Salisbury Post, October 02, 2003
The availability of good live music, especially blues and jazz, is one of Salisbury's best-kept secrets.
The Rowan Blues and Jazz Society, however, would like to get the word out, and they hope that this year's festival will accomplish just that.
Headliners for this year's show are the well-known Piedmont blues duo John Cephas and Phil Wiggins.
The fifth annual Blues and Jazz Festival will be held at 313 S. Main St. in downtown Salisbury (the parking lot of the Rowan Health and Fitness Center) Saturday, Oct. 11, from noon to 11 p.m. Cephas and Wiggins will take the stage at 8:15 p.m.
Organizers hope that October Tour participants and theater patrons will stick around the downtown area Saturday afternoon and evening to relax in their comfortable chairs and listen to some good blues.
The festival started with local musicians volunteering to perform and has grown since then. The first year, storyteller Jackie Torrence teamed up with Bob Paolino to perform an excerpt from "Blues Story." Torrence will return this year to introduce blues greats Cephas and Wiggins, with whom she toured to perform "Blues Story."
Torrence met the bluesmen through her agent. On her way to a gig with Cephas and Wiggins -- she was a last-minute replacement -- Torrence discovered that the duo played a song called "Two White Horses." Coincidentally, Torrence had a story called "Two White Horses" in her repertoire. The three of them performed it that night.
"It went over big," Torrence says. The success of that experience inspired Torrence to write "Blues Story," which she debuted with Cephas and Wiggins in London and performed around the country.
"They're two fantastic musicians," she says. "I hate that I can't do Blues Story with them anymore. We had a good time doing it."
The duo has gotten the highest award in blues, the W.C. Handy Award, for their 1987 album, "Dog Days of August."
John Cephas, the older member of the duo, plays the guitar. "His voice has that long, country wail about it that makes you want to listen," Torrence says.
"And Phil, the harmonica player...he can do anything with that harmonica.
"Salisbury missed out on them last year," she says. "A lot of people didn't show up. I hope people will come out these year because they're incredible. They give a wonderful show."
Festival organizer Eleanor Qadirah, one of Salisbury's most fervent supporters of blues and jazz, helped organize the Rowan Blues and Jazz Society in 1999. Like Torrence, she believes that locals shouldn't miss the chance to see two living blues legends who are beloved around the world.
"I'd like Salisbury to realize what it has," Qadirah says. " We've got the makings of a major festival here to go along with the rest of the festivals."
People from out of the area often express amazement that the Rowan County festival is free to the public, she says. Blues and jazz festivals often charge thirty or forty dollars for admission.
Unfortunately, this year's event will probably be the last free festival, Qadirah says, unless local businesses become more committed to sponsorship.
The society is still looking for businesses and individuals to sponsor the stage, the sound system and the performers.
Also performing
Besides Cephas and Wiggins, there are plenty of other acts to keep the downtown parking lot jumping, including trumpet-player and singer-songwriter Joe Robinson of Clemmons.
Robinson began playing the trumpet at the age of 13, inspired by the sounds of Miles Davis and Chet Baker. He has played in a rhythm and blues band called Gore and the Upsetters and later, the Eliminators and the Bill Bright Jazz Quintet. Eventually, Robinson formed his own group, the Joe Robinson Quartet, which played frequently at the Cellar in Winston-Salem. That led to the release of his first CD, "Better Late than Never," an album of cover songs which received lots of local airplay in Winston-Salem as well as Raleigh/Durham. The interest that generated led to performances at several large blues festivals and a CD of original compositions called "Movin' On."
Tite Fit, a Charlotte-based band that plays "rockin' Texas Blues" will also be on hand, as will the Morganton-based band Bluesville, performing their distinctive brand of contemporary blues. Garrett ("Big Leg Hambone") Nowicki, the band's harmonica player, is from Salisbury.
Bluesville has performed for the summer concert series sponsored by Raleigh's Parks and Recreation Arts Program and at the Historic Morganton Festival. They've also played at the House of Blues at Myrtle Beach.
Band member Sandy Blair says that Bluesville tries to deliver "heartbreaking, home-wrecking, soul-searching, life-changing blues."
Cle Thompson, a native of Chicago who has developed a large following since she moved to Winston-Salem several years ago, will perform her brand of passionate, soulful jazz.
Reggie Buie, who has opened for The Manhattans and Kool & and the Gang, will also perform.
Performing at 1:30 p.m. will be the Salisbury High School Jazz Band, under the direction of second-year band director Brad Gulley.
"They're our only auditioned group," he says. Students try out in the spring and are assigned a chair based on their performance.
Improvisation is a focus, Gulley says. "Everyone does a solo at one time or another. I teach the basic framework, and we improvise almost every day."
Gulley inherited a small jazz program at the school and expects continued growth with committed leadership.
He credits the Knox Middle School band program, led by Sam Kyzer, with "lighting a fire" under his middle school musicians. Gulley intends to fan the jazz flames and keep enthusiasm strong at the high school level.
He also wants the community to know that his student jazz group is available and eager to play for community events.
The festival is sponsored by CCB, Days Inn, First Bank, F& M Bank, Sagebrush, the City of Salisbury, Granite Knitwear, Escape the Daily Grind, Carillon Assisted Living, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Rowan Health and Fitness Center, Club Zidis and Rowan Business Forms.
Vendors will be on hand to sell food and cold beverages.There will be turkey legs, funnel cakes, curly fries, corn dogs, blooming onions, barbecued pork and chicken, fried fish and cold beer.
Flags, bags, ethnic jewelry, clothing and glass items will be available. The Salisbury store Sista to Sista will have a booth of African art for sale, and festival T-shirts will also be available for purchase. The Rowan Blues and Jazz Society will raffle off a 1996 Mercury Sable during the festival.
For more information and VIP tickets, call 704-636-3277.
Those interested in volunteering to help with the festival should call Eleanor Qadirah at 704-636-2811.
The Salisbury High School Jazz Band will perform at 313 S. Main St. at 1:30 p.m.; Tite Fit Blues Band will perform at 3 p.m.; Bluesville will perform at 4:15; Joe Robinson, Cle Thompson, and Reggie Buie will perform at 5:30; and Cephas and Wiggins will perform at 8:15 p.m. There will be a jam session at Club Zidis following the festival.
Contact Katie Scarvey at 704-797-4270 or kscarvey@salisburypost.com.
Salisbury Post, October 4, 2004
This is the sixth year for the Rowan Blues and Jazz festival, and once again, world renowned Piedmont blues duo and W.C. Handy Award winners Cephas and Wiggins are performing.
This festival promises to be one of the the best yet, says organizer Eleanor Qadirah.
The festival is still at its original location -- the parking lot of what is now the Great Xpectation Wellness and Fitness Center, which is now the site of the Salisbury Farmers Market.
This year, the stage will be located farther back, near the outdoor pool fence of the fitness center. That change has come about, Qadirah says, mainly because the festival is using a space that is shared by the Farmers Market.
"In past years we have provided music as a background to the OctoberTour," Qadirah says. "We now have an opportunity to have music as you shop for your produce."
Besides the headliners John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, The Joe Robinson Jazz Band will perform. Also performing will be Dr. Clyde Young and the Music Makers and the award-winning Salisbury High School Jazz Band.
Several of the groups will perform the songs of John Coltrane, who is being celebrated at this year's festival.
NPR personality Barbara Nail will serve as the festival's guest emcee.
Guests are asked to bring their own comfortable chairs and blankets.
Several of the festival's regular vendors will be returning; the festival's newest food vendor and sponsor will be Bangkok Garden Thai Restaurant, adding an international flavor to the traditional American favorites that include Pam's funnel cakes, Greg's roasted corn, L &L Barbecue, Yankee Deli's sandwiches, Switzer's Turkey Legs, Sagebrush's steaks and Durrett's Ribs.
Other vendors will offer jewelry, books, soaps, candles, aprons and other items. Performing artists will sell their autographed CDs.
Another addition to the Festival Day will be a youth music education workshop held at the Rowan Public Library. The workshop will be conducted by the festival's headliners, John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, who conduct workshops all over the United States.
This workshop is being sponsored in part by grants from the Southern Arts Federation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, N.C. Arts Council and the Robertson Family Foundation.
Festival celebration will begin at 9 p.m. on Friday at Club 315 with I & S Entertainment and a jam session. Musicians interested in jamming should call 704-636-2811,
The Rowan Blues and Jazz Society is grateful for the contributions from members and the business community. All contributions should always be sent directly to Rowan Blues and Jazz Society, PO Box 176, Salisbury, NC 28145.
For more information call 704-636-2811 or go online to www.rowanbluesandjazz.com
Salisbury Post, October 13, 2006
The smooth strains of the Joe Robinson Jazz Band filled the cool evening air downtown Saturday as the Blues and Jazz Festival played out a day of music.
A hundreds of people stood in groups, relaxed in folding chairs they'd brought from home or sat on bales of straw scattered around the lot at the corner of Fisher and Church streets.
Just a few made their way to their cars as the sun disappeared and the chill set in, but more came to take in the eighth annual music festival's headliners and a 10 p.m. jam session.
The Rowan Blues and Jazz Society and Team Chevrolet/Cadillac sponsored the event.
Debbie and Harvey Davidson spent a couple of hours at the festival Saturday. Debbie said she attended last year, and judged this installment to be better.
"It's nice," Debbie said. "The atmosphere is good and you can bring your kids. It's family oriented."
The festival started at 10:30 a.m. with a youth jazz workshop at the Rowan Public Library on Bank Street. The Catawba Jazz Club coordinated the workshop before taking the stage at 1 p.m.
Acts throughout the day performed jazz, Latin jazz and blues.
Vendors sold official festival souvenirs and other wares, spirits, coffee and food.
As the Joe Robinson Jazz Band played, vocalist Levon Myers took the stage and sang several jazz standards, including "All of Me."
Levonia Corry called the band "excellent" and said that, although she likes all kinds of music, the jazz was the best part of the festival for her.
Corry also liked the diverse crowd. A lot of folks, black and white, young and old, "seemed to be having a good time," she said.
At 8 p.m., Mac Arnold and the Plate Full O' Blues Band took the stage. Bass guitarist Arnold played with James Brown in high school and joined the Muddy Waters Band in 1966. He's performed with Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King and other
Smooth turned to blues as Arnold's band heated up the night.
Contact Scott Jenkins at 704-797-4248 or sjenkins@salisburypost.com.
Salisbury Post, August 6, 2006, Opinion Page
Hats off to the Salisbury Symphony for including the PSC Jazz Trio at the 4th of July concert.
With the Rowan Blues & Jazz Society's festival coming on Oct. 14, the chance to hear America's own original music is growing.
Since the festival is held on October Tour weekend, visitors will learn that Salisbury is the "happening place to be."
I hope blues and jazz music lovers will offer their support to keep the festival coming back each year by calling 704-636-2811 or visiting www.rowanbluesandjazz.com on the Web.
-- Vicki Rufty
Salisbury