Blues at Centrum

Jude Taylor: Zydeco Accordion

Jude Taylor is a hidden gem in the zydeco music scene today. A latecomer to the industry, 50 year old Jude Taylor from Grand Coteau, Louisiana has a unique style of zydeco that combines some of the best elements of jazz, blues, Cajun, and rock ‘n' roll into a musical mix that has catapulted him and his Burning Flames band to headliner status along the club circuit in the Northeast and as part of many international and national zydeco tours. 

Originally a blues vocalist, Jude Taylor picked up the piano key accordion in the decade of the eighties having been inspired by the success and followings of artists like Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Jr. and the "King of Zydeco," Clifton Chenier. He spent a good time in his early days shadowing these two zydeco legends and working as part of the road crew, singing background vocals and serving as a personal valet. His soulful rhythm and blues style of zydeco was most influenced by the styles of Chenier and Marcel Dugas, and Taylor was clearly able to perfect his sound as he followed these masters through the Louisiana zydeco dance halls of Grand Coteau, St. Martinville, Lafayette and Lawtell. 

Sometimes overshadowed by the wealth and popularity of new young talent emerging on the Cajun-Zydeco scene today, Jude Taylor remains both pragmatic and focused on his art. He once  told Lafayette freelance writer Todd Mouton, "I'm not downing anyone. I'm not out there mumblin' and jumblin' words together - I'm out there to send a message or tell a story." For Jude Taylor and his many fans the message is one of keeping the traditional zydeco-blues fires burning. The gentle-man from Grand Coteau remains most comfortable interpreting the musical sounds of Clifton Chenier,  Boozoo Chavis, B.B. King, Buckwheat, Roy Carrier and perhaps even Beau Jocque. His style of zydeco-blues is remarkably laced with uplifting rhythms that propel his audiences to the dance floor.

Artistic Director Phil Wiggins

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1954, Centrum's Artistic Director for Blues Phil Wiggins began his musical career with some of Washington's leading blues artists, including the locally noted slide guitarist and gospel singer Flora Molton. He also apprenticed with Mother Scott (a contemporary of Bessie Smith). He met John in 1976 and, along with pianist Wilbert "Big Chief" Ellis and bassist James Bellamy, they formed the Barrelhouse Rockers. After Ellis' death in 1977, the duo of Cephas & Wiggins was born. Besides being a renowned harmonica player, Wiggins is also a gifted songwriter whose material has helped define the duo's sound. Often called the Ambassadors of The Blues, Cephas & Wiggins continue to bring Piedmont blues to audiences all over the world.

As a duo, Cephas & Wiggins are recognized as the leading exponents of traditional Piedmont blues. They recorded their first domestic album in 1987, Dog Days of August, and it quickly won a W.C. Handy Award (the Grammy of the blues community) for "Best Traditional Blues Album Of The Year" They also took home the Handy Award for "Blues Entertainers of the Year," an Award that usually goes to electric blues artists. In 1989, John Cephas received a National Heritage Fellowship Award. Often called the "Living Treasure" Award, this is the highest honor the United States government offers a traditional artist.

Aside from his busy schedule performing, Wiggins has also done his share of acting. Phil was in the cast of Matewon, a prize-winning Hollywood film. Cephas & Wiggins  together have appeared in the stage production of Chewing The Blues and in the documentary films Blues Country and Houseparty. They've also been featured in four nationally touring productions: Masters of the Steel String Guitar, Juke Joints and Jubilee, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Echoes of Africa. Two albums in the early 1990s brought them even more recognition and earned them additional critical acclaim and praise.

Mainstage Performance Schedule

This post refers to an event that occurred in the past. For current event/workshop information, visit www.centrum.org/blues, and follow the workshop or performance links at the top right,

Get ready to take a musical journey August 3-4, 2007.

At it's core, The Port Townsend Country Blues Festival is a weeklong workshop where people from all over the world come to live and learn with the finest blues musicians this planet has to offer. On the weekend, we turn on the lights and the renowned artist/faculty take to the stage for mainstage performances in Fort Worden State Park's WWI-era McCurdy Pavilion, and for club performances in Port Townsend's historic downtown and uptown districts.

Now in its 15th year, the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival is one of the few gatherings in the U.S. whose focus is on acoustic, pre-war blues. Thanks to the guidance and artistic direction of harmonica legend Phil Wiggins, we’ve assembled a truly outstanding lineup of internationally known performers along with the finest blues artists in the Northwest.

Friday, August 3, 7:30 pm
McCurdy Pavilion
Reserved seats $16 (kids free)
Purchase tickets (sales begin May 1)

National Heritage Fellow Concert:
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the National Heritage Award 
1) Eddie Pennington 2) Henry Gray 3) John Cephas and Phil Wiggins

Saturday, August 4, 1:30 pm
McCurdy Pavilion
Reserved seats $20
Purchase tickets (sales begin May 1)

Club Sampler Set--one tune each by:
1) Steve James 2) Lauren Sheehan 3) Eric Freeman 4) John Miller 5) Eleanor Ellis 6) Terry "Harmonica" Bean 7) Allen Holmes 8) Andra Faye 9) Elijah Wald 10) Del Rey 11) Lightnin' Wells 12) Erwin Helfer

Plus Full Sets by:
1) Shirley Powell 2) Cheick Hamala Diabate 3) Paul Rishell and Annie Raines 4) Gaye Adegbalola 5) Robert "Wolfman" Belfour

Our Sponsors

Evergreen Fibres, Inc. was established in January 1997 as a trader of containerboard and other packaging grades. Over the past nine years, Evergreen has capitalized on its strong supplier and customer relationships to build a $ 75-million business, marketing North American paperboard in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and virtually every overseas market. 

Evergreen is headquartered in Branford, Connecticut and has five sales offices throughout the U.S. The company’s market leadership position can be credited to the talent, experience, and professionalism of the members of our team.  We believe in the companies with whom we do business, consider them strategic business partners, and recognize their role in our success. Our relationships on both sides of the transaction are strong and have been developed over many years.  Evergreen Fibres is an Associate Member of the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters.

We are very excited about our relationship with Centrum and are happy to be able to support their efforts on behalf of youth education and the arts.

A full service violin shop in Poulsbo, Washington on the Kitsap Peninsula, serving professional and student musicians. We offer instrument repair and restoration, bow repair and rehairing, and the sale of violins, violas, cellos, basses, bows and accessories.  We have an in-house luthier with over 15 years of experience. Click here to visit our site.

Port Townsend Brewing Co.

Young's Columbia Distributing

Since 1935, Columbia Distributing company has distributed some of the best known labels in the beer, wine, and natural beverage business. Headquartered on a 14.3 acre site on Swan Island in Portland, Oregon, Columbia is now the nation's largest purveyor of microbrewed beer and the largest fine wine distributor in the Northwest.With the largest privately owned delivery fleet of any beverage distributor in the Northwest, Columbia provides products for over 95% of Oregon, and 89% of Washington. Visit the Columbia website

FAQ

1. Who should come?
   YOU! Playing professionals, ensembles, aspiring musicians, beginners, lovers of acoustic blues--all are welcome.
   
   Blues at Centrum is not just about learning a song. It's about experiencing in a meaningful way the sounds, the stories, the laughter and the pain--indeed the lives--of the faculty and participants at the gathering. It's about making cultural and musical connections. And it's about finding your own voice.
   
   The workshop is a living community with players jamming, sharing and learning. All ages, all abilities--if you're into the blues, you'll do fine here, finding plenty of challenges and opportunities.
       
   
2. What is the cost?
   Adult tuition for the week is $440.
   Room and board costs range from $200-$380.
   SPECIAL: If you are a returning participant and refer a FIRST-TIME participant, we'll take $100 off of your tution.
   
3. How old must I be?
   All ages are welcome, but if you are under 18, you must be with a registered adult participant. Tuition includes admission to all performances.
      
   
4. Where do we stay?
   Your home for the week is historic Fort Worden State Park, a turn-of-the-20th century fort that overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with expansive views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. Meals are served in Fort Worden Commons--the park's conference center dining facility.

Workshop schedule

First Sunday

• 3:30-5:30 check-in
• 7:00 welcome session

Monday-Friday workshops

• 10:00 am
• 1:30 pm
• 3:30 pm
• 7:30 pm

Friday & Saturday
Public performances and Blues in the clubs

Meals
Breakfast    8:30
Lunch        noon
Dinner        5:30

Last Sunday, check out by 11am

2007 Workshop Faculty

The heart of Centrum's Country Blues Workshop is its faculty. Each year, led by Artistic Director Phil Wiggins, we scour the continent to bring you the best teachers and players--masters who are steeped in the traditions of acoustic blues. Their knowledge, stories, musicianship and commitment to the community are part of what makes this week such a special celebration of the blues.

Blues Singing
Gaye Adegbalola   more info

Fiddle/Mandolin
Andra Faye   more info

Gospel Choir
Shirley Smith     More info on Gospel choir page.

Guitar
Robert Belfour    more info
Lurrie Bell     more info
John Cephas     more info
Eleanor Ellis      more info
Eric Freeman   
Cheick Hamala Diabate      more info
Steve James     more info
John Miller     more info
Del Rey     more info
Paul Rishell     more info
Lauren Sheehan     more info
Elijah Wald     more info
Mike “Lightnin’” Wells     more info

Harmonica
Terry “Harmonica” Bean     more info
Allen Holmes (overblow technique) more info
Annie Raines     more info
Phil Wiggins more info

Piano
Henry Gray     more info
Erwin Helfer     more info
Judy Laprade more info
Annieville Wooden more info

Keyboard Accordion
Jude Taylor

Blues Step Dance Tradition (Buck dance, Buck Jump)
Rush McAllister more info 

The Blues Muse
In addition to the above performers, poet Kim Addonizio, a student of the Mississippi saxophone (a.k.a. the “harmonica”), will be hanging out at the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival. She will give a special presentation of poetry suffused with the blues. The time and date of this performance will be announced later—she’ll decide at the Festival exactly what she wants to do! Addonizio is one of the United States’s most highly regarded poets. The author of four books of poetry: The Philosopher’s Club, Jimmy & Rita, Tell Me, and What Is This Thing Called Love, she is also the author of a book of stories and a novel, Little Beauties. She also released has a word/music CD with poet Susan Browne: Swearing, Smoking, Drinking, & Kissing. Her new novel, My Dreams Out in the Street, will be released in July.

Workshop Description

The cornerstone of the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival is the weeklong workshop, July 29 - August 4, 2007, where participants live and play with the bearers of acoustic country blues traditions. The main focus of the gathering is on older prewar styles of blues, but the music and culture from derivative forms is also presented. Daily classes are offered in Piedmont style fingerpicking, blues guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, fiddle, mandolin, blues piano, blues singing, and gospel choir, all taught by masters of the traditions.

Introductory “tracks” are offered in Piedmont style fingerpicking, blues guitar, harmonica, mandolin, fiddle, and piano. 

Intermediate/advanced level classes are offered in blues guitar, slide guitar, harmonica,  mandolin, fiddle, and piano.

Is it your first time at the Blues Festival? If you like, we will pair you with a mentor to be your resource throughout the week, guiding you to the sessions which are most appropriate for you and making sure your experience exceeds your expectations.

Tuition is $440 ($340 for a veteran participant who refers a new participant who pays full tuition; and $100 for gospel workshop-only attendees) which includes admission to all festival events. Room and board options at range from $200 to $385.

Special notes on 2007 housing
Due to special circumstances in 2007, on-fort housing is limited. Please note that for 2007:

1. All dorms are "quiet" dorms
2. Couples rooms are not available
3. Late registrants will be roomed in "barracks" style dorms with 2-5 bunk-style beds/room, with partition walls.
4. As always, we're happy to provide you with a range of alternative housing options near the Fort.

The 2007 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival

The long and storied tradition of the country blues continues this summer at the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival, as some of the finest contemporary blues artists in the world, hand-selected by Artistic Director Phil Wiggins, come to live, jam, teach and perform.

The dates: July 29-August 5, 2007

The Festival consists of a weeklong residential workshop where you can live, and jam with blues artists. At the end of the workshop, the artist/faculty take to the stage for public performances Friday night, and Saturday day and night. Performances take place in Fort Worden's WWI-era balloon hangar, and in Port Townsend's historic waterfront clubs.