Rahsaan Barber
Barking Legs Theater is 20 years old and the music just continues to be stellar at this wonderful listening venue. Next week is no exception, as Barking Legs brings Rahsaan Barber & Everyday Magic on Thursday Night, Norman Blake, Nancy Blake, and James Bryan on Friday Night, and Bombadil on Saturday Night.
We’ll start with Rahsaan Barber & Everyday Magic on Thursday, November 14th. I know him personally and can tell you right of the bat that he is one of the finest saxophonists in Nashville, or anywhere for that matter. Don’t want to take my word for it? Then take a look at what folks say that are more knowledgeable than Bob Payne.
“Rahsaan Barber can flat-out play the saxophone. He can also flat-out compose and arrange. The proof exists on Everyday Magic, his latest release and the first on his own label, Jazz Music City. Barber delivers nine originals full of passion and abandon. Barber wears his influences on his sleeve – John Coltrane, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Stanley Turrentine, to name a few, but has developed his own sound.” – Downbeat Magazine, September 2011 Editor’s Picks
“Though he’d never make such a claim, it is a fair statement to say that saxophonist and bandleader Rahsaan Barber is Nashville’s version of Wynton Marsalis. He is an articulate and gifted musician and soloist who doubles as the type of passionate, charismatic advocate the music desperately needs in its ongoing struggle to reach wider and younger audiences.” – Ron Wynn, The Nashville Scene
I told you so. Still a disbeliever? Take a look & listen to Everyday Magic from their Music City Roots TV show by clicking here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U40EW__kMis. I don’t say this about many, but this is a “don’t miss” event.
Friday Night, November 15th, Norman Blake returns to Barking Legs Theater, along with his talented wife and James Bryan. Norman practically singlehandedly revived Bluegrass music a few years ago. He has appeared on the recordings of so many important works it would take a separate column to list them all. (Think Cash, Carter, Dylan, Kristofferson, Baez, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.) Chattanooga born, Norman Blake’s picture should be in the Webster’s dictionary – look under the word “treasure” and there is where it belongs.
Saturday Night, November 16th, a Chattanooga favorite, Bombadil returns to the Scenic City and their second Barking Legs appearance. Right off the bat, I will tell you that their newest CD, released this past summer, is the best ever! It’s their 4th CD, and they hit the proverbial musical home run with this one.
One can tell a lot about a group from their bio, and they have said volumes with just one sentence – “Music is music is music and while formats change, melody is principal and lyrics always matter.” This 4-piece band, hailing from North Carolina, has played every major festival there is, including Bonnaroo and Floydfest, and everything in between.
I suppose the genre that best fits Bombadil would be Folk. No, Pop. No, Rock. How about Folk-Pop that rocks? How about a genre that is just called “good music”? Take a look at their website and take a listen to their music. While at their website, slide over to the “Media” page and see who has been checking them out and reviewing them. Yes, a few little papers, like the New York Times. You can check them out at http://www.bombadilmusic.com/.
Happy 20th Birthday Barking Legs Theater! With acts like these, I think we’ll see 20 more. Check out Barking Legs website at www.barkinglegs.org. Here, you can get the schedule of events, ticket information, and much more.
See you there!
For more local music info, try www.chattanoogaentertainers.com or www.chattanooganightscope.com. They both have great local music info and schedules. For local info on Country music, try Jim Boles’ site www.chattacountry.ning.com.
Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or catch him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davrik2000.
Bob Payne