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Event
VAA New Works Double Bill
At last count two VAA New Works recipients, Steve Amsden and Kevin Almeida had enlisted nearly a dozen musicians to join them for their double bill musical extravaganza. Choosing to weave in and out of shared sets (Grand Ole Opry style, notes Almeida) rather than perform two separate sets, there will be a magical unfolding featuring a whos who musician collective. Amsden and Almeida bring well-versed, albeit significantly different backgrounds and experience to their music. They plan to collaborate on at least one cover tune.
Vashon resident since 1983, guitarist/songwriter Amsden says he will perform all new material--songs about life. Hes currently in the process of recording a dozen new songs in as many genres, result of a month long cross-country stint he embarked upon in fall 2009. "I wrote a lot of those songs on the train, lyrics came first and then the music; that's opposite from the way I usually work," he says. One of his most recent tunes was born from the recent Haiti earthquake tragedy. "The Walls Come Down works two ways; it's about the walls literally coming down and about how tragedy brings people together." He recorded the song with help from members of Vashon Island Youth Chorus and plans to post the tune on his website along with more new songs which range from ska and slow blues to tongue-in-cheek country love songs and of course rock and roll.
He plans a guitar jam with Island guitar icons, Daryl Redeker, Luke McQuillin, Tom Bean and Steve Stusser, a Seattle guitarist who will also play with Almeida. Other musicians will include: Randy Bruce, fiddle and piano; Wally Bell, cittern; and Doug Ringer, bass. Amsden will make it a family affair when his 26 year old daughter, guitarist Genevieve and his 22 year old son, guitarist Vincent join him on a classic three-part harmony piece.
Playing guitar and writing songs since his teen years, Amsden claims Bob Dylan and Bruce Springstein as major musical influences. But most recently he says former Islander Bob Woodman has inspired him to carry on the long time Island tradition of hosting a weekly community jam at his house every Monday at 7 pm. Be there or be square!
Kevin Almeida characterizes his sound as 'smoky, California music,Hispanic-tinged' introspective, personal tunes about love and relationships; other pieces are full-on rock. Performing all original tunes Almeida, fundamentally a bass player, has played upright bass since 4th grade. He studied with Nat Gangursky for three years and soon took up a Fender fretless-electric bass to play with the school jazz band.
Growing up in Southern California's San Fernando Valley, Almeida says he enjoyed and was influenced by the groove and rhythms of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, America, Jackson Browne, Steely Dan, Dooby Brothers and Little Feat. Today he plays acoustic-electric and upright basses and acoustic guitar, writes songs with a passion and brings heart to his mellow vocals.
In addition to lead guitarist Steve Susser (who grew up in the same area listening to the same music at the same time) Almeida will bring in Roger Taylor for back up vocals and percussion; Geoff Johns, percussion; and Greg Parrot, bass. Joining both Almeida and Amsden hear Sarah Perlman, violin; Mary Austin, flute; and Paul Colwell, mandolin.
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LocationBlue Heron Art Center
19704 Vashon Hwy SW
Vashon Island, WA 98070
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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