american roots live repost from The Morning Call Online

Ablaze with roots music
By Dave Howell Special to The Morning Call Nasty Ned is dedicated to preserving American roots music. That's the idea behind ''American Roots Live,'' a weekly event he recently kicked off at Easton's Bluetone Cafe.

''American Roots Live'' is a cross between an open mike, where individual performers or small groups play according to the order on a signup sheet, and an open jam, where people take turns playing with an onstage band.

AMERICAN ROOTS LIVE' WITH NASTY NED
When: 9 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Bluetone Cafe, 683 Walnut St., Easton, 610-258-5812
Admission: Free; donations accepted
On the Net: http://www.nastyned.com, http://www.american-roots.blogspot.com
Also: 9:00 p.m. Wednesdays at the Crossroads, 78 North Ave., Garwood, N.J., 908-232-5666
Ned is anything but nasty as he encourages his audiences and asks for applause for performers, most of whom are regulars. Many of them also play Wednesday nights at the Crossroads in Garwood, N.J., where Ned began these shows in April. The first Thursday night event at the Bluetone was Sept. 14.

''It's not necessarily an open democracy,'' says Ned. ''I match musicians with other musicians according to style and how good they are. They don't even have to play an instrument.''

Singers are welcome to perform with the ever-changing house band. The house band might be players who are jamming or a band that has volunteered to host.

Ned, who prefers not to give his real name, says 50 to 60 percent of the performers do blues. But there's folk, gospel, bluegrass, and even comedic songs. What they share is passion.

Among those performing at the first Easton jam were John Powers, EJ Rice, Johnny Charles, Lori V, Sonny Young, Billy K, Chip Bush, Jamo Flynn, Brian Bridge of Dyer Weed, Brad Sicotte, Arne Englund, JR Bradfield, Gary Rivenson of Philadelphia Funk Authority and Gene Downin from the Noo Dogs.

''Roots music'' is a relatively new term. The Public Broadcasting System Web site states that it is what used to be called ''folk music.'' It also says, ''The term 'roots music' is now used to refer to this broad range of musical genres, which include blues, gospel, traditional country, zydeco, tejano, and native American pow-wow.''

Other descriptions are less inclusive, focusing on old-time country and blues. Ned calls it ''everything that has come before today's music. It's not just banjos and harmonicas on the back porch. It's W.C. Handy, Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Beatles. Everything is based upon what we've seen and heard before.''

''Kids don't understand where their music comes from,'' he says. ''Historical societies have popped up everywhere. Music should be treated the same way. It's a part of who we are. American music has influenced music everywhere.''

He continues: ''As a working musician, I've seen that there are less and less venues to play. With technology the way it is, a club owner is more inclined to pay $150 for a DJ or karaoke than hundreds of dollars for a live band. But there needs to be a live music scene to preserve our musical roots.''

Ned is happy he found the Bluetone Cafe, known for its live blues and R&B. ''Joe Karam [the owner] gets it,'' he says.

Ned starts each show by playing ''The Star Spangled Banner'' on the harmonica, an instrument he has been using for 40 years. His first instrument was the saxophone. He played in the school marching band, but gave up the sax and the ''funny uniform'' when he heard the music of the British Invasion, which included the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

''I took up playing guitar, but I never progressed,'' he says. ''I still play the guitar like a teenager.'' Hearing bluesman Slim Harpo on the radio in 1964 encouraged him to pick up the harmonica.

In 1995 he recorded the CD ''Just Like Life'' as the leader of Nasty Ned & The Famous Chili Dogs. His current group is Nasty Ned & The Noo Dogs.

Ned is an enthusiastic talker, but unfortunately he does not have a good story about how he got his nickname. ''Ned'' was given to him in high school, and ''Nasty'' was added after a particularly blazing performance.

Ned has many plans to expand his roots shows. He expects to open a third venue in New York City on Tuesday nights. He is producing a TV show that will feature acoustic performance, monologues, interviews and record reviews. He has begun to present concerts of American Roots All Stars.

He also tries to whip up excitement with a blog that describes in detail what happens at each ''American Roots Live'' events. It's at
americanroots.blogspot.com.

jodi.duckett@mcall.com

american roots 26 live at the crossroads

American Roots Live 26 down at the Crossroads Wednesday night.

Rob Paparozzi, harp player, blues rapper, Broadway performer, front man of the "Original Blues Brothers Band" with Steve Cropper, Matt Murphy and Lou Marini, took time this week from his current gig; fronting the legendary "Blood, Sweat and Tears", to play Crossroads in Garwood - Friday with his band, The Hudson River Rats featuring Bernard Purdie, and Wednesday night with us at American Roots Live.

Accompanied by Ron Poppa on guitar, John Powers on drums and Robert Z playing bass, Rob Paparozzi honked and hollered through three hot steppers including Sonny Boy's "Pontiac" then, with harmonica and mic-in-hand, jumped behind the piano to rock a right-handed solo, thrilling an already excited crowd.

We also welcomed two new acts at American Roots Live 26; a sparky, talented young, lefty-guitar slinger named Steve McIntyre
We were also thankful to hear one of our favorite Aerican Roots All Stars, Bernie BB Brauswetter buzz through a couple of funky stingers and pleasure us while his guitar weeped "c'mon people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together try and love one another right now" with Copa playing bass and Rob on drums.

Other memorable performances by Josh Gebhardt, Ed Pampani, Bones Sanford, Screamin' Mimi Nowak, Len DePiano, Ray DiGiovanni, Walter Foot, Terry Hunter and Jimmy and more.

When Slim Harpo sang "Where the music's hot," he could have been signing about American Roots Live at the Bluetone Cafe in Easton, PA Thursday night, 'cause, man we were cookin' there, too.

With rain pouring down in sheets and the weatherman screaming about tornados, we had more players in the house than non-players. In fact our audience was about 98% musicians proving that an artist's passion can't be cooled by threats of a funnel cloud. Even with the two birthday parties in the room, there was more heat coming out of the Bluetone Thursday night than just candles burning on cakes!

We were honored to accommodate renowned Philly jazz trumpeter - Ortlieb's own - Roger Prieto, who brought us all back to ol' New Orleans with his muted horn then brass balled serenading.

With a red hot band consisting of AR All Stars Johnny Charles on guitar and Gene Downin on bass, and a little harmonica from my barstool, Roger Prieto smiled and shined while mixing it up with Sonny Young and Chris Hedges, also on guitars (Chris playing slide) and Brian "Bam Bam" Bridge on drums.

Many thanks to one jammin' Jaimo Flynn for his remarkable performance on drums and supreme efforts in guesthosting American Roots Live 26 with Johnny Charles, myself and the steady rollin' bass of Stroudsburg, PA's Chip Bush. Also great performances by Billy K, Vern Mobley of Fusion Jazz Trio, Keith and more.

American Roots Live 26 marked 6 months of constant live celebration of the greatest music in the world - American Roots Music. Many thanks to our venues, ownership and staff, all of the wonderful, talented and dedicated musicians and singers, our sponsors and supporters, and our American Roots volunteers and ambassadors.

Here's looking forward toward the next six months of American Roots Live and beyond. We've got a lot in store for you. Stay tuned.

Keeping it real,

Ned

American Roots Nooz

american roots nooz
...enjoy reading the latest Roots Review at

american roots blog

American Roots Live with Nasty Ned

Come join the fun!

Tonight!
...and every Wednesday night at 9 pm
with guest host John Powers & the Arturos

Crossroads
78 North Ave.
Garwood, NJ
908-232-5666
www.xxroads.com

Tomorrow night!
...and every Thursday night at 9 pm

The Bluetone Cafe
683 Walnut St.
Easton, PA
(610) 258-5812
www.bluetonecafe.com

Tomorrow's guest hosts are Johnny Charles, Big Boy Kenny Nerbak and Jaimo Flynn.

Read Roots Reviews at http://american-roots.blogspot.com
...or view the photo gallery at www.nastyned.com



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*NOTE: The American Roots Movement needs volunteers to perform the following tasks:*
************************************************************************************

1. Personal assistant to Nasty Ned. You must be well organized, have an easy going personality, love for music, proficiency in MS Word and Excel and a home computer. Willingness to travel from time to time would be helpful. This could turn into a full time, salaried position for the right person. Please send resume in body of email to nastyned@att.net No attachments please.

2. Volunteers in both locations to help with the raffle process and to greet patrons at the door with a smile.

3. Live sound engineer in Garwood.

4. Stage hand in Garwood.

5. Volunteer familiar with securing government grants for the performing arts.

Please send all volunteer inquiries to nastyned@att.net.

And please continue to support everyone who works hard to keep the Roots alive.

==================================================================================

Subscribe to Elmore Magazine "Saving American Music" elmoremagazine

Listen to the LOW BUDGET BLUES SHOW with Richard Skelly, every Thursday night at 8 PM on 88.7 FM, WRSU, Rutgers State University - and online at as Richard spins your favorite new and old blues records including some from Nasty Ned!
WRSU

Get hip to what the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation is doing. Visit them at

...also visit the United Jersey Blues Network, the NY/NJ Blues Society and the Buck's County Blues Society. See how they're making a difference ...and how you too can Help Keep the Blues Alive!
JSJBF
Contact Nasty Ned... nastyned@att.net

American Roots Ambassadors:
Duane Chez... Duane Chez
HoneyBoy Dupree... HoneyBoy Dupree
John Powers... JOHN POWERS

american roots review by nasty ned

The roots of American music run deep.

When you look at the influential music makers of the 20th century as each an individual root making-up a collectively massive root system - like that of a 100 year old tree - you begin to realize the complexity of our musical heritage.

Whether we're talking acoustic or electric, Pop, Rock, Country or Jazz, Blues, Be-Bop, Swing, R & B, Rap or Soul - Rock n' Roll, Bluegrass, Gospel, Funk, Folk or Holler - all are the roots of the music being made today.

When W.C. Handy wrote "Memphis Blues" in 1909, he had no idea he was becoming great- great grandfather of a baby to be named Rock n' Roll, nor did Robert Johnson realize as he recorded "Crossroads Blues" in 1936 in a San Antonio hotel room, that he was to be great grandfather of a music called Rock.

W.C. Handy and Robert Johnson never imagined their music would inspire thousands of legendary mothers and fathers of the Blues whose own music would go on to lead millions of sons and daughters to interpret and reshape a sound the world would soon recognize simply as American Music.

When Muddy Waters recorded "Rolling Stone" in 1950 he didn't know his lingo would serve to identify a cultural movement who would come to know the phrase as the name of its "most heralded Rock band" and the most widely read music-magazine that would help define an era.

My intention with Roots Reviews now, is to further exemplify the importance of preserving 20th century American Roots Music by profiling some of its ancestors, while still talking about the performances and contributions of the current music makers who perform with us each week at American Roots Live on stage at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ and the Bluetone in Easton, PA.

Like 19 year old Kelly Caruso who held a crowded house in her young hands with pure presence, poise and powerful-pipes belting out the classics "Got my mojo working," "Hit the road Jack" and her hot knife on butter rendition of Etta James' "At last" Wednesday night at Crossroads.

Guitar wizard, Bernie BB Brauswetter, spirited and funny, engaged the audience in conversation while putting on a guitar clinic with another accomplished six stringer, Ron Poppa at his side. There was the rockin' unsafe sax of Walter Bordinaro, the chain smoking, heartfelt guitar solos of Jeff Page - while he and JR Bradfield put in extra effort covering for the illin' John Powers to ensure the smoothness and rhythm American Roots Live shows are known for.

Other great performances Wednesday night at Crossroads came from JR Bradfield, Mike Caruso, Bones Sanford, Robert Z, Ed Pampani, Pete Lutz, Gabe Perry, Bob Del Rosso, Bobby Malavenda, Mimi Nowak, Dave Mager and others.

At the Bluetone on Thursday Arne Englund and his gold-top Les Paul tore it up with a vengeance burning through rockin' Muddy Waters' classics with Big Boy Kenny Nerbak on bass solid as a rock, myself blowin' and shoutin' and Andy McGregor on drums.

Later Arne and that gold-top mesmerized the audience with the Allman Brother's "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" in an improvised duet with Arlen Schar who emulated the original, recognizable guitar parts on her violin - Jamie Flynn playing drums like Jamo and Butch Trucks at the same time.

Other great performances at the Bluetone came from Billy K, Chip Bush, Ed Moore, Doc Z, Randall Smith, Paul Berger, B Moore Ezz, Leo, Keith, Don H, Ross T, Vern Mobley and others.

Many thanks go to Lee Frankel, Ronnie, April, Lauren, Mike, Greg and Derek at Crossroads and Joe Karam, Aaron, Christina and staff at the Bluetone. Much respect and appreciation for our volunteers, sponsors and supporters, Win of Elliott Newcomb Designs, Ed Pampani, Robert Z, Mary Anne, Jack Powers, Eddie Ray of Computown, Big Boy Kenny Nerbak, Arne England, Elmore Magazine, Richard Skelly, Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, Ambassadors John Powers, HoneyBoy Dupree and Duane Chez - Bob Makin, Bill Nutt, the Courier News, the Allentown Morning call, Jane, Dave Howell and Jody Miller and more, too numerous to mention, but certainly not unappreciated.

Friday marked our first American Roots All Stars in Concert which was held at Crossroads in a successful effort to keep the movement moving.

Providing memorable performances in concert were The WiliamzBoy, John Powers, Michael Krizan and myself, Johnny Charles, JR Bradfield and the Ten Foot Tall Band featuring, Jeanne, Jeff Page and Jim Popik.

Many thanks here to John Powers, Josh Gebhard, Ed Pampani, Win, Ronnie, April, Mike, Greg, Derek, Robert Z, Annette and Joe Brutal.

Hope to see you all at the next American Roots Live show nearest you because it's fun, stimulates our "live" music scene and because kids need to be reminded of where their music comes from.

Keeping it real,

Ned