BLUESNIGHT
Dorchester Arts Centre
Michael Roach
Review by: Lewis A Harris
STARTING our new season of Bluesnight the wonderful musician, raconteur, historian and all round entertainer Michael Roach, a very charming man who hails form Washington DC, USA, was fortunate to have been taught by a number of old timers.
His repertoire is anchored in the 1920's/30's, but includes Negro spirituals and his own compositions.
He started with a pair of Mississippi John Hurt numbers. Excellent picking and melodic.
Michael played tunes by Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup, 'That's Alright Mama' a real driving rhythm.
Charlie Jordan and John Jackson.
He gave a demonstration of childhood games of rhythm and rhyme involving clapping and thigh slapping - very informative - we all enjoyed songs where the audience joined in on the chorus lines!
A very poignant moment was his rendition of Skip James's 'Cypress Grove'. The tone on that guitar was superb!
A very pleasant evening ending with an encore in acapella.
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