|
Pacific Sun/Arts and Entertainment - Friday, October 27, 2006 Music: Pushing Daisy
Summer has transitioned to fall, and the musical performances at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center have morphed from a season of Summer Nights to what we now call Center Stage. On Sunday evening, this series presents an appearance by daisy mayhem, led by singer/fiddler Rani Arbo. In the 1990s, Arbo led the acclaimed Boston-based neo-folk band Salamander Crossing. After its dissolution, the band released Henry Street: A Retrospective (2000), which features the band's two hard-to-find recordings Salamander Crossing and Passion Train. The nicely packaged retrospective also includes bonus tracks, liner notes and photos-and while it was great to see and hear more of Salamander Crossing, the release hardly eased the sting fans felt about the band's demise. One year later, daisy mayhem arrived with Cocktail Swing, which is a mixed-genre collection of tunes steeped in the unique nuances of Rani Arbo. The disc feels like a party, with guest musicians such as Austin-based guitarist David Hamburger helping shake the material into a veritable Happy Hour. Reviewing this offering, Marin's esteemed Acoustic Guitar magazine hailed Arbo as "the Greta Garbo of folk music." Their second CD, Gambling Eden, continues the band's charismatic and eclectic mix that features four-part harmonies and travels from Appalachia to New Orleans. Arbo began cello lessons at age 8 and has performed in choirs, an a cappella ensemble, and an all-female honky-tonk band. Arbo's alto deftly shifts from smoldering to playful, and her fiddling speaks of old-time blues and jazz all tinged with a talent for translating anything into accessible music. Stand-up bassist Andrew Kinsey and Arbo have been singing together since 1991. Kinsey's baritone anchored Salamander Crossing's harmonies and does so now in Daisy Mayhem. He also sings lead on some tunes, including his originals. After starting out as a wee bagpiper, Kinsey's multi-instrumental talent has expanded to include double bass, banjo, ukulele and whistle. Anand Nayak also has a choral past, and experience with a cappella and theater groups. That varied experience has endowed Nayak with enviable vocal range. And his guitar playing is similarly expressive. With a spot-on ear for arrangement, Nayak seems to be the musical centerpiece of this band. Scott Kessel kicks on the drum kit and is an established world percussionist. In daisy mayhem, Kessel controls the "Drumship Enterprise," a recycled kit that includes a cardboard box, cat-food tins, a Danish butter cookie tin, and a suitcase. Scoff, but somehow Kessel makes it sound great. And he's in good company in that regard. New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore has incorporated mixing bowls into his kit. As Tom Waits once said, "When I tell someone to bring a fender over to play, I ain't talking about a guitar." It isn't blowing smoke to compare Kessel-or anyone else in this band-with musicians like Waits. daisy mayhem has the ability to make everything from mountain folk dirges to raucous jug-band rambles speak in new and noteworthy ways. Rani Arbo doesn't seem to make it out to the Bay Area very often; perhaps a warm welcome in Marin will convince her and daisy mayhem to include us in their itinerary more often. |