After a decade in NYC touring the world as a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist with bandleaders such as Wynton Marsalis and Doc Severinsen, Janelle Haskell decided to make a complete switch to something she's always loved deeply: folk music. Gathering influence from the jazz-inspired harmonies of Joni Mitchell, the finger-picking workings of James Taylor, and other artists who've bridged that delicate gap between folk and jazz, Janelle's songs draw heavily upon her personal experiences in love and life, particularly navigating a path from the life of a busy city girl to one back at home in the Midwest with all the open space and sky she'd longed for during all those years away.
Now entering his 7th decade, Tom has been playing guitar since his mid-teens. After recently retiring from a career in engineering, Tom has been taking full advantage of the opportunity to exercise the neglected side of his brain by honing his guitar playing. Tom has been in a number of bands over the years and enjoys playing acoustic, electric and slide guitar as well as the harmonica, but solo acoustic guitar has always been his passion. In the mid 1990’s, Tom met Shari Kane who introduced him to the acoustic blues which began a lifelong journey to learn from the masters of this genre. Some of his influences include Doc Watson, Jorma Kaukonen, Dave Van Ronk and Pat Donohue. For Tom, there’s always been something magical about a solo acoustic guitar performance. The great Richard Thompson probably said it best: “To stand up on a stage alone with an acoustic guitar requires bravery bordering on heroism. Bordering on insanity.”
Anne first took a lesson from Shari in the late ‘90s. She taught her to be a finger style blues player. Sometime about 15 years ago or so, she became the next owner of an amazing 1944 Martin Guitar that Shari had played for 26 years or so. The thing about that guitar is it somehow wills you to play better than you really play and Anne has enjoyed it very much. She hadn’t played much in many years and started back with Shari last year. She is flattered to be part of this group.
DOORS AT 8:30 | SHOW AT 9:00
