_16B -'!e Michigan Daily Weeke d aaine -Thursday, Rtember 5, 1996 0 9 0 The Michigan Daily Weekend M Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival returns, carries on tradition SARA STIULMAN/Dai~y Guitarist Taj Mahai (left) is one of the headliners for this year's event, while Dr. John (right) was featured last year. By James Miller Daily Arts Writer Lollapalooza. Horde. What do these names mean? What images do these hallowed music festivals con- jure? For me, it brings to mind sweaty, pink, well-fed Dead mourn- ers and more hair than a French nude beach. Face it, the music festival scene has rotted away from its true roots. Gone are the days of the Newport and Playboy Jazz Festivals, the Monterey Pop Festival and other great eruptions in musical history. Now the show consists of a giant fashion show,, a huge monument to the "I'm cooler than you" pop music mentality. But these events used to mean something. They used to be exactly what the name suggests: a festival. They were actually a group of people who were looking for a day of their favorite music, Formor not an open-air fraternity party. years (tli Thank God un for the Ann Arbor Blu .mroor .azz ano Blues Festival. Jazz Fest It is one of the few remaining a~ttractdd music festvals, certainly in this talented moethat i con- of the daj cerned with music than marketing. For more than 20 years, the festival has attracted the most talented musicians of the day, and of days gone by, for a weekend of hip-lubricating and behind-wiggling. The festival draws its roots from the hippie/blues movement of the 1960's. As the children of the sixties began to open themselves up to new music, the Delta blues of the Mississippi experienced a renais- sance and the waning Chicago scene received a much-needed infusion of life. The Rolling Stones reveled in the music of the terrifying Howlin' Wolf. Jimi Hendrix soaked himself in the music of nearly everyone, from Albert King to Albert Collins. And everyone prayed at the altars of Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. For every Junior Wells, there were five Paul Butterfield's chasing his shadow. Some of the greatest musicians ever to bend a string, blow a harp, wail a horn or pound a keyboard have passed through the auspices of the festival. Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Lightnin' Sam Hopkins, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Henderson, Etta James and B.B. King, only to name the most lofty of names. Consisting of both oindoor and outdoor shows, the festival offers everything a young Turk could want. This year. like many other years, is a n 4y salute to eclecticism. The line-up repre- sents masters of nearly every corner of the blues and jazz spectrum. Leading the charge is the great and powerful Maceo Parker. Parker has played the role of the angel Gabriel in the history of soul music, testify'ing on the alto saxophone for more than 30 years. Parker got his start in the big time playing with James Brown's seminal "first band" in the middle and late 60's. He, along with Fred Wesley on trom- bone, combined gut-wrenchingly earthy playing with surprisingly intricate arrangements to form an unparalleled horn sound for James Brown that helped make him the demi-god he is today. On top of this, Maceo is a master- ful soloist and a peerless showman. A Maceo Parker concert is about as close as a person can come to total salvation while still trapped in than 20 the prisons of the flesh. His ? Ann shows frequent- ly go on for Ds an d three and a half haS nours or more, val) a taking breaks for water only the most occasionally. Any soul fan "USIC IanS who has not heard Maceo's r wastwenty minute version of "Let's Get It On" cannot die a happy person. Sunday the 15th, Parker descends. Bringing up the blues side of the equation is Taj Mahal. The Taj is one of the grand old men of the blues, who has not received as much com- mercial success as some of the lucki- er brothers. His name has been bol- stered by extensive touring and records on smaller labels. Listening to a Taj Mahal record or seeing a show is representative of every musi- cal style that is thrown into the cate- gory "black." He flows effortlessly from reggae to country blues to rock- abilly to old school Kansas City bar- relhouse. His most recent effort, "Phantom Blues" spans from the old war-horse "Love Her With A Feeling" to a rock-styled duet with Bonnie Raitt called "I Need Your Lovin'." The last time Taj played the festival his show consisted of only him and his guitar, a stark contrast to his latest album. This set will be totally unpre- dictable and totally superlative. Taj takes the stage on Friday, 8 p.m. at the Michigan Theater. The oddball of the lot is Pharaoh Sanders, but in a good way. Sanders carried the free jazz torch after the passing of John Coltrane. Even a casual perusal of Sanders's will yield the words "anguished,"' "raging"~ and "searching.'' This will not be a show for the light of heart. Sanders's music OUTDOORS Continued from Page 4 "'We give them a river map, a personal flotation device and a river briefing before they set out,"he said. "It's pretty hard to get lost.' LaPointe said the department's only guided canoe trips, called "Wetlands by Canoe, run only in the spring. While attending an instruction ses- sion is not mandatory for canoe renters, certified park staff teach such courses each week, The courses cost $7.50 per person, including equipment rental and instruction. "We have plenty of instructors certi- fied by the American Canoeing Association and the Red Cross," LaPointe said. "Our safety record is pretty good," LaPointe said. "People are kinda care- ful." LaPointe said the parks experience a huge influx of business when stu- dents return to the University campus. He said several student groups have already taken advantage of the water sports this semester. "Already this week we've had a couple sororities and dorm groups come out" he said. "We serve a lot of students," Bushaw said. Bushsaw said the park activities are planned with students in mind. "We look at all age groups and areas where they're from when planning.' she said. LaPointe said those who want a water experience less exercise-inten- sive can take advantage of the paddle boat rental available at the parks. The boats can be rented for $6 per hour on weekends and $4.50 per hour on weekdays. The weekday discount price for paddle boats is $8 per two hours. Many elect to stay closer to shore and fish the river, LaPointe said. "There's good quality fishery in the river," he said. "There's pan fish, bass, walleye, pike, catfish and carp." LaPointe said bait and fishing tackle are available at the parks, although the department does not provide any fish- ing equipment rental. Several local sporting goods stores sell fishing poles and other equipment, but the cheapest poles can be found at Meijer Thrifty Acres on Ann Arbor- Saline Road. You can even get a Snoopy pole there. For those who would rather stay dry, the recreation department offers bicycle rental. The bikes can be rented for $5 per hour and S.50 per each additional half hour. Thrifty student park-goers should head out to recreate on Tuesdays, stu- dent discount days. LaPointe said any- one with a valid student I.D. can receive 50 percent off the second item they rent that day. He also said coupons are circulating around town to make the rental prices even more affordable. Dgo you Dgo you know anyone who has aci thing so extraordinary, so origina, public attention? Then nominate that person for the Mich Magazines Student .Feature. Each week, the Weekend, etc. Magazine special, extraordinary, unique University cle will be dedicated to that inspiring in Nominate some( To nominate that special student, either em; call the Michigan Daily (763-0379) and asl Attenti Studer know someone special or at Applicationis are avaiIlble at the StudIent 'ublictiotis Build~ing, 420 Maynard1 (next to the student Activities P building). Application d~eadine is Frictay, Septemb~er 13. For more info call Katie or Cristiria at 763-3246. r