Laurie Lewis, Linda Tillery, Barbara Higbie “Hills to Hollers”, Mon. May 21
Laurie Lewis, Linda Tillery, Barbara Higbie “Hills to Hollers”
Monday, May 21
Kuumbwa Jazz
Pre-concert talk beginning at 6:30 PM
Bluegrass legend Laurie Lewis, Cultural Heritage Choir leader Linda Tillery and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Barbara Higbie have created a trio that taps into the most primordial roots of the American musical experience. “Hills to Hollers” explores American music from the hills of bluegrass and country, to the work songs and hollers of the African-American tradition. Performing with soulful abandon, three-part vocals and champion musicianship, these women take it to the mat.
Exploring the interplay of black and white Southern musical traditions, “Hills to Hollers” paints a compelling musical portrait of the South. It’s also the first-ever effort of the trio: Laurie Lewis, a renowned bluegrass vocalist, fiddler and guitarist; gospel, roots-based Linda Tillery, and Barbara Higbie, a championship fiddler as well as a jazz pianist, acts as musical director of the show and provides additional soaring harmonies. “These tunes represent the basis of all popular American music. Sung well, they can send shivers up your spine and your spirits soaring,” Higbie says of the “Hills to Hollers” show.
California-born Lewis has been an active participant in the American folk music scene since the mid 70’s, when she began playing music in San Francisco. Since then she’s appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, A Prairie Home Companion and has released over fifteen albums. Tillery has made a name for herself as a singer and percussionist since after starting out in the San Francisco scene in the late 1960’s. She currently leads the renowned African music group Cultural Heritage Choir. Midwest-raised/San Francisco-based Higbie cut her teeth on the Windham Hill label in the eighties and has been active touring and recording ever since.
These three individuals add their own stylistic stamp to the oeuvre of southern music – a genre of music that all about telling stories and passing down traditions – and its comforting to know that these women are keeping that tradition alive and spreading the joy of this historical American music.
CALENDAR INFO
Laurie Lewis, Linda Tillery, Barbara Higbie “Hills to Hollers”
DATE: Monday, May 21, 2012
PLACE: Kuumbwa Jazz Center
ADDRESS: 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
TIME: 7:00 PM; Pre-concert talk beginning at 6:30 PM
PRICE: $22/Adv $25/Door
TICKETS: Logos Books & Records, 1117 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz (831) 427-5100 and online at: http://www.kuumbwajazz.org
MORE INFO: http://www.kuumbwajazz.org or 831-427-2227
Media contact:
Sandy Sloan
sandy@kuumbwajazz.org
(831) 427-2227
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