It’s easy to paint Alan Jackson by the numbers: 33 chart-toppers, the most-nominated artist in Country Music Association history, 16 CMA awards, one ACM award, a Grammy, two American Music Awards, two Billboard awards, a DOVE and many more.
Now he’s back with “Small Town Southern Man,” which recently topped the country charts. Jackson wrote all 17 songs for his new album, “Good Time,” a recording that tends to run to the loose, fun side of his nature.
The three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year also has written or co-written many songs that were recorded by other artists, including Randy Travis, Clay Walker, Faith Hill and Chely Wright.
Craig Terrill: Seahawks fans know him as a defensive tackle. Now there’s a chance to know him as a musician, too. He’s played music since he was 13, and he was the guitarist with a classic-rock cover band while at Purdue University. He’s found a way to play both positions. In January he released “CT,” a pop, folk-rock, country-rock mix.
Spirit of West Africa: The music and dance of West Africa are showcased through the traditions of that area. The festival explores the African roots of hip-hop, jazz and rock with performances by local and touring artists from six West African countries. Festival-goers may take part in drum and dance workshops and witness the healing drums of drum masters trained since birth to serve their communities.
Jeremy Fisher, The Proclaimers: Canadian singer-songwriter Fisher, should he stay in the music business, has the potential of creating a fine body of work. In 2002, he biked from Seattle to Halifax, a six-month trek that included 30 official shows. Fisher’s latest is the acoustic rock ‘n’ roll CD “Goodbye Blue Monday.” Now he’s touring with The Proclaimers, otherwise known as the Scottish Reid twins, Charlie and Craig. Their best-known songs are “Letter From America” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” the latter the theme song for the movie “Benny and Joan.”
Smokin’ Joe Kubek &Bnois King: Guitar One magazine called this band “undiluted 100-proof Texas blues honed to a razor’s edge.” Fair enough description of a rocking band whose music threatens to melt its new CD, “Blood Brothers.” The combo of Kubek’s fretwork and the soul vibes of King’s voice carries the banner of blues-rock.
KT Tunstall: The Scottish singer/songwriter grew up loving space and sci-fi (her first album was “Eye to the Telescope”) before piano and flute took over and she learned to sing along with Ella Fitzgerald. Her musical influences were all over the map and came together in her first release, “Relentless.” Touring, she soon morphed, through a loop pedal, into her own one-woman backup band for her pop-rock-folk. In 2006 she won Best British Female Solo Artist at The Brits and earned another nomination for the same award this year. She has won two Grammy nominations, including one for “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.”
Cake: Over the years the band has played up the average-guy angle to the hilt, and it’s worked. Best known for the hit single “The Distance,” Cake mixed genres at the drop of a note, often laced with sarcasm. Cake also has turned out successful college and alternative radio singles, including “Rock ‘n Roll Lifestyle,” “Jolene,” “Ruby Sees All,” “Never There,” “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” and “The Distance.”
Erin McKeown: The singer-songwriter is on a short duo tour with drumming sensation Allison Miller in support of McKeown’s latest recording, “Lafayette.” Expect great guitar work, well-done arrangements, variously paced folk-punk selections and some McKeown classics.
Out and about: Local singer-songwriter Allison Preisinger will be playing some new material as well as songs from “Moving On, Moving Forward.” This will be her last performance in the area for some time because she is moving to attend Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Jessica Klise and Amber and Dakini also will be performing (Saturday, Mirkwood and Shire Cafe, Arlington) …
It’s worth the trip to Bellingham to see the April Verch Band. Fiddler Verch turns out a blend of folk, jazz, old-time, bluegrass and roots, with some step-dancing thrown in for good measure (Tuesday, Green Frog Acoustic Cafe Tavern) … Daniel O’Donnell is a powerful Irish singer who blends country, ’60s pop, inspirational ballads and Irish standards, and has been featured on seven PBS specials (Tuesday, Benaroya Hall, Seattle) …
One of the top acoustic festival is the Northwest String Summit (July 18-20) in North Plains, Ore. (www.stringsummit.com), featuring Yonder Mountain String Band, Darol Anger, Keller Williams, Bill Frisell and many others … Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and his quartet, and guest trumpeter Nicholas Payton, should be a treat (Thursday through May 18, Jazz Alley) …
The Seventh annual More Music at the Moore features exceptional teen musicians representing diverse genres (tonight, Moore) … Guitar giant Bucky Pizzarelli began his pro career in 1943 in a dance band, has played in Doc Severinson Band on the Tonight Show, toured with Benny Goodman and others on the who’s-who list of jazz stars. He’s a star rhythm player and has mastered the seven-string guitar (Tuesday and Wednesday, Jazz Alley).
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