“I like a nice blend of having fun and taking music seriously.” I suppose that explains the large sections of Bach and Homer and Jethro in his music collection. A past resident of Wallowa County, Matt Bell lives in New Orleans where he lives and breathes traditional jazz, old-time country music and — well let’s just say etcetera. He earned his master’s degree in music from the University of New Orleans. If you want to check out bands he works with on a regular basis, go to the YouTube and look up: Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime Shepherd Kings (2015 winners of Clifftop neo-trad contest), Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses (we played at Lincoln Center!), The Wasted Lives (honky tonkin’), and the Bad Penny Pleasuremakers (every bit as fun as your great granddad’s jokes).
Community Singing & Playing, any instrument
Melody’s, harmonies, and Ooh La La’s! We’ll pick songs from a handful of genres, find a key (or two) for the vocal, and then make an arrangement with an introduction, ending, and instrumental breaks. Each person will learn an accompaniment suited to the song, musical style/genre, their ability, and the role their instrument might typically play in a jam or band setting. Those willing will be encouraged to play melody lines, solos, or other characteristic parts of the song(s). We will learn these songs, or something like these and more:
Blues: Delmore Brothers, Blues Stay Away From Me
Waltz: Tennessee Waltz, simple and complex changes
Classic Country: Hank Williams, Jambalaya
Bluegrass or Old-Time: Sugar in the Gourd/Goodnight Irene, tune with melody or solo breaks.
Tin Pan Alley: TBD
50’s Doo Whop/Rock & Roll: Sea of Love, Phil Phillips and the Twilights
