Band wants you to groove, move
Blending funk, blues, ska, calypso and a great deal more, Woodshed Orchestra offers free show
Walter Cordery / News Services,Daily News
July 12, 2012 01:00 AM
Anyone wishing to get a free preview of the type of entertainment offered at the Queen's should be at the China Steps Thursday July 19 as the Woodshed Orchestra plays a free concert from noon to 2 p.m. The ensemble performs later that evening at the Queen's Hotel.
The WO bills itself as "an ecstatic, soul-filled, communal, multi-headed, celebration emancipation experience."
Dave Clark, the man who put the nine piece ensemble together said Nanaimo music lovers should expect "groove music that will make you move."
The WO play original songs that are a fusion of "funk, soul, rythym and blues, punk, rock 'n' roll, swing, calypso, ska and other genres that get people up to dance," Clark, the former drummer for legendary Toronto band the Rheostatics, said.
"We don't play gigs, we offer celebrations.
When he put the Woodshed Orchestra together, Clark came up with a recipe of musical genres he thought would satisfy music lovers of all types.
"The Woodshed Orchestra Recipe: Take a bowlful of New Orleans second line, add a spoon of Tom Waits, drop in a dose of Sly Stone, a bone of Leonard Cohen, a hit of the scene from Al Green, add some Blossom Dearie theory, a pinch of Loretta Lynn, a dollop of Asleep at The Wheel, a wallop of NRBQ, a sprinkle of vintage Rush, a bucketful of the Sun Ra Arkestra, a bushel of Monk, some essence of Randy Newman, a peck of the Fairfield Four, a blast from the Who, a shot of Dr. John, a hint of Ginsberg, a strand of Stravinsky, a packet of Prince, a taste of the Klezmatics, a teaspoon of the Ramones, a cup of Stevie Wonder and a good measure of Howlin' Wolf," he said.
Clark, who admits to have been inspired by his British invasion namesake (leader of the band The Dave Clark Five), founded WO in 2005.
"I brought together some of the finest musicians I knew to concoct this gumbo boil and make people dance. It took a while to get the flavour just right."
All WO members sing. The orchestra consists of Clark, on drums, Michael Herring, bass, Karen Ng, saxophone, Joe Lapinski, guitar, Julia Hambleton, clarinet, Jason Kenemy, piano, Ken McDonald, bass, Tania Gill, piano, Nick Buligan, horns, Scott Thomson, trombone, Rebecca Hennessy, trumpet, Tom Howell,violin and piano, Doug Friesen, trombone and bass, Susanna Hood, vocals, Paul Kolinski, piano, guitar, ukelele, and drums and Chris Banks, bass.
WCordery@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4237
- See more at: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/band-wants-you-to-groove-move-1.286593#sthash.hhQIDoQ7.dpuf