
flaring clarinet runs, oompah trombone
and trumpet, luxurious saxophone.
From there, the band passed it around
with humor and personality. During
stand-up solos, clarinetist Raymond
Barrois wailed with much bending of
knees and exuberance. Trombonist
Worthia Thomas displayed a range
from gentle to growling, on several oc-
casions breaking out some casual foot-
work. Sitting crosslegged, Manny.
Sayles worked out on the banjo, looking
contentedly off into space.
Sharing vocal chores were Sayles,
drummer Alonzo Stewart and trum-
petist/band leader "Kid''Thomas"
Valentine. On the mournful dirge "St.
James Infirmary," Sayles sang a wist-
ful croon, urged on by Stewart, who ap-
plied his baritone on upbeat numbers.
"Kid Thomas" was a show in himself.
He appeared to be catching a little rest
during other musicians' solos. He
soloed only briefly, perhaps the only ar-
tist whose technical facility reflected
advanced age, but I gave him some
slack for being eighty-six years old.
Also, he compensated with a series of
sly antics: producing percussion in-
struments and banging away, clowning
with the audience in pantomime, stan-
ding on his chair. Kid sang on a version
of his own composition, the "Milk Cow
Blues," rasping somewhat unin-
telligible but endearing lyrics.
The band chose what to play as they
went along, alternating high-powered
and slowed-down, bluesy numbers. In a
spotlight interlude with the rhythm sec-
tion, pianist Jeannette Kimball did
elegant work reflecting her varied
music experience. The audience
greeted this and each number with en-
thusiastic clapping, but it was an older
and comparatively restrained crowd.
Students were underrepresented; they
could have added more vocal and
energetic encouragement.
As the show neared a close with a
soothing jazz lullaby warmed by Em-
manuel Paul's sax vibrato, I reflected
that it's hard to resist a band with so
much history and charm. The Preser-
vation Hall Jazz Band evidenced
technical power along with showman-
ship, but I wondered how much they
really had to do, given that audiences
are drawn to their image without fail.
Then the band swung into "When the
Saints Come Marching In." Kid
Thomas Valentine, who had snuck of-
40
Kid Thomas
... still young at 86
fstage, reappeared in the crowc
wearing an insane white head covering.
He came down the center aisle to the
finale, played his trumpet, and semi-
cynical thoughts were swept aside.
ICHGA
Read and Use
BLOOD DONOR BATTLE
Fans, Friends, Alumni, Students
Help Michigan Win the Blood Donor Battle
Against Ohio State
DONATE BLOOD
November 1-13
Donate Tomorrow and Tuesday
November 1 and 2
from 11:00-4:30
Michigan Union
Daily Classifieds
0
A Reason
toVote.
"Experienced and effective, Lana Pollack will help us
maintain a progressive senate-an essential to
maintaining Washtenaw County's outstanding
institutions."
Representative Gary Owen
"Lana Pollack is continuing the work that I have
committed my life to-bringing an equitable society
into being."
Martha Griffiths, former member of Congress
Nominee for Lieutenant Governor
"We need elected officials who understand how
education is financed and how it should be financed,
why our schools too often fail, and how they can
succeed."
Clarence Lyte, Trustee, Washtenaw Intermediate
and Willow Run School Boards
"The Michigan State Senate needs the presence and
scrutiny of this direct, hard working, highly
r
^' 1
f,
"
c
: -
A