Tim Courts, pounding out his path.

It's incredible to me to watch a guy like Tim Courts, because if you try to keep up, he can take your breath away with so much movement.Then again, maybe I should, since I need to lose weight, a day with Tim might just do me a whole lotta good...

When you talk about a man who is everywhere at once, you could be very well talking about this guy. It might make you wonder if our friends in Point Pleasant are on to something, with the Mothman thing.
Almost every time I look up in a musical situation in this town, smiling back at me is Tim Courts.
First of all let me say, that if you are seeing him, you are listening to one of Charleston's newset treasures. This brother's got the goods, he's a great drummer, keyboardist and arranger and he utilizes all these skills when he is involved in any number of his musical situations.
With jazz legend Bob Thompson, Tim can be heard playing pile driver drums,with First Baptist Church, he swells the keyboards, directs the choir, and they all make a joyful noise, and I know that he works 'em hard because my daughter Kendra is one of his choir members, and I know personally how great a singer she is.
The deal here is that Timmy Courts is pounding out his life path, and that path is set on loftier heights.
When you have the great Winston Walls, and Bob Thompson as your mentors, unless you just don't give a damn, which way do you think you're goin'?
I've known Tim now for a few years and I feel happier everytime I see him because he seems happier to be doing what he's doing, making music for the masses... literally.
If you can slow down your vehicle long enough, somewhere in this town is a young man who is making music that gives you a reason to be here, and that man is Tim Courts.Be sure to catch him, you'll be glad that you did

To be sure, I know that you can catch Tim most Tuesday's with Bob Thompson at
Legends
806 Kanawha Blvd.
Charleston WV, 25301
342-2699

Also. Tim and the great First Baptist Chuch Choir
Shrewsbury St.
Charleston WV, 25301
This is a beautiful church with the friendliest folks, head there for Sunday prayers.

Supprort Live music today tomorrow and always...and that would include going to church services. It's joyful for a reason.

Lisa Thomas Peery, a sound from above

Having played the flute as my principal instrument for many years, I can tell you first hand that it's not nearly as easy as one thinks to master it.
Of course that statement is true of any instrument, but that little woodwind can be a bear sometimes, unless your name is Lisa Peery...
I'm going to tell you about a Charleston lady who has made her chosen axe one that makes the Angels weep with joy and exuberance.
I've been a fan of Lisa's since I met her in 1993 at a jam session that she Kai Haynes, David and JoLoyd,and David Lavigne used to hold on Saturdays at the Firehouse club on the East End of town. This night saw them take on one of my favorite pieces at the time, Carly Simon's "You Belong To Me." In the original song my hero David Sanborn takes the Alto sax solo, so imagine my wonderful surprise when Lisa not only nailed it with the Flute but also made it sound twice as good, plus sang the hell out of the song to boot.
Charleston has many fine Flutists, but Lisa' s sound is from somewhere else...a sound somewhere above in the Heavens.
She and her wonderful husband Al (a great trombonist) have carved themselves a nice life here in the Valley, while she plays in our wonderful West Virginia Symphony, Al plays the 'bone with Blues du Jour. They are the travel bandits.These days when I see the 2 of them, they're headed off somewhere...it's all so beautiful ( no pun intended).
Lisa, I'm very sad to say hasn't been playing out much these days and I miss seeing her in the fray.She's too talented to be sidelined to just the Symphony.
There is much that is great about this dynamic and beautiful lady, and I sincerely hope that if you read these words, you'll make it your business to seek out this incredibly talented woman...you'll be glad that you did.

First one to find her and get her to re-appear publicly and play for the masses again wins a CD of their choosing...the challenge is up, e-mail my post. Lisa, come back to us, we miss you!!

Catch Lisa Thomas Peery with The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

Dugan Carter, the sound of a lion

When I was young, and I was studying the saxophone with my Godfather, he would regale me with stories about jazz's past life, the Coleman Hawkins days, and Charlie Parker days and so on. He explained how the saxophone was the instrument that was closest to the human voice, and therefore just as you would wish to be understood when you speak, your sax should do the same thing. He further explained that "I don't care what anyone tells you, tone is EVERYTHING."
It wasn't until I met Dugan Carter that I completely understood what he meant.
Here is a story about a man whom I consider to be one of the greatest saxophone players that I've ever known...
I even remember the day that I made this discovery, it was Saturday June 2nd, 1974. The place was the Gentleman's Club, Charleston WV, the joint was packed and the mood was right for a life changing experience.
Although I played the sax for many years, I realized that I was only playing at it, because that night I heard Dugan take one of the most amazing solos that I had ever heard at that time, the song was "Midnight Soul Patrol,"by the great Quincy Jones (just in case you want to pick it up, the album is entitled "I Heard That").
Dugan was a part of the incredible horn section that was and luckily still is Stratus. This band was just unbelievable, they had the look, the sound and the goods to be the next Earth Wind and Fire easily, but Dugan had a sound that far surpassed everyone. I could literally sit and listen to him entonate for hours on end.
What happened to me was that I realized how the sound of a saxophone was truly generated, where it's center was, and how it was manipulated.
Dugan can make a saxophone swell with sound, if you don't understand what I mean, listen to the sound of train whistle, it's sheer power. That's seriously hard for a saxophone, but Dugan can do it.
For years when I listened to other horn players, I knew that they were good mostly, but I never truly understood why until that night. It's that really good horn players create a sound that is so good that it's just like speaking, but even though there are no words spoken you still understand them perfectly, and that's what Dugan does for me, he speaks with perfection.
I've known Dugan since 1971, and we've been great friends, but after that night at least in my mind he was elevated to "lion" status. In other words, he has a sound that definetely makes you pay attention...and I hope that if you enjoy music even a tiny bit, you do.
Dugan Carter has the sound of lion, and it's a sound that you'll be glad you heard forever.

Catch Dugan Carter locally with Stratus and with Full Flavor featuring Michael "Stoney" Burks on trumpet and David Loyd on keyboards. Click here for info on when they play at the Empty Glass

Support Live music today tomorrow and always