Tab Benoit reminds listeners of Katrina
Published 3:00 pm Thursday, June 28, 2007
It’s easy to get the blues when you watch Louisiana’s delta wetlands disappear, but Cajun blues guitarist Tab Benoit is one of many fighting for its survival.
The Grammy nominee is president and co-founder of Voice of the Wetlands and has a new release, “Power of the Pontchartrain,” in some ways a tribute to the wetlands and perseverance of those who live on the delta.
Benoit performs Wednesday in Marysville.
The Grammy-nominated musician recently won Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the year and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year at the Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards).
Benoit is in the top echelon of a younger generation of Cajun blues musicians who combine tradition and innovation. He started out with a commitment to his roots, but for several years was nudged toward rock by producers and promoters.
Then he returned to his rootsy sound and has not stepped off the track since, turning out albums such as “Fever for the Bayou” and “Brother to the Blues,” the latter nominated for a Grammy last year.
He also plays a prominent part in the IMAX movie “Hurricane on the Bayou,” which starts its run this summer.
Chris Thile &The How to Grow a Band: Don’t miss this chance to catch one of the most amazing and technically gifted mandolin players the country has to offer. Formerly with the nontraditional Nickel Creek, Thile led the fusion of Celtic, modern folk and bluegrass into previously unknown spaces. Now he’s touring with music from 2006’s “How to Grow a Woman from the Ground.”
This is your best chance to hear Thile in a small venue. Thursday, Seattle.
Laura Love: The funk bassist-vocalist has been influenced by bluegrass, jazz, folk, gospel, reggae and country. Billboard magazine often includes her CDs in its annual top-10 lists. Love’s latest to be celebrated: “NeGrass,” an acoustic collection of traditional and original field hollers, folk songs, and African-American spirituals. Thursday, Kenmore.
Norah Jones: Jones’ 2002 debut mix of jazz, blues, country and folk earned her Grammy Awards and international attention. While she’s not making as big a splash these days, she’s still delivering a classy mix of originals and well-selected covers. Tonight, Seattle.
Chris Isaak: Just off a month-long co-headlining tour with Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, Isaak returns to Western Washington with a recent album, “Best of Isaak.” The former Golden Gloves champion and surfer’s best-known songs are “Wicked Game” and “Can’t Do a Thing (So Stop Me),” although “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing” was featured in the movie “Eyes Wide Shut.” Sunday, Woodinville.
Hot Tuna: Two of the musicians responsible for the signature sound of Jefferson Airplane continue to perform with the band they co-founded, Hot Tuna. The group’s strictly acoustic now, and the volume has been dialed back a bit, but Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady continue to be consummate blues-rock-folk guitar players. Tuesday, Seattle.
Tara McCormick: The Chehalis-raised country music performer returns to Washington for a series of shows with her new CD, “Go That Far,” which is being released today. Her music emphasizes the clean sound of Nashville with hints of rock, pop and blues. McCormick has opened for Bo Diddley, Jason Aldean and Asleep at the Wheel, and made appearances on the “David Letterman Show,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “Evening Magazine.” Tuesday, Stanwood.
Dougie MacLean: The Scottish folk singer, a contemporary of James Taylor and owner of insightful lyrics, is one of Scotland’s favorite sons. His biggest hit, “Caledonia,” is one of that country’s most popular songs. His music has been used in Hollywood films, including “Last of the Mohicans,” and three BBC-TV music-documentaries have covered him. Monday, Seattle.
Out and About. Members of The Tubes (tonight, Triple Door), responsible for classic rock songs “White Punks on Dope,” “Mondo Bondage” and the Billboard chart-topper “She’s a Beauty” are still over-the-top behind co-founder Fay Waybill … Contemporary jazz quartet Acoustic Alchemy (Tuesday and Thursday through July 8, Jazz Alley) has three Grammy nominations and a Jazz Trax Album of the Year award … Multi-instrumental Australian singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd (Saturday, Showbox) has a new release, “White Moth,” in which he speaks out against his country’s Aboriginal land-rights policy and mistreatment of the original Australians (Saturday, Showbox). All clubs are in Seattle.
ABOVE: Norah Jones performs tonight in Seattle.
LEFT: Acoustic Alchemy performs next week in Seattle.
