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appearing on stage at 1:30 p.m. Bringing unique traditional and folk acts to Columbia is a Word of Mouth trademark. The Eight Annual Blues Festival is no exception. Not many people are familiar with "shout" bands. According to folklorists, shout music was born as a form of ecstatic worship in which congregants "catch" the spirit and run or jump in place or speak in tongues. Charismatic spiritual leader Charles M. "Sweet Daddy" Grace founded the first United House of Prayer for All People in 1919 in West Wareham, Massachusetts with an emphasis on the direct, physical experience of the spirit. Daddy Grace is remembered for his literal interpretation of Psalm 150: ‘Praise ye the Lord. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise Him with psaltery and harp. Praise Him with timbrel and dance. Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise ye the Lord" and music and "shouting" were central to his worship services. The Shout Bands of the southeastern United States are a little-known trombone treasure. For most of this century, African-American brass players have formed bands in cities up and down the Southern Railway, the mainline from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Many cities in the Carolinas that lie along this mainline, both large and small, boast at least one such band. The foremost of these is The Tigers, a group of talented musicians from Charlotte, North Carolina, a hotbed of Shout Bands. Kenny Carr and The Tigers cannot simply be labeled or classified into a single genre - it is neither jazz nor gospel, neither blues nor Dixieland. Their members include a lead trombone, 5 "row" trombones, baritone, Sousaphone, and trap set. The Tigers are young and, like most other shout bands, composed exclusively of men. They embrace and exude the concept that in order to truly communicate a message, all those performing must be of one mind, heart, and spirit. Kenny Carr exemplifies one who has that remarkable ability to synthesize those performing with him into a single instrument. The shout bands use the trombone not only to imitate singing but, also, rather to express the full range of the human voice. Kenny’s trombone weeps, moans, cries, preaches, exalts, and exhorts. The energized enthusiasm of The Tigers is not motivated by self-aggrandizement or simply excellence for its own sake; rather they are servants of their instruments in the service of their Lord. They are part of a living tradition and maintain a style of music that has been performed in their town of Charlotte for the past 60 years. The Tigers want their music to be "real." There are no fabrications because they are not after perfect music. They have had little traditional training. Some were given trombones at an early age. Usually, the learning process is aural and visual. Beginners learn by listening to the older players around them and by imitating their slide motion. The musicians insist, however, that their ability, opportunity and inspiration come directly from God. The "live" Kenny Carr and the Tigers will not disappoint. They thrive on the spirit of the audience as well as the inner spirit that inspires them. The Tigers represent a rich tradition of African-American church music and it is almost impossible to witness their performance and remain passive. It promises to be a really uplifting aural experience for festival goers. |
