Steve Hamilton is a risk taker and always has been. Steve Hamilton, you see, is the manager of Skip's D&H, more commonly known as Skip's Lounge in downtown Angola. For years, Steve, son of Skip Hamilton, has been bringing national and sometimes international blues acts to Angola. The gig started out a good 12, maybe 15 years ago, with Blue Monday, as they called it then. Blues bands from all over would be brought in on Monday nights, a night when these musicians typically had a night off or were traveling. Seeing that it was somewhat tough to get a crowd to support these bands, Steve and Skip moved blues night to Wednesday. And Wednesday has been fairly successful. On a night when Duke Tumatoe or Tinsley Ellis are playing, you'd better arrive early. And there have been others who have built up a following in the Stueben County area and beyond. But we all have kind of known that; this is old news of sorts to those who have been enjoying the music Steve and Skip have been bringing in over the years. In recent years, Steve has been experimenting with his musical offering in the community. About for or five years ago, Steve brought in Terrence Simien, a zydeco master from Louisiana who was one of the many tutors to Paul Simon for his "Graceland" album. That first date with Simien and his Mallet Playboys band brought a big slice of Mardi Gras to Angola. And they have been back, entertaining some decent crowds. Early in 1999, Steve branched out once again, this time to draw a great swing band from Boston, The Love Dogs. This band has been back to Angola a handful of times and has drawn decent crowds. I could go on with many other examples of music that would fit in the jazz/blues genre. It would be difficult to pick out a bad band that has been on stage at Skip's. Most recently, in the summer, Steve was at it again. "People came in that first night and said, "Steve, what have you done this time?" Steve said with a chuckle the other night. This time the risk would be to bring in a salsa band, reminiscent of the Cuban bands from New York from the 1960s and 1970s. This music has its roots in the Caribbean, Spain and Africa. It is very upbeat and features a wide variety of instruments, including horns, woodwinds, percussion, strings, and piano (some would argue that piano should be lumped in with percussion, but this isn't a musical debate folks.) On this past Wednesday night and the previous summer engagement that drew some 200 to hear them, about the only note to the blues reputaion that Skip's has built up on Wednesdays over the years was the horn players in this band. And the fact that this band was extremely tight; remember, there are no garage bands on Wednesday nights, only some of the best blues and jazz this country has to offer. Orqesta Ranura, as they are called, featured eight young men -- the band was short a player this past Wednesday night -- that could have easilyu passed for 28 players on stage. Their sound just boomed, and you would have thought Tito Puente had come to town or quite possibly, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, which is reviving traditional Cuban salsa on a national and international scale. Orqesta Ranura played classical salsa, like the standard "La Banda" by Willie Colon. Orqesta Ranura is out of Kalamazoo, Michigan with most of the musicians having gone to Western Michigan University (soon the band will be calling Chicago it's home). They are all pretty much fresh ouot of college. And one thing they obviously share is an extreme love of music. Talking with band members duing one of their breaks they, like most bands, came on their first visit to Angola somewhat guardedly, not knowing what to expect. It's a small town, unknown to them. And unless they are deeply into blues circles, they have not heard of Skip's. Like other bands who came into the place not knowing what to expect (other than a paycheck) the members of this band just loved the place. With the balconies that surround the stage and the hundreds of instruments that line the walls, Skip's provides an intimate setting for musicians and for those who come to enjoy the show. But there's more. Many people in the business of bringing entertainment to a stage do so purely for the money. Sure, Steve and Skip have to pay the bills, but they are true lovers of music, especially blues and jazz. And they take risks. What's sad is that not enough people oblige by taking the same risk by coming out on a Wednesday night to see some of the greatest music around. Stueben County for generations, has produced some excellent musicians. Each year we see what our band and choir programs produce. And I have seen some of their instructors take in the music. Why? Because it's here. It's too bad the kids can't see what a group of young men, who some five, six, or seven years ago where playing in high school marching bands and orchestras, can do with music beyond school. But I won't complain. No, I'll be selfish. At least I get to see these acts and hear the great sounds they produce. Thanks to Steve and Skip. Michael Marturello is managing editor of Herald Republican. |