Tag Archives: bluegrass

Susie Glaze: A Unique Musician With A Unique Sound

Susie Glaze

Photo by Patricia Van Over

Singer/Songwriter Susie Glaze  did not grow up in a “musical” family.  Her father and mother met and married just prior to World War II in St. Louis, and following the war, the family moved to the mid-south, and Susie’s interests gravitated toward the theater.  All the while, however, her world was serenaded by the likes of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Flatt & Scruggs, and other country and bluegrass  musicians that later would play a critical role in her creative life.

Glaze studied drama at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and obtained her union card while still a student.  It wasn’t long that she was appearing on Broadway, performing mostly musical roles.  Her most notable performance was in Roger Miller’s Big River, playing the part of Mary Jane Wilkes.  It was during this time she began immersing herself in the music she had heard growing up.  It didn’t take long for her to figure out that her creative path did not lie in acting.

Glaze moved to Los Angeles, and found a musical home playing along with The Eight Hand String Band, as well as solo performances and recordings, and eventually formed The Hilonesome Band in 2003.  She describes the group as “A Newgrass Americana Folk Fusion Quintet” that embodies the traditional sounds of the Appalachian, bluegrass, folk and country influences she grew up with, while at the same time introducing a contemporary take on the traditional sound.  The band’s most recent album, White Swan is a work that must be heard in its entirety in order to be appreciated.

KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste recently spoke with Glaze via Skype, from her southern California home.  They talked in detail about the band’s unique sound, defining the term “Newgrass” in the scope of the music.  She shares her journey from growing up as a “mid-westerner,” through her years on broadway, and her transition into music.  She also talked about the people who have, and continue to influence her musical creativity today.

Listen To The Interview Here:

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Music By Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band On KC Cafe Radio:

Video: “Harlan County Boys”

House Concert: The Stray Birds

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 – Attendees of KC Cafe Radio’s most recent House Concert was presented to an acoustic music treat Saturday night, as the talented trio The Stray Birds performed.  Group members Maya de Vitry, Oliver Craven and Charles Muench combined their rich and soothing three-part harmony with a variety of instruments and styles to make for a dynamically entertaining evening.

Featuring music from their latest self-titled album, The Stray Birds performed such original tunes as “Dream In Blue,” “Railroad Man,” “25 to Life,” and “No Part of Nothin’,” along with a few folk favorites such as “St. Anne’s Reel.”

Listen To The Entire Performance Here:

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Here is a video of The Stray Birds performing “St. Anne’s Reel:”

Music By The Stray Birds On KC Cafe Radio:

Life Is Good For John Roy Zat

For singer/songwriter John Roy Zat, life couldn’t have him in a better place than he is right now.  “I have worked blue collar and white collar day jobs, with people in many different parts of the world,” Zat says on his website.  “With some mileage on my chassis now and a lot of this planet traveled, I can say that music is one of Nature’s laws. Everybody is moved by music. Everyone has a favorite song, or two, or twenty. One of my greatest joys is making music and sharing songs with people, and the more the better..”

Zat describes himself as “a singer, songwriter, fiddler, and guitar picker,”  He plays both classic American roots, folk, country and bluegrass standards, and also original songs.  It’s the original songs where Zat’s talent really shines brightly.  “I like songs that lift spirits, brighten hopes, make us laugh, and maybe cry a little,” he says.  “I want to celebrate love, mourn loss, ponder mystery, and especially have fun!”

Zat started playing guitar and singing in High School.  He took up fiddling shortly afterward, and began writing music in his early twenties.  His work has garnered the attention of the likes of music legends Caroline Herring and Kate Wolf, who recorded his words to “Midnight On The Water” in her second album.

Zat’s newest music endeavor are two albums.  The first is simply titled Solo, and features Zat playing and singing all his music. The second is an album that is 10 years in making, aptly titled Collaborations.  It features Zat playing his music with other musicians .

Recently KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste spoke with Zat.  They talked about his long career, how he got started playing guitar and fiddle, his musical influences and how he chooses the traditional songs he loves to play.

Listen To The Interview:

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Music By John Roy Zat On KC Cafe Radio: