2001 Kinzel & Hyde won Best Traditional Blues Act
Article Reprint from the May, 2000 BluesNotes
Article by The
KT
LynnAnn Hyde and Stu Kinzel, guardians of traditional
Acoustic Blues, performed at
Kelly's Olympian recently where I had a chance to talk with them up
close and personal to hear what they're up to these days. Kelly's
is probably the "second home" for this duo, who were joined by Tom Lister
on standup bass, a truly excellent idea.
LynnAnn Hyde has been proactive in Blues Education in this area for some time. Her motivation is pure sterling. She wants to participate in the many different aspects of presenting traditional music in order to honor the people who "instituted" it. She names many fine performing artists who are stalwarts in the Portland scene. Artists such as: Paul deLay, Jim Wallace, Bill Rhoades, Mark Proulx, Mike Moothart, Dave Mathis and Rob Landahl. Of course, she is talking about Blues harmonica players. LynnAnn wants to broadcast an especially big "thank-you" to Mr. Arthur Moore.
"Arthur was a big influence here," LynnAnn says, and she thanks these people for having shown her care and patience in her career development. "I would like people to be aware of where the Blues comes from and be a little more understanding about people who do acoustic music." It is typical of her that she would start out by calling attention to and thanking someone other than herself.
Through Hyde's efforts, the CBA is now offering Blues clinics every third Sunday at the 45th Street Pub, and she encourages people to call the CBA if they are interested in investigating the "Blues In The Schools Program". Kinzel emphasizes that traditional music is important. When kids hear the history of music they relate it to what they are hearing now. Kinzel also notes that "live" performance is turning into a "lost art" with today's technology. And, so it is even more important, he says. He wants to make the kids laugh, too, with novelty tunes in the Blues mode, and that it's ok to like different styles. He notes that the duo's work at Saturday Market makes the live music available to kids, and "it gets to 'em, especially the little kids."
Stu Kinzel is a well-known guitar player in many parts of the country. He says his first guitar was a nice old Martin, and that "It was better than I was ... for a long time!" Stu has always studied prewar Blues, including an early exposure to Muddy Waters. He recalls thinking, "That's the stuff." He also cites influences such as Tampa Red, Kokomo Arnold, Rev. Gary Davis and more. Some other early influences for Kinzel included Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Blind Boy Fuller.
One style he often makes use of is the Piedmont style of guitar playing. It is well suited to acoustic guitars, and as Kinzel describes, it "approaches the guitar like a piano". Like all musicians, Stu listens to the greats and learns from them, but he is also a unique stylist. "If your mom can't pick you out on the radio," he says, " what are you doing?"
Kinzel feels that doing acoustic music gives the musicians more freedom to do what they want, and it's easier to "keep things together".
He enjoys the time he spends playing electric, with a band, but he values the acoustic performances.
Stu Kinzel is a fine guitar player anyway and everybody who's anybody knows it. He could easily be performing "other kinds" of music in much larger venues for more money. He does Blues because he wants to.
Kinzel and Hyde both are writing many tunes, and they collaborate on the composition of some numbers. Their original work is on their CD, "Hubcap Hula", and they are planning more original tunes for their next recording project, due out later this year (we hope.) "I write my own songs and Lynn writes hers and we work them out together," Stu says. The new recording is taking place in the studio at Hillsboro Music in a traditional acoustic format. The new project will focus on original music based on traditional music, and include some interestingly obscure traditional tunes. Hyde loves their current instrumentation, with Tom Lister on bass. She may switch off between harmonica and concertina in the future. She enjoys the commitment of the musicians to do the work necessary to bring the performance to the public. "This is my calling!" she states.
Stu notes that while many R&B type tunes will always be popular, it is not easy to get the right sound without a large band, and in today's economy, it's hard to keep a large band together. He knows of many very good players in the Portland "scene" and he tends to find more performing opportunities outside of the Portland area.
LynnAnn, as a harmonicist and singer, is a whole show by herself. This writer believes that she could hold an audience on her own. From the first note, she immediately answers all questions about what the harmonica is supposed to sound like. Her performance delivers the fat, satisfying sound of the big harp, and her signature is her technical skill and cleverness. As an entertainer, she always does everything she can to make other people comfortable. This is an aspect of stardom, that you make everyone else feel like they are the stars, and you are just there to convey the message.
On a recent Saturday night singer Megan James joined Kinzel & Hyde with Tom Lister. This lady has a great style, and makes use of that little growly edge in her voice that is uniquely feminine. She is a crowd-pleaser for sure. Megan James can be seen performing with her own band at various venues in the area, and has performed at the Cascade Blues Association meeting.
"Dr. Kinzel and Ms. Hyde" will also be performing at the CBA General Membership meeting on May 3rd, and families are always welcome. This is not just a great show for adults, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for kids to hear live acoustic Blues in a comfortable setting.
Other venues regularly featuring Kinzel & Hyde are
The Cascade Tavern, The Goble Tavern, Paola's on Woodstock, Boon's Treasury (Salem) and
Portland Saturday Market (check your CBA
BluesNotes' Calendar Page for their current listings). A special attraction is
May 28th on the Saturday Market Mainstage at 11:30 am. Don't miss it!
© 2000 Cascade Blues Association