Tuesday, April 24, 2012

R.I.P. Jeff Norwood

The Carolina blues artist passes away

Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 2:09 PM

Jeff Norwood on the cover art of his latest disc, Lord Help
  • c/o Appalachia Burning
  • Jeff Norwood on the cover art of his latest disc, Lord Help
Sad news hit the local blues scene this week. Camden-based singer/guitarist Jeff Norwood, a busy performer who specialized in swampy Delta and Piedmont styles of blues, died on Sun. April 22 after battling cirrhosis of the liver and other ailments. He was 50 years old.

Known by fans and colleagues for his gnarly guitar tone, growly voice, and earthy sense of humor, Norwood was a favorite on the local blues scene for years. He regularly performed at local venues and festivals, including the annual Lowcountry Blues Bash and events at Awendaw Green and Home Team BBQ.

Norwood had recently been planning a Norwood Blues Barn Jam for Wed. May 2 at Awendaw Green’s Barn Jam venue, but he had to go into the hospital for surgery on an umbilical hernia. There were serious complications after the surgery, unfortunately, and he was unable to fully recover.

“He was one hell of a fine guy and very good friend of Awendaw Green and the Lowcountry’s music community,” says Awendaw Green’s Eddie White. “He lived the hard life of a true blues man, and he poured his heart into every song. Jeff made strong connections with a lot of Charleston musicians over the years — especially with many of the artists involved with Awendaw Green. We are proud to have been a part of it.”

Norwood’s most recent recordings include an EP titled Lord Help (very recently released on the Pennsylvania-based label Appalachia Burning) and a collection released last year titled Push Pilin’, which produced by James “Jimbo” Mathus of Knockdown South and the Squirrel Nut Zippers. In 2009, Norwood issued a live-to-tape collection recorded on the Awendaw Green studio’s front porch; it was simply titled Awendaw.

Visit jeffnorwoodblues.com for more.

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Mac Leaphart documentary ready to hit the street

Catch a glimpse at Cinebarre on April 29

Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 8:23 AM

 

Mac Leaphart at the Mac’n at the ’Drome concert
  • Adam Chandler
  • Mac Leaphart at the Mac’n at the ’Drome concert

The producers of a documentary on songwriter Mac Leaphart — a Charleston musician who underwent surgery at MUSC in December to remove a benign brain tumor — are gearing up for an official DVD release of Mac’n at the ’Drome: A Concert Film Experience in early May. Local promoters Ben Bounds and Joel Frank teamed with videographer Brooks Quinn to make the film.

The full-length doc will feature interviews and live performances footage from January’s Mac’n at the Drome benefit at the Hippodrome. Proceeds from the sale of the DVD will benefit the Leaphart family and local charities.

A free outdoor screening and DVD release party will take place at Cinebarre in Mt. Pleasant (963 Houston Northcutt Blvd.) on Sun. April 29. Presented by Follywood Productions, Brand Frankus, Y’all Entertainment, the Bridge at 105.5, and Cinebarre, the event starts at 5:30 p.m. with live performances by some of the featured musicians in the film (including Leaphart himself), followed by the screening. They’ll show the entire film on the inflatable screen next to the building that evening. Food, wine, and beer will be available for purchase. Stay tuned for more details.

Visit macleaphart.com and follywoodrocks.com for more.

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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Healthy music from Patience Clements

The local songwriter earns a Parents' Choice Award

Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, Apr 15, 2012 at 3:53 PM

vegetablesLP300_.jpg
Charleston musician, songwriter, and educator Patience Clements has a new album handy — a nine-song kids’ record titled Vegetables on My Plate. The theme of the collection is aimed at healthy eating. The project began when Clements volunteered at Burns Elementary School in North Charleston.

“My assignment was to get the children of the school to eat the healthy snacks that were being provided,” Clements says. “I wrote these songs and went in weekly to play shows for each grade. Right away, I could tell I was on to something.”

Upon its release this winter, the album earned a 2012 Parents’ Choice Award for children. The Parents’ Choice Foundation has been reviewing and recommending quality children’s media for more than 33 years. Lahri Bond, from the Parents’ Choice Review, calls Vegetables on My Plate “a wonderful resource for parents, educators, and even nutritionists who wish to present children with a better awareness of their bodies and the food they choose to eat.”

Clements sang and played most of the instruments on the album. A sample verse from the snappy title track goes, “Broccoli looks good for me/It’s full of vitamins A and C/It’s big and green and looks like a tree/Oh, broccoli gives me energy.” Other verses touch on the beneficial characteristics of peppers, squash, cauliflower, zucchini, black eyed peas, and okra.

Visit vegetablesonmyplate.com and facebook.com/patienceclements for more.

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Thieves swipe guitars from Cumberland Belle's Carl Wine

Fenders and Gibsons missing

Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 9:37 AM

 

Carl Wine with his now-missing Fender Telecaster
  • provided
  • Carl Wine with his now-missing Fender Telecaster

Bad news from local pop-rock/Americana quartet Ryan Bailey and Cumberland Belle: lead guitarist Carl Wine discovered that thieves had broken into his Summerville home this week and stole five top-quality guitars from his music room.

 “As tragic as it is, I’m incredibly thankful that my wife and son weren’t home during all that — and my dog, who was at the house, wasn’t hurt,” Wine says. “I’d be lying, though, if I said I wasn’t more than a little upset about this whole ordeal. The uncertainty of not knowing who it was, where the guitars and other items are, or whether I’ll be able to replace them if they aren’t recovered is starting to take its toll.”

The missing gear includes a 2008 Gibson Les Paul Standard with desert burst finish and no pick guard, a white 2008 Gibson Firebird with a white pick guard and banjo tuners, a maple-neck Fender Road-Worn Player Stratocaster with a tobacco-burst finish and black pickups on a black pick guard, a burgundy Fender Mexican Standard Telecaster with a missing volume knob and a blue flower paint job, and an Epiphone EJ-200 with a natural finish and a faded dandelion design.

“Of the guitars that were taken, the Telecaster is missed the most,” Wine says. “I got it 15 years ago before Telecasters were the guitars to have , and it was always the one I swore I’d never get rid of.”

Anyone who spots these axes can contact Wine by e-mail at cumberlandbelle@gmail.com.

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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Learn Latin percussion with Gino

Drummer Gino Castillo hosts a clinic at Encore

Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 12:01 PM

Encore.jpg
Charleston-based musician Gino Castillo will present a Latin percussion clinic at East Cooper music store Encore Music (1233 Ben Sawyer Blvd.) on Sat. March 24 at 1 p.m.

A native of Ecuador, Castillo moved to Charleston a few years ago after working as the head percussion teacher for five years at Universidad San Fransisco de Quito, which is part of the Berklee College of Music Network. In town, he’s taught privately and performed with a variety of local acts, including Duende, Kelly Eldridge, and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. He recently released a solo album titled Ya Llegué.

Castillo will have a battery of hand percussion pieces on hand at Encore this week. “I will play different Latin American and Cuban rhythms and instruments with background music,” he says of this week’s clinic. “I will show the correct technique to play these instruments and how I develop my own percussion-drum set.”

Visit ginocastillo.com and encoremusicshop.net for more.

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