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