Superhoney, wish list
By Seth Rogovoy

(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Aug. 31, 2000) - Superhoney: Super soul

There are different ways to approach a soulful, funk groove. The trend these days is to build an improvisational matrix upon classic soul and funk, making for a music which at best is suggestive of jazz and at worst is just so much self-indulgent noodling.

Superhoney, a six-piece outfit from Boston which has become a house favorite at Club Helsinki in Great Barrington, where it performs tonight at 9, takes its cue from pre-disco, mid-‘70s soul and r&b. As heard on “No Standing” (Moxxy), the group, fronted by female vocalist J.P. Flynn, favors a more melodic, song-based approach, blending upbeat Philly soul, funky Stevie Wonder keyboard licks, Steely Dan-derived jazzy sophistication, and Janis Joplin-like psychedelic soul-rock balladry.

Guitar and keyboards dominate Superhoney’s instrumental mix, while Flynn’s vocals recall those of Chaka Khan. Flynn studied classical music, playing percussion and and cello, before assuming the role of vocalist in a band called Flunky, the predecessor to Superhoney.

The group does attempt some extended instrumental improvisations, which undoubtedly pleases the groove-heads in the audience. Superhoney also boasts a list of honors including several Bostom Music Award nominations, a nomination for “Best R&B/Soul Band” in this year’s Boston Phoenix reader’s poll, and a top spot in Cdnow.com’s “Best Unsigned band” contest.

The non-jazz alternative

While summer goes out with a big blast of so-called jazz at Tanglewood (see separate article), there are several other options for saying goodbye to the summer music season in the Berkshires this weekend. The Ravin Mavens, an all-female, regional country-folk supergroup, perform back-to-back gigs in Great Barrington tonight at the Castle Street Café and tomorrow night at the Guthrie Center (528-1955).

Also at the Guthrie Center this weekend on Saturday night is New York singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky, the one-time singing partner of Shawn Colvin who has skyrocketed to the top of the new-folk heap on the merits of her own songwriting and performing as well as in tandem with her folk-group partners from Cry Cry Cry, Dar Williams and Richard Shindell. The Berkshires’ own Bernice Lewis is a busy singer-songwriter this weekend. She’ll kick off three nights of performances tonight at the venerable Caffe Lena (518-583-0022) in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Closer to home, Lewis will be doing a pair of shows with her friend, Billy Jonas, of Asheville, N.C. Of Jonas, Lewis says, “What’s unusual about him is that he accompanies his really great original songs by playing percussion on found objects (that would be a euphemism for junk) and plastic buckets. Over the years he has turned this into an art.” You can catch the two together on Saturday at the Uncommon Ground in Great Barrington (528-0858) and on Sunday in a house concert on Church Street in North Adams (458-0944). If it’s blues you’re after, you can catch the B.B. King Blues Festival at SPAC on Friday night, or if country is more your speed, you can get a load of the once-famous Billy Ray “Achy Breaky Heart” Cyrus at the Columbia County Fair in nearby Chatham, N.Y., on Sunday.

Wishing they were here

A few weeks ago in this space I fantasized about the jazz and avant-garde improvisers I’d like to see in Berkshire venues. Since it’s unlikely that anytime soon the full-time equivalent of the Knitting Factory will open in Great Barrington or North Adams - to say nothing of Pittsfield (will anything ever open in Pittsfield?) - any such musical programming needs to be balanced with other, perhaps more accessible or popular performers. This week, attention turns to the burgeoning population of rock singer-songwriters, many of whom tour these days as solo performers or with small combos. Places like the Guthrie Center, Club Helsinki or, for the better-known performers, the Mahaiwe Theater, would be perfect venues for some or all of the following:

Paul Westerberg, Charlie Chesterman, Peter Himmelman, Aimee Mann, Michael Penn, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Alex Chilton, Juliana Hatfield, Jill Sobule, Ray Mason, the Lonesome Brothers, Roger McGuinn, Richard Thompson, Billy Bragg, Mark Eitzel, Andy Stochansky. Also Freedy Johnston, Bruce Cockburn, Bernstein (aka Dan Bern), Lucinda Williams, Deb Pasternak, Yo La Tengo, Gary Lucas, Gods and Monsters, Ron Sexsmith, Lou Reed, Kristin Hersh, Merrie Amsterburg, NRBQ, Mike Watt, Steve Forbert.

[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on Aug. 31, 2000. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 2000. All rights reserved.]

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