From folkusfans at folkus.org Mon Jun 16 14:39:03 2008 From: folkusfans at folkus.org (Upcoming Folkus events) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:39:03 -0400 Subject: [Folkus Project] Words & Music Thursday featuring Dana "Short Order" Cooke Message-ID: <51A36B4F-B228-4DF4-8071-E79D483EBD37@folkus.org> Folkus Fans! Here's info from the Words & Music coordinator, Jeffrey Pepper Rogers: Just a quick reminder about Thursday?s Words and Music Songwriter Showcase, featuring Dana "Short Order" Cooke with Joe Cleveland, plus Jane Zell, Christopher Weiss, Brian Francis, and yours truly. This is going to be a great and diverse show, with some surprise collaborations plus the Soundbite of the Night, in which I share a notable moment from my interview archives. More on all the performers below. What: Words & Music Songwriter Showcase Featuring Dana "Short Order" Cooke with Joe Cleveland, plus Jane Zell, Christopher Weiss, Brian Francis, and Jeffrey Pepper Rogers. When: Thursday, June 19. Doors at 7, music at 7:30. Where: Jazz Central, 441 E. Washington Street, Syracuse, 315.479.5299 Tickets: $7 at the door. For reservations, email showcase at wordsandmusic.info You can hear songs at the series home page: http://www.myspace.com/wordsandmusicshowcase ABOUT THE SONGWRITERS Dana "Short Order" Cooke has performed in Central New York for well over a decade, carving out a reputation with songs that are quirky, one-of-a-kind, ironic, and yet also often touching. In reviewing Cooke's CD Snowball's Chance, Syracuse Post-Standard music journalist Mark Bialczak put it this way: "Dana 'Short Order' Cooke writes songs that make you think. Then they make you chuckle. Finally, they make you want to invite him over to swap tales and share beverages." Cooke has produced three CDs, each nominated for top album in the Syracuse Area Music Awards. (Cooke has also twice been nominated for songwriter-of-the-year in the Sammys.) For this show, Cooke will be joined by his constant sideman Joe Cleveland on banjo, guitar, and harmony vocals, and John Dancks on bass. http://www.danacooke.com Jane Zell is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter steeped in the blues. She performs with a trio called the Zelltones and has released the solo CD Sista Moon. Zell hosted the women in blues showcase at the NY State Rhythm and Blues Festival for five years and has played at many clubs and private events. Christopher Weiss considers himself more storyteller than musician. His influences include Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Paul Simon, Loudon Wainwright III, John Gorka, Richard Shindell, and, recently, David Francey. Since the mid-'80s Weiss has performed with Dana "Short Order" Cooke and frequented local open mic nights. He is currently working on a CD of original songs under the title The River That Walks. http://www.myspace.com/riverthatwalks Brian Francis plays, sings, and writes songs for the roots/Americana band Kh'Mi, whose newest CD was just nominated for a Sammy award. Born in Syracuse and reared in the southern tier of New York, Francis has been a professional musician for over 25 years. During that time he has had the privilege of sharing stages with the likes of David Rea (composer of the Mountain hit "Mississippi Queen" and former Gordon Lightfoot guitarist), cellist Hank Roberts, and South African performance artist Thembinkosi Goniwe. http://www.myspace.com/khmi Host Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers is a singer-songwriter, author, and contributor to NPR's All Things Considered. Music journalist Andy Ellis (Guitar Player, Frets) calls Rodgers' brand-new solo CD, Humming My Way Back Home, "folk music with a serrated edge...a magical blend of storytelling and driving flattop guitar." http:// www.jeffreypepperrodgers.com