Ontworteld: W.C. Handy en Leadbelly + Music by Friends

Ontworteld is een nieuwe serie van Splendormusicus River Adomeit die roots- en folkmuziek in een nieuw jasje steekt. De eerste editie staat in het teken van twee iconen van de blues-traditie: W.C. Handy en Leadbelly.

W.C. Handy was een muzikant, componist en uitgever, een grote speler in Amerikaanse populaire muziek in de 20e eeuw. Stukken als St. Louis Blues, Careless Love, The Memphis Blues en Atlanta Blues staan op zijn naam. In veel van zijn muziek gebruikt hij Amerikaanse volksmelodieën, die je ook terug kan vinden in andere blues en folk liedjes. Zijn invloed was groot, en hij wordt vaak “Father of the Blues” genoemd.

Huddie Ledbetter, beter bekend als Leadbelly, was een zanger en muzikant die bekend werd door de hulp van John en Alan Lomax, vader en zoon ethno musicologen, die hem vonden toen ze muziek opnamen in de gevangenis waar Ledbetter toendertijd vastzat. Ledbetter heeft nadat hij uit de gevangenis was gekomen meerdere opnames gemaakt, en veel gespeeld in New York City en een aantal van de liedjes die hij zong zijn heel bekend geworden. Denk aan Goodnight Irene, Pick a Bale of Cotton, Rock Island Line en Where Did You Sleep Last Night.
Deze twee muzikanten hebben ondanks hun zeer verschillende levensloop beide enorm veel invloed gehad op Amerikaanse populaire muziek, en hun muziek is diep geworteld in Amerikaanse volksmuziek.

Over Music by Friends:
“During my time in Amsterdam, I’ve had the privilege of playing music by many inspiring musicians and composers. For this concert, I bring together nine pieces by friends and colleagues that I’ve played and recorded over the past few years, as a tribute to the people and music that have shaped me. For each piece, I’ve created a solo guitar arrangement, exploring how its melodies, harmonies, textures and different voices can live within a single instrument.” – Siebren Smink

Eerste set:
Siebren Smink – gitaar

Tweede set:
Cem Karayalçin – gitaar
Frances Amado – stem
River Adomeit – contrabas

-ENGELS-OT-First edition of a new series on roots music

-ENGELS-
First edition of the new roots-focused series begins with two vital early American Blues musicians, W.C. Handy and Lead Belly. Siebren Smink will play an opening guitar set, celebrating fellow Amsterdam composers.

Uprooted is a new series by Splendor musician River Adomeit, reimagining roots and folk music in a new form. The first edition focuses on two icons of the blues tradition: W.C. Handy and Lead Belly.
W.C. Handy was a musician, composer and publisher, and a major figure in 20th-century American popular music. He is credited with pieces such as St. Louis Blues, Careless Love, The Memphis Blues and Atlanta Blues. Much of his music draws on American folk melodies, which can also be found in other blues and folk songs. His influence was immense, and he is often referred to as the “Father of the Blues.”

Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, was a singer and musician who rose to prominence with the help of John and Alan Lomax, a father-and-son team of ethnomusicologists who discovered him while recording music in the prison where Ledbetter was serving time. After his release, Ledbetter made numerous recordings and performed extensively in New York City. Several of the songs he sang went on to become widely known, including Goodnight Irene, Pick a Bale of Cotton, Rock Island Line and Where Did You Sleep Last Night.

Despite their very different life stories, these two musicians both had an enormous influence on American popular music, and their work is deeply rooted in American folk traditions.

About Music by Friends:
“During my time in Amsterdam, I’ve had the privilege of playing music by many inspiring musicians and composers. For this concert, I bring together nine pieces by friends and colleagues that I’ve played and recorded over the past few years, as a tribute to the people and music that have shaped me. For each piece, I’ve created a solo guitar arrangement, exploring how its melodies, harmonies, textures and different voices can live within a single instrument.” – Siebren Smink

First set:
Siebren Smink – guitar

Second set:
Cem Karayalçin – guitar
Frances Amado – voice
River Adomeit – bass