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by Seth Rogovoy
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., May 24, 1996 -- The English and Celtic folk traditions are rich enough to have accomodated many varied approaches and incarnations. Today there is hardly a country, folk or pop ballad that cannot in some way be traced back to one of these styles.
On "Every Hue and Shade," the Washington, D.C.- based singer Grace Griffith applies her shimmering, melancholy vocals to songs ranging from the traditional ("Innisfree") to Judy Collins-style art-folk ("Hold Me Forever") to new-age Celtic (Enya's "Exile"). Along the way she tackles new compositions in traditional style ("Demeter's Daughter" by Anne Lister, featuring guitarist Martin Simpson) and country-tinged folk- rock ("When My Ship Comes In" by Clive Gregson).
What ties these and even more disparate tunes together -- the album also includes an airy version of Gershwin's "Summertime" and a glistening rendition of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" -- are Griffith's bewitchingly seductive soprano and her Celtic sensibility. Griffith warms up the crowd for traditional Irish band Nomos at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Monday at 7.
The term "folk-rock" has always meant something different and perhaps more accurate in England than it has here. There, in the hands of such pioneering groups as Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, folk-rock has denoted the genuine fusion of traditional folk music with rock rhythms and instrumentation.
Steeleye Span's new album, the aptly named "Time" (Shanachie), defies the passage of the years since 1969 when the group, still fronted by vocalist Maddy Prior, first formed. Its formula remains the same: hard-rocking rearrangements of old folk tunes with a smattering of originals. Steeleye Span is at the Iron Horse on Tuesday night at 7.
The New York City-based Kips Bay (formerly the Kips Bay Ceili Band) boasts a broad, sweeping musical approach that reflects the variety of the band members' backgrounds: two are from Ireland, one from New Orleans and another a refugee from Billy Idol's band. In any one number, John Whelan's button accordion may sail through a pop-rock melody driven by an electric guitar riff atop a Hammond organ chord. The group's wonderful new album, "Into the Light" (Green Linnet), reflects this musical gumbo, which includes traditional dances, Celtic gospel, country-rock and soul ballads.
Just as Steeleye Span did before them, the Pogues grafted traditional music onto the template of cutting edge pop when they first formed, which in the latter's case in the early- '80s meant combining Irish rebel songs with English punk- rock. The band has survived some rocky times, including the loss of founder/lead singer Shane MacGowan, and the group's latest album, "Pogue Mahone" (Mesa), continues its tradition of mixing fast-paced tunes with traditional instruments (banjo, whistles, accordion, mandolin, pipes, fiddle) and sneering, punk-inspired vocals, now courtesy of co-founder Spider Stacy, a worthy successor to MacGowan.
Every August for the past five years amateur concert promoter Michael Saporito of Housatonic has presented the Massachusetts Rock and Reggae Festival, a benefit for homeless causes, featuring top national and international reggae, ska and other talent. Saporito recently announced that this summer's version will take place in June instead of August, to accomodate the schedule of legendary reggae band The Wailers, who will headline the day-long event at Butternut Basin in Great Barrington on June 15. The Wailers are best known for backing reggae pioneer Bob Marley, and are currently led by Marley sideman Junior Marvin. Top Boston- based ska act Bim Skala Bim is also on the bill, as is a new band made up of former members of the Skatalites. Stay tuned for more details.
Mexican restaurant Dos Amigos in Great Barrington adds some Latin jazz to its menu on Sunday night with Gladys Carbo and Amor Havana/Brasil, featuring vocalist Carbo performing a mix of originals and Latin standards, including Antonio Jobim. Carbo will be joined by Satoshi Takeishi on drums, Alon Yavnai on piano and Rogerio Botter-Maio on bass.
Berkshire-based singer-songwriter Bernice Lewis will be joined by a handful of musical friends at the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox on June 30 at 7 to celebrate the release of her new album, "Isle of Spirit," which was produced by Pittsfield native Adam Rothberg, now of Northampton. Among those expected to appear are Janet Feld, Dave Crossland, Erica Wheeler -- all of whom played a role on the album -- and the Ladies Auxiliary Ukelele Orchestra. Call 458-0944 for more information. Incidentally, Lewis was recently awarded a slot in the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's New Artist Showcase on July 26.
Contemporary Jewish group Safam, which plays a blend of Chasidic, rock, cantorial, barbershop, folk, klezmer and reggae music, performs at the National Music Center's Berkshire Performing Arts Theatre in Lenox on June 16 at 2 in a concert presented by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. Call 442-4360 for more information.
On the plus side at the National Music Foundation is an item that surfaced at a recent press conference at the organization's Kemble Street headquarters, when president Gloria Pennington revealed that last year the foundation provided a temporary refuge for jazz pianist Randy Weston and his arranger for three weeks while the two were preparing a major work to be premiered at a jazz festival.
(This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on May 24, 1996. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1996. All rights reserved.)
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