Concert Review—

Taylor Helps WPKN With Its Latest

Benefit Efforts

By Ben Keeney

Friday, June 7 saw the third WPKN benefit concert at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. Two years back the line-up of acoustic folk-Americana musicians were brought from the Woodstock, N.Y., musical clan. The then-recently-deceased Rick Danko, an original member of The Band, was the glue that brought in the many acts. The show’s producer had to turn performers away at the stage door who wanted to pay homage to Danko.

Last year some of the original line-up returned with Brit Graham Parker headlining. The “singer-songwriter” theme in memory of Rick Danko was preserved.

This year’s 2002 benefit again sold out, this year with Livingston Taylor as the featured performer.

The evening opened punctually with promoter Jeff Wignall of WPKN explaining the history of these benefits and also serving as the evening’s emcee. He pointedly thanked the Edmond Town Hall staff and soundman Jeff Ballantine for their support.

Wagnall’s own radio slot features blues, jazz, and Van Morrison.

The opening act featured two guitarists – Artie Traum accompanied by Jeff Pevar. Mr Traum, a veteran of the original WPKN benefit, is a session acoustic guitarist who has played with The Band and, yes, Livingston Taylor. His career spans almost 35 years.

Mr Pevar has backed hundreds of acts and has made LPs since a 1984 Rickie Lee Jones effort to as-yet-unreleased albums with Jackson Browne and Yoko Ono (separately).

Garth Hudson emerged a few tunes in to play back up piano for Traum and Pevar on Big Bill Broonzy’s :Trouble in Mind.” Traum’s encore, “South of Lafayette,” was the title song of his latest CD.

Mr Wagnall introduced the following act, Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, emphasizing the appearance of John Platania on guitar. Mr Platania made his largest splash with Van Morrison’s best received back-up group, The Caledonia Soul Orchestra. Garth Hudson was in tow with his saxophones.

The Crowmatix opened with Rick Danko’s final title track, “Times Like These.”

Making selections mostly from the release Over The Edge, two Band covers were played, “Ophelia” and “The Weight.” Their encore was the title track of Over The Edge.

An intermission was followed by Mr Wagnall’s introduction of Livingston Taylor at 9:45. Accompanying himself on guitar, Mr Taylor opened his set with the title track of his 1988 album Life Is Good, produced by Artie Traum. After two more original tunes, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” started the audience on a three-song tour Mr Taylor’s version of Americana music, that of Lorenz Hart.

“I Hate Country Music” followed a novelty song, “Olympic Guitar.” A move to the piano produced two cover songs, “Bluer Than Blue” and “Heart and Soul.” After an a cappella “Carolina Day,” Mr Taylor introduced a former student Matt Cusone. (Taylor is a full professor at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.)  A duet of “City Lights” was followed by Cusone accompanying on piano for Taylor’s “I Must Be Doing Something Right.” After singing “Can You Imagine” accompanied by Mr Taylor on guitar, Mr Cusone left the stage for the evening, allowing Mr Taylor to once again return to the piano, this time with Peter Allen’s “Flyaway.”

Strapping on his banjo for a final novelty medley of what he called “un-banjo-like” tunes, Mr Taylor ended with “Jailhouse Rock.” He encored with “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and then an a cappella of Bill Withers’s “Grandma’s Hands.”

WPKN and all artists mentioned have websites.