Painting With Her Voice: Connie Evingson

by Doug MacRostie

You know that saying, "It's not WHAT you said, it's HOW you said it!"? The same thing applies to singing; it's not what you sing, it's how you sing it. Tone, fluctuation, breathing; all of it can change the mood of a lyric. Minneapolis Jazz-vocalist Connie Evingson continues to put that extra something into her voice - giving the lyrics life, meaning and definitely setting the mood. "I've often wished I could be a painter, because I would really like to be able to create visual art. And singing for me is kind of like painting in the sense that you are using texture, you're using color, in a way. Color in the vocal tone - it's an expression."

Connie will be my guest this week on Centerstage MN. Originally from Hibbing, her latest album is music of jazz legend, and St. Paul native, Dave Frishberg called "Little Did I Dream." Not only did Dave Frishberg write the music, but he also accompanies on piano. From some seriously upbeat swing to slow and moving ballads, this album flows through the full range of emotion and presentation with Connie's beautiful voice leading the way. There is a reason her 8 albums with Minnehaha have charted in the top 50 in both the U.S. and Canada.

Connie Evingson will be joining the Sam Miltich Quartet on Thursday, Nov. 4th for a benefit concert for Advocates for Family Peace starting at 7pm at Davies Theater, ICC.

Last weekend I got to see The Sunny Era perform in Bemidji and really enjoyed their music - it's creative, edgy, beautiful and unpredictable all at once. They are a 3 piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble fusing folk music, indie rock, middle eastern and Spanish styles, based in Minneapolis. We'll hear the intro cut to their 2nd CD "The Darkness of Love," which came out last year.

I've also got new music from The Marc Gartband (Marc Gartman is the founder of Two Many Banjos, the Gartband is his music when he isn't playing a banjo). Discovering the Irish Bouzouki a few years back has clearly been inspiring for Marc, all the songs for "Fatwa" were written on the bouzouki. It's excellent stuff as usual.

And we'll hear some new music from Wise-Magraw - the duo project with Dean Magraw on guitar and Marcus Wise on tabla. And new music from indie-acoustic artist Ellis out of Minneapolis, her new CD is called "Right on Time." And more!

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 10, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays at 4pm. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Centerstage MN is a Fool for Marc Gartman

by Doug MacRostie

When your muse is working it's important to embrace that flow and let the creativity out, and that is something that Marc Gartman has definitely done over the last couple of years. With 4 albums released in the last year (and 3 or 4 the year before...), Marc has clearly been inspired. Marc is the songwriter, singer and one of the banjo players with Two Many Banjos - but when he puts the banjo down the music is then released by The Marc Gartband, and Marc will be talking with me about the new album "I Am A Fool For You" this Thursday night at 6 on Centerstage MN.

From Duluth, Marc also performs/records with Coyote, Nice Bears and Little Grey House. The new album is another outstanding collection of songs, and this time Marc did the songwriting and recording on an Irish Bouzouki - an instrument he first picked up to play with Little Grey House. "I Am A Fool For You" has a great mix of sounds and styles, from sweetly-slick love songs like "Till There's Nothing Left" to wordly exotic songs like "Abu Dhabi." Each time Marc releases a new album I think it's his "best writing yet" and this album is no exception - be sure to tune in for this interview with Marc Gartman!

I'll also be doing a demo set - and just because the sound quality is a little lo-fi doesn't mean the creativity, energy and passion isn't shining brightly :) We'll hear from The Rosebud Social, a garage rock/indie folk band that has been making original music in Grand Rapids for almost 10 years. And Zombie Season from Minneapolis, sort of a post-punk rock band with a lot of creativity and gothic imagery - perhaps you could describe it as indie-vampire-opera, idk :p And we'll hear from another Grand Rapids songwriter, Pat Deal. Pat has strong pop influences with an obvious enjoyment of punk attitude.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

A Canoe Grass Revival on Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

Tall people can make good music too, and it's wrong of you to think otherwise!!! Case and point is Pat Surface - as you can see in this picture, even on my tip-toes with my neck stretched out I barely reach his shoulders, hehehe. He has been making music for over 30 years, developing his own blend of acoustic styles. I have met Pat many times (there's something to be said for an established musician who still stops in to give the station his new CD by hand :D) and I might go so far as to say he is THE friendly giant - with an obvious passion for music, love and life. I'll be talking with him tonight on Centerstage MN.

Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys' 6th CD is called Canoe Grass Revival, a mix of original and interpreted tunes presented in a 100% recycled package. Hailing from the Ely area of the Great Northwoods, Pat and the Boys' signature sound of "Canoe-Grass" is a mix of folk, blugrass, swing, celtic and more. The music is very true and authentic, heart-felt and positive.

I've also got new music from The Marc Gartband tonight, the uber-new release is called "I Am a Fool For You." Marc Gartman is the singer/songwriter and one of the banjo players with Duluth's Two Many Banjos. But, when he plays guitar instead of banjo it becomes The Marc Gartband. Marc is one of my favorite MN songwriters and we'll also hear from another new project he's doing called Little Grey House - that new CD is called "Howlin' Moon" and we'll hear from both those releases to start the show.

I've also got new music blues and R&B legend Willie Murphy and we'll hear from the debut self-titled release from Marvelle. And we'll hear a new voice to MN's jazz scene: Nancy Harms debuting tonight on Centerstage MN.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.