PRESENTS
PAT WICTOR & JUD CASWELL
Saturday, December 15, 2007
$17.50 door, $15 JPTC members, seniors and students with ID.
Doors 7:30pm. Concert 8:00pm.
The Notlob Parlor Concerts at the Loring-Greenough House presents the best local and touring roots, Americana, newgrass, traditional and contemporary folk and blues artists in unique and unusual settings in the Boston, MA area. The Fall 2007 series continues at the historic Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. 02130, http://www.lghouse.org. Built in 1760, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has been a historic house museum since 1926. Its beautiful period decor and intimate size make it an ideal setting for acoustic music.
PAT WICTOR
http://www.myspace.com/patwictor
-Richard Cuccaro, Acoustic Live
In a remarkably short period of time, Pat Wictor has become the name that is being chatted about on the acoustic, blues, folk and Americana circuits. Steeped in American "roots" music, Pat is a contemporary songwriter and interpreter drawing on the rural country, gospel, and blues traditions of our nation.
An American by birth, Pat was raised outside of the United States until his teenage years, living in Venezuela, Holland, Norway, and England. This time abroad gave him an unusually deep awareness of being a resident of a country while also a world citizen. Through these early experiences, he gained an appreciation for taking diffferent paths to arrave at the same destination.
Indeed, Pat took a convoluted path to folk music, winding his way through rock, heavy metal, and jazz. He started with guitar, shifted to bass, moved to saxophone, and then quit music entirely before a return in 1993, a time when he also began composing songs. By 2001, he left a teaching career to pursue music full time and does so in the broadest way possible. An adept improviser and accompanist, he is sought after as a collaborator, sideman and session musician, with numerous recording credits to date. His monthly e-mail column, "A Few Choice Words," is read by thousands of subscribers. He is a music educator of note, teaching workshops on writing, interpreting, and rearranging songs, on slide guitar and other guitar techniques, and various topics of music history.
His performances--part fireside chat, part meditation on matters earthly and transcendent--feature his originals. In addition to his own tunes, he is quick to offer up a newly-discovered lyric from another performer, or a fresh arrangement of a traditional song, delighting in introducing his audience to innovative material. With flowing red hair and zen-like calm, Pat embraces his audience with the sincerity of his music and the clarity of his voice, inviting them in.
Pat views his life and his music as a journey, populated with an ever-shifting landscape of people, places and emotions. It is a journey he is eager to share with others, knowing that it is the experiences along the way, not the arrival, that initiate the most profound changes.
Pat's fifth CD, Heaven Is So High...And I'm So Far Down, was released in July '06, and has receivved nationwide airplay on folk and specialty radio programs. The disc features standout originals like "I Will Walk With You," the a cappella "Raise My Voice and Sing," and the title track. The CD also includes distinctive versions of Bob Dylan's "Oxford Town," Dave Carter's "When I Go," and a swampy, rousing version of "You Got To Move," featuring Abbie Gardner of Red Molly. His previous CD, Waiting for the Water, also received wide radio play, reaching #4 on the FolkDJ charts in February 2005, and remaining on the charts for months afterward.
HONORS AND CREDITS:
2007 Finalist, New Folk competition, Kerrville Folk Festival
2006 Most Wanted, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist Showcase
2006 Nominee, Emerging Artist of the Year, International Folk Alliance
2006 Nominee, Best Gospel Song, "Love Is the Water," Independent Music Awards
2006 CD Favorites, "Heaven Is So High..", The Midnight Special, WFMT Chicago, Rich Warren, host
Quotes and Testimonials:
“Pat Wictor’s songs, his blues tinged slide guitar and mellow performance style impress the hell out of me. Watch out for this guy. He’s a terrific new talent.”
- Gene Shay, WXPN, Philadelphia
“If you can make it to only one concert this year, let it be a show by Brooklyn’s own Pat Wictor, who plays heart-felt blues-based roots music like the only begotten son of Bonnie Raitt (same red hair!) and Chris Smither. And unlike blues interpreters who have seen too many stormy Mondays with hellhounds on their trail, Pat is also an excellent songwriter whose new/old compositions will send you on a journey through the old Dock Boggs and Son House 78s. But these aren’t old songs, they’re originals that, to paraphrase Mr. Smither, are “still flopping around on the deck.”
- Jim Motavalli, WPKN, Bridgeport, CT
“Soft-spoken and articulate, in the 1930’s he could have been a dust bowl preacher. The sermons, accompanied by the choir of his slide guitar, would have brought comfort to many a soul.”
- Richard Cuccaro, Acoustic Live
“His performances are delicate, nearly evanescent–a daring and unusual approach for a blues singer who give listeners fresh perspectives on such familiar material as Son House’s “Death Letter” and Skip James’ “Hard Time Killing Floor.” Wictor’s compositions are especially memorable.”
- Blues Revue
“Pat Wictor is a phenomenal lap-slide guitarist and songwriter as well as an interpreter of others’ music. His lyrics are intelligent and compelling, his stage presence commanding.”
- Mike Space, Artistic Director, Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA
“Amazingly his live performances are as polished and brilliant as his recordings. It has been my supreme pleasure to harmonize with him.”
- Jen Schonwald, Angel Band and Full Frontal Folk
“Although I am inherently suspicious regarding any so-called “buzz” that surrounds a new artist, the word of mouth about Pat Wictor is more than justified when you listen to the man. He’s a master at the lap-style slide guitar, has a haunting voice, and showcases an eclectic selection of songs on his CDs.”
- Charlie Backfish, Sunday Street Program, WUSB, Stony Brook, NY
“This is one of the best CDs to come across my desk in a long time.”
- Jeff Rusch, WNTI Hackettstown,NJ
“He not only is a great guy and a great talent, but I believe he has, follicle for follicle, the best hair in folk music.”
- Rob Carlson, Modern Man
JUD CASWELL
http://www.myspace.com/judcaswell
A multi-instrumentalist from an early age, he wandered through jazz bands, orchestras and medieval ensembles before finding his home on the acoustic guitar. Heralded by Sing Out! magazine as "one of the leading singer-songwriters on the current scene," Jud has won eight nationally recognized songwriting contests, including the Dave Carter Memorial, Boston Folk Festival, and Kerrville New Folk contests. His song "Blackberry Time" is being taught in the songwriting curriculum at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Jud is currently supporting the release of his latest CD, “Blackberry Time,” released in 2007.
- Finalist, 2008 South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest
- Winner, 2007 Dave Carter Memorial Song Contest
- Winner, 2007 Plowshares Songwriting Contest
- Winner, 2006 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Contest
- First Place, 2006 Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest
- Selected, 2006 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist
- Winner, 2006 Wildflower Performing Songwriter Contest
- First Place, 2006 Suwannee Springfest Songwriting Contest
- First Place, 2004 Great American Song Contest (9 Awards including 1st Place)
- Winner, 2004 Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition
"...one of the leading singer-songwriters on the current scene... highly original... He's a young man who is wise beyond his years. Caswell sings with charming warmth in his voice. By the end of the CD you want to know this man."
- Rich Warren, Sing Out!
"Jud Caswell is much more than a great singer and guitar player, Jud's songs take you into the storyteller's world with clear images and characters that come to life for the listener."
- David Wilcox
Folkwax gives "Blackberry Time" a 9, saying, “Caswell's fluent, warm, honey-like melodies and his undoubted skill with his six-string piece of wood and steel... both constitute aural delights... Jud Caswell is a rare and eloquent song poet who truly deserves your time and your God-given listening apparatus...”
- Arthur Wood, founding editor of FolkWax
"Maine's Jud Caswell is one of those expert, multigifted folk singers who are surprisingly unknown outside their home territory. Caswell's guitar playing is elegant, his voice both personable and tuneful, his songs neatly crafted, his sound imbued with warm energy."
- Boston Herald
Website: http://notlobmusic.googlepages.com
Artist information: http://www.myspace.com/notlobhouseconcerts
Venue: Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.
Price: $17.50 at the door, $15 with advanced reservation to notlobmusic@ gmail.com and to members of the JPTC, seniors and students with ID. Seating is limited to 40. Inquire about group discounts.
MBTA: Take #39 bus from either Back Bay Station or Forest Hills Station to the Monument stop, directly in front of the Loring-Greenough House, at the intersections of Centre and South Streets.
Handicap accessible: Call 617-524-3158 for more information.
Directions: The Loring-Greenough house is located at the intersection of Centre and South Streets, across the street from the Civil War monument. http://www.lghouse.org/information.htm
Parking: The Loring-Greenough House lot holds 12 cars, gates are closed when full. Parking is also available on the street and in the public lot located behind Blanchard’s liquors, one block away.
Dining: There are several fine restaurants on CentreStreet within 2-3 blocks, with on street parking and a large public parking lot behind Blanchard’s. At Centre Street Café (669A Centre Street, 617-524-9217),
show proof of your reservation and get 10% off. More information at http://groups.google.com/group/notlobmusic/web/centre-street-cafe-becomes-a-notlob-restaurant-partner
Coffee, tea, water and pastries are available for a donation.
Volunteers & street team: This is a 100% volunteer-run effort. All interested in participating can read the volunteer policy at http://groups.google.com/group/notlobmusic/web/volunteer-policy Publicity assistance is often required. If interested, contact via notlobmusic@gmail.com, with “publicity” in the subject line.
Future concerts:
Saturday, December 22 2007, 8:00 pm ~ A very special holiday concert featuring Bob Franke ~ Traditional Folk ~ http://www.bobfranke.com
Saturday, January 5, 2008, 7:30pm ~ Colleen Sexton & Rebecca Katz – Contemporary folk ~ http://www.colleensexton.com/ http://www.rkatztunes.com/
Saturday, January 19, 2008, 7:30pm ~ Jon Shain & Robin O’Herin, with very special guest – Traditional folk, gospel and blues ~ http://www.jonshain.com/ http://www.robinoherin.com/
More information at http://notlobmusic.googlepages.com
Please share with friends and neighbors, and thank you for supporting live music.
Maverick Magazine, UK 
“At time soft and soulful, at others riotous and rowdy ... Wakefield is a unique and wholly self-evolved performer with that special ingredient” 