Tag: John Lee Hooker
Turkish Festivals of 2009
Posted by admin on Sep.24, 2009, under Music Comments Off
You may be planning your holiday in Turkey to coincide with one of the country’s many cultural events; you may stumble upon a festival while you’re already there. However you come across one of these exciting festivities you may just find it the highlight of your holiday to Turkey. Here’s a guide to some of the festivals coming up in Turkey in 2009.
Turkish Festivals of 2009
There are festivals of every kind awaiting you on your holiday in Turkey, and the Spring is a particularly busy time. Upcoming events boast expositions from the worlds of film and music as well as more traditional cultural pursuits. Here’s a break down of just of few of the highlights coming up in the next few months.
If it’s film that you’re looking for then you may be interested in the international film festivals set to take place in both Istanbul and Ankara. Ankara’s version is due to start of the 12th of March and runs on to the 22nd, the Istanbul festival runs throughout April, meaning that attending both is a possibility on a single holiday to Turkey! Both festivals will feature a wealth of international entrants and attract similarly diverse crowds. Previous winners of Istanbul’s international ‘Golden Tulip’ include both 1984 and A Cock and Bull Story, and in the past 20 years this festival has attracted over 2 million attendees, if this gives you an idea of just how well respected an event it is. Both festivals are a great place to see the very best of Turkish cinema that you might otherwise miss.
The music festivals of Turkey are equally well respected, with an eclectic selection available to the interested traveller. Istanbul has hosted the Efes Pilsen Blues Festival, which has attracted bluesman old and new such as John Lee Hooker and Watermelon Slim. Those of you looking for an even more urbane holiday in Turkey could pursue the Istanbul International Jazz Festival which is held in venues all over the city throughout July. This really is one of the world’s premier music festivals, and has been running for roughly the same length of time as the city’s film festival. Previous attendees include Miles Davis, Björk, Eric Clapton, Pat Metheny and even trip-hop acts such as Massive Attack. If this line-up isn’t quite red-blooded enough for you then you’ll be glad to hear that Turkey is host to a wide variety of rock and metal festivals that should satisfy any craving.
Equally, if you are looking for more of a cultural connection from your Turkish festival experience then you’ll not need to look far. Istanbul is also home to festivities theatrical, artistic and choral. However, if you’d like something more idiosyncratic of Turkey then the Manisa Mesir Festival could be just the ticket. As the story goes, Ayse Hafsa Sultan, mother of Suleiman the Magnificent, was stricken with a terrible illness following the death of her husband. Pleas were sent to Merkez Muslihiddin Efendi who was known to be producing medicines from a small hospital next to the theological school. Mixing together a paste from 41 different spices and herbs he was able to save her from her affliction. These days thousands of people gather in front of the Sultan Mosque in Menisa to catch the Mesir paste as it is thrown from the Mosque’s rooftop. If you find yourself in Mesir in March during the Spring festival of Newroz then you’ll find it difficult to miss!
Here’s hoping you manage to coincide with one or all of these exciting festivals and that they form some unforgettable memories of your holiday in Turkey.
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People behind blues music
Posted by admin on Aug.20, 2009, under Music Comments Off
Anyone who has ever listened to the “Blues” knows that it is more than just music, but an inspiration, an unfolding of the emotions that we all feel. From Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and many other influential Blues legends, to the more contemporary Blues artists such as Robert Cray, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blues music has and always be a part of out musical heritage.
Capturing the essence and spirit that the Blues represent is a novel “Blues Musical” called “The Tear Jar.” Not focusing on a particular band or individual, the “Tear Jar” instead is a collaboration and meeting of the minds of many talented people including producer Chris Bravacos, song writer Robert Welch, audio engineer Frank Silver and writer Jerry King Musser.
Blended into the musical are the rare talents of musicians such as: industry veteran Diane Wilson (singing the character of Savannah), talented Bluesman Don Johnson (singing the character of Mason Ball), Blues guitar virtuoso Jared James Nichols (singing the character of JD Hunter), Jazz sensation Rose Hudson (singing the part of Chandra), veteran Gospel singer Eugene Barclift (playing the character of Stubs) and Soul Music vet Charles Lee (as the Preacher), among others.
To set up the story, one needs to know what a ‘tear jar’ is and what it represents. In ancient cultures, water was a prized possession and giving up water from one’s own body, in the form of tears, was considered a personal sacrifice. They would catch their precious tears in tiny pitchers or ‘tear jars.” The ‘saved’ tears could then be used to ward off evil or to help a sick child. The writer takes this belief and implements into the storyline and applies it to the infectious Blues songs that encompass and define the musical. Here is a brief synopsis of the story:
“Seasoned, itinerant blues man, Mason Ball, returns to The Blue Rose, a club in which he enjoys playing, with an owner he deeply ‘admires.’ Upon his arrival, he’s surprised to discover that a ‘new kid in town’ has claimed the stage and attention of an appreciative audience. This young upstart, one JD Hunter, is unwilling to relinquish the limelight and makes it clear that the ‘old blues’ is dead. To add to the tension, Mason’s private love interest shares with him a serious, personal loss. Frustrated with his inability to appease her emotional pain, Mason dips his finger into a jar of tears given him by his recently departed mother and touches her with the potion. This act, apparently, manifests in wondrous results… relieving her of her anguish. Mason doubts his healing powers, yet can’t dismiss the changes he seems to have made. When word gets out, the audience demands Mason’s appearance onstage and seem to come for his ‘gift of healing’ as much as his gift of song. JD challenges Mason’s abilities, those both spiritual and musical. When a plan to expose Mason backfires, JD Hunter learns what it’s like to be on the receiving end of ‘the gift.’ But, gift or not, the characters in this story find themselves at a new place in their lives after discovering life’s potential magic is available to anyone.”
I have not seen the production, but have listened to some of the music and was overjoyed to hear a dizzying array of crisp, fresh Blues cuts that are certain to be standards and will have die-hard Blues fans clamoring for more.
“When Does The Healing Begin” is full of Gospel-fueled licks and superb vocals that fuses the Blues and Gospel in an explosion of sound. The cut called “The Magic,” like any great Blues song, just bleeds emotion, from the growling vocals and the Stevie Ray Vaughan-like riffs, yet it still remains achingly tender. “Satisfier” is expertly played and sang, with sultry vocals and is sung with immeasurable passion and strength. “I’m Gone,” is bound to become a classic blues rocker, tight and structured, and just compels you to bob your head or tap your foot with melodic adventure. “Stormbringer” perfectly fuses Soul and Blues music, with impassioned vocals and stellar guitar and organ work.
“The Tear Jar” is bound to become an instant classic Blues production, with fresh Blues music for all fans of the genre, who are sure to be pleased with the efforts of all the performers and everyone who is involved with this wondrous project. In its beginning stages, “The Tear Jar” has a performance slated for the Sunoco Performance Theater on Thursday, August 7 and Friday August 8, 2008 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. And with an intriguing storyline, a stellar cast and new Blues standards, it will soon make a bold impression in the music world and specifically Blues music.
To learn more about this inventive project and learn more about the players visit:
www.tearjar.com
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Welcome to the Bluestrotter Blog
Living a simple life and playing music (just) for myself, wandering around and traveling to many places, dreaming to become a bird that could flew away wherever he likes
Blue is the color of the sky and the ocean, I like them both, also blue is my favorite color in life because it gives peaceful, wide and calm 'feel' to me
