High Art Out of Low Places

A younger friend of mine who shares some of my own personal tastes in Latin music asked me last night, "I don't get this Ed, how can you jump from Chopin to discussing bluegrass in so few sentences??" He had just read some of my past writings on my old blog-site, which for all intents and purposes is dead in the water. I had to chuckle at the question. He personally hates bluegrass music. But I don't fault his dislikes. That's part and parcel of being young. You either love or hate bluegrass music. I have a lot of friends my own age who still hate bluegrass. Deep down, I'm hoping they're lying to me and are instead, secretly listening to it. What my friends are not appreciating about this particular music form is that it takes as much musical, instrumental, and organizational talent to produce genuine bluegrass music as it does to organize (and play classical music through, ) a string quartet. I can also very much appreciate that 'high form.' Some of us are gifted with the necessary talents to pull the whole thing off. The majority of us (that includes me,) are not.

So it is with bluegrass or what I'd rather call Appalachian Mountain music. It rarely wavers from a few distinct forms in instrumentation and style. It rarely wavers also in the style of songs and singing. The pattern is set, and for the purist hard-core player or audience member, you will not wobble - although there is somewhat of a dotted-line that you're permitted to crisscross once in a while. I was shocked recently when I was invited by my friend Gary Cole to come out and listen to a new bluegrass band (Dirty River), only to discover they had slipped in a couple old rock and roll songs on their new CD and in their public performances. For the Dirty River Band it worked, the audiences love it, and maybe in the final analysis it will prompt younger audience members to learn to appreciate bluegrass. It certainly has worked in their favor, as Dirty River gains in performing exposure and popularity here in our local area.

I still listen to a lot of other kinds of music. My friends are surprised to know that I have a huge collection of Vietnamese music - both high and low, old and new. I met Roger Green a few years ago (guitar and vocals for the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition) and he's become my resident expert on the Art of Bluegrass. We've shared some interesting e-mails and conversations about 'The Form.' Beside being one of the best flat-pickers around the Chesapeake Bay area, he's a walking wikipedia of bluegrass knowledge and expresses the same on his weekly radio show out of WRYR.FM. Roger told me once (when we were comparing some bands) "I love bands that are good, but still have that 'Edge' to them." I knew exactly what he meant when he said it. You don't have to be the greatest vocalist or the best picker, but if the group effort melds into something so absolutely audience appealing that people won't let you leave the stage, then you know you've reached the goal of the bluegrass business. What I never told Roger (but he'll read this now,) is that my meeting him and talking to him brought me back to a form of music I had long forgotten after years of classical music and opera. I had stuffed away old long-plays, tapes, and guitar chord books after my college days and never learned to appreciate what I had been listening to - or the rampant Hillbilly music wafting out of the West Virginia radio waves that my dad listened to. The musical form has grown a lot since then and we should also expect ourselves to grow in our musical tastes and to learn to be more appreciative of something that was there long before we were born. No bluegrass, No life. No music, No life. Pray for the musically-challenged who walk among us. And thanks, Roger Green for teaching me a lot.

Brunswick, Maryland: Real People, Real Mountain Music

The boundaries of Northern Virginia form a unique point for me. It's the pinnacle of Appalachian mountain music. Southern Virginia may have its "Crooked Road" winding its way toward the Blue Ridge, but up here we have Route 15 north that's just as rich in the true mountain sound of hard-core bluegrass music. So we'll take the road once again this summer to enjoy some good local stuff, always within easy driving distance of the D.C. metro area. Last year's Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac Benefit (July 29th, 2009) at Brunswick, Maryland High School was the perfect opportunity for us to get out for the day and visit this absolutely beautiful part of Maryland. It's one of those towns left behind in the history of flourishing railroads and industrial river traffic. Today, down at the edge of the Potomac River canoes, kayaks, and lots of people picnicking take the place of the failed canal traffic. Hard to imagine that next to the old canal was once one of the busiest rail yards in the east.

You can get a good panoramic view of 'once was' from the top floor of the town's interesting Railroad Museum. Be sure and bring the kids for this one - the museum has an incredible model railroad exhibit - all the rail lines that once ran up and down the Potomac River and wended their way in and out of Brunswick are scaled down to miniature (with operating HO-sized trains of course!) so you can gain a perspective of just how important the railroad once was in this mountainous region. Allow yourself plenty of time to visit the museum - and get there before 4:00 pm. Other than that, there's not really much to do in Brunswick but slow-poke around and walk its old winding streets and talk to the locals. The fun of it all is trying to imagine what the downtown area must have looked like in its Hay-Day. The town contains some beautifully old and worn architecture. Everything is within walking distance. The day we visited, like every other town in the U.S., we were practically the only people out walking in the downtown area. Nobody walks any more - I've noticed this across America no matter if it's Fort Wayne, Indiana or Modesto, California. We worry about Swine Flu when we should be worrying about how inert we've become. The only way to appreciate our nation's heritage is on foot.

But we were there for that night's music at the local high school - and what a night. For 25 bucks a piece we enjoyed an evening of (local boy) Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac and Kenny Ray Horton and Friends. Volunteers from the Brunswick Junior Baseball League and the Brunswick High School were out in force to handle the crowd of bluegrass fans and serve up lots of good snacks and drinks during break-time. The people of Brunswick are a friendly, down-home crowd - you'll feel welcomed. But the music is the reason to be there - and in Northern Virginia and the panhandle of Maryland, we've got some of the best.

Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac, Kenny Ray Horton and Friends, and Bill Yates and the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band appear once again at Brunswick High School on July 10th, 2010 for a Benefit Concert in honor of the Brunswick Junior Baseball League. Advance tickets must be purchased by contacting Jill Hossler at (301) 371-7675 or e-mail: jshossler@aol.com

The 2009 Brunswick Benefit Concert - Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac

Darren Beachley at Brunswick Benefit, July 2009

Mark Delaney, Norman Wright, Mike Auldridge at Brunswick, July 2009

And Bill Yates? Such a Deal!

Brunswick, Maryland Train Station

Hot News: Jill Hossler, coordinator for the Darren Beachley concert this summer in Brunswick, announced today that Bill Yates and the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band will be joining Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac plus Kenny Ray Horton and Friends for the July 10th, 2010 Event. Tickets are already on sale as noted in my last entry. This is the 2nd Annual Concert to raise funds for the Brunswick Junior Baseball League. The concert will take place at the Brunswick High School Auditorium. It just keeps getting better . . .

You Must Contact Jill Hossler for Tickets: (301) 371-7675 or e-mail jshossler@aol.com

Darren Beachley Returns to Brunswick for Benefit

29 March 2010:

They're back for another round of great music. Jill Hossler of the Brunswick, Maryland Junior Baseball League announced this past weekend that Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac and Kenny Ray Horton will return for a benefit performance on Saturday, July 10th, 2010. The performance will be at the Brunswick High School Auditorium, same as last year. You must contact Jill Hossler for tickets and an early request for tickets is recommended. This benefit drew hundreds to the big auditorium last year, and word will travel fast. This was one of the best bluegrass performances we attended in 2009 and made even more enjoyable by making a day-trip out of it and seeing the sights around Brunswick. The town has a unique train museum and railroad history, and several nice restaurants and antique shops. Situated on the Potomac not far from Point of Rocks, it's a beautiful little town "where nothing much happens" but once was one of the main rail hubs in the Appalachians. So it's the perfect location for this kind of bluegrass event. Notable is the fact that it's also the place Darren Beachley grew up, played baseball, and perfected his music. You don't want to miss this one.

For more information: http://www.eteamz.com/BRUNSWICKJUNIORBB

www.legendsofthepotomac.com

Contact Jill Hossler at (301) 371-7675 or at jshossler@aol.com for advanced ticket purchase

Bluegrass and Barbeque - The Traveling Gourmand

Saturday was the first official day of Spring, 2010. I spent it cutting, hacking, and sawing bamboo (it's a Vietnam-Thing you'll never understand!). It was one of those days after a long, snowy winter that makes you realize there truly is a God. The birds were singing - flowers suddenly exploded out of nowhere - and it's bluegrass music season once more. By the time Saturday was done with the temperature had reached the mid-70's and I had to think about all the wool clothing taking up my closet space. Nothing goes together better than Barbeque and bluegrass. So on Sunday (another spectacular day) we headed over toward Davidsonville, Maryland to see some friends, take in a simple lunch, and enjoy the sounds of the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition who were performing at the Davidsonville United Methodist Church. It was the perfect setting - the perfect food - the perfect music -for a most perfect of Spring days. Before I get to some words about the music I have to mention "Tongues of Fire" they're the people who serve up the food at the United Methodist Church. By the looks of the future dinner schedule they were passing around, this is a very active group of people. I loved their motto: "Spreading the Gospel one bite at a time!" On Sunday they were cooking up beef brisket, potatoes, salad, and lots of marvelous home-made desserts. I love to chow down - this is my kind of chow.

Dinner started an hour before show-time and the huge social hall was filled with dinner guests and bluegrass fans. The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition have been playing this particular venue for several years annually. They opened with five new and old gospel numbers which took me by surprise, because this is not their usual line-up. I love the hard-core songs about hangins' killins' and She-done-me-wrong. But no matter. The Coalition is always entertaining, even when the group thinks they're experiencing glitches. Where they really show forth is in their role as Bluegrass ambassadors. Roger Green (guitar and lead vocals) is always 'audience considerate' and takes time to explain a song, explain the origin of the music, or talk about an obscure group or composer. The musical expertise that he brings to his weekly bluegrass broadcast on WRYR FM (Sherwood, Md.) he also carries along with him at the group's public appearances. Many thanks to the people at the Davidsonville United Methodist Church for a most wonderful afternoon of good food and good music. The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition is: Roger Green, guitar -Dan Kimball, mandolin - Sue Tice, fiddle - Bob Tice, banjo - Jim Duvall, bass.

Alexandria Antique Show at Episcopal High School

Hand-stitched pattern on back of 19th Century Dong tribal blouse, (Viet Nam)

featured at the Alexandria Antique Show, March, 2010

Let The Games Begin . . .

Happy Birthday Monsieur Chopin! March is the beginning of the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin and we were fortunate enough to get seats for the big Fete at the Embassy of Poland here in Washington, D.C. on 6 March, 2010. Dr. Raymond Jackson of Howard University was the featured pianist at this annual Polish American Arts Association celebration. We had attended this event religiously in previous years, but this year's performance kicked off an explosion of Chopin events around the world. Money raised from this annual recital goes toward a huge scholarship program established for the benefit of young artists and scholars of Polish heritage. More information on the performance and the PAAA will be forthcoming.

Listen Up!

15 March 2010:

This just in from friends down at Leatherneck Magazine: Sgt. Steven Kiernan, USMC lost both his legs to an IED blast in Iraq. He needs a new home. The organization "Homes for Our Troops" is holding a fundraiser at the County Fare Restaurant in Stafford, Va. on 22 March from 5 pm to 8 pm. The restaurant is at 11 Hope Road in Stafford. A $10 donation gets you a burger, fries and drink, with all proceeds going toward building a new home for Sgt. Kiernan.

For additional information e-mail: info@homesforourtroops.org

The Long Story

Photo by Ed Henry, 2010

We came home and told ourselves there wouldn't be any more wars. Remember? We promised ourselves our kids wouldn't have to go through what we went through. We tried to shelter them as much as we could from the violence of the world. Didn't work . . .did it? There's a world out there that wants to kill us. Our young men and women step up to the plate, and those of other nations too, to try and stop the insidiousness. I thank each and every one of them every day for their willingness to step forward. It's the changing of the guard. We need to remember who they are.

The Kleven Brothers - Real Pioneers in Viet Nam

6 March 2010:

I just received news this morning that Mike Kleven in Saigon is near death. Most of you probably don't know Mike but he's part of the unfolding history of the development of Viet Nam, post-1975. I remember in the summer of 1989 returning from Viet Nam on a Thai Airways flight. Across the aisle from me was a guy wearing a black ball cap with a white "X" on the front. I guessed correctly that he was a Viet Nam veteran and I struck up a conversation with him. We ended up conversing all the way back to the United States for the next 14 hours. The vet was Greg Kleven and we would be seeing a lot of each other for the next ten years. That day in 1989 he was determined to go back to the Bay Area, pack up his stuff and go back to Saigon as soon he could and start working. He followed through and did it. Shortly after that his brother Mike, also a Viet Nam vet, joined him in Saigon and soon the brother team was busy establishing an English language school in Saigon. In my frequent trips during this period I always tried to link up with the brothers to see how they were progressing and trying to live on an economy which at that early period, was just emerging from absolute poverty. My trips to Viet Nam increased and I sent a lot of people to Mike and Greg's doorstep. They remained my primary contacts and we shared a lot of in-country information not available (then) in Viet Nam. You can only imagine the hardships. Even fax machines, which by today's standards is antique technology, didn't exist. There was one telephone for every 800 people in a municipal district. By 1989, it had gotten better - now there was one telephone for about every 500 people.

Greg and Mike soon set up shop in District 3 in Saigon and they got down to business with work schedules that would kill the average individual. I visited them a few times in their new digs (American convicts live in luxury by comparison!) and they harped about being Americans living in a foreign, and sometimes hostile environment. More than a few times they were visited by corrupt cops and party lackies who were looking for hand-outs. Any American was assumed to be rich. If they only knew the truth of the Klevens. A local cop came by one night and tried to shake them down for ten US dollars for not flying the national flag on a holiday. But they loved it, and they loved what they were doing.

It would be a few years before the onslaught of other Americans, NGO teams of do-gooders, and the parade of newly arrived Americans who showed up after Clinton's visit and the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Viet Nam. Make no mistake about it - the Klevens preceeded them all and were real pioneers, years before it became the fashionable thing to say you 'had been to Viet Nam!' And we can't forget the other element in this story: they were Viet Nam veterans who firmly believed in going back to assist the people of Viet Nam after such a tragic post-1975 relationship with that burgeoning country. That was always their bottom-line. They did it on basically nothing with no back-up - just their hard work.

March 27th - D.C.'s First Bluegrass Festival

Matt Slocum (DC Bluegrass Union) at the recent Fisher House Marathon Jam

1March 2010: The D.C. Bluegrass Union presents its first-ever full blown Bluegrass Festival at Mc Lean's Langley Highschool on Saturday, March 27th. The line-up of bands performing is just a bit short of unbelievable and it will prove to be a historic kick-off for this possible annual event here in the D.C. metro area. That's why it's important to vote with your feet and show your support for more bluegrass here in our region. Festival organizer and promoter Matt Slocum ( who plays a mean banjo) has been burning the midnight oil to pull this off. I wish him and the D.C. Bluegrass Union the best. Go to http://www.dcbu.org/ for times and ticket information.