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THE STRANGEWAYS AND NUEVE LUNAS KICK OFF GROOVEWELL CONCERT SERIES
The Strangeways and Nueve Lunas kick off the debut Groovewell concert series, Wednesday, June 7 at the Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave. (14th St., at Eighth Avenue) in Ybor City. Doors open at 9 p.m., and admission is $5.
The Strangeways, organized as Planet Dread by trumpeter-singer Will Haynes in 1994, have gained a reputation as one of the South's finest exponents of third-wave ska, a rootsy, distinctively original blend
incorporating elements of reggae, R&B and jazz.
The band, based in Sarasota, began attracting national attention about three years ago with their debut CD, "Corporate Monkey," initially released on their own Prime 8 label and then reissued on Ska Satellite Records, distributed by Moon Ska NYC. One track, "Mango Man," also appeared on the label's 1998 "Moonshot!" compilation.
"Strangeways play a brand of ska reminiscent of 2-Tone's heyday, particularly the English Beat," Steve Huey wrote in the All-Music Guide. "Corporate Monkey proves to be a promising debut."
The Strangeways' second disc, "Another Round," is slated for release later this year through Moon Ska. The disc will feature 16 tracks of ska, rock steady and reggae.
"We're better rehearsed, we've got better songs, we know what kind of sound we're after and we know hot to get it," Haynes told Bob Pomeroy of Focus magazine. "We really think things are taking off for us."
The Strangeways made their hook-up with Moon Ska back in November 1997, when the band played a triumphant triple bill with The Toasters and Bim Skala Bim. Plenty of folks took notice, including Ink 19 reviewer Julio Diaz.
"Playing in a style largely reminiscent of the English Beat, the band fairly dripped energy, which only served to feed the crowd's frenzy," Diaz wrote. "Virtually the entire audience was dancing up a storm to the bass-heavy harmonies and undeniably catchy melodies. To top things off, the Toasters' ultra-smooth trumpet master, the one and only Sledge, joined them for a stunning cover of Miles Davis' 'All Blues.' By the time the Strangeways were done, I didn't know if the older bands would be able to live up to the challenge before them."
Lee White, writing in the Sarasota Arts Review, also has expressed his enthusiasm for the band: "The Strangeways are skanking strong. This is a high-energy band with incredible interpersonal dynamics. Their music is lively and assertive but never aggressive. Their bouncy sound and their non-stop movement on stage encourage dancing, but only for the calisthenically inclined. Even if you remain seated, you'll be doing auditory aerobics."
It's just that sort of spirited attack, and interaction with audiences, that helps turn Strangeways shows into ska-reggae throwdowns.
"We get the crowd involved," guitarist Tony Shepperd told Sharon Hughes for a feature that appeared in Eclipse magazine. "We invite them to get involved with the music and us, whether it's to get up on stage and dance with us, or when we offer the mic to the audience and they sing with us."
The Strangeways lineup also includes Jason Nwagbaraocha, who writes the majority of the band's music, trombonist Bruce Glasberg, drummer Jon Walman and singer-percussionist-trumpeter Clyde Pinder.
For more information on The Strangeways, e-mail Will Haynes: strangeways@home.com
Latin rhythms and textures are at the heart of Nueve Lunas, a new four-piece centered on the drumming and singing of Frank Martinez. The group recently played the world music-oriented Riddim Collision at the Orpheum.
For more information on Nueve Lunas, e-mail John Migliorisi: Hafiz@tampabay.rr.com
Cross-cultural musical diversity is the theme of the Groovewell concert series, which includes acts from
several other genres:
+ Soulful Reggae newcomers Rocksteady@8 and spoken-word artist Bradley Morewood, backed by his jazz-funk-groove ensemble, share a double bill on June 14.
+ Orchestre Matata, specialists in high-energy soukous music from the Congo, and rookie jazz-funk favorites Meadowlark team up on June 21.
+ Rocksteady@8 and avant-jazzers Shim close the series on June 28.
A percussion jam, drawn from members of the participating bands, will play selected shows during the Groovewell concert series.
Groovewell, the concert series and the affiliated web site, are part and parcel of a new community-based effort designed to provide greater exposure for music, visual art and written expression best characterized by their distance from the pop-culture mainstream.
The Groovewell initiative additionally is designed to underscore the natural connections between audiences and artists involved in a wide variety of creative endeavors, from funk, jazz and worldbeat music to spoken word.
"We live in an area that is rich in creative talent yet there is a pervading sense among our community that we have no unified arts and music scene," says Jonathan Priest, the drummer and Internet developer who created Groovewell.community with a team that includes longtime Florida music journalist and musician Philip Booth.
"I think that with a focused, grass-roots movement we can create an environment that is far more conducive to the arts than what currently exists in the Tampa Bay area and if everyone does their small piece in the equation, we will surely have an arts scene to be proud of."
The Groovewell.community website offers feature stories and reviews written by both professional and aspiring journalists, many of whom are prominent members of the area performing arts scene. The site additionally provides detailed event listings and many free resources designed to help musicians gain exposure for their work. The launch date is May 3rd, 2000.
For additional information, log on to
http://www.groovewell.com Contact Jonathan Priest directly via email at jonathan@groovewell.com or by phone at (813) 254-0759.
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