Mary McCaslin's Roundup
May 5,
2007
There are a few musicians who are dedicated to the preservation of traditional
acoustic country blues in its natural form. One such artist is Paul Geremia,
who is an exceptional singer-songwriter and guitarist as well as a genuine
historian of rare prewar blues.
Geremia's background isn't typical for a bluesman. He is a third generation
Italian-American from Rhode Island who, as he laughingly puts it, "was
born in the Providence River Delta." His career spans more than four
decades and he is renowned for his dynamic fingerpicking technique on six
and twelve string guitar. Aside from his incredibly masterful covers of blues
classics, such as Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" and Robert
Johnson's "Terraplane Blues," Geremia is an extremely talented songwriter.
My favorite of his songs is "Somethin's Gotta Be Arranged" from
his I Really Don't Mind Livin' recording, which was originally released on
LP in 1982 and then re-issued along with another of his recordings, My Kinda
Place, on the same CD in the 1990s. He also plays some nice slide on this
song. Paul is in the Pantheon of country blues guitarists that includes Roy
Book Binder, Jorma Kaukonen and the late Dave Van Ronk.
He will be performing at Don Quixotes in Felton on Thursday, May 24th at 8
PM. Also performing that evening are two more musical legends, Eric and Suzy
Thompson. Eric's earliest bands were the Black Mountain Boys with Jerry Garcia
and David Nelson and Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions. (He is also pictured
in two places in the booklet for the Garcia / Grisman Shady Grove CD. He was
in bands with each of them very early in their careers.) He is an exceptional
flatpicker and won the World Championship Cup at the Union Grove Fiddler's
Convention with the New York Ramblers, whose personnel included David Grisman
and Winnie Winston.
Suzy Thompson' latest CD is called Stop & Listen: Live at the Freight
on the Arhoolie label. She is an excellent at inventive fiddler, playing everything
from old time to rags and blues. And she's a fine singer.
Eric and Suzy fronted the Blue Flame String Band and have made a substantial
contribution to the world of music together and separately. This is an evening
of music not to be missed.
A couple of other very special events are coming up. Tomorrow the Santa Cruz
Bluegrass Faire takes place at the Duck Island stage in San Lorenzo Park.
This free concert is presented by the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society and is
a beloved local tradition. Bands performing are Homefire, REO Haywagon, the
Abbott Family Band and host band, Harmony Grits with special friends. The
MC is KUSP bluegrass dj Leigh Hill.
And finally, just a reminder about the Benefit Concert for our good friend,
bass player Bill Laymon - or as Jim Lewin calls it, "Laymon Aid."
The concert will be Sunday, June 24th at Don Quixote's, starting at 7 PM and
features an all-star line-up of performers, including Lacy J. Dalton, Larry
Hosford, Ginny Mitchell and many more. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
Email Mary McCaslin at roundup@marymccaslin.com.