Kansas City Blues Society's 2nd Annual Acoustic Showcase
BB's Lawnside BBQ
August 14, 1999

Review by Paul "El Dormido" Taylor

Kansas City Blues Society 2nd Annual Acoustic Blues Showcase, Saturday, August 14, presents Roy Book Binder, Sheila Wilcoxson, Catfish Keith, Washboard Chaz, Little Hatch & Bill Dye, Roy Searcy and Fast Johnny Ricker and the Riders, at BB's Lawnside BarBQ.

Roy Book Binder apprenticed musically with Rev. Gary Davis, as a guitar player but more importantly as an apprentice to the music tradition of acoustic blues. Where so many suburban kids nowadays learn the music copying licks off of records, Book Binder learned it shoulder to shoulder with living Blues legends like Louisiana Red, Homesick James and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. He's carried on the tradition throughout Europe and America, recognized not just as a guitar player but also as a performer.

His latest recording is Polk City Ramble on Rounder Records (#ROUN 3153). It features striking versions of songs by Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Boy Fuller, country singers Jimmy Murphy ("Electricity") and Billy Joe Shaver ("I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal"), plus seven Book Binder originals. Book Binder is known for his wit and affable, folksy presentation.

Sheila Wilcoxson has a law degree, works as a medical technician, and cares for a 12 year old son who wants an afro. She is also alive to the quick of the peaks and valleys of human experience. And it is that which underpins Sheila's music. At 12 she began singing in church In Detroit, MI. Older, she moved to Portland, OR, and started a 12 piece R&B band called Sheila and the Boogiemen. Over the years and through the trials she as become one of the foremost acoustic artist in Blues.

Her law education has given her an acute appreciation of the way of race and class in America. Personally, she suffered severe injuries in an auto accident and has come to understand powerlessness on a very personally level. But she translates the joy and difficulty in her music, embodying object lessons in her lyrics and passionate catharsis and exultation in her vocals.

She does what traditionally the Blues do, "…sing until we get happy…"

Fishtale recording artists Catfish Keith is an exponent of the slide guitar, the 1930 National steel-bodied Style O resonator guitar being his instrument of choice. Like Book Binder, Keith has mined the rich tradition of acoustic blues for material, but has transformed it into a very personal style. Catfish Keith is an exuberant performer, marking time with a heavy foot stomp and singing with a zeal and exuberance of a born communicator. Over the years he as been a frequent visitor to Kansas City. 2 of Keith's 5 recordings have been nominated for Handy awards. His latest release on Fishtale is "Twist It, Babe!" (#FTRCD005). It is available through Keith's website http://soli.inav.net/~catfishk/

Provine "Little" Hatch is a legendary harp player and long time headliner in Kansas City. He is joined by his Houserocker band mate Bill Dye for a rare acoustic performance. Hatch and Dye released "Going' Back", his first all acoustic CD last September (Acoustic Sounds #APO 2007), and has another in the can waiting. Generally Hatch stays with electric Blues so both these CDs and this performance are departures from the norm. But Hatch's sound is so big and full, it can readily stand on its own.

Bill Dye is more than an accompanist. His playing is rich behind Hatch. They've been playing together more years than you can count.

Roy Searcy comes out of the rich Delta Blues tradition by way of birth, but his piano playing is firmly Kansas City. Roy was a childhood friend of Pinetop Perkins, heard Bessie Smith in his dad's juke joint, moved to Kansas City and ascended the hierarchy of blues and jazz musicians around 18th & Vine in its heyday, and still is carrying on with regular gigs at Stroud's North and South. He has an encyclopedic repertoire from his decades pleasing the public.

Fast Johnny Ricker and the Riders are know as a dynamic blues power trio. However Johnny, percussionist Beth Robinson and bassist/guitar player Robbie Martin are each accomplished acoustic musicians. Johnny is classically trained, for example, and Beth has won Grammy recognition as a marimba player. They've combined their skills for a unique acoustic set that is every bit as forward looking and experimental as their electric music. Its not just an unplugged set!

Washboard Chaz Leary as a young man ran with noted harp player Sugar Blue on the streets of Harlem. He ended up in Boulder, CO, as leader in the acoustic music movement and has been in the forefront ever since as the best washboard player in the country. He has upwards of 20 recordings released nationally including his recent appearance on John Hammond's Grammy and Handy nominated CD, "Long as I Have You". John's testament to Chaz's talents is simply: "Chaz Leary ... he's just the greatest washboard player I've ever heard." Chaz will be sitting in as well as serving as MC for the Showcase.

The 2nd Annual Acoustic Showcase starts at 1 PM under the tent, Saturday, August 14th, at BB's Lawnside BarBQ, 1205 E. 85th Street, Kansas City. The tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event. Don't forget the tasty Louisiana style cuisine and BarBQ at BB's.

--Paul "El Dormido" Taylor