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| John Hammond |
Homegrown String Band |
Spider John Koerner, Mr. Bones, '92, |
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Full Calendar
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Fridge Calendar
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Calendar
January 2008
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| Wednesday, January 2 • 7 PM |
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Poetry Open Mic |
| $2 |
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With Featured Reader Naton Leslie |
Naton Leslie is the author of a book of narrative nonfiction, That Might Be Useful (Lyon Press, 2005), and six volumes of poetry. He is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. He teaches writing and literature at Siena College. |
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 This is one of those super bands that hooks you right from the first song. Based in Anchorage, Alaska Bearfoot plays bluegrass with a twist. You get all the sweet three-part harmonies and hard-driving twin fiddles with moments of exhuberant jazz and vintage Americana mixed into the traditional sounds of bluegrass.
The five young members of Bearfoot were cast into national prominence when they won the 2001 Telluride band contest, an acheivement shared by Nickel Creek and the Dixie Chicks. A very well-received mainstage appearance at the 2007 Grey Fox Festival introduced them to regional fans. |
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 Singer and multi-instrumentalist Tracy Grammer, who gained widespread recognition for her work with the late songwriter Dave Carter, returns for an evening of eloquent music.
With her masterful violin, guitar, and mandolin playing, and a distinctive, velvety voice, Tracy carries on her role as interpreter of Dave's mystical and finely honed songs. She adds to the mix her own gorgeous originals and gems from other artists such as Jackson Browne, Tom Russell, David Francy and Paul Simon.
Her touring partner is singer-songwriter Jim Henry who provides accompaniment on guitar, mandolin, dobro, and vocals. |
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 This is a show for jam band aficionados, klezmer enthusiasts, jazz fans looking for new horizons, and for all who hunger for an edge-of-the-seat musical experience.
Montreal-based Shtreiml is led by harmonica innovator Jason Rosenblatt, one of only a handful of musicians who can play the blues harmonica chromatically. On it he leads the band through a delightful program of klezmer, gypsy music and jazz with a unique spin that is at once Eastern European folk music and down-home blues.
Jason is joined by his wife, trombonist Rachel Lemisch, one of the leading figures in klezmer brass revival, plus Thierry Arsenault on drums and Montreal jam band mainstay Adam Stotland on bass. |
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 Minnesota's Spider John Koerner is celebrating his 50th year in folk music. As 1/3 of the rauckus blues band Koerner, Ray & Glover, he helped shape the 60s music scene and influenced countless blues revivalists, including Bob Dylan.
A scholar, song-crafter, and humorist, Spider John's unique, funky and impeccably timed picking is based on a solid study of the old masters, respect for the tradition, and a firm command of his source material. He has continued to release well-received albums, leading fans everywhere to agree that he only gets better and more seasoned with age.
Spider John will be performing with Chip Smith on fiddle and bones, and Paul Strother on bass. |
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 2007 marks this legendary folksinger's 40th anniversary of performing at Caffè Lena, packing the house every single time. His gentle folk songs and funny stories have become a family tradition for many, passing from parent to child and on down the line. They've also become a tradition in the music world, having been recorded by Nanci Griffith, Jerry Jeff Walker, Grandpa Jones, and others.
Once you discover his brand of entertainment, you too will return year after year. |
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 An expatriate New Yorker now living in Buenos Aires, Richard Shindell is a meticulous craftsman. Innovative, original and occasionally spiritual, Shindell is a true balladeer.
He sings contemporary folk songs that champion the downtrodden, exalt the disaffected or wax empathetic to those lost to society's fringes. His repertoire ranges from lighthearted tales and love songs, to skifull skewers of politics, prejudice, war and religion.
 His current album, South of Delia, finds him putting a unique spin on covers such as Springsteen's "Born In the USA" and Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street."
Special guest Terence Martin is not only a folksinger but a published poet, a classical bassist who played for the Burbank Symphony, and a graduate of rock bands. His original songs flow with hauntingly poetic images and elements of folk, blues, and country. |
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  We're confident that this is going to be one of the stand-out shows of our winter season. North Carolina's Jon Shain is an ace fingerstyle bluesman and harmonica player who can turn out fine versions of the genre's classics, but especially shines when playing his own memorable songs.
Pat Wictor of NYC is a lap slide guitar player who will stop you in your  mental tracks with deep lyrics and blues riffs perfectly suited to one another. Both guys are quick-witted, brilliant improvisors and fans of one another's material. They'll swap songs and play together.
Alaska songwriter Larry Zarella wowed us at a showcase on our stage in October. He's a natural storyteller and talented lyricist and musician. A perfect match for Caffè Lena. |
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 The Jackofsky family of Rocky Point, NY is a 21st century incarnation of the traditional family band. Mom Georgianne and dad Rick, along with daughters Erica and Annalee, play an eclectic mix of traditional and original music inspired by the rural string bands of the early 20th century.
At a Homegrown String Band show you'll be treated to the sounds of fiddle, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, banjo uke, mountain dulcimer, doumbek, jawharp, and old time family style singing. And best of all, come enjoy some high-kicking, lightening fast percussive flatfoot dancing that will have you on the edge of your seat. |
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 Albany's own Tas Cru takes the Caffè Lena for a night of original Mississippi Delta-style blues played on resonator guitar. He's a master of the double entendre, adding dark sparkle to every song, spanning the spectrum from stark tragedy to delighted hilarity.
No stranger to the Delta itself, Tas travels south regularly to play the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MI, has represented the Northeast Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and has performed alongside the likes of Mem Shannon and Tab Benoit in benefits for Katrina victims. This is a smart and seasoned bluesman who knows how to entertain. |
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| Wednesday, January 23 • 7 PM |
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Jazz Jam |
| $5 |
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 This envigorating and completely unique New York City trio brings back to life old timey American music, vaudevillian ragtime blues, early swing, jugband and old time country with all the eccentricity and loose brilliance that has given the genre it's appeal down through the decades.
 Performing on washboard, harmonica, kazoo, guitar, and upright bass, the WIYOS transport listeners back to a time before TV and mass-media were the main sources of entertainment. Great fun for all ages!
Gypsy Dave & the Stumpjumpers are coming from the state of Pennsylvania to
get the night started with a sweet sounding old-time ruckus on fiddle, bass,
guitar and washboard." |
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 This duo mixes country rock and down-home, back-porch ballads to create a sound that's something like the Carter Family meets Crazy Horse. The musical richness, spine-tingling harmonies and psychological depth of their music is irrefutable proof that the disarming granddaughter of Woody/daughter of Arlo and her prodigious South Carolinian husband quite naturally bring out the best in each other.
In the summer of 2007 Johnny released a solo album, Ex Tempore, showcasing his own timely songs in a blend of acoustic styles. |
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 Legendary folksinger Rosalie Sorrels, nicknamed the Travelin' Lady, has once again been lured from her log cabin in Idaho for a quick visit east.
This totally hip and ageless chanteuse combines a folksinger's clarity and populist ideals with the worldliness of a hard-living blues singer.
She mixes traditional numbers, contemporary folk standards, wry observations on modern life and short autobiographical tales.
Rosalie is looking forward to sharing with the audience some songs and
stories from her upcoming CD dedicated to the songs of her great pal Utah
Phillips. |
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| Wednesday, January 30 • 7 PM |
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Comedy Open Mic |
| $5 |
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Photo:
John Hammond
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Photo:
Homegrown String Band
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Photo:
Spider John Koerner |
| © 1992, Joseph Deuel |
© 2007, Joseph Deuel |
© 1992, Joseph Deuel |
Copyright © 1998-2008, Caffe Lena, Inc.
All Rights Reserved |
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