Aug. 9, 2008 at 2:30pm

"Out of Sight ..." in full view at Wright Park tomorrow

Second Sunday Music -- 1:00 - 2:30 PM

What ... again?

Yes, it's true ... music among the flowers at the WW Seymour Botanical Conservatory at Wright Park this coming Sunday, August 10th. This is the trio version of Out of Sight/Out of Mind, an intriguing mix of geezer wisdom and youthful exuberance (or is it the other way around?).

Don Izenman and Goodwin Trent have been playing music together longer than their dissipating brain cells can accurately track. Joe Izenman, urban legend, has been a part of the group since January of this year, when his busy schedule allows. By all credible accounts, he will be there this Sunday.

What emerges from this inter-generational collaboration is more than simply middle-aged ennui and youthful angst (pardon my French and my German) ... it's a downright catchy blend of country-flavored cover tunes (Don's specialty), humorous and touching songs written and performed by Goodwin, and songs destined to be classics and certain to make Joe rich and even more famous than he already is.

The Conservatory is marking its 100th birthday, with a big celebratory bash the following Saturday, August 16th. Check out the web site above for more information about that. We're sort of the opening act for that whole shebang.

The details are like this:

Sunday, August 10th

1:00-2:30 PM

WW Seymour Conservatory at Wright Park

There's music on the Second Sunday of every month and this time it's us. We usually play inside, near the gift shop, a charming, cozy setting among the flowers ... it''s steamy and fragrant, much like the band members themselves. If it's really warm, we might play right outside, under the trees. Either way, it's a sweet venue, and a great opportunity to browse one of Tacoma's grand treasures, named after one of Tacoma's great mayors.

There's no cover charge (nor is there ever any charge to visit the Conservatory), but we carry a very large tip jar and we encourage generosity in all your travels, this Sunday and every day.

So, be sure to make it to Wright Park this Sunday and then get in on the festivities around the centennial celebrations.

The picture up above is from a performance at Rhapsody in Bloom. This next picture is at the Conservatory, back when Joe was hairy.

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Jul. 25, 2008 at 7:08am

Happy Birthday, Izenmania

Getting ready for the next quarter century

Hey Joe ... Tacoma loves you ... and so does your dad.

At least it's not a naked baby on a bearskin rug picture.

comments [16]

Jun. 7, 2008 at 10:15am

Last Minute Music Notice ... Finish your coffee and come listen

Out of Sight, Out of Mind at Proctor Market

I should have posted this earlier. In a couple of hours, Out of Sight, Out of Mind, a group of indeterminate size, playing acoustic "folk" music, whatever that is, at the Proctor Farmers Market at noon today. They won't stop until 2:00 pm. So, you still have time to finish your coffee and head on down there (N. 27th Street in the Proctor District).

The group consists of Joe Izenman (Izenmania), Don Izenman (Dmitri), and their bass playing buddy, Goodwin Trent. They have fun, they look good, and they sound pretty good, too.

Here's a picture from a show at the WW Seymour Conservatory earlier in the year. This picture has just the two Izenmans, but Goodwin was there, too.

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May. 21, 2008 at 6:05pm

Farmers Market Opening Day Photos

Going into the second week ... here's what the first week looked like

Plenty of others have written about Opening Day of Tacoma Farmers Market on Broadway last Thursday. The weather was great, the vendors and crowds showed up, and I've heard they did about 25 percent more business than last year's Opening Day.

Flowers, produce, prepared foods galore, crafts, street musicians (some with love songs ... others with protest songs), a silent peace vigil, babies in old-time carriages, dogs on leashes, and a Pierce Transit bus. All that and sunshine, too!.

So, I'll leave further description to others. I'm just going to show you some pictures:


Here's Tacoma Mama making bubbles with the kids

Here's the view up Broadway from 11th Street:


Here's the Picasa album of all 35 pictures, taken by Michelle Regan, from last Thursday's Market

Less than half these pictures have been captioned, so visit again later for updates.

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Apr. 24, 2008 at 10:35am

Tacoma Farmers Market needs street musicians and volunteers

I'm not a farmer, but I play one on the internet

COMMUNITY MEETING FOR 6th Ave MARKET NEXT MONDAY ...

I'm not a farmer, but I play one on the internet. You would have to look long and hard to find someone less knowledgeable about gardening and farming than me. Somehow though, I’ve gotten dragged (willingly) into a couple of projects that involve those skills. Fortunately, my role has more to do with data management and writing about what other people know than anything I personally know.

So, I’m here today to pump up the Tacoma Farmers Market and the fledgling Tacoma Food Co-op.

First, the Tacoma Farmers Market. By the middle of this season, there will be three markets being run under the banner of the Federation of Tacoma Farmers Markets. This Saturday, April 26^th, the Proctor Market has its opening day. From 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, some of the best local farmers are going to start bringing their freshest, tastiest produce to N. 27^th (between Proctor and Madison) for your shopping and eating pleasure. There will be live music and the chance to join others in welcoming our late-arriving spring.

On Thursday, May 15^th, the Broadway Market will open. There’s still lots to do. If you’d like to volunteer a bit of your time and energy to help get The Market running and keep it running, drop a note to laura@tacomafarmersmarket.com. There’s also a place to sign up for our newsletter and volunteer opportunities at our web site.

The Broadway Market is looking for street musicians. There is an actual performance stage, which has been booked for the season. What we’re looking for now are musicians who would be willing to set up in a more casual setting, busking on a street corner, like minstrels, for atmosphere and ambiance (and yes, for tips). If you would enjoy making some noise on our downtown streets and getting some public exposure, contact me at don@tacomafarmersmarket.com. Poets and dancers are also welcome.

You’ve probably heard that 6^th Avenue is going to start a farmers market in July. It will be a late afternoon/early evening market, scheduled for Tuesdays on N. Pine between 6^th Ave and N. 7^th. This coming Monday, April 28^th, there will be a community meeting for anyone wishing to know more and/or to help out. The meeting will be from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Epworth LeSourd Methodist Church, 710 S. Anderson.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about localism, supporting local businesses and buying locally-made products. The Tacoma Farmers Market is proud to be a big part of that movement, helping to bring people, commerce, music, and fun to the streets of Tacoma. Come help us if you can and come to the Market when it opens.

Another piece of that local puzzle is the Tacoma Food Co-op. A dedicated group of volunteers is working hard to bring a Co-op grocery store back to Tacoma. If you would like to know more about the progress of this project and receive periodic email updates, please send your name and email address to tacomafoodcoop@gmail.com. The Co-op also has a blog site here, where you can find updates about our progress, as well as an ongoing conversation about co-ops in general, and this one in particular. This is a big and exciting project, with room for good ideas and a variety of skills. Jump on in!

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Mar. 27, 2008 at 8:04am

Tunes in Bloom ... Music tonight: Out of Sight ... Out of Mind

Local musicians at Rhapsody in Bloom

A Rhapsody in Bloom is a lovely place to drink coffee, buy flowers, look at the work of local artists, and ....................

... listen to good music provided by local musicians. Denise Smith, owner of Rhapsody, is committed to supporting local artists and musicians, and we here at Out of Sight ... Out of Mind headquarters are thrilled to have been asked to perform this Thursday, March 27th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. That's tonight!

Since the copyright police are committed to making sure that, when we do songs written by, say, John Prine, the proper royalties go to Michael Jackson, Metallica and Sony (you figure it out ... I can't), we're committed, as is Denise, to staying off that particular radar. So, like all the performers who play at Rhapsody, we're going to do a show that is made up of music written by the performers themselves, or else songs from the public domain.

Out of Sight ... Out of Mind has been, in its basic form, a duo comprised of Goodwin Trent, bass player and pun-meister extraordinaire, and me, Don Izenman. In recent times, we've been joined by Joe Izenman. This was initially a matter of necessity (Goodwin's back surgery), but proved to be so much fun that, when possible, we've been working as a trio. Since Joe writes more songs than anyone this side of Bob Dylan and Burt Bacharach, his presence plays nicely into our plan to avoid copyright issues. In this configuration, Joe and I trade guitar and mandolin back and forth. He will be thrilled to see his name linked with Burt Bacharach,  we're sure.

In order to add to the fun and creativity, we've asked our good buddy, Sue Tjardes, to make a guest appearance with us, showcasing a half-dozen of the songs she's written. In this configuration, I will pull out the old resophonic guitar (some call it a dobro ... some call it a guitar with a hubcap ... some call it my biggest blunder).

So, there you have the Out of Sight ... Out of Mind All Stars. You are invited to join us this evening, from 7 to 9. You're invited to buy tasty coffee drinks; you might consider buying flowers for your companion; you're welcome to throw money at the band (if you're going to take that literally, then no coins, please); you'll want to check out the art on the walls and tables; and, don't forget to pet the cat.

It's fun, it's local, it's musical, it's early enough to still get to bed at a reasonable hour. What else could you ask for? (Sorry, no liquor license).

You might want to be there.

Oh yeah ... A Rhapsody in Bloom is located at 3709 Sixth Avenue in Tacoma. It's a little bit east of Proctor St. (if you're coming from downtown and you get to Hell's Kitchen, escape, if you can, and come back a block east). Their phone number is 253-761-7673.

comments [11]

Mar. 4, 2008 at 1:05pm

Wintergrass ... a week (or so) late(r)

Coincidental Cultural Confluence

I have been attending Wintergrass for 13 years, trading volunteer hours for access to the performance venues. For the past nine years, I’ve been working with the stage crew, which usually puts me in the happy position of hearing the music, even when I’m on the job. Many people spend the weekend outside those “paid” venues and simply spend all their time jamming with other musicians. It is quite a sight to see, every square foot of the dignified Hotel Murano (formerly the Sheraton) taken over by fiddle players and banjo pickers. (I really mean the “every square foot” thing … the hallways, the stairwells … all day, all night). In order to get in to see the “pros,” you pay or work for a wristband.

Wintergrass is, by choice, not a purist festival. There have been doses of blues, Celtic and other forms of international music, and adventures at the edges of bluegrass, country and rock. I’ve, more than once, overheard someone say, dismissively, “That’s not bluegrass.” Quite often, there are drums and/or electricity involved.

I believe that the blurring of the musical boundaries has contributed to the size and popularity of the event, even if a small percentage are put off. It definitely works for me.

This musical diversity has not always been reflected in the racial diversity of the performers, especially as regards African-American performers. Regional treasure, Laura Love, notes that she is often the only dark-skinned performers at bluegrass festivals. So, she proposed to the Wintergrass promoters that they consider a theme of “The African-American roots of bluegrass music.” The festival organizers were enthusiastic and put Ms. Love to work putting together the Thursday night festival opener.

So, she started with her own band HarpersFerry. The one band member with whom I’m familiar is another northwest treasure, Orville Johnson, who played guitar and sang in this setting, but is also a master of the resophonic guitar, mandolin, banjo and probably more. Laura introduced Orville by saying that he, even though White, was so funky, they’d made him an “honorary Negro.” Laura’s newest CD is named “NeGrass,” so she clearly doesn’t flinch at being playful about racial issues.

But, she was quite serious about showing how a musical form like bluegrass, which is not usually thought of being ethnically diverse can trace some of its roots to the music of slaves and their ancestors. Much of the music performed by HarpersFerry was old blues and back-porch country and, in the grand folk tradition, there were some gospel numbers that had been re-worked lyrically for the civil rights movement and, in a few cases, the current political scene. At least one person left the room, seemingly upset over that political content. I’ll leave for another time the issue of political comment at an ostensibly non-political event. Suffice to say that the band rocked, Laura Love has an amazing voice and presence, and Orville Johnson is a talent to behold.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops canceled, so there’s nothing for me to report. They were replaced by the Ebony Hillbillies. If you closed your eyes (or if you are, like me, functionally blind at that distance), you might imagine you were sitting on a porch in Louisiana. But, these guys all live in New York City and have made most of their music in the New York subways. YouTube has a number of videos of them in the subway station. The washboard, with all its bells and whistles (literally) and the dulcimer, add to the down-home authenticity of their sound. They played at the dance stage the next night, and I imagine it was a hopping event.

The final set was performed by Ruthie Foster, a well-known R & B singer with a soaring and expressive singing style. She moved smoothly between the quieter folk material and the more raucous blues shouters, with some hearty gospel thrown in.

It was a creative and adventurous start to the weekend, with a useful history lesson about some of the lesser-known precursors to the music being played in and around the festival.

So, what’s this “coincidental confluence?”

We were forced to leave the festival a couple of hours before the last set, which was to be one of my favorite groups, The Seldom Scene. The reason we had to leave early was we had tickets for a show down the street at the Pantages Theater, part of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. BCPA has been quite active recently, increasing the number of performances, and increasing the diversity of the acts they’re bringing in. This approach is adventurous and hasn’t always resulted in sell-out crowds, but they’re in it for the longer haul, banking on the crowds eventually catching up with what’s being presented.

We were there to see Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars. Having fled the civil war in their country, these musicians met in a refugee camp in Guinea, and began to make music together. Their story has been made into a documentary movie. While the Pantages was far from sold out for the show, the audience was enthusiastic and energized. The music centered on the traditional sounds of West African music, with healthy helpings of reggae, and modern instrumentation. The colorful traditional clothes, the gymnastic dance, and stunning musicianship made for a joyous and enjoyable show.

The Broadway Center did not, as far as I know, schedule this event to coincide with the theme of Wintergrass, nor did Wintergrass plan its Black and Bluegrass theme based on BCPA’s scheduling. (If I’m wrong about this, I apologize and congratulate the two organizations for their exceptional planning). No matter … it was a nice way to bookend the weekend, starting with the African-American roots of a mostly White musical form, and ending with African musicians, playing a kind of music that has been admired and utilized (the African musicians, too) by Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, and others.

It was an amazing musical weekend.

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