Some Nice PressMarch 3rd, 2006-- From the River Record
Friday, March 03, 2006
Julie Waters, Simon Teddy to perform dual CD release concert on March 25
NICOLE S. COLSON
Record Staff
SAXTONS RIVER — With the greater goal in mind of giving exposure to local musicians, Julie Waters has decided to invite a guest to join her on stage to celebrate the release of their latest bodies of work.
Waters and Simon Teddy will perform a dual CD release concert Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Main Street Arts.
This marks the third release show for Waters, but the first at Main Street Arts. Waters had taken a string band class there that fueled her desire to learn to play banjo. She talked with the arts organization's director, Mary Hepburn, about hosting a release concert there. There is no charge to use the space for an event — all that is asked is that part of the ticket sales are donated to benefit the organization.
Waters' latest release, "Paths of Flight," contains 14 tracks, the majority her original contemporary acoustic guitar works in the styles of such greats of the genre as Django Reinhardt and Bela Fleck.
Waters is known for blending musical styles and switching from ancient melodies to modern folk or blues effortlessly. She said what's different about her newest release is her use of a multi-tracking technique.
"Almost everything else I've done has been solo guitar work," she said.
But on "Paths of Flight" she has blended the sound by overlaying baritone guitar — a standard guitar tuned much deeper, — guitar and banjo music onto her solo guitar music.
"I find I can do a lot more in terms of different levels of harmony when I have an anchor with the baritone guitar," she said. "There's a lot more flexibility in how you can improvise around them and what direction you can go in with the music."
Because she has been working on her own so well, she has no plans to work with a band in the future.
"The Lady of the Light" is Teddy's debut CD. Mostly an a cappella singer who writes his own songs, Teddy has developed his voice over the past 20 years into an operatic quality.
Waters met Teddy when he showed up at a song circle she hosts the second Sunday of each month at the Exner Gallery space in Bellows Falls.
"He absolutely blew me away," Waters said. "He has this incredible booming voice. It's really soulful, spiritual music."
Because Teddy never got to perform a release show for his CD, Waters thought a joint concert was a good idea. "I thought we could build off each other's energy," she said.
Sharing music and energy with each other is the main thrust of the monthly song circle, which Waters said usually draws a small group of songwriters and musicians. Sometimes the evening is used as workshop time, she said, and other times the group shares what they've been working on or just jams together.
"No one's a full-time musician around here," Waters said — herself included. "It's a nice opportunity to relax and enjoy the music and share stuff with each other without any pressure at all."
Waters normally performs throughout New England, taking time off during the winter. Instead of doing club tours to promote her CDs, she takes a break after the release because so much work goes into putting one together.
She is considering a new venue for The River Arts Project, a music series she started that ran from May through August last year at the Westminster West Town Hall. Her idea was to build a permanent online network for New England-based musicians to share and exchange information while involving community members who would volunteer to do advertising in the form of creating and displaying posters in advance of shows.
The response was not overwhelming, Waters believes, because the town hall is in a far-removed location and there were not enough places to advertise in the community.
Waters would like to try hosting the concert series again this year, but in a more convenient spot for travelers. She also wants to record the shows and possibly broadcast them locally.
Although it may not have been successful its first year, Waters far from believes the River Arts Project was a waste because it introduced different types of music into a remote community and gave musicians the opportunity to perform.
"The fun part about last year's shows was that I got to bring in people I really liked," she said.
The CD release concert featuring Julie Waters and Simon Teddy will be held Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Main Street Arts. Suggested donation is $4. For more information, call 802-451-1947. |
