Joel Harrison assembled a band of All Stars to perform on Friday night, May 23 at the Colony Woodstock. The evening’s All Stars included Joel Harrison – guitar, vocals, Cindy Cashdollar – pedal steel guitar, Bruce Katz – keyboards Ben Zwein – bass, and Randy Ciarlante- drums.
This band kicked off the Memorial Day weekend. They commemorated the occasion with two sets of Americana appropriate for our times and the holiday. Many were from bygone eras. Some were contemporary with some originals thrown in. Some were statements of personal impact. Others were of a global nature.
The band wasted no time in broadcasting their intentions by launching into Buffalo Springfield’s anthem “For What Its Worth” then rocking into the haunting “OHIO”, decrying the fatal shooting of four Kent State University students that occurred 55 years ago. The electric guitar, pedal steel guitar and keyboards cried musically as throughout the concert.
That miniset was followed by Bob Dylan‘s “The Times They Are A Changing/Unity” (Jack DeJohnette) medley abruptly changing to the funky/jazzy “Compared to What (Les McCann/Eddie Harris).
The tight rhythm section of Ben Zwerin on bass and Randy Ciarlante pulsed a tribal beat leading to “Woodstock” (Joni Mitchell). Noting that the small audience was primarily over 60 Joel Harrison introduced his original composition “Days of Rage” full of written imagery of the formal announcement of a death of a soldier presented by uniformed servicemen to the home of the mother, dealing with the anger and then the love. The perspective of a returning veteran was expressed by the Tom Waits deep cut” The Day After Tomorrow”. The first set’s circle of song was closed by “Love The One You’re With”(Stephen Stills )/ “Can’t Always Get What You Want”(Rolling Stones)
Bob Dylan’s protest against war “Masters of War” was expressed with the rumble of drums and bass with Bruce Katz’s screaming organ.
A celebratory mood dominated the remainder of the set, starting with “People Get Ready.” Cindy Cashdollar on pedal steel and Bruce Katz on organ, both played leads as they would in a gospel setting, followed by Joel Harrison’s stinging lead guitar.
The later Allman Brothers were represented by “Soulshine”, finding happiness at the end of the tunnel. Bruce Katz’s blues shuffle “Hepology” got members of the audience dancing. Total joy was expressed by a pair of songs associated with the Grateful Dead; “Ripple” and “Good Lovin”.
Incidentally, Joel emphasized that this impromptu band was named “Woodstock All Stars” not “The Woodstock All Stars”. As the local area is the home of many outstanding musicians, and he did “The” would not be what he meant. Each of these musicians deserves a write up on their own.
Great American Music to express the solemnity yet celebration of the Memorial Day holiday. Thanks to Renaissance Man Neil Howard for the providing a space for creative music in Woodstock.
Joel Harrison and the Woodstock All-Stars – Friday, May 23 – Colony, Woodstock
Set 1: For What Its Worth (Buffalo Springfield), Ohio ( Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young), The Times They Are A Changin (Dylan)/Anthem of Unity (Jack DeJohnette), Days Of Rage (Harrison), Mercury Blues (David Lindley), The Day After Tomorrow (Waits), Love The One You’re With (Stephen Stills)/Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones)
Set 2: Masters of War (Dylan), Peter Get Ready (Mayfield), Hepology(Bruce Katz), Ripple (Grateful Dead), Good Lovin'(Grateful Dead)
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